Georgia's beach. Big sky, Atlantic light, and a laid-back energy that makes for genuinely beautiful wedding photography. Bud has been shooting on Tybee for over a decade.
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Tybee is about 18 miles from downtown Savannah — easy drive, completely different feel. The wide beach, the old Tybee Island Light Station, the pavilion, the dunes — it's a great option for couples who want coastal, not formal.
Beach weddings work beautifully at Tybee when you plan around the light. Sunrise sessions have the beach practically to yourselves and light that's unbelievably flattering. Sunset is the classic choice — warm, golden, forgiving. Midday in the summer is genuinely difficult, but it can be done with the right positioning and attitude.
Tybee requires a permit for weddings and any organized photography event on the beach. The process is manageable — Bud can walk you through what's needed, and many wedding planners who work on Tybee handle this regularly. Plan 4–6 weeks ahead to allow permit processing time.
Most Tybee elopements start near the lighthouse or North Beach, use the dunes and natural beach grass for texture, and end at the water's edge for the ceremony. Golden hour along the south end of the island — around Alley 3 through Alley 6 — gives you slightly less foot traffic and great dune access.
Most couples stay overnight on Tybee or come out for just the ceremony and portraits. The causeway can back up on summer weekends, so build a 20-minute buffer into your timeline. If your guests are coming from Savannah, shuttle service is worth considering.
See the blog for recent Tybee wedding stories, including Nicole and Cody's Tybee Island wedding.