Hampton Park Elopement Packages
in Charleston, SC
Historic Charleston location with lush greenery, charming paths, vibrant gardens, majestic oak trees, gazebo, and fountains.
Packages from $1,275
Packages
Choose Your Package
Getaway Plus
Friends and Family
Friends and Family Plus
Photo session at Rainbow Row & Waterfront Park — Charleston's most iconic and colorful streetscape with harbor views, historic architecture, and the perfect backdrop for magazine-worthy photos
Every Package Includes
Flexible payment options available
Every Package Includes
Flexible payment options available
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Hampton Park
Reserve your Hampton Park date
Flat-priced. All-inclusive. Most couples elope within 4–6 weeks of inquiry.
Check AvailabilityAll-Inclusive Hampton Park Elopement Packages
Elope at Hampton Park in Charleston, SC
Historic Charleston location with lush greenery, charming paths, vibrant gardens, majestic oak trees, gazebo, and fountains. Our all-inclusive Hampton Park elopement packages start at $1,275 and include professional photography, a licensed South Carolina officiant, ceremony coordination, and full guidance through the Charleston County Probate Court process. Whether you imagine an intimate two-person ceremony or a micro wedding for up to 50 guests, every Hampton Park package is flat-priced — no setup fees, no surprise add-ons. Charleston's 24-hour waiting period (can be waived) means most couples can book, get licensed, and elope at Hampton Park in as little as a few weeks.
Starting price
$1,275
Packages
3
City
Charleston
License
$95
Quick Answers
Common Hampton Park elopement questions
How much does it cost to elope at Hampton Park?
Packages range from $1,275 for the Getaway Plus Package (up to 10 guests, 1 hour) to $1,975 for the Friends and Family Plus Package (up to 20 guests, 3 hours).
What makes Hampton Park special for elopements?
Hampton Park is Charleston's largest public park featuring rose gardens, live oaks, Spanish moss, and beautiful open green spaces. It's a quintessential lowcountry setting.
Is a permit required for Hampton Park?
Yes, permits are required. All permit fees are included in your package — we handle everything.
South Carolina Marriage License
What you need to elope at Hampton Park
Charleston County Probate Court ↗
Cost
$95
Wait Period
24-hour waiting period
Blood Test
Not required
Important
The marriage license fee is paid directly to the county clerk's office at the time of application — not to Elopements Inc. Both partners must apply for the license in person; we cannot obtain the license on your behalf. We walk every couple through the process step by step (which clerk to visit, what to bring, when to go), but the application itself has to be signed by you.
Reserve your Hampton Park date
Flat-priced. All-inclusive. Most couples elope within 4–6 weeks of inquiry.
Check Availability
Venue Guide
The full Hampton Park guide
History, photo spots, capacity, permits, and what makes this venue different — everything you'd want to know before booking.
Location
Charleston peninsula, SC (north of downtown, ~10 min from King Street)
Setting
60-acre historic urban park with live oaks, gardens, and gazebo
Ceremony capacity
Up to 50 guests (city permit dependent)
Indoor / outdoor
Outdoor — covered gazebo and oak-shaded clearings
Wheelchair accessible
Paved paths throughout; gazebo and main lawn fully accessible
Marriage license
Charleston County, SC — $95, 24-hour waiting period
History & architecture
Hampton Park sits on the site of the former Washington Race Course, one of America's most famous antebellum horse-racing venues. After the Civil War, freed slaves and Union soldiers reclaimed the grounds and held what historians now recognize as the first Memorial Day commemoration on May 1, 1865 — they re-buried Union soldiers who had died in the Confederate prison camp on the site and held a ceremony attended by 10,000 people. The grounds were redesigned as a public park in 1901 by the Olmsted Brothers firm (the same studio that designed Central Park in New York and the Biltmore Estate landscape). Today the park's gazebo, fountain, rose garden, and oak-shaded clearings make it the most-photographed open-air ceremony venue on the Charleston peninsula.
Best photo spots on the property
Gazebo
The white wooden gazebo at the park's center is the signature ceremony spot. Step-up platform, six columns, oak canopy overhead. Used for the ceremony itself; provides natural shade and a covered backup in light rain.
Live oak avenue
The main entrance drive is lined with live oaks draped in Spanish moss. Used for first-look shots and walking-down-the-aisle approach photos.
Rose garden
Formal rose garden with stone walking paths and benches. Peak bloom is mid-April to early June. Used for portrait sessions after the ceremony — typically a 10-minute walk from the gazebo.
Reflection pond
Small water feature with a stone bridge crossing it. Photographs particularly well in late-afternoon light when the surrounding oaks reflect on the still water.
Oak-shaded lawn
Open clearing beneath 200-year-old live oaks. Alternative ceremony location for couples who want canopy without the gazebo's covered platform — produces dappled-light photography typical of Lowcountry weddings.
Capacity & seating
City of Charleston special-event permit allows up to 50 guests with no amplified sound and no temporary structures beyond chairs. Most Elopements Inc. Hampton Park ceremonies are 2-15 guests using the gazebo or oak lawn. The Friends and Family package accommodates up to 20 guests with chair rentals included.
Permits & access
Hampton Park is a public city park. Elopements Inc. handles the City of Charleston special-event permit, the gazebo reservation, and all timing as part of every Hampton Park package. Couples never deal directly with the city's parks department.
Best season for this venue
Mid-March through early May is the peak — azaleas, dogwoods, and roses all blooming, temperatures in the 65-78°F range, low humidity. Mid-October through November is the second peak — golden oak leaves, comfortable temperatures, no afternoon storms. Summer (June-August) is hot and humid; we shift summer ceremonies to 8-10am or after 6pm. Winter ceremonies are possible and produce striking photos with the bare oak structure visible, but the rose garden won't be in bloom.
What makes it different
Hampton Park is Charleston's most accessible flagship ceremony venue — paved paths throughout, parking within 100 yards of the gazebo, no boat or off-road element. It's the right choice when family elders or wheelchair users need an easy ceremony location, when you want the iconic Spanish-moss-and-oak Lowcountry aesthetic without the swamp/water complexity of Cypress Gardens, or when you want a downtown-adjacent ceremony followed by an easy walk to dinner. The Olmsted-designed bones (rose garden, gazebo, formal paths) give the park a more curated feel than other Charleston public-park options.
Nearby for your elopement day or weekend
- ·The Citadel campus (10 min walk) — historic military college, often a post-ceremony portrait location
- ·King Street historic district (10 min drive) — Charleston's main shopping and restaurant street
- ·Rainbow Row (15 min) — the famous pastel row houses on East Bay Street
- ·Husk restaurant (12 min) — flagship modern Southern dinner reservation
- ·Charleston City Market (15 min) — historic market for post-ceremony exploring
- ·Waterfront Park (15 min) — Charleston Harbor views and the Pineapple Fountain
Hampton Park questions
Yes — Hampton Park is one of two flagship Charleston elopement venues offered by Elopements Inc. (alongside Cypress Gardens). Ceremonies happen at the park's central gazebo or one of the oak-shaded clearings, with the city special-event permit handled as part of the package. The most-booked Charleston elopement venue for couples who want a downtown-accessible, family-friendly setup.
Hampton Park elopements through Elopements Inc. start at $1,275 (Getaway Plus package, up to 10 guests, 1 hour). The Friends and Family package at $1,675 covers up to 20 guests and 2 hours. Both packages include the City of Charleston permit, the officiant, professional photography, ceremony coordination, and South Carolina marriage license guidance. The $95 marriage license fee is paid separately to the Charleston County Probate Court.
Hampton Park is the right choice if you want an accessible, downtown-adjacent ceremony with the classic oak-and-Spanish-moss Lowcountry aesthetic — easy parking, paved paths, a covered gazebo for light rain, and a 15-minute drive to dinner on King Street. Cypress Gardens is the right choice if you want the dramatic swamp-on-water ceremony (the 'Notebook' boat format) and don't mind the 25-minute drive from downtown. Hampton Park is more popular with couples bringing parents and grandparents; Cypress Gardens with couples chasing a specific cinematic look.
Up to 10 guests with the Getaway Plus package, up to 20 with Friends and Family. The City of Charleston special-event permit caps total attendance at 50 if you want to scale further — contact us about a custom Hampton Park micro-wedding package for groups of 21-50.
Yes — Hampton Park is fully wheelchair accessible. Paved paths throughout, the gazebo has a ramp option, parking is within 100 yards of the ceremony site, and benches are available for guests who need to sit during photos. It's the most-accessible of our Charleston venues for older family members.
Mid-morning (9-11am) or late afternoon (4-6pm) is best — soft light, cooler temperatures, less crowded. The gazebo is positioned so morning ceremonies get even light filtered through oaks; late-afternoon ceremonies get warmer, golden light through the canopy. We typically avoid 12-3pm in summer due to heat and harsh overhead light.
Reserve your Hampton Park date
Flat-priced. All-inclusive. Most couples elope within 4–6 weeks of inquiry.
Check AvailabilityHampton Park FAQ
Hampton Park Elopement Questions
Everything you need to know about eloping at Hampton Park in Charleston, SC.
Packages range from $1,275 for the Getaway Plus Package (up to 10 guests, 1 hour) to $1,975 for the Friends and Family Plus Package (up to 20 guests, 3 hours).
Hampton Park is Charleston's largest public park featuring rose gardens, live oaks, Spanish moss, and beautiful open green spaces. It's a quintessential lowcountry setting.
Yes, permits are required. All permit fees are included in your package — we handle everything.
The Getaway Plus Package accommodates up to 10 guests. The Friends and Family and Friends and Family Plus packages welcome up to 20 guests.
Absolutely. Hampton Park is centrally located, making it easy to add a stroll through Charleston's historic streets, Rainbow Row, or the Battery for additional photos.
Reserve your Hampton Park date
Flat-priced. All-inclusive. Most couples elope within 4–6 weeks of inquiry.
Check AvailabilityLast updated