Weddings on the jetty

There is no charge for saying your vows on the jetty, but you will have to share the space with others and make no alterations to the jetty.

We hire the seaward platform out if you want a private space for your wedding. It costs $400 for 2 hours.

What you get

In return for the fee of $400, you will have exclusive use of the seaward platform of the jetty for 2 hours. Governors Bay Jetty Restoration Trust will:

  • Reserve 2 hours of exclusive use of the seaward platform for the day of your ceremony

  • If you would like the Governors Bay Community Centre to be booked as an alternative wet-weather location, assist you in making that booking.

  • Display signage on the jetty in advance and put a notice on social media before the day to let jetty users know that the seaward platform will be closed.

  • On the day of the wedding, provide:

    • an entrance point on the narrow bit before the seaward platform and on the ramp on the seaward platform – access is restricted to wedding guests beyond these points

    • a person (or two) to help you on the day to set up the entrance points and stand by the point on the narrow bit of the jetty to stop members of the public walking past.

Commemoration of your wedding on the jetty

As an optional extra, you can:

  • Sponsor a “standard” plank for $600 (while there are still planks available) and have a plaque with wording of your choice to recognise your wedding (there is a limit on the length). For these plaques, you will need to wait for the next plaque order, which may be a few months.

  • Have a plaque on the “wedding row” of planks on the seaward platform (above the ramp). We will get these made individually and put them on the jetty either before or shortly after your wedding (depending on timing). These cost $1100 and include:

o   Name of the people getting married

o   Date of the wedding

o   A choice of one of four wedding icons

 Things to note

There is a limit of 200 people allowed – if there are more than that in your wedding party, you may need to apply to Christchurch City Council for an event permit to have an event in a public space.

You will need to provide, set up, and clean up anything you want for your ceremony, such as flowers, gazebo, table for signing, chairs for guests (there are a few benches on the platform).

You can use the jetty for the ceremony, but not for parties.

If you need to cancel at the last minute, for example due to weather:

  • You will only have to pay the non-refundable deposit of $50.

  • If you chose a commemorative plaque, you can still have one. If we already ordered it when you cancel, you will still need to pay for it and we will still put it on the jetty. We’ll check with you before we order your plaque.

We will send you a bill for the remaining fee one week before your ceremony. This is refundable if you need to cancel.

Next steps

Email savethejetty@gmail.com to check that the jetty is available for the slot that you want. If you have already checked with us, book your slot by paying a non-refundable deposit of $50 into the jetty account, with “Wedding” and your name as the references:

ANZ account 06-0807-0358513-00, Governors Bay Jetty Restoration Trust