Legal guide · South Carolina
How to Legally Elope in South Carolina
Marriage license cost, waiting period, witness rules, and the complete process for eloping in South Carolina — written by the team that has handled 8,000+ ceremonies in South Carolina and across the United States.
The short answer
To legally elope in South Carolina: both partners visit the Charleston County Probate Court in person with photo ID and Social Security numbers, pay $95, wait 24 hours from license issuance, then have two adult witnesses sign at the ceremony. No blood test required. The 24-hour wait can occasionally be waived by the Probate Judge.
License cost
$95
Waiting period
24 hours from license issuance to ceremony
Witnesses
Two witnesses 18 or older must sign the marriage license
Blood test
Not required.
South Carolina has the only mandatory waiting period among our service-area states — 24 hours from license issuance to ceremony — but it's also one of the most flexible. The license costs $95, is processed at the Charleston County Probate Court in the historic district (a five-minute walk from many of our Charleston accommodations), and the 24-hour wait can sometimes be waived by the Probate Judge for couples with travel constraints. South Carolina requires two adult witnesses to sign the license, and our Charleston elopement packages include witness provision at no extra cost. The state's flagship elopement venues — Cypress Gardens with its cypress-shadowed black-water swamp, and Hampton Park with its Spanish-moss-draped oaks — sit just outside the historic district and are bookable through our packages.
South Carolina marriage license at a glance
- License cost
- $95, paid directly to the Charleston County Probate Court at the time of application — not to Elopements Inc. Both partners must apply for the license in person; Elopements Inc. cannot obtain it on your behalf.
- Waiting period
- 24 hours from license issuance to ceremony. The waiting period can be waived by the Probate Judge in certain circumstances, but most couples plan to arrive at least one full day before the ceremony.
- License validity
- No formal expiration in South Carolina law, but the license is intended to be used promptly. Most couples elope within 30 days of issuance.
- Witnesses required
- Two witnesses 18 or older must sign the marriage license. Witnesses do not need to be South Carolina residents.
- Blood test
- Not required.
- Minimum age
- 18 without parental consent. South Carolina no longer issues licenses to anyone under 18.
- Proxy allowed
- No. Both partners must appear in person to apply.
- Online application
- Yes — Charleston County Probate Court accepts online pre-application. In-person signing and payment is still required to receive the license.
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.
The South Carolina elopement process, step by step
Every legal South Carolina marriage follows the same six steps. Elopements Inc. handles steps 1, 5, and 6 directly. Couples handle the in-person license signing in step 2.
- 01
Visit the county clerk
Charleston County Probate Court, located in downtown Charleston. The license is valid statewide, but most couples apply where they plan to elope.
- 02
Bring required documents
Both partners need a valid government-issued photo ID, Social Security number, and the license fee. If either partner has been previously married, bring the divorce decree or death certificate.
- 03
Pay the license fee
$95, paid directly to the Charleston County Probate Court at the time of application — not to Elopements Inc. Both partners must apply for the license in person; Elopements Inc. cannot obtain it on your behalf. This fee goes directly to the county clerk's office at the time of application — Elopements Inc. does not collect or pay the license fee on your behalf.
- 04
Observe any waiting period
24 hours from license issuance to ceremony. The waiting period can be waived by the Probate Judge in certain circumstances, but most couples plan to arrive at least one full day before the ceremony.
- 05
Hold the ceremony with a licensed officiant
Witnesses required: Two witnesses 18 or older must sign the marriage license. Witnesses do not need to be South Carolina residents. Elopements Inc. provides witnesses at no extra cost for couples eloping just the two of them.
- 06
Officiant returns signed license
After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed marriage license to the issuing clerk. The clerk then files it and issues a certified marriage certificate, usually within 1-2 weeks. Elopements Inc. handles this step automatically for every package.
South Carolina elopement questions, answered
South Carolina requires 24 hours between the issuance of the marriage license and the ceremony. Most couples apply for the license the day they arrive in Charleston and elope the following day. The Probate Judge may waive the waiting period for couples with documented travel constraints, but waivers are issued case by case and shouldn't be assumed.
Charleston County Probate Court, located at 84 Broad Street in downtown Charleston's historic district. The court is open Monday through Friday and accepts walk-in applications. The license is valid statewide regardless of which South Carolina county issued it. Elopements Inc. coordinators walk couples through the application timing to align with the 24-hour waiting period.
A South Carolina marriage license costs $95, paid in cash, check, or debit directly to the Charleston County Probate Court at the time of application. South Carolina does not offer a premarital counseling discount. The license fee is paid directly to the county — not to Elopements Inc. Both partners must apply for the license in person; we cannot obtain it on your behalf.
Yes. South Carolina requires two adult (18+) witnesses to sign the marriage license at the ceremony. Witnesses do not need to be South Carolina residents. Elopements Inc. provides two witnesses for couples eloping just the two of them.
Yes. Cypress Gardens, a 170-acre cypress swamp preserve in Moncks Corner about 25 minutes from downtown Charleston, hosts elopements year-round. The signature flat-bottom boat ceremony on the black-water swamp is one of the most photographed elopement setups in the Southeast. Elopements Inc.'s Charleston packages include Cypress Gardens access.
Yes. Hampton Park, a 60-acre public park in downtown Charleston's Wagener Terrace neighborhood, allows small ceremonies under a $50 city special-event permit. The park's Spanish-moss-draped live oaks and gazebo are the iconic backdrop. Elopements Inc.'s Charleston packages handle the permit on your behalf.
Sometimes. The Charleston County Probate Judge has discretion to waive the 24-hour waiting period for couples with verifiable travel constraints — such as a same-day flight home. Waivers are not guaranteed and require a brief in-person conversation with the judge. Most couples plan around the waiting period rather than relying on a waiver.
South Carolina allows ordained ministers (any denomination), judges, and certain notaries (notaries-public ordained as 'officiants' in some counties) to officiate. Online ordination is recognized statewide. Elopements Inc. uses traditionally ordained officiants whose authority is unambiguous.
Both partners need: a valid government-issued photo ID, Social Security number, and the $95 fee. If either partner has been previously married, the divorce decree or death certificate is required. The application asks for parents' full names and birth states — bring that information.
Yes. A marriage performed legally in South Carolina is recognized in all 50 U.S. states and most countries. The signed marriage license is returned by the officiant to the Probate Court, which then issues the certified marriage certificate (usually within 1-2 weeks). Elopements Inc. handles all return paperwork.
Where to elope in South Carolina
Elopements Inc. operates in one South Carolina city. Every package below includes the venue, professional photography, a licensed South Carolina officiant, ceremony coordination, and complete marriage license guidance.
Iconic South Carolina elopement venues
The most photographed elopement spots in South Carolina, covered by our packages:
- Cypress Gardens (Moncks Corner)
- Hampton Park (downtown Charleston)
Ready to elope in South Carolina?
Our coordinators handle the marriage license process, the venue, the officiant, the photography, and everything in between. Pick your South Carolina city to see venues and pricing.