The perfect spot for your destination wedding: Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina is a popular destination wedding location for Southeast brides as it’s both beautiful and remotely close to home. Because Winey Blonde Events Co. has had several brides interested in hosting their wedding in the charming town of Charleston, we thought planning a trip was the perfect opportunity to do some research and soak up all that the little town has to offer!
First stop: Lowndes Grove Plantation
WOW – this location is absolutely breathtaking! Picture your guests arriving at this gorgeous plantation home built in 1786. Not only is the house beautiful, it is located on the water and (oh my gosh) the view is incredible! Lowndes Grove can accommodate 600 guests, making it the perfect spot for larger weddings that cannot be accommodated at most venues. I have to admit, this wedding venue is our favorite.
Additionally, Lowndes Grove has a separate venue managed by the same group right next door. The River House is great for smaller weddings and events, as it accommodates up to 100 guests. The benefit: a smaller, more intimate wedding, while still having the amazing river views.
After touring the two venues on the river, we traveled to King Street in Downtown Charleston for the next venue.
Next up: The William Aiken House
While doing research prior to heading to Charleston, we came across the William Aiken House. We loved it right away, but when we found out it had been featured in one of our favorite movies, The Notebook, we loved it even more!
From first glance, the venue doesn’t seem big enough for larger functions, however The William Aiken House can hold up to 500 guests. This venue is specifically for weddings and events – it is not open for public tours, which is nice. This is definitely a little hidden gem in Charleston. With that being said, you still have curious people and fans, who are pressing their faces up to the windows to try to get a glimpse inside the house.
Also on the property are the guest suites (see below). These are available for overnight stays, and you can also host a ceremony or reception in front of them. It’s like two venues in one location. We can’t get enough of the guest suites! Historical and quaint, what more could you ask for?
Lastly, we went right next door to the American Theater. Again, we knew this location from our love of The Notebook! This venue is a prime spot for a welcome party, rehearsal dinner and wedding ceremony and reception – totally different from the other venues above, but yet so unique!
We want to thank Jackie Willis with Patrick Properties Hospitality Group for giving us the grand tour and showing us around the wonderful properties.
While in Charleston, we decided to check out some popular restaurants and locations. Of course, we had to go to City Market, Folly Beach and explore the endless options for fresh seafood. You can’t go wrong with Charleston. Now, who’s ready to plan a destination wedding?
Stay tuned: Charleston trip round two coming soon!