If you want a breezy, sunshiney wedding experience, hmmmmmm…. I’ve got you covered! I recommend you elope in South Carolina!
Known for its warm weather, gracious southern charm, beautiful outdoors, and delicious food aplenty, South Carolina offers endless pleasant places to elope and tons of epic adventures during your wedding experience.
As an elopement photographer, I’ve been a part of some awesome weddings all over the country. But let me tell you, South Carolina has some really special spots. ❤️
Keep reading to hear my favorite spots in the state!
Everyone’s go to: Charleston Elopements
If you want to elope in South Carolina, you’re definitely thinking about being close to Charleston or being as far away as possible. (;
Kidding! Don’t write off Charleston so quickly!
Charleston provides a perfect elopement hub, offering a truly central place to access everything you could ever need during your wedding experience. Having a city hub can really smooth out accommodations, vendors, and travel needs during an elopement.
But on the other hand, Charleston is a major city, so if you’re not careful, things can lean more urban. (If urban is your style, check out this inspiration session…super cool).
One Charleston idea I want to highlight is vows on the water.
Unexpected? Maybe! Exciting? Yes! In all the right ways! A feast for the senses? Hmmmmmm! Deliciously so!
Charleston Sailing Adventures and Om Sailing Charters offer coast-side tours, sunset cruises, and private charter we can build into your perfect elopement, proposal, or engagement session out on the water! The opportunity to get on the water without having to have any sailing skills gets you access to sightseeing, relaxation, fun, and if you’re lucky, see some of the area’s famous dolphin friends 😊
This adventure gives you a chance to get married near your city hub without getting caught up in the traditional or mundane. (the best of both worlds!) Imagine saying your vows while the seaside wind billows in your hair and the waves against the boat gently sway you two as you snuggle. There isn’t anything better than an ocean breeze and sunshine on your skin!
A couple of elopement locations with it all
Lake Jocassee
In the city of Salem, SC within Devil’s Fork State Park lives this amazing body of water. Lake Jacossee offers you clean water and it’s rugged banks. If you’d like to have some water adventures during your elopement, like kayaking or paddleboarding, you can rent some to use! Or if you just want to be near the water, you can hike around the trails within the lush green forest.
Sam and Zach showed the magic of getting to elope in South Carolina and on Lake Jocassee:
You have to check out this Treehouse, too. It’s totally epic and a perfectly romantic place to stay when you elope in South Carolina.
Mountain Rest
Mountain Rest is a perfect central spot for an outdoor enthusiast. Scenic byways, Big Ben Falls, Chattooga River, rushing rapids, fishing, waterfalls, hiking, climbing, horse trails, endless possibilities.
If you’re a couple that is all about the great outdoors, Mountain Rest is the place to elope in South Carolina.
Some chase sunsets, we chase waterfalls for elopements.
When planning to elope in South Carolina, an awesome adventure location is the North West of the state and go waterfall chasing! There are multiple and they are fairly close together. See what I mean?
Here are some of my favorite falls, each offering something a little different:
- Riley Moore Falls — A short (12 feet), but wide (100 feet) waterfall found after a 1-mile hike.
- Twin Falls — Two waterfalls, one at 75 feet tall, and big granite slabs. Only a .3-mile hike.
- Reedy Branch Falls — A secluded cove with a 30-foot fall and a .2-mile gravel road hike.
- Issaqueena Falls — A historic 100-foot fall with awesome lore. .4- mile hike.
Elopements at South Carolina Beaches.
When you think of South Carolina beaches the first thing you think about is probably Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head…which is totally an option. But unless you have some kind of sentimental attachment, Myrtle Beach isn’t the most romantic spot…
Another popular South Carolina beach is Folly Beach on Folly Island, right off the coast of Charleston. This spot has a bit more charm than Myrtle Beach, but what if I told you that there were better options?
The beach spots mentioned above are popular spots. And trust me when I say that there is nothing worse than a shirtless jogger running through your ceremony. (;
If you just go a bit more south, there are some awesome, more intimate beach options! Like Kiawah Island and Beaufort.
Another great beach to think about when you’re going to elope in South Carolina is Huntington Island State Park – it’s way less busy than Florida but a bit more classic charm than Alabama’s beaches.
A Forest Scene Elopement Location
Another great elopement location in South Carolina is one of the 6 state forests or one of the 47 state parks. If being surrounded by green plant life, you’ll want to take a look at some of these options.
Let me heed you a warning: plantations.
One wild thing that has happened in the wedding industry is to romanticize the idea of getting married on a plantation. Some historical plantations do provide stunning visuals, but the brutal history isn’t something to be overlooked.
The fact is, plantation weddings aren’t okay, in their traditional sense.
Here’s an article to share more about the problem of plantation locations.
I read this article about a new initiative to happen with efforts to reclaim plantations.
It ultimately comes down to being aware of the history of the place you may be considering. There isn’t really a need to get married at a plantation, but if you have to then please do so responsibly. Seek something that accurately shares the history, amplifies Black voices, and increases financial gain to Black communities.
If you’re up for South Carolina, I would love to help you plan it and memorialize it. As an adventure elopement photographer and elopement concierge, I’m up for any adventure and know how to make it happen!
Take a look at my services here.
If you aren’t seeing what you’re looking for in South Carolina, you can check out these other state options:
I offer all kinds of photography. My intention is to capture real families in real moments making incredible memories together. If that is your vibe, no matter what kind of photography you need, I would love to talk.
