Elope to South Carolina

Charleston, Myrtle Beach and other spots!

Ah, to elope in South Carolina, home of charming, quaint towns with moss-shaded streets, and picturesque resort islands with championship golf courses. We've looked around and spotted some cool venues offering wedding packages just perfect for eloping couples.

Charleston, SC and Nearby Beaches

The Charleston area is a great place for an elopement ceremony, whether it's in Charleston itself, or one of the nearby beaches of Kiawah Island, Folly Beach or Isle of Palms. The Wentworth Mansion Charleston is for couples who want to be married in opulent surroundings, boasting hand-carved marble fireplaces and Tiffany stained glass windows. The Wentworth Mansion has won numerous awards over the years, having been included on the prestigious "best of" lists of Fodor's, Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler. The Wentworth Mansion provides several spaces for small weddings, including The cupola outside, which is available for 6 to 8 people. For more information, you can email nrussell@charminginns.com.

For an inexpensive elopement wedding in Charleston, consider the Lowcountry Wedding Chapel on James Island, just minutes from Charleston's historic downtown district. They offer several small wedding packages, including the "Just The Two of Us" package for $425 (as of October, 2011). With this package you get the chapel for half an hour, as well as a minister. This package is just for two, so no guests will be allowed. If you have up to 5 guests, go for their "An Intimate Occasion" package which includes a minister, music, photographer for $595. Again, these prices are as of October, 2011. Go to their website at charlestonchapel.com for more current pricing.

If you're looking for a romantic beach elopement location in the Charleston area, consider the "Elopement on Morris Island" package offered through Water's Edge Inn on Folly Beach, 15 minutes from Charleston. You'll have the Morris Island Lighthouse as your backdrop, as well as receive the following:

• 2 nights’ accommodations
• boat transportation to Morris Island
• 1 hour photo session with photo DVD
• Services of an Officiant
• Cake and champagne

As of October, 2011, the price of this elopement package is $1299.  For more info and current pricing go to innatfollybeach.com.

Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach has the distinction of being one of the most popular beaches on the East Coast. And, with the large number of world-class golf courses and hotels with gorgeous ocean views, it's easy to see why.  It's a great place to honeymoon! But, first you have to get married, right? So, why not consider an elopement ceremony at Wedding Chapel by the Sea, which offers both indoor and outdoor ceremonies. For indoor weddings, the Chapel offers two wedding chapels to choose from, each featuring antique hardwood pews and stained-glass windows. For outdoor weddings you have your choice of a seaside wedding, or a gazebo waterfall wedding, where you'll say "I do" in a gazebo amidst a waterfall and moss-draped oaks.

The Chapel offers numerous elopement and wedding packages; the cheapest being a $150 ceremony for bride and groom only. This price may have changed since the publishing of this page, so do go to their website at weddingchapelbythesea.com for more details.

Lowcountry and Resort Islands

The Lowcountry and Resort Islands are home to some of the most popular destinations in South Carolina:

• Hilton Head Island
• Edisto Island
• City of Beaufort
• Town of Bluffton
• Town of Yemassee

Just across the bridge from famous Hilton Head Island you'll find Bluffton, which delights visitors with its historic downtown district, antebellum homes and old churches. Bluffton is also home to the Palmetto Bluff Resort, which, in the past few years, has been awarded numerous accolades, including:

• AAA Five-Diamond Award
• Rated No. 7 Best Resort in Continental U.S. and Canada by Travel + Leisure
• Condé Nast Traveler Gold List - World's Best Places to Stay
• Andrew Harper's Hideaway Readers' Choice - No. 7 Top Hideaway
• Rated No.1 Best Hotel Spa by Travel + Leisure
• Condé Nast Traveler Top Golf Resorts - Rated No. 4 in Southern United States

With accolades like this you'd expect the Palmetto Bluff Resort to specialize in grand weddings. They do. But, they also offer eloping couples the opportunity to hold a small wedding at one of the most elegant wedding destinations in South Carolina. Their elopement package is designed for up to 12 guests, which includes a ceremony in their waterside chapel, a 5-course wine pairing dinner, and two-nights in a river-view cottage. It's not cheap ($9,650 as of October 2011), but if you've got the bucks and want an elegant elopement wedding, this is the place to have it. This package is available only during the months of December - February and July - August.  For more info, go to their website at palmettobluffresort.com.

Another wonderful Lowcountry eloping destination is the Beaufort Inn, located in Beaufort, SC. Beaufort has the distinction of being named by Southern Living Magazine as "Favorite Small Southern Town", where couples in love can take in the charming Southern sites in a romantic horse-drawn carriage or walk arm-in-arm through the award-winning Waterfront Park.  Located one block from the park, Beaufort Inn boasts some cool, romantic features: Fireplaces; cast iron soaking tubs; porches; verandas; balconies; and a garden courtyard.

The Beaufort Inn also has its share of awards, including appearing on the Gold List from Conde Nast Traveler, and being named  one of the "Top 10 Most Romantic Inns" by I LOVE INNS. They specialize in weddings from small elopements to weddings of up to 250 guests. For info on what they offer eloping couples, contact them at events@beaufortinn.com.

South Carolina Upcountry and Pendleton District

South Carolina Upcountry and Pendleton District is located in northern South Carolina, where you'll find the Blue Ridge Mountains, Chattooga National Wild & Scenic River, a ton of waterfalls, and Campbell's Covered Bridge, which is the only covered bridge remaining in South Carolina.

It's also in this area you'll find Magnolia Manor Bed & Breakfast, located in Westminster, SC. This B&B features 19 rooms, and is situated on 3 1/2 acres with gardens and a large pond. While they specialized in an all -inclusive 100-guest wedding, they also offer an intimate ceremony followed by a champagne toast, a special dinner and wedding cake for eloping couples. They offer packages from  2 - 250 people,  so if it's just the two of you, definitely call them at 864-647-8559 for more details.

Also take a look at the city of Landrum, which is situated with the Blue Ridge Mountains as your backdrop. The Red Horse Inn is located in Landrum, and is definitely worth your consideration. In addition to receiving 4 Diamonds from AAA, the Red Horse Inn has received other accolades as well, Including:

• Being named "Best Honeymoon or Anniversary Getaway" by Inn Traveler Magazine
• Called one of the top 25 "Best Undiscovered Incredibly Romantic Inns" by BedAndBreakfast.com
• Recipient of the "Best of B&Bs South Carolina" Award from UpTake.com

You can choose a ceremony either indoors or outdoors. If the weather's nice, go for the Grand Terrace , or the West Arbor, which features wisteria and grape vines. The Red Horse Inn offers a couple elopement packages, including the "Enchanted Elopement," which is a simple ceremony for just the two of you for only $150 (as of October, 2011). You do have to stay in a room or cottage for two nights to receive this package. The other elopement package is the "Enhanced Elopement" package, which includes a cottage for two nights, bouquet of flowers or boutonniere, and a private candlelight dinner. Prices start at $940, depending on the cottage you choose. These prices are as of October, 2011. For more info, go to theredhorseinn.com. 

Synonyms: Elopin, elpoing, elopnig, and loping are all popular typos for eloping. Elopeent, elopmnt, elopemet, eopement and elopemen are all popular typos for elopement