In summary: All-inclusive Charleston elopement packages from Elopements Inc. range from $1,275 to $2,575. The base $1,275 Getaway Plus package at Hampton Park includes the venue, the City of Charleston special-event permit, a licensed South Carolina officiant, a professional photographer with edited photos delivered in a private online gallery, ceremony coordination, and full guidance through the Charleston County marriage license process. The only separate expense is the $95 license fee paid directly to the county. No setup fees, no surprise add-ons.
The Charleston package tiers, line by line
Charleston pricing is set by venue: Hampton Park starts lower because the city permit is inexpensive, and Cypress Gardens is slightly higher because the private boat-ceremony format costs more to stage. Here's the full price grid as of 2026:
| Package | Hampton Park | Cypress Gardens |
|---|---|---|
| Getaway Plus Up to 10 guests · 1 hour · 100–150 photos | $1,275 | $1,575 |
| Friends and Family Up to 20 guests · 2 hours · 150–200 photos | $1,975 | $2,575 |
What every package includes
- Venue access and permits. The City of Charleston special-event permit at Hampton Park, or the venue-rental fee and parking arrangement at Cypress Gardens — both paid by us as part of the package. No separate parks-department paperwork for you.
- A licensed South Carolina officiant.A professional officiant fully licensed to legally perform marriages in SC. Pre-ceremony consultation included — you'll speak with the officiant in advance to design the ceremony structure (traditional, religious, secular, vows-only, whatever fits you).
- A professional Charleston wedding photographer. Full ceremony coverage with edited high-resolution images delivered in a private online gallery. Gallery counts range from 100 to 200 photos depending on package length.
- Ceremony coordination. A dedicated planner runs the day — vendor arrival, timeline, license logistics, and any weather curveballs. You just show up.
- Charleston County marriage license guidance. Step-by-step walkthrough of the Charleston County Probate Court application, what documents to bring, and how to time the 24-hour South Carolina waiting period so the license is in hand on ceremony day.
What's NOT included (and what it costs separately)
We're transparent about the few line items not bundled in:
- Marriage license fee: $95 paid directly to Charleston County Probate Court by the couple. South Carolina requires both partners to appear in person and has a 24-hour waiting period. We coordinate timing.
- Videography (optional add-on): $675 on Getaway Plus, $1,075 on Friends and Family. A cinematic ceremony film, 2–3 minute highlight edit plus full ceremony cut. Most couples booking Cypress Gardens add video because the boat ceremony footage is hard to replicate anywhere else.
- RAW photo files (optional add-on): $200 on Getaway Plus, $250 on Friends and Family. The unedited RAW files in addition to the edited gallery. Most couples skip this unless they plan to color-grade or print at very large sizes.
- Florals, hair and makeup, and chair rentals.These are vendors you book independently — your coordinator can recommend trusted Charleston-area options. Budget around $150–400 for a bouquet, $200–400 for HMUA, and $5–10/chair for additional rentals beyond what's included in your package.
Charleston elopement vs. Charleston traditional wedding
The average Charleston wedding in 2025 cost between $35,000 and $55,000 according to The Knot's annual Real Weddings report. The breakdown looks roughly like this:
- Venue: $8,000–18,000
- Catering: $10,000–18,000
- Photography + videography: $4,500–8,500
- Florals: $3,500–7,500
- Music/DJ: $2,000–4,500
- Coordinator: $2,500–5,000
- Attire, hair/makeup, paper, transportation: $4,500–10,000
An all-inclusive Charleston elopement covers the venue, officiant, photographer, and coordinator pieces at a fraction of the total — typically 5–10% of a full Charleston wedding budget. Couples save the bulk of their money on catering, florals, music, and attire that scales with guest count.
Why couples pick Charleston specifically
Three reasons keep coming up in our pre-booking calls:
- The Lowcountry aesthetic.Spanish moss, live oaks, cypress trees rising out of black water — Charleston produces a specific visual that's instantly recognizable in photos. Couples want the family albums to show somewhere obvious, not a generic field somewhere.
- It's a destination without being inaccessible. Charleston has a major airport (CHS), is a 4–6 hour drive from most of the Southeast, and has enough hotels, restaurants, and activities to turn the elopement into a 3–4 day mini-honeymoon.
- South Carolina's license process is simple. $95 fee, 24-hour waiting period, both partners in person at the Probate Court. We handle the timing.
How to book a Charleston elopement
- Pick your venue — see the Charleston packages page for the side-by-side comparison of Hampton Park and Cypress Gardens.
- Submit an inquiry with your preferred date — we'll confirm venue availability within 24 hours.
- Once booked, we schedule a planning call to walk through the ceremony structure, license timing, and any add-ons (videography, additional guests, etc.).
- About 30 days before the ceremony, we send you the Charleston County license application checklist. Both partners appear at the Probate Court together (a quick 30-minute visit).
- On ceremony day: show up at the venue. We handle the rest.