26 Great Ideas for the Ultimate Charleston Wedding
The secret to a happy marriage… is a side of grits. So, when you plan your Charleston wedding, don't forget to sprinkle in some local flavor throughout your big day!
Charleston is known for its historic architecture, hospitality, culture, and delicious cuisine, all of which routinely make the Holy City one of the top-rated wedding destinations in the United States.
It's hard to beat the romance of Charleston's cobblestone streets and moss-laden ancient live oaks for your dream wedding. Whether you're a native Charleston bride celebrating your hometown or you're planning your dream destination wedding, your guests are sure to fall in love with the Lowcountry.
Let us guide that blossoming love affair (and revel in the start of your marriage) with these enchanting Charleston wedding ideas for how to infuse your big day with some authentic, endearing charm.
Charming Ideas for Your Wedding in Charleston, SC
Whatever the question may be, as Charleston gals we’re 99% sure the answer is biscuits. Callie’s Hot Little Biscuits has a cult following in Chucktown thanks to their fluffy, buttery biscuits. These traditional Southern snacks have been touted by Saveur, Food & Wine, Southern Living, The New York Times, Bake from Scratch, and Oprah. Let Callie's cater an adorable biscuit bar or book their vintage food truck, Butter, for your Charleston wedding so you can carb-load in style before dancing the night away!
photo credit: Jen Keys Photography
Welcome your guests with an ocean of love. Our Personalized Oyster Shell Place Cards offer an elegant nod to Charleston’s coastal vibes while serving as a thoughtful keepsake your guests can display and enjoy for years to come.
Let our in-house calligraphy team inscribe each family member or friend’s name in gold ink. The Grit & Grace Oyster Place Cards are available in five distinct finishes ranging from rustic and natural to sleek and sophisticated, so you can pick the aesthetic that complements your table decor. From $7
Magnolia Leaf Decor
This innovative idea goes out to all you steel magnolias out there! This magnificent leaf garland bar set up from Ooh! Events plays the sleek tops of magnolia leaves against the velvety, rusty color undersides to create a sophisticated and texturally rich floral element. Pay tribute to one of the South’s most iconic trees by adding magnolia leaves to your wedding arbor, head table, centerpieces, or along the ceremony aisle.
photo credit: @catherine_ann_photography
Wowing your guests is a piece of cake with a Lowcountry-inspired design by veteran cake maker Jim Smeal. We’re smitten with this delicately illustrated masterpiece featuring local flora and fauna for a quintessential Charleston wedding. Smeal is renowned for his awe-inspiring, inventive desserts, and his previous creations feature gracefully trailing live oak trees, delicate gardenias, and realistically rendered sweetgrass.
If you’re searching for the perfect bridal earrings for your Charleston wedding, you’re sure to fall in love with our Angel Oak Earrings. The delicate, feminine design emulates the way light filters through our iconic moss-laden ancient oak trees. The wire-wrapped Pearl chains give way to shimmering hydro-quartz pendants that are available in four gorgeous hues: seafoam green, sage, rose, and indigo. $68
Bury a Bottle of Bourbon
When it comes to finding buried treasure, it doesn’t get better than a small-batch barrel-aged bourbon, in our opinion.
Did you know that burying a bottle of bourbon is a classic Southern wedding tradition? The superstition holds that if the bride and groom bury a full bottle of bourbon upside down at their wedding site one month before the ceremony, they’ll be blessed with sunny skies on their wedding day. Cheers to that!
photo credit: Anne Rhett Photography
The world is your oyster on your wedding day, and that means you can set aside a special bottle of champagne or your favorite spirit to enjoy with your loved one!
Distinguish your beverage of choice with a “something blue” Decoupage Oyster Wine Charm, one of our favorite Lowcountry-inspired table decor elements. You can also celebrate with a Gilded Oyster Wine Charm inscribed with “Cheers!”, “Best Day Ever”, or your new last name! $25
Live Gullah Songs by the Plantation Singers
Kick off your Charleston wedding with the joyous, soul-stirring sounds of the Plantation Singers. An internationally and nationally esteemed a cappella group, the Plantation Singers are renowned for their powerful Gullah music and beautiful Southern church hymns. The rich Gullah Geechee culture ranges from Cape Fear, North Carolina along the coast to Jacksonville, Florida. The Gullah musical traditions are a captivating treat that will inform, delight, and enthrall your friends and family, whether they are Charleston natives or experiencing the magic of the Lowcountry for the first time.
Lowcountry Boil
Dining is basically Charleston’s official pastime, so serve up a meal that is a memorable shared experience with your loved ones by hosting a Lowcountry Boil by Mt. Pleasant Seafood.
Also known as Frogmore Stew, the Lowcountry Boil is a signature dish of South Carolina. This delicious one-pot meal features a flavorful mix of fresh, local seafood, sausage, and vegetables (usually potatoes and corn) cooked to perfection with zesty spices, lemon, and sometimes even beer.
The Lowcountry Boil is strained and piled high atop newspaper or butcher paper for an eye-catching and mouth-watering display.
photo credit: Mt. Pleasant Seafood
Give your gals a bridesmaid gift to forever remind them of their colorful memories from your Charleston wedding: a pair of Grit & Grace Studio's Rainbow Row Bridesmaid Earrings. Inspired by Charleston's iconic row of vibrant houses, the Rainbow Row Earrings come in a variety of captivating hues.
You can tailor the color palate to your wedding theme or each bridesmaid's signature style. Pair them with a Gilded Oyster Ring Dish inscribed with your bridal party's names for an elevated gift-giving experience they'll cherish for years to come. $60
Embrace the Architecture
One of Charleston’s most notable features is its stunning architecture. Charleston-style architecture dates back to the early 1700s and extended through the 1890s.
While it shares some common threads with the French Colonial style of, say, New Orleans, Charleston single and double homes can only truly be found on the downtown peninsula.
Work Charleston’s distinctive houses into your wedding details by adding illustrated buildings, porches, or ironwork to your menu cards or table markers for added elegance.
photo credit: Philip Casey Photography
Bed Swing
Is there anything more “Charleston” than sipping a beverage on a porch swing? Upgrade the traditional cocktail lounge to a hanging bed swing at your reception for the ultimate Charleston wedding luxury.
Add some throw pillows and a chandelier to really set the scene! Your guests can cozy up and watch the sunset over the marsh during cocktail hour or kick their feet up between sets on the dance floor.
credit: @oohevents @avamoorephotography
Say “I do” to a Something Blue Decoupage Oyster Ring Dish! Our handcrafted heirloom ring dishes are perfectly sized to hold your bridal earrings, engagement rings, or treasured trinkets. You can choose from six distinct decoupage prints. Each Something Blue Oyster Ring Dish is also a gift that gives back: we return 10 oyster shells from Charleston restaurants to SCDNR oyster reef restoration projects for each oyster shell gift purchased. From $40
credit: @aislinnkate @southern_frills
Southern Lemonade Station
Put the “fresh” into refreshment station with a delicious batch of Southern lemonade at your Charleston wedding. Freshly squeezed lemonade is a classic Southern treat, especially during the sultry summer months. Offer your guests a classic lemonade or step it up a notch by adding mint, lavender, or strawberries!
Sweetgrass Fans
Sweetgrass weaving is one of Charleston’s oldest and most treasured art forms. What better way to welcome guests to your ceremony than with fans that pay homage to this quintessential Lowcountry handicraft?
A sweetgrass fan is both functional and beautiful; it will help your friends beat the heat and then double as home decor or serve as a gorgeous souvenir from their trip to South Carolina.
photo credit: Reese Moore Photography
Dine Al Fresco
Thanks to a city laden with porches, patios, and manicured gardens, Charlestonians have mastered the art of dining al fresco.
Enjoy a family-style meal on a porch or settle in for a three-course dinner on an oyster tabby patio; it’s sure to be an evening to remember! Break bread with your loved ones while enjoying the sounds of crickets and cicadas and the soft sea breezes for the perfect Charleston wedding.
photo credit: @ashleym_brown
Bless your heart! Is anything more Southern than this sweet, cheeky saying?
Our Oyster Blessing Beads are a loving way to celebrate your Charleston wedding and bless your marriage journey. The gilded oyster shell pays homage to luxurious Charleston living, while the simple wooden beads remind you to cherish life’s little treasures.
Customize our Gilded Oyster Blessing Beads with your names and wedding date, or select from our Decoupage Blessing Beads or Bee Love Blessing Beads. From $60
Palmetto Floral Arrangements
They call South Carolina the Palmetto State for a reason. Let a dazzling display of lush palmetto leaves enhance your reception decor or define your dance floor. Add some softer floral elements or warm Edison bulbs for an unforgettable, romantic aesthetic that’s oh-so-Charleston.
Grits Wedding Favor
We’re a carb-loving group of ladies over here at Grit & Grace Studio, and we can’t think of a more delightful or appropriate Charleston wedding favor than an adorable bag of grits. Grits are a cornerstone of Charleston cuisine! While shrimp and grits may be the most famous preparation in the Lowcountry, grits are equally delectable prepared sweet, savory, or simply with a generous pat of butter.
Spice up your wedding table decor with a set of our Gilded Salt & Pepper Cellars. These nautical oyster shell dishes bring the glamor of coastal living to your dining table, and they are perfectly sized for salt, spices, or sugar cubes. Each set of Gilded Salt & Pepper Cellars comes with sustainable bamboo spoons and an eco-friendly box that reminds the recipient, “The world is your oyster.” $56
Birds of a feather flock to Brackish Bow Tie for dapper wedding day accessories!
Based in Charleston, SC, Brackish Bow Ties have taken the South by storm. These handcrafted feathered bow ties are a must-have for the modern gentleman, and their designs range from bold and vibrant to understated elegance.
The polished yet rustic aesthetic makes a Brackish bow tie the ultimate accessory for the groom-to-be and his groomsmen at any Charleston wedding.
Can you think of a warmer welcome than a basket of gourmet snacks? A Signature Welcome curates beautiful gift boxes filled with fabulous goodies, and their A Signature Welcome to Charleston Basket is chock full of delicious, locally made gourmet products like benne wafers, bourbon pecans, smoked salt, and cookies.
Shop their pre-curated collection or schedule a consultation with their design team for a one-of-a-kind gifting experience.
Custom Watercolor Invitation Liner
Set the tone for an elegant Charleston wedding weekend with a custom invitation liner. This little peep at what’s to come is sure to set your recipients’ hearts aflutter!
These romantic watercolor illustrations are custom designs that can be tailored to your wedding venue, beloved Lowcountry landscape, or favorite date spot. Contact Studio R today to discuss your save the date or invitation suite needs.
Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka Signature Cocktail
There’s only one thing better than a cold glass of sweet tea on a hot afternoon, and that’s a signature cocktail with Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka. Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka is the first of its kind, distilled right here in the Lowcountry. Mix the sweet tea vodka with ginger ale and lime as a Charleston Mule, or combine it with freshly squeezed lemonade for a Lowcountry Lemonade. Recipes abound on the Firefly Distillery website, so try several (or all) of them as you pick the perfect signature cocktail for your Charleston wedding!
photo credit: Gately Williams
Pretty in Pineapple
Did you know the pineapple has long been considered a symbol of hospitality in the South?
The tradition dates back to the 16th century when the pineapple became all the rage among European royalty, who delighted in displaying the precious fruit on their tables as the ultimate status symbol. As time went on, the pineapple came to signify bountiful hospitality and a warm welcome, particularly in the Southeastern United States.
Today, pineapple motifs can be found on the wrought iron fences, tile work, and door knockers of many of Charleston’s historic homes. We love the idea of incorporating pineapples into your wedding design, and it doesn’t get cuter than these real miniature pineapple boutonnieres by The Purple Magnolia!
Rickshaw Departure
Ride off into the sunset in true Charleston style: snuggled up in a rickshaw! Bike taxis are available throughout the downtown peninsula, and they're one of the most fun ways to zip around the Holy City. The open-air carts are romantic and nostalgic; they’re the perfect departure vehicle for an epic Charleston wedding. Add a just married sign or floral arch for an Instagram-worthy farewell!
credit: Clay Austin Photography @bouquetsandbowtiescharleston
Are you planning your Charleston bachelorette weekend? Book your stay at the Grit & Grace Cottage, conveniently located in downtown Charleston’s adorable Cannonborough neighborhood!
We would also love to host you and your bride tribe for a Mala Workshop. During the Mala Workshop, you’ll celebrate the bonds of sisterhood while enjoying a tea service, guided meditation, and tutorial for how to craft your own Mala Mantra Meditation Necklace!
One Love & Blessings,