If you're thinking about marrying outdoors, whether on the beach, in a park, or on a mountainous overlook, you're in luck. First of all, you're incredibly fortunate to have your wedding in the state of New Jersey, because we have it all as far as great outdoor wedding sites: fabulous oceanside and lakeside beaches and piers, botanical gardens in full bloom, wooded state parks, scenic overlooks, even estate homes and horse farms with incredible views of that sunset. Whatever outdoor scene you can imagine, chances are you'll find it somewhere in New Jersey.

You're also in luck, because the task of finding out how and where to get permissions and permits for use of those outdoor sites is about to get a little bit easier. In response to the large number of couples who have written me through my Ask the Experts column here at NJWedding.com regarding how to get permits for beach weddings at certain shore points, I've put together this collection of Web sites that will lead you to your answers. Just go right to these sources to reach a local authority on the ins and outs of getting permits for the use of your chosen outdoor wedding site, and even to find the perfect beach or state park for your Big Day!

Here's where to look:

To find out about a town's (or beach town's) rules for marrying outdoors, go to www.njchamber.com to reach that town's chamber of commerce for contact information.

To find out about outdoor wedding permits and reservation details in parks, go to:
www.metrojersey.com/parks.htm (for state, county, and local parks)
www.state.nj.us/dep/forestry/parks/parkindx.htm (for state parks, specifically)
www.nps.gov (for national parks)

To find out more about which questions you need to ask, which kinds of permits you may need, and many money-saving and stress-busting do's and don'ts for your event, check out my book The Complete Outdoor Wedding Planner available now the NJWedding.com WedStore (click here for more information and to purchase). This is the *only* book out there specifically written for the planning of outdoor weddings, so don't miss out on all of the expert planning tips, consumer warnings, creative ideas, checklists, and Web resources to help make your day perfect.

A little something from The Complete Outdoor Wedding Planner:

To time your ceremony perfectly so that the sun will be setting serenely over the ocean's edge as you take your vows -- filling the sky with fabulous color and setting a backdrop for gorgeous photos and video -- you can find out the exact sunset time for any day of the year at the U.S. Navy Observatory's Web site: www.usno.navy.mil

Sharon Naylor is the author of over 30 wedding planning books and is the Q&A specialist at NJWedding.com. Sharon will answer any wedding-related questions at www.njwedding.com/expertadvice. She is a resident of Morristown, New Jersey. To view and purchase any of Sharon's helpful books, click here to visit the NJWedding.com WedStore!