Colorful Destination Elopement in Charleston, South Carolina

I absolutely loved everything about this sweet Charleston, South Carolina elopement shoot!

If you’re a fun-loving couple who wants to keep your big day playful and lighthearted, you’ll love this post. I was inspired by the city’s charming candy-colored palette, and we made sure the lovebirds, Katelynn and Austin had a blast exploring Rainbow Row. There are so many ways couples can personalize their weddings with few to zero guest counts. We all took a road trip to the historic district of Charleston during early Summer where we explored the famous streets of Rainbow Row, played in the sand along Folly Beach, they said vows, and rode in the cutest getaway car. I was so grateful to get to document their formal ceremony the following year too!

A BIT ABOUT OUR DAY TOGETHER:

I loved helping plan this, and along with SPF, we didn’t forget some cute stunner star shades to match the vibe and color scheme. Our color palette was intentional in ‘twinning’ with the beautiful pastel colored buildings along the historic streets of downtown Charleston. Not only was the bride’s bouquet a nod to Rainbow Row, but it was full of dried florals. A neat tip for a destination elopement is to get a dried floral bouquet as the flowers will never die, and you can keep it as a sentiment forever! Another fun tip for convenience, and trying something non traditional — substitute a wedding cake for macarons! The couple enjoyed a few macarons we placed in a handmade basket filled with some sweet grass we picked up from the outdoor Charleston market.

Be sure to check out our cutie little details and the vendors below if you love what you see! Katelynn and Austin wore light bright looks that stood out against the summery back drops we found. Before we ventured to the beach, we made cute photos with the famously known ‘Pink Figgy’, Charleston’s rare pink vintage Nissan Figaro. The city is filled with so much history of course, and it’s pretty dreamy discovering the different quaint streets and the aged, yet timeless homes. Charleston truly makes for unique photos and special trips — even if just for 24 hours. Additionally, Folly beach is less than 30 minutes away, and it paired perfectly for our photos together. If you’re planning to elope on the beach here, you can say vows to one another either in the morning, or during sunset. We went to a mostly secluded area where there were less crowds up the beach. Eloping can be sweet and simple. All you need is your pastor/officiant, your favorite photographer, maybe a friend or two – only if you want, and each other! If you’re thinking of eloping, do it, and bring me along!

CONTACT ME, AND LET’S MAKE DREAMY PICS TOGETHER

A BIT ABOUT CHARLESTON AND HOW TO PLAN YOUR ELOPEMENT THERE:

Charleston is one of South Carolina’s most beautiful cities for planning photos. Defined by its cobblestone streets, antebellum houses, and horse drawn carriage rides, this city has plenty of charm and history for an ideal place to visit. The city is full of art and culture too. There are endless options for how to spend your day there. You can spend time at Battery Park, eat at at one of the many yummy seafood restaurants, stroll along the historic homes and enjoy lots of shopping. One of my favorite things to do in Charleston is walk through the City Market and shop local. You can also leave the city and spend the day at the beach.

Some of the best months to go are late March, April, May, June, October and November. These months can have good weather but March can be rainy. If possible, I’d recommend eloping on a weekday because Charleston is a very popular tourist spot. Weekends can be quite busy!

Once you pick a date with your photographer, get your marriage license, book your officiant, then pick your florals and outfits, you’re good to go. Here are a few places you can check out for an official ceremony site for eloping:

White Point Gardens, Angel Oak Tree, Cypress Gardens, Washington Square, Dogwood Downs

Pelican Watch Pavilion in Folly Beach, The Lake House at Bulow

AN EXAMPLE TIMELINE FOR AN ELOPEMENT DAY:

11:00am – Brunch & explore the Historic District — OR road trip to Charleston all ready in hair & makeup
3:00pm – Hair & Makeup at Hotel/Airbnb
4:00pm – Head to Rainbow Row for pics
5:00pm – Walk around and explore the Battery, maybe stop for a few refreshers & yummy treats
6:30pm – Head to Folly Beach
7:00pm – Ceremony at Folly Beach
7:30pm – Picnic with cake/treats & champagne on the beach
8:30pm – Sunset

There are no rules to how you structure your elopement day, but a timeline is important so you don’t lose track of time. I always create a customized timeline of your day so that we can do everything you want to do!