Watch CBS News

Wedding Industry Worries Nevada County Ordinance Could Drive Away Business

NEVADA COUNTY (CBS13) — Weddings are a multi-million-dollar industry with around 400 ceremonies held in Nevada County every year, but venue owners fear a new ordinance will send brides looking elsewhere.

Greg Whatley owns Mountain Event Production, a company that relies on a number of couples coming to Nevada County to say I Do.

"Ninety percent of my clientele over the last 10 years are from out of town," he said. "They are bringing outside money into our economy and its huge."

Whatley, along with others in the local wedding industry, says a new county ordinance that regulates commercial outdoor events on private land is too broad and will kill off business.

The new ordinance will only allow four events a year, and will even require the couple getting married to get permission from neighbors.

Jay Roth from Roth Estates says she holds about double that number every year and ha never had a problem from neighbors or police.

"About 80 percent of my wedding profits go to my maintenance every year," she said. "I'll have to close my door."

Nevada County Board of Supervisors Chariman Nate Beason says there have been cases of some events getting out of hand, guests leaving trash, causing traffic or fire hazards, or loud noise after-hours.

"We can to give the sheriff a little more authority where he can go out and say, 'Hey look, can you hold it down? Or can you move the cars,' and then he can come back and say, 'You didn't do what I asked, so now you are going to have to stop,'" he said.

The board will vote on the issue on Tuesday.

The county says an existing ordinance has been in place for years, but some venue owners haven't been following the rules.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.