Top 6 Lowcountry Wedding Venues for Brides who Need Oak Trees and Spanish Moss in their Lives in Charleston, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach and Savannah. We’ve done the work for you, check out these dreamy spots in South Carolina and Georgia.
Tips to Booking Your Wedding Venue
Savannah Yacht Club Wedding from Jen & Chris Creed Photography
Fanci + Carl {Dunes Golf and Beach Club Wedding}
My husband is known around these parts for his rendition of, 'I Hope You Dance." To be honest, the boy gives Ms. Lee Ann Womack a run for her money. Just kidding but boy, does he like to belt it out! So, needless to say, I was totally over-the-moon when Lee Ann's face showed up in this gorgeous Myrtle Beach affair from Paula Player Photography! The country singer was on hand to see her darling cousin say 'I do' and, of course, sing a few notes! The adorable couple, Fanci + Carl, tied the knot this past Fall at one of our favorite Lowcountry venues, the Dunes Golf and Beach Club, in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. In addition to the talented Paula Player, the newlyweds enlisted the help of Myrtle Beach's finest wedding vendors to pull off their Big Day. The team at Stunning & Brilliant Events designed and executed the entire evening to a tee while the amazing crew from Blossoms Events was behind the jaw dropping floral arrangements. All and all it was the perfect Lowcountry wedding!
Check out their wedding trailer from Hart to Hart Media here!
Myrtle Beach Wedding Vendors
Photographer:Paula Player Photography / Hair Stylist: Perfect Reflections / Event Planner: Stunning & Brilliant Events, LLC / Floral Designer: Blossoms Events / Reception Venue: Dunes Golf & Beach Club / Cinema and Video: Hart to Heart Media / Dress Store: The Little White Dress / Cake Designer: Priceless Desserts / Lighting: Globaltruth Entertainment / Paper Props: A Little Something Detailed
Danielle + Adam {Jekyll Island Wedding} Brooke Roberts Photography
Who's up for a little slice of Lowcountry wedding heaven? Anyone? Anyone?...Bueller? Well don't worry your pretty little heads because, as usual, the talented team at Brooke Roberts Photography has quite the treat for us today. After Adam popped the question to his beautiful bride-to-be Danielle, the Chicago residents jumped right into the mix of wedding planning. They quickly settled on an intimate Summer affair off the stunning Georgia coast. They said their 'I do's' in a quaint ceremony at the Faith Chapel on the grounds of the Historic Jekyll Island Club. After, the newlyweds slipped away for some images along the shores of the dreamy Driftwood Beach. They continued the celebration at Latitudes 31 Restaurant on the Jekyll Wharf as guests enjoyed the jaw dropping surroundings and fabulous food!
Wedding Vendors
Photographer: Brooke Roberts Photography / Ceremony:Faith Chapel at Jekyll Island Club / Florist: Winn Dixie / Hair Stylist: Studio 412 / Dress: David's Bridal / Reception Venue: Latitude 31 Restaurant / Cake Designer: mary a daniels
Heritage Plantation Wedding in Pawleys Island from Richard Ellis Photography
Pawleys Island is a hidden gem on the Lowcountry coast. It's a short drive from Myrtle Beach and just North of Charleston. It's home to the stately Heritage Plantation, a beautiful wedding venue situated between the Atlantic coast and the laid back Waccamaw River and it was the perfect spot for Ashley + Scott's Fall affair. Ashley went with a classic neutral color palette that florist, Tommy Newman, translated into gorgeous ceremony and reception decor. The Plantation was a picturesque backdrop for their dreamy day and our fab friends at Richard Ellis Photography were on hand to capture every single moment. After a touching ceremony, the guests were treated to dazzling evening under the Spanish moss with a cool Lowcountry breeze. Thanks for sharing your beautiful Heritage Plantation wedding!
Photography: Richard Ellis Photography / Florist: Tommy Newman / Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Heritage Plantation / Planner: Jennifer Aiken / Cake Designer: Pawleys Island Bakery / Entertainment: Heartbeat of Soul
Specialty Drinks for Southern Weddings in Charleston, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach
Wedding season is upon us and for all of you Spring and Summer brides looking for the perfect tasty libation to welcome your guests, look no further! We've rounded up plenty of options. Charleston, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach are blessed with the beautiful Lowcountry landscape that lends itself way to jaw dropping wedding venues that offer one-of-a-kind views on the water. These coastal spots will naturally put wedding guest into a celebratory mood, so your choice of food and beverage needs to share the same spirit. Welcoming your guests with a killer specialty drink will get the party started!
Blood Orange Margarita
The Brooklyn Beauty
Raspberry Beer Cocktail
Pineapple Mint Rum Punch
Pomegranate Spritzer
Meyer Lemonade with Rosemary
Blackberry Sage Cooler
...and who could forget our favorite Lowcountry specialty?
A John Daly - Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and Lemonade
Oceanside Edisto Beach Wedding from Julie Napear Photography
Hope everyone enjoyed a rainy weekend with friends at the Charleston Wine + Food Festival! We're back at this week with a laid back, oceanside Edisto Beach wedding from the talented Julie Napear Photography. Edisto is a beautiful coastal jewel that is about an hour from Charleston and two from Hilton Head...it's the perfect location for a low-key affair with some seriously breathtaking views. The couple, Adrienne + Sean, met while living in the Bay Area and decided a Lowcountry wedding was a must for their August nuptials. They wanted something simple and touching and that's exactly what they got! Their ceremony was held on the beach with standing room only before they headed back inside for an evening of dancing.
Jamie + Mike {Miami Engagement} Stay Forever Photography
Have you heard the big news!? Charleston Weddings is teaming up with three of the Lowcountry's top wedding vendors for some crazy giveaways and all you have to do is enter by April 2nd. For starters, how do you feel about a send off brunch for up to 23 guests at Isle of Palm's Wild Dunes? Next, you could win hair and makeup for your entire wedding party from Tabula Rasa Bridal Salon and last, but certainly not least, one heck of a wedding video package valued up to 5,000! So, ladies...get cracking and enter today! To kick off this gorgeous Thursday, we're sharing Jamie + Mike's gorgeous Miami Engagement Session from Stay Forever Photography. The couple spent the afternoon at the elegant Deering Estate for a very eventful day under the fabulous palms.
{Casey + Matt} Black Ankle Vineyard Wedding
Windows on the Waterway {Kam + Jason} Hilton Head Weddings
Charleston Weddings {Nikki + Shane} Francis Marion Hotel
You know we love some Charleston weddings, especially when killer photographers are involved. This past April, the Lowcountry was graced with a visit from the talented destination duo of Kate Botwinski Photography. The husband and wife team traveled all the way to the Holy City to capture the fabulous Spring wedding of Nikki + Shane. The ladies spent the morning getting all dolled up thanks to the crew at Stella Nova and the magical brushes of Andrew C. Petersen. Nikki looked flawless in her stunning Monique Lhullier gown while her husband-to-be looked dapper in his dress blues. They kicked off the perfect Saturday afternoon with a traditional Catholic ceremony at the grand Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. After saying 'I do', the couple hopped in a carriage for a gorgeous photo session at The Battery & White Point Gardens with their bridal party. The evening continued with a jaw-dropping reception at Downtown's lavish Francis Marion Hotel where the newlyweds revealed a showstopping first dance that got the party started! 
Photographer: Kate Botwinski Photography / Ceremony Venue: The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist / Reception Venue: The Francis Marion Hotel / Dress Designer: Monique Lhuiller / Shoes: Zappos / Hair Designer: Stella Nova / Makeup: Andrew C. Petersen / Stationery: Dee Ruel / Bridesmaids Dresses:After Six by Dessy / Floral Designer: OK Florist / Videographer: That Frank Guy / Cake Designer: Artistic Cakes by Linda / Linens: Covers by Nicole / Entertainment: Super Deluxe
Erin + Steve {Briar Patch B&B} Virginia Wedding Vendors
I've been in love with Erin + Steve's Southern wedding since the day their photographer Julie Napear sent it my way. You can tell Erin is just over-the-moon to be marrying the man of her dreams. Her smile is so genuine and she is exuding happiness the entire day. The couple tied the knot in a quaint ceremony at Virginia's Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast Inn in front of a small crowd of only 16 guests. Their officiant allowed everyone to become involved by passing around the rings before the couple exchanged them. Erin was dying to show off the spinning power of her enchanting gown (and who can blame her!), so Steve obliged by twirling his beaming bride. After an evening of laughter, dancing and fabulous food, Julie grabbed one more shot of the couple in the rain before they headed to their cottage.
Photographer: Julie Napear Photography / Hair Stylist: Stephanie Novak Artistry / Caterer: Six Star Catering / Floral Designer: Flowers by Snellings / Reception Venue: Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast Inn
Whitney + Josh {Whitehall Manor Wedding} Stephen Gosling Photography
This past July, darling bride Whitney and her maids arrived on the grounds of the Historic Whitehall Manor to prepare for her beautiful Southern Wedding shot by the talented Stephen Gosling Photography. This 200 year old venue is located right at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Northern Virginia and makes for a charming backdrop. On the steps of the picturesque Manor, Whitney + Josh exchanged vows in a sweet, touching ceremony in front of their dearest friends and family. Whitney dazzled guests in a charming strapless gown that she paired with a classic strand of pearls and a gorgeous summer bouquet from Lavender Green English Floral Design while her ladies sported a shade of burgundy. After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their bridal party posed for some gorgeous rustic portraits before joining their guest for toasting and dancing! We love this beautiful Whitehall Manor Wedding!
Wedding Vendors
Photographer: Stephen Gosling Photography / Catering: Celebrations Catering / Floral Designer: Lavender Green English Floral Design / Ceremony and Reception Venue: Historic Whitehall / Bakery: Joy's Cake Studio
Dusty + Travis {California Wedding} Michelle Johnson Photography
Oh, hey Friday! I've been waiting for you to get here all week! With the unseasonably warm winter we've been having, I felt like today would be the perfect day to share a vibrant California wedding. Dusty + Travis became man and wife this past June and their photographer, Michelle Johnson, shared a few sweet details...
" Dusty and Travis have the sweetest love. They adore the country and they put the sweetest details into their do it yourself wedding day. From the rustic signs, to the sweet love cake display, this wedding was magical. The bride Dusty entered the private estate on a horse drawn carriage. The vintage dresser at the end of the aisle was filled with family photos and candles. The hand made seating chart was absolutely adorable. This country wedding was just beautiful."
Brittani {Venue Selection)
Brittani is friend of A Lowcountry Wedding and we're so excited to have her gues! Today, she's filling us in on how she selected her perfect Lowcountry Wedding Venue. Sidenote: Brittani is also an extremely talented photographer. Currently, she is giving away free wedding photography. So, for all you newly engaged brides, check out Britt Croft Photography for all the exciting details!
Hey ALW! It’s so good to be back and I’m excited to use this second post in my guest blogging series to talk a lot more about Dustin and I’s actual wedding. In case you missed the first post about us and our story, you can find it here.
After we got engaged and I moved south, my mom came to visit and I knew it would be the perfect time to start the venue search. To me, the venue and the photographer were two of the most important parts of the wedding (besides saying “I Do” to the man of my dreams of course!).
In the months between our engagement (March) and when my mom came to visit (August), I’d been scouring wedding blogs and using Pinterest to put together lots of inspiration boards that gave a good feel for the colors, vibe, and “look” we wanted, and how we could use décor to really make our Charleston wedding feel like us. I knew it was really important to have a general theme decided on, and based off of who we are and what we like to do together we knew a “rustic lowcountry” wedding would suit us perfectly.
It was important to nail down a way to describe our wedding before looking at venues because it’s key to make sure that the venue you choose will accommodate that style. For us, a church wedding and ballroom reception just wouldn’t fit. People would show up and say, “I thought we were coming to Dustin and Britt’s wedding?!” because that’s how not “us” that would be. When it really came down to what we couldn’t live without, this was our list: to get married outside, to have a semi-outdoors reception, to have the ceremony and reception at the same location, preferably to marry in the fall, and to have a lot of coastal and rustic South Carolina charm naturally at the venue location.
After tons of research, two days of my mom and I driving around the lowcountry, and a Twitpic of each stop, the top venues were: Boone Hall Cotton Dock in Charleston, The Pavilion at Pepper Plantation in Charleston, and Honey Horn Plantation on Hilton Head Island. Before long Dustin and I had narrowed it down to Honey Horn and Pepper Plantation and I just knew we couldn’t go wrong either way. They are both such amazing locations that offered exactly what we wanted, but on a whim I decided to take Dustin and his mom to see the Pavilion at Pepper Plantation because I just had a feeling he would love how masculine and rustic the Pavilion is. To see how excited he was about it – that was it! He’d had the “you handle it honey, I’ll love whatever you love” approach to the wedding so far, so to see how much he loved this location, I knew that was the one. We are so excited about how PERFECT this location is for us! We’ll get married on the back side of the pavilion by the small lake, and our reception will be in the Pavilion, but guests will easily be able to spend tons of time outside on the lawn, in the gazebo on the lake, on the amazing deep lowcountry porches, or in front of one of the giant rustic fireplaces! It’s going to be beautiful!
When it was time to nail down a date, the Pavilion was already mostly booked up for fall 2012, but we had about three openings to choose from – one in late August, one in September, and one in November. When choosing a date, there’s many other important factors to consider, such as what is going on in town that time of the year, what will the weather be like (especially important for us getting married outside!), and if other vendors that you really want will be available for that date. The weather was a big concern for us, but after doing checking out trusty Weather.com, we saw that the average temperature in Charleston in September is 82 degrees…which is perfect! Of course I still fear it will be scorching hot or raining that day, but that’s what tents are for and there’s really only but so much we can control – so it will be what it will be!
Along with the weather, another concern was the photographer – obviously since photography is what I do, this was one of the most important, if not the most important decision for us, and a great photographer will often book more than a year out! We were pretty sure which date we wanted at Pepper Plantation, but…you’ll have to wait until my next post to find out which date it is and what photographer sealed the deal for us!
Becca + Kalani {California Engagement}
Bride Becca and her photographer, Brittanee Taylor, decided they just had to put a fun twist on this California couple's engagement session. Becca went all out with the perfect vintage-inspired hair and makeup by A Glamour Bride, a classic floral print dress, darling props and beautiful pink lips. From there, Becca and her man-to-be, Kalani, moseyed on over to Frank G. Bonelli Park for a gorgeous Summer afternoon filled with swoon-worthy lighting and some amazing images. We can't wait to see their wedding!
Ira + Andreas {Hotel Gutshof Wedding}
We couldn't pass up the chance to share Ira + Andreas charming European wedding in Salzgitter, Germany. Their hometown affair was complete with perfect summer weather, a romantic Modeca gown, beautiful horses and a melodious gospel choir. After the ceremony, Gasoline Photography was on hand to capture these soft, dreamy images of the newlyweds in the German countryside. They treated their guests to a gorgeous reception at Hotel Gutshof full of fabulous food, colorful macaroons, a candy bar and a whole lot of dancing thanks to Powerslide Disco!
Vendors
Photographer: Gasoline Photography / Dress Designer: Modeca / Reception Venue: Hotel Gutshof / DJ: Powerslide Disco / Shoes: Rainbow / Men's Attire: Wilvorst / Jewelry: Christ
Kristen + Drake {Dunaway Gardens Wedding}
We're kicking off 2012 with this dreamy Georgia wedding from Kelly Is Nice Photography. The couple, Kristen + Drake, were wed in a beautiful outdoor ceremony on the grounds of Dunaway Gardens in Newnan, Georgia. The bride and her father walked down the aisle to a beautiful rendition of Mark O'Connor's "Appalachia Waltz" from the Candlelight String Quartet. Kristen is nothing short of stunning...I mean, I'm pretty sure she was a Disney princess in a past life, and she looked amazing in her strapless gown. Kristen even created all of the bouquets and boutonnieres herself which is quite a task! The fabulous cake from Cakes by Dawn perfectly complimented the sweet vintage feel of the entire evening.
Vendors
photographer: kelly is nice photography / venue: dunaway gardens / caterer: chick fil-a / musicians: candlelight string quartet / cake designer: cakes by dawn / bridesmaids dresses: etain bridal boutique
Jennifer + Sean {Nashville Wedding}
With the help of some of Nashville's most sought-after wedding vendors, Jennifer + Sean tied the knot this past Fall. The couple hosted fifty of their closest friends and family at one of Nashville's premier wedding venues, CJ's Off The Square. Evin Photography was on hand to capture Jennifer's simple, yet modern wedding with the perfect jewel-toned color palette that was executed by CJ's on-site wedding planner, Amy Parman. The bride looked stunning in her Casablanca gown from The White Room that was accessorized with a fabulous pair of pink heels. The maids sported blue, knee-length Alfred Sung dresses from Arzelles that were paired with vibrant bouquets from the Carriage House. The entire bridal party looked flawless thanks to talents of Amy Lynn Larwig (makeup) and Melissa Taylor (hair).
Tell us a little bit about how you met your husband. How long have you known each other? Where did you meet?
I met my husband at Kroger where I began working in 2005 . He was assigned to train me (set up by him and his manager) and we have been together ever since. It was our six and a half anniversary we when got married on October 9th.
How did he propose? How long were you engaged for?
In the summer of 2010, he took an internship in California for two months. He drove his car out there and I was flying out there to make to trip back to Tennessee with him. When I arrived in California, we had an entire day planned of sites to see since I had never been there. We had been talking a lot about getting married and I even picked out my perfect engagement ring before he had left. I was REALLY hoping that he would propose to me at some point during our trip back home. We went to all the places we had planned to see and he said he wanted to take me to Venice beach. We got there and were walking along the beach when he stopped and gave me the longest hug ever. He then got on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was the PERFECT place to get engaged!
Jennifer's favorite image of the day...
Your wedding was filled with gorgeous details. Did any have special meaning? What was your favorite?
I cannot say that there is one specific thing from my wedding that was perfect. I know that everyone says this, but I truly feel that every part of our wedding was perfect!
How did you choose your venue?
We wanted a small wedding with close family and friends. We knew that we wanted a venue that had a very intimate atmosphere and CJ's Off the Square in downtown was perfect! I also liked that at CJ's the ceremony and reception were at the same venue.
Color palette: We chose a palette of jewel toned colors. There was blue, purple, and pink incorporated throughout the ceremony and reception site. We also used charcoal gray table clothes with white chairs and linens so that the rich colors in the table arrangements would stand out. We wanted a modern and simple atmosphere.
Tell us a little bit about your menu...
We wanted a menu that everyone could enjoy, so we chose to have eight heavy hors d'oeuvres. I was afraid that if we went with a sit down dinner with only two options that some people would not like the food we had chosen. Some hors d'oeuvres that we had were: spinach and artichoke dip, twice baked potatoes, meatballs, praline chicken tenders and fruit skewers. Everyone seemed to love it and I think it was a good choice.
Out of the entire day, what was the most memorable moment?A special moment for me was seeing my grandfather at my wedding. I honestly thought that his medical diagnosis would take him away before our October 9th nuptials. It made me EXTREMELY happy to see him sitting there when I came down the stairs. I was so thankful that he was physically able to be a part of our day! I experienced a lot of memorable moments throughout our wedding. I was excited to be marrying my best friend and the person that I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with!!
Looking back on your engagement and wedding, is there any advice you would give to brides in the planning process?
I would say ENJOY your engagement! The wedding day goes by EXTREMELY fast and I feel like I let the stress of planning a wedding interfere with enjoying our engagement time. I also would suggest to choose a photographer that you want to be around you for your entire wedding day. Our photographer, Evin Krehbiel, was AMAZING!
Vendors
Photographer: Evin Photography / Ceremony and Reception Venue: CJs off the Square / Designer/Planner: Amy Parman / Caterer: A Catered Affair / Lighting: Nashville Event Lighting / Cake: Jessica Dean / Flowers: The Carriage House / Gown: Casablanca. from The White Room / Bridesmaids Dresses: Alfred Sung. from Arzelles / Hair: Melissa Taylor / Makeup: Amy Lynn Larwig / Entertainment: Jason Middleton / Transportation: My dad's 1969 Camaro