The 14 Best Wedding Venues in Charleston SC

Historic & Waterfront Venues

For couples who want old-world charm, Spanish moss, and riverside views.

Lowndes Grove

If you’ve seen Outer Banks on Netflix, you’ve already had a sneak peek of this place. Lowndes Grove is a waterfront estate built in 1786, with epic views of the Ashley River and one of the most iconic front façades in Charleston.

The house has two gorgeous getting-ready areas filled with natural light & historic charm —aka: dream conditions for portraits and details! Ceremonies usually happen on in front of the house, with the Ashley River as your backdrop, but you could also have the house be your backdrop.

Receptions can go down on the oyster tabby patio or the front lawn under café lights. For smaller weddings, the upstairs piazza is a sweet spot too. Once the sun sets, candles and uplighting are your best friends—this venue shines with the right glow!

You could take all of your portraits here, but if you’re dreaming of oak trees with Spanish moss, Hampton Park is just down the street.

Our favorite thing about Lowndes Grove: The sunsets. They’re showstoppers. Your guests will absolutely be lining the riverbank for golden-hour selfies.

Governor Thomas Bennett House

If you’re dreaming of a Charleston wedding with major Southern garden-party vibes, the Governor Thomas Bennett House is a total gem. Built in 1825 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it’s a big, breezy historic home with a lush garden, plenty of space to get ready, and so much character packed into every corner.

Let’s start with the best part: you can all get ready on site! One party usually takes the gorgeous upstairs suite (tons of natural light = dreamy getting ready photos), while the other gets the lower-level space. It’s a little darker down there, but super convenient and easy.

Ceremonies usually take place in the Crescent Garden, beneath a sprawling 200-year-old oak tree with Spanish moss swaying overhead. You can set up facing the greenery or turn things around so your backdrop includes the house and its charming fountain. If you’re planning a floral arch or statement aisle design—this is the place to do it.

For more intimate celebrations, the “secret garden” makes an incredible setting for a cozy outdoor dinner. Bigger weddings typically use the piazzas or secret garden for cocktail hour, then move to the Oyster Tabbey lawn for a tented or al fresco reception under the stars.

Portrait-wise, the GTBH has options for days. You can stay on site and use the staircase, the piazzas, the house interior, and the gardens—or we can hop in a car and take portraits nearby (College of Charleston is right around the corner as is Cannon Park).

Our favorite thing? That dramatic spiral staircase inside the house. The light, the architectural details, the vintage mirrors—it’s got all the drama in the best way.

William Aiken House

If you love bold color and historic charm, the William Aiken House might be your match. This sunshine-yellow beauty was built in 1810 and later became the headquarters of the Southern Railway. Now, it’s one of Charleston’s most iconic downtown venues, with vibrant rooms, a lush courtyard, and right in the heart of Upper King Street.

You can get ready right on site, which makes your timeline so much easier. The main house is full of natural light, beautiful furnishings and artwork, and there’s also a carriage house out back that can be rented as a second getting-ready space.

There are a few different options for your ceremony here, but the most popular are the oyster tabby patio in front of the carriage house and the white pergola by the fountain. You can even walk over the water to get to it—very main-character moment. Most couples choose to host their reception out on the patio, but we’ve also seen dinners served inside the house followed by dancing under the stars. However you lay it out, candles and uplighting are a must. They make the entire space glow once the sun goes down.

We usually recommend doing all of your portraits at the William Aiken House. It’s compact, but packed with character—from the bright yellow exterior to the jewel-toned rooms inside. If you’re not doing a First Look, just know your guests will be everywhere and probably trying to hug you during portraits. That’s your cue to either build in a buffer or plan for portraits earlier in the day.

Our favorite thing about this venue is hands down the color & artwork. The yellow outside, the green salon, the two dramatic red rooms upstairs—it all photographs beautifully and adds so much richness to your gallery! Plus, it has a maze!

The Gadsden House

This one’s a real Charleston classic. Built in 1798 by a Revolutionary War hero as a wedding gift for his son, the Gadsden House is absolutely perfect for intimate, design-loving couples who want that iconic Charleston charm.

The house itself has all original heart pine floors, tall windows, fireplaces, and soaring crystal chandeliers. Outside, the courtyard is framed by palm trees, magnolias, and crepe myrtles—so basically a dream for both ceremonies and portraits! There’s a spacious suite upstairs in the main house that’s ideal for getting ready, and another space on site for your partner, so everyone’s close without being on top of each other.

Smaller weddings often use the upstairs ballroom for the ceremony, while larger celebrations typically do the ceremony in the courtyard and dinner either outside or in the grand ballroom. (Pro tip: candles and uplighting make a huge difference here after sunset.)

If you’re doing a First Look (which we highly recommend for this venue), we usually start portraits at the house—on the upper piazzas and tucked around the property—then hop over to one of Charleston’s quieter streets nearby for more photos before guests arrive. After the ceremony, we like to sneak away to the upper balcony for a few “just married” portraits while everyone heads to cocktail hour.

Our favorite thing about the Gadsden House? That upstairs ballroom. It’s got serious wow factor—especially for vows or a candlelit dinner!

Middleton Place

Middleton Place has the title of “America’s oldest landscaped gardens” with reflecting ponds, ancient oaks, and winding paths that change with the seasons. The main house was burned during Sherman’s March, and the ruins still remain.

A fun fact: a direct descendent of Sherman was the best man at my parents wedding!
A more serious fact: Middleton Place gives back to descendents of enslaved people, which is why it’s on this venue list. We also highly encourage you to take all of the history tours they offer.

There’s no official getting-ready space at Middleton itself, but the Middleton Inn next door is an option. It’s not everyone’s style, but it’s convenient. Otherwise, you’ll want to get ready downtown—just keep in mind that the drive to the venue takes about 30 to 40 minutes.

Ceremony options are plentiful. You can get married in the Octagonal Garden (especially pretty when the azaleas and camellias are in bloom), along Butterfly Lake with views of the Ashley River, under the ancient Middleton Oak, in one of the tucked-away secret gardens, near the Crane Pond with azaleas and live oaks as your backdrop, or even in the Stableyard if you’re into old-world vibes and heritage animals. Most couples choose the Pavilion for their reception—indoor, air conditioned, and spacious—but tented celebrations or outdoor dance floors are absolutely possible depending on the time of year!

You can take all of your portraits at Middleton. The property is massive and gorgeous, and the variety is endless—water views, tree tunnels, architectural ruins, open fields. Just make sure to reserve a golf cart so we can actually cover all that ground. And if you’re into animals, you can even pay to have the sheep come out and graze during portraits. They will one hundred percent try to eat your bouquet, but they’re very cute about it.

Our favorite thing? Definitely the sheep. But also the sheer variety of portrait locations.

Legare Waring House

Located in Charles Towne Landing (aka the site of South Carolina’s first permanent settlement), Legare Waring House is one of those venues that feels straight out of a storybook. With towering oak trees dripping in Spanish moss, an iron gate that feels magical, and a home that’s been lovingly restored from near-ruin by the family who still bears its name (and haunts it).

There are two separate getting-ready spaces in the house, which makes your morning so much smoother. For ceremonies, you’ve got options: the Avenue of Oaks, the Wedding Oak, or the tucked-away Secret Garden. Just keep in mind that ceremonies can’t start until after the park closes (5pm in the cooler months, 6pm spring through fall), which could impact your photos, especially during fall and winter. Definitely talk with your photographer about how to make that work for you!

Most couples host cocktail hour by the pond, then transition to dinner and dancing on the oyster tabby patio or under the oaks. Either way, lighting is a must—café lights, chandeliers, uplighting—it all helps the space sparkle once the sun dips down.

There are so many great photo spots at Legare, and you can do everything onsite. If you’re skipping the First Look though, just know guests will likely be roaming the grounds during portrait time (and yes, they’ll try to come say hi).

Our favorite thing about Legare Waring House: Those ancient oaks are truly magical. But the iron gate at golden hour? Close second.