Elope in Charleston

The oldest city in the state, Charleston has had plenty of time to perfect its southern hospitality. It is no wonder that Charleston is a popular spot for elopements. Stroll along the cobblestone streets or take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage past the historic pastel houses of the city’s elegant French Quarter, and you’ve got a pretty picture-perfect snapshot of Charleston.

Charleston is a charming southern belle. The locals here are warm and welcoming. Each street seems to have its own personality and many facets of the historic city have been well preserved. If you’re in love with Charleston, you are not alone, so plan and book your elopement logistics well in advance.

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Places to Elope in Charleston

Cypress Gardens is a sprawling 170-acre nature preserve. The centerpiece of the gardens is the 80 acres of swamp tupelo and black Cyprus trees. Get...

Just beyond the bustle of the city, Dogwood Downs is the ultimate rustic low country elopement venue. Like getting married in a beautiful backyard, this...

A Whitehouse Wedding is a beautiful place perched right on the banks of the river and cloaked in majestic old oaks. A Whitehouse Wedding is...

A refurbished old meeting house, the I’On Chapel recalls a little white chapel. Simple, classic, and downright romantic, the I’On Chapel looks like it was...

In downtown Charleston, the Washington Square Park wedding venue is a classic place with plenty of space for family and friends. Your ceremony can turn...

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Add-Ons

You can optionally add the following to your package:

Hair & Makeup

Starting at $600

Look your very best on the big day by hiring one of our artists!

Extra Photography

Starting at $700

Capture every perfect moment by adding hours of photography to your package

Engagement Shoot

Starting at $900

Every moment leading up to your day is special; book us for your engagement shoot!

On-Site Helper

Starting at $400

Hire our crew to stream or take cell phone photos/videos on your day

Relationship Coaching

Strengthen and improve your relationship with our professionals coach

Violin

Starting at $439

Music makes everything more memorable. Book our musician today!

Videography

Starting at $1,700

Includes 1 – 2 minute highlight reel (perfect for sharing on socials!) and a long-form video of the full ceremony

Simply Eloped has been seen in

You guys are AMAZING! We want to thank you again for making this the best day of our lives!

Lauren and Daniel

Everything from start to finish with Simply Eloped was beyond my expectations. We are so thrilled with how our wedding day turned out and couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

Peyton and Derek

Everything was so smooth and easy!

Taylor and Terry

We cannot stress enough how impressed we are with the entire Simply Eloped Team. Our day was exactly what we wanted it to be and stress free because of the work the team put into our day.

Madeline and Adam

Nothing I would change.

Abram and Julieta

Simply Eloped was wonderful through the entire planning process and day of!

Britanny and Gage

We just want to thank Simply Eloped for everything! ♡

Summer and Chris

Thank you for our perfect day!

Halli and Samuel

Thank you for my elopement, it was beautiful and so stress free.

Selina and Josh

Why should I elope in Charleston?

Lovers unite in Charleston, which has been voted one of the country’s most romantic cities. With sandy beaches, sunset cruises, and laid back rooftop happy hours, Charleston is a dreamy place to elope.

No matter the day of the week, the city comes alive in the late afternoons. This is Charleston at its finest. One of the best things about Charleston’s raucous happy hours is the food and drink specials — just don’t wait until it’s too late to join in on the fun. We love the chic French Quarter and Battery districts.

How to elope in Charleston?

To apply for a South Carolina marriage license, both you and your spouse-to-be need to visit the office of a South Carolina probate judge. Bring your completed application for a South Carolina marriage license, one form of identification, and your social security cards. Note that some probate judges will require your social security cards, but not all. Your marriage license in Charleston will cost you $70, plus credit card transaction fees.

The state of South Carolina requires a 24-hour waiting period after applying for your marriage license before the license may be issued and once your marriage license is issued, you will need to use it in the state within six months.

You will also need to have your officiant sign your marriage license and return it to a probate judge within this six-month period. We’ve got you covered there.

How much does it cost to elope in Charleston?

Charleston can be an expensive city if you are unsure of where to look. If you are flying into the city, you are likely to find that flights are a little on the pricey side. Luckily, if you stay within the city center, you don’t need to rent a car since Charleston is super walkable. An added bonus, most of the fun in Charleston is right in the heart of the historic city center and the city trolley is free to ride.

What is the best time of year for eloping in Charleston?

Charleston experiences all four seasons, but some are milder than others. Winter temperatures drop close to freezing during the long and windy January nights and in mid-summer, daytime temperatures typically exceed 90 degrees and the heat is oppressive. Head to Charleston between March and May when the magnolias are in bloom, or between September and November to soak in the city’s mild fall weather.

The biggest annual event in Charleston is the Spoleto Festival, which is held during the last two weeks of May, so plan around these dates if you’re not keen to compete with an abundance of outdoor jazz concerts. You might also want to plan around other big city events like the Southeastern Wildlife Expo in February, the Charleston Wine + Food Festival in early March, and the MOJA Arts Festival around late September or early October.

How to get in and around Charleston?

Charleston is a short road trip away from many southeastern cities and easy to access by airplane for out-of-towners. There are two airports that serve the city: Charleston International Airport which is about 10 miles north of downtown Charleston and the Charleston Executive Airport which is only about 15 miles away. Don’t bother renting a car at the airport unless you plan on exploring the nearby beaches, as Charleston’s cobblestone streets are very walkable and parking is both limited and expensive. Taxis from the airport cost about $30, and shuttles run every fifteen minutes and cost less than half of that with no reservations required.

Article written by

Janessa White

Janessa White is the co-founder of Simply Eloped and has helped thousands of couples plan elopements. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot. She feels her happiest when building - teams, programs, ideas

Elope in Charleston

Why is Charleston awesome

Places to Elope in Charleston

Charleston Elopement Packages

Wildflower Experience

Add-Ons

Hair & Makeup

Extra Photography

Engagement Shoot

On-Site Helper

Relationship Coaching

Violin

Videography

Charleston Elopement Gallery

Simply Eloped has been seen in

Our Team

Why should I elope in Charleston?

How to elope in Charleston?

How much does it cost to elope in Charleston?

What is the best time of year for eloping in Charleston?

How to get in and around Charleston?

Janessa White

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