How to elope in Charleston SC

Jan 26

HOW TO PLAN A CHARLESTON ELOPEMENT

Charleston is one of South Carolina’s most beautiful cities for a wedding or elopement. Defined by its cobblestone streets, antebellum houses, and horse drawn carriages – Charleston has plenty of charm and history.

There are so many possibilities for how you can spend your wedding day in the historic city. This page will go over some of Charleston’s history, help you with the “how” of planning an elopement, and list some places to have your ceremony.

CHARLESTON – ONE OF THE BEST CITIES IN THE US

Charleston was voted as the #1 city in the US for 2023 by Travel & Leisure. The city is full of history, art, and culture. The options for how to spend your day are endless. You can spend time at Battery Park amongst the trees. Eat at one of Charleston’s many seafood restaurants. Stroll along the historic homes and stop in the many shops. Spend the afternoon walking through the City Market and shop local. Head out of the city and spend the day at the beach.

GETTING MARRIED IN CHARLESTON

FIRST: PICK A DATE

The best months to get married in Charleston is April, May, June, September, and October. March and November are also decent options as it is sometimes pretty mild – but March can be quite rainy (I should know - I eloped in March 2014 in Charleston and left 2 days early because it was so cold and rainy). The winter can get chilly and since it’s a tourist area there might not be as many options for things to do.

If possible, I’d recommend eloping on a weekday. Charleston is a very popular spot to visit, so weekends can be quite busy.

SECOND: PICK A CEREMONY LOCATION

You’ll need to know your exact ceremony location for your officiant and your permits. Envision saying ‘I do’ when choosing your spot. What does it look like? What does it sound like? Are there a lot of people around or is it secluded? Is it logistically accessible based on other things you might want to do during the day?

THIRD: SECURE ANY PERMITS/RESERVATIONS NEEDED

Once you choose your ceremony location and date, you’ll want to research what permits are necessary. Below I have listed out several ceremony locations with a link to the proper site to obtain permits/reservations.

FINALLY: HAVE YOUR DREAM WEDDING!

All of your planning has paid off and it’s time to celebrate and enjoy your day!

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ELOPE IN CHARLESTON?

Marriage Certificate: $70
Click here to view Charleston marriage license division for all information needed to obtain your license.

Officiant: $200 – $500

Permit: ~$150, depends on where

Photography/Videography: Starting at $2,500
Click here to view photo/video packages.

Wedding Outfits: Price widely varies

Florals: $300 – $800

Vow Books: $30 – $200

CHARLESTON ELOPEMENT CEREMONY SITES

White Point Gardens

Pelican Watch Pavilion in Folly Beach

The Lake House at Bulow

WHAT DOES A REAL CHARLESTON ELOPEMENT DAY LOOK LIKE?

11:00am - Brunch & explore the Historic District
3:00pm - Hair & Makeup at Hotel/Airbnb
4:00pm - Head to Rainbow Row
4:30pm - First Look at Rainbow Row
4:30pm - Walk around and explore the Battery, maybe stop for a little drink
6:30pm - Head to Folly Beach
7:00pm - Ceremony at Folly Beach
7:30pm - Picnic w/ cake & champagne on the beach
8:30pm - Sunset

Remember - there are no rules to how you structure your elopement day! A timeline is important so that you don’t lose track of time. I will create a fully customized timeline of your day so that we can do everything you want to do.

Are you ready to start planning your Charleston elopement? Click here to fill out my contact form!