Charleston beach wedding?

[XChick03]

We''ve been debating for a while between a destination wedding or a traditional one, and I think we''ve found a solution that will give us the best of both: a wedding here on the beach. We are considering using Charleston Weddings Etc and I''ve read a couple threads here from people who''ve used them. They''re photography is gorgeous and so are the pictures of the weddings on that page. We''re going to use place pictured at the bottom for our reception. The only thing left to do is pick the date.

Though, I''m still considering a destination wedding with just us and our parents. I really love the idea of such a intimate, stree-free wedding, but I also want my friends and family present. Though, if do a DW, we''ll still have a huge reception, probably in the place I said above. So, I''m still not sure.

Has anyone here done a destination wedding? Or if anyone who used Charleston Weddings, has any advice, it''d be really appreciated. And any advice on beach weddings.

 

[dani13]

XChick-

My FI and I feel the same way- we want to do something different and a little less stressful. I think we are going to have a destination wedding. I would love to do the California vineyards, but that might be a little too far (we are from NJ). So now, we are thinking either somewhere in New England or Florida. As soon as I am done with school I have to start working all of this out- so I will be in the same boat as you.

I know nothing about Charleston weddings, but I hear that area is gorgeous and it looks like it will be really beautiful. But I really like to go on TheKnot.com and click on the Destination wedding board and look at some of those gals'' bios for ideas-it is so fun!!! Would you ever consider doind a wedding cruise? Go with a bunch of friends and family for a long weekend and get married on the ship- I think that sounds so fun!! Anyway, if you are not into that, there are plenty of other ideas...there are couples resorts like Sandals in Jamaica/Bahamas that I hear do a really nice job with weddings and are relatively inexpensive....also Mexico is a good option- I hear Cabo San Lucas is great too!

Good luck, and cant wait to hear what you decide!!!

 

[XChick03]

We were actually going to do our destination wedding at one of the Sandals resorts in St. Lucia, but now I think we''re just going to do our honeymoon there. I still really love the idea of a DW, but I don''t think its what I really want. The more I think about it, the more I want to have my family and friends there. I think a beach wedding right here will be a lot of fun though, and best of all, it will be pretty inexpensive. The only problem is picking the right date. I want to do it at sunset and I don''t want it to be too hot, which is hard with Charleston. It can be 80 degrees in December or 55 in November.

I found this picture at the Charleston Ect site and I really want to do something like this.

 

[royalasschergirl]

Hey ladies!

Sherry Ferguson of Charleston Weddings Etcetera did my engagement pictures, just did my bridal portrait and is of course doing the photography for the wedding. She is INCREDIBLE, I would recommend her to absolutely anyone. I know i''ve posted some links to my portraits before, but i''ll put them here again so you can see what i''m talking about -- she just has a way of making you feel comfortable and getting a very NATURAL shot -- in our engagement pictures we (FI & I) played around a lot, but with the bridal shoot when my FI wasn''t with me we had a great time and the pictures came up amazingly well. Sherry has a wonderful eye, and what i love most is that i told her i didn''t want "traditional" looking pictures, and she got me some very non-traditional looking shots that are still timeless looking to me. If you are looking for a great photographer and a really nice person, hire Sherry, you''ll be so glad you did!! here''s our links and my all time favorite picture of mine that she took:

http://www.charlestonweddingsetcetera.com/portraits/danikaportrait/index.htm#115
(my bridal portraits)

http://www.charlestonweddingsetcetera.com/portraits/danika/index.htm
(our engagment pics on the beach)

 

[XChick03]

Your pictures are gorgoues and you look absolutely beautiful!! I just love your bridal pictures, especially 7, 9, and 87. Are you going to use them for anything else other than photography?

 

[royalasschergirl]

no, i''m only using for photography -- but that''s only because my wedding is in hilton head island, sc which is too far from charleston to do anything else. sherry is about 1.5 hours away and so i had to get a planner who''s based in hilton head. best of luck to you, let me know if you have any other questions!

 

[kel_diggity]

I live in Charleston and there are tons of pretty places to tie the knot outdoors. In addition to the beaches, there are beautiful scenic gardens, such as Cypress Gardens, Magnolia Plantation and Middleton Place that are great tourist attractions as well as The Battery, right next to the water as well. Most places have an on-site event coordinator that will not be as outrageously priced as an independent consultant. Good luck!

 

[XChick03]

Hey and welcome to PS!

Magnolia Gardens was my first choice, but we decided against them. I am still considering having it at the gazebo in the park on the Battery, but I''m not sure how I feel about my wedding being that public. I mean, June in Charleston on the Battery is filled with tourists. I think we''re going to check out Folly next weekend and see if we can scout out a good spot.

 

[kel_diggity]

Thanks! Any of the places named will work out great, although you are right about the tourists! I went to an outdoor wedding at Magnolia Gardens a couple of years ago that was beautiful. You may have already found this, but a place I came across recently is www.lowndesgrove.com

Its downtown and would be a great place for a reception, if not for the entire wedding festivities.

 

[XChick03]

Wow, I''ve never even heard of that place, but it is gorgeous! Definitely have to look into it. I have a feeling its out of my budget, though.

 

[Kimbo]

Hi, there! I just learned about this site and was reading the posts about the charleston weddings. I don''t know if you''ve already figured the wedding out or not, but here is what my FI and I are doing next October: We have about 30 people coming down to Charleston (we''re from Boiling Springs), and we''re renting a house on Isle of Palms to accommodate all of us. We''re going to go down on Friday with everyone else. We''re going to get married at the gazebo on Saturday, and then Sunday everyone will come home. The house we rented is oceanfront as well. You could do that. If you rented an oceanfront house, that will cover lodging as well as a ceremony if you choose to have a wedding in the backyard (which is oceanfront). Just an idea. Hope it goes well for you!