Destination Weddings in Charleston

For a couple planning a wedding, Charleston is the place that is guaranteed to capture their hearts. With all her charm and warmth, no other city can offer a setting as enchanting as Charleston.

A destination wedding, in which the couple travels (either alone or with family and friends) to a special place to get married, is a growing trend that offers appealing possibilities for the event—and for several good reasons.

It's easy. Who wouldn't rather spend the day before the wedding relaxing on the beach instead of running around with last-minute errands? Many hotels and resorts offer wedding packages that take care of the details.

It's intimate. The destination wedding provides not only a unique ambiance for the couple, but also a vacation opportunity for the guests and the wedding party. Usually held over a long weekend, it provides a relaxed time with family and friends.

It's often less expensive. With fewer guests than at the typical hometown wedding, plus the all-inclusive deals at most hotels and resorts, destination weddings can create a memorable occasion without breaking the bank.

Consistently ranked a top destination for romantic getaways, Charleston offers a mixture of old-world charm and sophisticated flavor, offering the best of past and present. Well-known for her gracious Southern hospitality, Charleston also boasts a wide variety of venues and a host of professional services that can help make that special day flawless.

The city has an assortment of ideal venues to fit your dream wedding—whether it's before a breathtaking sunset on one of Charleston's historic plantations or under live oaks draped with Spanish moss or among the sand and surf of the Atlantic Ocean.

Because Charleston is such a popular wedding destination—about half the marriage licenses in Charleston County are issued to visitors—there are more and more wedding service providers in the area. The city boasts an array of professional event planners, caterers, photographers, musicians and florists, many offering customized services to meet your needs.

Charleston is also one of the most popular choices for honeymoons. Combining a wedding and honeymoon in the same destination adds value and alleviates some of the stress of traveling.

Whether you choose to celebrate your honeymoon with seclusion or action, the area offers a range of accommodations and activities to meet your needs. You can enjoy shopping, sports, art, sightseeing, golf, dining, nature, historic sites, gardens, scenic roads and beaches. With careful planning, the event is sure to be a memorable one.

Here are a few tips to make the event flow as smoothly as possible:

Be creative. By definition, the destination wedding is not conventional. You've already altered expectations, so people will not be anticipating the typical wedding template. Dare to dream big.

Heads-up to guests. A save-the-date card should be sent out in advance to allow guests time to plan for travel. It would also be helpful to send additional information (including links to websites) on general details of the event, as well as accommodations and attractions to see.

Plan the packing. Get advice from a dressmaker on the best way to pack the dress for travel. If flying, try to carry it on, along with any other wedding items that might be difficult to replace on short notice if they were lost. If anything needs to be shipped, be sure to allow plenty of time for delivery.

Location contact. Even when planning a do-it-yourself destination wedding, it's helpful to have someone in Charleston coordinate some of the details. Wedding and event planners are well versed in handling long-distance arrangements. The hotel's concierge or the reception site can also provide recommendations for specific tasks.

Know the terrain. A city map can help plan the logistics of the event. It's also a good idea to send maps to guests and members of the wedding party well in advance so they'll have time to study the locale.

Don't overplan for guests. Remember that it's a vacation for everyone. Leave plenty of time for guests to discover Charleston's charm and beauty on their own.

View our guide to wedding services available in Charleston.

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