Charleston, the oldest city in the state, exudes timeless southern charm, making it an ideal destination for intimate weddings. Each street seems to have its own personality and many facets of the historic city have been well preserved. Scroll down to check out our all-inclusive Charleston elopement packages!
Elopements in Charleston are nothing short of magical. This historic city, the oldest in the state, unfolds its charm through Southern hospitality and picturesque surroundings. Strolling along cobblestone streets or opting for a horse-drawn carriage ride unveils the elegance of the French Quarter, adorned with pastel houses that create a perfect setting for an intimate wedding. The locals, embodying warm hospitality, add a special touch to your celebration, and each street carries its unique personality, revealing facets of a well-preserved historic city. For those captivated by Charleston’s allure, planning and booking elopement logistics well in advance is key.
At Simply Eloped, we offer a range of Charleston, South Carolina elopement package options tailored for an unforgettable and stress-free wedding experience.
When considering your wardrobe, the climate plays a significant role. The city experiences a subtropical climate with mild winters and warm summers. Coastal breezes can affect temperatures, so layers are advisable. Charleston is generally accessible, but it’s recommended to check specific venues for wheelchair accessibility.
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Why is Charleston awesome
Charleston, with its timeless charm and welcoming atmosphere, is a dream destination for elopements.
Historic Elegance: The city’s well-preserved historic districts provide a backdrop of timeless beauty for your celebration.
Southern Hospitality: Experience warm and welcoming locals who contribute to the genuine charm of your special day.
Picture-Perfect Scenery: From cobblestone streets to horse-drawn carriage rides, Charleston offers a variety of scenic wedding locations for unforgettable wedding photos.
Find your perfect Charleston elopement package
We’re firm believers that there’s magic within each and every wedding that takes place.
SeedStarting Price
You, your SO, and someone to make it official. For couples all about the essentials, the Seed package sets you up for a simply perfect day.
The Sprout package offers a professional officiant, one hour of photography, your Personal Elopement Planner and access to our best-in-class tech platform. Your stress-free elopement starts here!
Why should big weddings have all the fun? If your dream elopement includes an exotic photo sesh, a first-look video, and a dedicated glam team, Oasis is your destination.
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. If you’re considering elopement packages in Charleston, SC, you’ll find plenty of options that can make your day truly special. For capturing those precious moments, hiring a professional photographer is highly recommended to ensure your memories are beautifully captured.
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 a marriage license before it may be issued. Once your marriage license is issued, you must 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 to ensure your wedding ceremony is legally recognized. We’ve got you covered there.
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 is right in the heart of the historic city center and the city trolley is free to ride. For those looking for all-inclusive elopement packages in Charleston, SC, you can find options that fit various budgets.
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. These months offer the most pleasant weather and beautiful scenery, perfect for an intimate celebration.
The biggest annual event 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.
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 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.
We define an elopement as a wedding ceremony with 20 guests or less. Elopements are usually an intimate, high quality, generally outdoors ceremony that is personalized to the couple (as opposed to a traditional cookie-cutter wedding ceremony).
You never know the magical moments that can take place when you're eloping!
We think there are 1000 reasons you should elope, but here are a few of our favorites:
1. We don't believe a wedding has to be stressful. There is far less to coordinate (and we take on most of that wedding planning anyhow), and your realm of responsibility consists of making a few decisions and getting your marriage license. It's hard to beat a wedding that is actually...wait for it...relaxing!
2. Cost-conscious: Let's be honest, there is so much uncertainty right now! Economic recession? Inflation? Rising cost of living? Save your money for a honeymoon or buying a house and still have an intimate wedding ceremony you'll remember for the rest of your lives.
3. A Ceremony should be About YOU and YOUR LOVE:
When did a wedding turn into a party for everyone else? We personalize every aspect of your experience – from the vendors to the vows. We'll even cry real tears with you. We're here to celebrate the core of what makes a wedding ceremony special: you making a lifetime commitment to the one you love. That's a big deal – and we treat it as such.
An elopement package is a bundle of services designed to help couples tie the knot conveniently with one price tag. Elopement packages offer the very basics (like an officiant and venue), but couples can add in a variety of other services, such as an elopement photographer, a musician or flowers.
Simply Eloped has been in business for almost 8 years, and we've married over 13,000 couples. With the combination of our amazing team, nationally renowned wedding vendors, and our innovative technology, we've streamlined the process of planning high-quality, personalized, and cost-conscious ceremonies. We're honored and excited to work with couples to create the most magical day of their lives! Here are a few more reasons why you should choose us:
We've been doing this longer than any elopement company out there— 8 years!
We've performed more ceremonies than any other company—over 13,000 ceremonies.
We personalize every ceremony we do—we don't believe in cookie-cutter weddings.
We vet every team member and vendor to ensure they embody our values and maintain our quality standards.
We're passionate about weddings, and our enthusiasm shines through in everything we do.
We've spent 8 years building our technology, which enables us to do what we love—just better!
Our wedding packages include 20 guests or fewer, but every venue we offer varies in how many guests we're allowed to invite. Just ask us!
We make the process of getting married extremely easy!
We'll work with you to establish your destination, venue, date, time, guest count, and the package you'd like to book with us. Then the rest is on our plate! We offer 250 venues around the US, and in most instances, we coordinate on your behalf.
We'll pair you with exceptional vendors, an elopement planner who will guide you through every step of the process, and set you up with a dashboard where you can manage your elopement day from A to Z.
Your biggest responsibility is getting your marriage license, and we'll handle the rest!
Of course! We have all sorts of packages that can offer whatever vendor you're seeking to hire for. We do not, however, just coordinate a venue. You do need to book a package for the rest of the perks of working with Simply Eloped.
Oh my goodness this is such a personal question and one you and your honey must answer together. We highly encourage you to have a deep heart-to-heart about what you each envision for your big day and discuss what's realistic AND exciting to you both. If you ever need additional guidance, our CEO donates half-hour increments to help you ensure you're asking the right questions. You can learn more about that program by clicking here.
Do you mean to ask how stress-free? Generally, elopements are considered a stressless way of getting married.
Since 82% of the ceremonies we perform are destination weddings, the average planning time is 3-9 months in advance of the ceremony date. However, we've planned as far as three years out and with as little notice as a few days. We're flexible, it's one of our biggest strengths as a company!
A huge reason why we designate our ceremonies as twenty guests or less is because we definitely want your clan to be in attendance (should you desire them to be). But once you have more than 20 people, you really start needing infrastructure. Larger groups begin to require things like chairs, ample parking, multiple bathrooms, etc. At that point, you really need a venue that can support larger groups, which is where the cost really begins to add up. Not to mention, it requires more and more vendors to manage larger groups.
While an elopement costs $1,000 to $5,000, the average cost of a traditional wedding in the US is $35,000. That's a big difference! We highly encourage you to ascertain what's the best route for you!
Yes! At Simply Eloped we offer over 250 venues (private venues, national, city and state parks, etc) around the nation! While there are some venues that prefer to work directly with couples, we coordinate any that we are able. Just ask!
That hugely depends on the date, time of year, or budget you have in mind. Simply Eloped is here to help you find the best place to say “I Do”!
You can use our venue finder to help you determine the best fit for you!
Absolutely! Whether or not your venue is in a destination we offer, we can definitely do our best to provide vendors or a team based on the services and experiences you're after.
When you're using our quote request process, a lot of the venue fees are grouped into the final package offering. That's why you may be unable to see a line item or specific breakdown of how much the venue costs. If the venue requires you to make the reservation, we let you know in our quote builder how much that costs and how to do that. Everything else is included in the package quote. Just one less thing for you to worry about.
If you cancel services with us your deposit is nonrefundable. The reason for this is the moment you book our services, we get to work! Your Customer Experience Rep will start the wedding planning process; we'll introduce you to your vendors and team; we even get started on coordinating with a venue or a permit. Because of this, there is a lot of time and often upfront costs that we front as soon as you book with us. When you cancel your booking with us, that doesn't change the time or money we invested to begin the planning process for your wedding day. Thank you for understanding! If you need to postpone, change your venue/date/time, your deposit remains as your placeholder. There are no penalties or fees to change details for your elopement. Our deposits range from only $250 to $450.
Simply Eloped is by far the most flexible wedding company in the nation! Because we are set up in over thirty destinations in the US, not only can we postpone your big day at any time, but we can also easily move from one destination to another! There are no fees or consequences to postponing with us? we understand sometimes life just happens!
Yes! When we save your invoice you have the opportunity to pay in installment payments at 0% APR, and in any amount you like. Just ask us!
We are not fans of hidden fees, and we do our best to be as transparent as possible. If you have more than 20 guests or desire additional services, there may be added fees. However, we are always communicative about them and give you the opportunity to work with us!
For some services like our hair & makeup, if you happen to be staying at a hotel or Airbnb outside of our area, there may be fees to get our hair & makeup artist to where you are. You just never know how far away things are in some areas until you are in the planning stages!
There are a lot of variables to consider with whatever type of ceremony you're planning.
82% of the ceremonies we perform are destination, meaning couples don't live in the area they're choosing to get eloped. Therefore, additional costs like airfare, hotel, eating out, and activities are all line items that should be considered in your budget.
No two ceremonies are the same, so be sure to understand all of the costs associated with performing your ceremony prior to booking with any company!
Yes? every state requires you to get a marriage license IN the state you are holding your ceremony. So if you live in Michigan, and are getting married in Hawaii, you'll need to get a license in Hawaii. You will then submit the license to the state of Hawaii and they will mail you a marriage certificate which will then translate to a certificate in the state you live in. If you are holding a symbolic ceremony, you can get a license in your state, but if you intend for your ceremony to be legal you'll need to abide by state guidelines to get your marriage license in the state you are holding your ceremony.
All Simply Eloped packages include 20 guests or less. The reason for this is because when you have more than 20 guests, you end up needing more infrastructure, planning and teamwork from my vendors. While we do have some venues that can support larger groups, we do charge extra for any guests above 20. Short answer? Yes you may, it just increases your cost.
Absolutely! We have a wide variety of vendors in each destination and can definitely work with you to find someone you're excited about. We don't confirm prior to your booking but once you confirm your date, your Customer Experience Rep will be in touch and can guide you through the process of expressing your preference.
For lighting, we recommend holding your elopement ceremony in the morning or in the evening. Direct lighting can create harsh lines or shadows and isn?t very flattering on anyone. We definitely recommend holding your ceremony prior to 11am or after 4pm. Feel free to ask us for timing based on your date and destination!
Due to our nationwide setup, we do not provide custom flowers. If you choose to book a wedding package with us that includes flowers or add-on florals to your custom package, we offer a variety of selections for your florals:
1. Flowers by Palette
We have arrangements based on a color palette, which means the types of flowers may not be exactly as pictured, but the colors and arrangement style will match. You can explore our options for Flowers by Palette here (excluding Hawaii).
2. Hawaiian Arrangements
Hawaii is a unique destination, and we have our stunning tropical arrangements for ceremonies taking place in Hawaii. You can view these arrangements here. Please note that these arrangements are only available in Hawaii.
While no company can legally obtain your marriage license on your behalf, we are very familiar with state guidelines and simplify the process for you by walking you through all of the steps, documentation and information you?ll need to acquire your marriage license. We?re also always here for any questions you may have at any time!
Every state has different guidelines for whether or not you need a legal wedding officiant or any witnesses. When you book our services, we'll send you a guide that walks you through these details on a state-by-state basis. However, *most* states do require an officiant who is registered in the state and a witness or two (which cannot be yourselves or your wedding officiant; but can definitely be your photographer!).
As soon as you book our services, we get to work!
We'll immediately introduce you to your Personal Elopement Planner, who is kind of like your best friend between the date you book and the day you elope! Your Pep will be ensuring every step of the process is smooth and delightful. They will introduce you to your team, answer any questions you have, put your schedule and invoice together, and much more!
We'll also begin the process of personalizing. You'll work with your officiant to ensure your ceremony matches what you envision and dream of. Your photographer will ensure they understand the kind of shots or photos you're hoping for. Your hair & makeup artist will inquire about the style you're going for with your hair and makeup. Your dashboard is also customized to meet your needs.
We offer many tools to help you feel at ease about your decision to book Simply Eloped, including your personalized Elopement Checklist, your marriage license guide, your Wedding Page, and more! You can even make installment payments on your invoice at 0% APR. Weeks prior to your ceremony, we'll send your itinerary with all the details you and your guests need. Your team will meet at your ceremony site, and the rest, as they say, is history.
First off, know that every moment of your elopement day, we are available to you for whatever you need! We're very prompt on timing with floral delivery, hair & makeup, etc.
Your team will always meet at your venue prior to your ceremony time to ensure everyone is collected, introduced, and ready for a gorgeous ceremony right on time. Your officiant will kick off your ceremony and ensure that all of your requests are beautifully exhibited in your personalized ceremony. It's important to note that your dedicated Personal Elopement Planner will not be present at the ceremony, but will definitely be accessible by phone or text for your day-of needs.
Ceremonies generally last 15-20 minutes, which will then kick off into your portrait session with your photographer (if you booked one with us). The main task you need to be mindful of on your wedding day is bringing your marriage license, and we do the rest! 🌼👰🤵
The right answer to this is, whatever you envision! We've seen it all: casual, themed, color Uncoordinated. We think your attire is a great way for you to personalize and make the ceremony your own. (But for inspiration here's a video of some of our favorite and most unique elopement styles we've seen our couples exhibit:
Many of the venues we perform ceremonies at do not have a traditional aisle, but we can definitely create a faux aisle or use the natural settings as a path for you to approach your honey! You?re welcome to have anyone you please walk you down the aisle ? including yourself. We want you to do whatever you feel is right for you!
Absolutely! Just be sure to check with us about what kind of florals (or not) your flower girl can spread at the venue.
Oh we sure do love a first look moment ? they can be so romantic! Be sure to coordinate with us directly if you?re interested in having this moment as it does change the timing of your day. We?ll have to work with your team to ensure everyone is on the same page about the incorporation of that moment.
It's a fair question. When you're bringing people together for an event, there is a chance things can go, not exactly according to plan. We've experienced undesirable weather, popped tires on a vehicle, a global pandemic? we've seen it all! One of the strongest reasons to book Simply Eloped is because we are PROS at adapting and being flexible. We have an armada of backup vendors, a slew of backup venues and we have a contingency plan for whatever comes our way. It goes without saying that we'll be there for you on your big day, no matter what turns our twists happen.
We wish we could control the weather, but alas, there are some things quite simply out of our realm of power.
In our experience, most weather passes quickly, and we can be flexible about timing. However, we do have recommendations or options for indoor venues, and if worst comes to worst, we can move your ceremony to another day. We'll work with you individually in the case of poor weather.
Pro tip: Though weather can be daunting or scary, some of our FAVORITE ceremonies happen in thunder, rain, or snow storms. Being open-minded about undesirable weather can create an extremely memorable ceremony. Sometimes it's all about perspective.
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