How Much Is a Charleston / Lowcountry Wedding? Costs, Venues & Scores

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Charleston / Lowcountry wedding destination

Why it stands out

Scenery9.6Vendors9.5Venues9.4

Charleston is consistently ranked among America's top wedding destinations for good reason, its historic streetscapes and Lowcountry venues photograph like nowhere else. Costs and summer humidity are the trade offs. Best for couples who want a classic Southern destination wedding with serious aesthetic ambition.

Avg. wedding cost

$35,000

Weddings / year

10,000+

Annual rainfall

50 in / year

Read our blog entry on Charleston / Lowcountry

How Charleston / Lowcountry scores

Overall affordability3.8/10

Charleston has become one of the most expensive Southern wedding markets due to popularity.

Guest travel convenience7.4/10

Charleston International has solid East Coast connections; major hubs are short connections away.

Weather and seasonality6.4/10

Mild long shoulder seasons; humid summers and hurricane risk in late summer/fall.

Scenery and overall vibe9.6/10

Cobblestone streets, plantation oaks dripping Spanish moss, and historic homes are unmatched.

Venue options nearby9.4/10

Iconic plantation venues, historic mansions, waterfront estates, and rooftop ballrooms.

Lodging availability7.8/10

Robust hotel inventory but peak-season pricing is steep.

Legal and logistical simplicity8.0/10

South Carolina rules are straightforward with a 24-hour waiting period.

Accessibility and inclusivity7.6/10

Charleston's wedding scene is increasingly inclusive though some plantation venues have moved away from antebellum aesthetics.

Vendor ecosystem9.5/10

Among the deepest specialty wedding vendor scenes in the South.

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Featured venue

The Cedar Room

Charleston, South Carolina

Located in Charleston’s restored 1881 Cigar Factory, The Cedar Room blends exposed brick walls, historic wood columns and large windows with a courtyard overlooking the Cooper River for an airy Lowcountry celebration.

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Editorially Curated

From the venue shortlist

4 of the 11 hand picked Charleston / Lowcountry venues our editors keep coming back to.

01
Middleton Place
America's oldest landscaped gardens, with oak allées and Ashley River light.
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02
Boone Hall Plantation
The Avenue of Oaks and cotton-dock receptions, Lowcountry iconography itself.
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03
Lowndes Grove
A 1786 waterfront estate under live oaks on the Ashley, Charleston's darling.
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04
William Aiken House
A King Street mansion and courtyard of magnolias for classic city weddings.
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