The answer up front
Start with the license: in Savannah it comes from the Chatham County Probate Court by appointment only, so you apply online and then both come in with photo ID. It costs $76, or $36 with a six-hour premarital education certificate, issues the same day and never expires. Add a venue and a licensed Georgia officiant, which we provide at Forsyth Park from $1,275 or in the Davenport House's walled courtyard from $1,875, each for up to 20 guests.
Step 1: Decide what kind of Savannah ceremony you want
The open-air historic-park ceremony
Venue: Forsyth Park, the 30-acre 1840s park in the heart of the historic district. Ceremony under the live-oak promenade draped in Spanish moss, never in front of the fountain, with guests standing. Best for the visual icon of Savannah, guest counts up to 20, classic Lowcountry look. Starts at $1,275.
The intimate private-courtyard ceremony
Venue: Davenport House, the 1820 Federal-style mansion at Columbia Square operated by the Historic Savannah Foundation. Ceremony in the private walled garden courtyard. Best for a fully private ceremony with no tourists in the background and up to 20 guests. Every ceremony here is outdoors, rain or shine. Starts at $1,875.
Step 2: Where do we get a Chatham County marriage license?
- Where: Chatham County Probate Court, 133 Montgomery Street, Savannah, GA 31401. By appointment only: submit the application online, then book a time for both of you. Walk-ins are sent away with the booking link.
- Cost: $36 with a certificate of completion from a qualified premarital education program (six hours with a recognized provider) or $76 without. We send the list of approved Georgia premarital education providers during planning — many are online, the $40 savings often covers the program cost.
- Waiting period: None. Same-day issuance.
- What to bring: Photo ID for both partners and the premarital education certificate if claiming the discount. Pay by cash, card (plus a 5% fee), money order or cashier's check; no personal checks. No blood test.
- Validity: No expiration. Couples from outside Georgia apply in the county where they marry: Chatham for Savannah.
- Residency: None required.
Step 3: Venue booking and rules (we handle these)
- Forsyth Park: Elopements Inc. doesn't obtain a special-event permit. Up to 20 guests, standing.
- Davenport House: Historic Savannah Foundation private rental — not a City permit. Includes museum-staff coordination. Ceremonies are held in the courtyard only, never inside the house.
Restrictions: no amplified sound at Forsyth Park, no seating or other temporary structures, no rice/confetti/glitter or releases, no decorations left on site.
Step 4: Which officiants does Georgia recognize?
Georgia requires officiants whose credentials are recognized by the state — ministers and clergy from recognized denominations, judges, and other government-authorized celebrants. Every Elopements Inc. Savannah package includes a licensed Georgia officiant whose credentials meet state requirements. Family member or friend can do a reading, unity ritual, or tribute — but the officiant of record will be one of our credentialed Georgia officiants so the marriage is unambiguously valid.
Step 5: The day-of timeline
- 9:00am — Get ready at hotel (The Marshall House, The Mansion on Forsyth Park, Perry Lane Hotel).
- 10:30am — Photographer arrives for getting-ready (Friends and Family).
- 11:00am — Arrive at venue.
- 11:15am — Ceremony begins. 15–30 min.
- 11:45am — Post-ceremony portraits. Forsyth: fountain, live-oak promenade, fragrant garden. Davenport: courtyard, front portico, walk down Bull Street.
- 12:30pm — Wrap. Walk to lunch.
Step 6: What to do in Savannah after the ceremony
- Dinner: The Olde Pink House (18th-century mansion, most-booked Savannah elopement dinner), Husk Savannah, or The Grey (Forbes-rated, restored 1938 Greyhound terminal). Book 2+ months ahead.
- Classic lunch: Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room — communal-table Southern cooking since 1943, lunch only, cash only.
- River Street stroll: Cobblestone waterfront promenade along the Savannah River. 10 min walk from either venue.
- Bonaventure Cemetery (next day): 100-acre Spanish-moss cemetery with marble statuary. Most-requested second-day photo location. 15 min from downtown.
- Ghost tour: Savannah is one of America's most haunted cities. Sorrel-Weed House tour or Hearse Ghost Tour.
- Tybee Island (day trip): 40-min drive east. Atlantic beach, 1736 Tybee Lighthouse, seafood at The Crab Shack or A-J's Dockside.
- Where to stay: The Marshall House (1851), The Mansion on Forsyth Park (walkable to both venues), or Perry Lane Hotel (modern boutique, rooftop bar).
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
Should we elope in Charleston or Savannah?
Both produce Lowcountry photography with Spanish moss and live oaks. Georgia has no waiting period and a lower license fee with the premarital education certificate ($36 versus $70 in South Carolina). Savannah's historic district is more walkable; Charleston has the Cypress Gardens swamp, which Savannah cannot replicate.
Forsyth Park or Davenport House?
Forsyth is open-air and public, with the ceremony under the live-oak promenade and guests standing. Davenport is private and walled, with original 1820 Federal architecture; its ceremonies are held outdoors in the courtyard, rain or shine. Both cap at 20 guests.
Do we need to be Georgia residents to elope in Savannah?
No. Georgia has no residency requirement.
Can we bring guests to a Savannah elopement?
Yes. Forsyth Park takes up to 10 on Getaway Plus and up to 20 on Friends and Family, all standing. Davenport House also caps at 20. Our largest package anywhere is Belmont Mansion in Nashville at 40 guests.
How walkable is Savannah's historic district?
Extremely. Most couples do not use a car on ceremony day at all.
What is the best time of year to elope in Savannah?
Mid-March through early May for azaleas and dogwoods, 65–78°F and the fullest Spanish moss. Mid-October through November brings softer light and fewer tourists. Summer is humid with afternoon storms.
How much does a Savannah elopement actually cost?
$1,275 to $2,775 all-inclusive, plus a $36–$76 Georgia marriage license fee paid to the Chatham County Probate Court.