Planning a destination wedding in the South? Charleston, South Carolina consistently ranks among the most sought-after wedding destinations in the country — and for good reason. Here’s our insider take on the five venues we love most.
If you’ve been dreaming of a wedding that feels as cinematic as it does personal, Charleston, SC belongs at the top of your list. This city has an effortless way of making every event feel deeply rooted in place — the Spanish moss, the salt air, the centuries-old architecture, the legendary Lowcountry hospitality. Without question, it is one of Sweet Oak Events’ favorite places to plan luxury weddings, and we never tire of it.
As full-service wedding planners serving couples across North Carolina, South Carolina, and the broader Southeast, we’ve had the privilege of working in some of Charleston’s most iconic spaces. As a result, these five venues represent the very best of what this city has to offer for couples who refuse to compromise on beauty, atmosphere, or experience.
Here are our top five — in no particular order.
1. Cannon Green
If there is one venue in Charleston that perfectly captures the city’s spirit — historic, romantic, and just a little dramatic — it’s Cannon Green. Situated in the heart of the Holy City’s most vibrant neighborhood, this venue is defined by its legendary candlelit courtyard and sweeping spiral staircase, two of the most photographed backdrops in Charleston wedding history.
In addition to its stunning aesthetics, Cannon Green accommodates up to 250 guests and strikes a rare balance: simultaneously grand and intimate, storied and current. The design lends itself beautifully to elevated floral installations, moody candlelight, and a reception atmosphere that feels almost theatrical in the best possible way. Ultimately, for couples who want their guests to walk in and immediately feel something, Cannon Green delivers every time.
Why we love it: The courtyard. There is simply nothing else like it in Charleston.
2. Lowndes Grove
No list of the best wedding venues in Charleston, SC would be complete without Lowndes Grove, and it is arguably the most iconic of them all. Not only has BRIDES magazine recognized it as a top venue, but the National Register of Historic Places also distinguishes it — and for good reason. Lowndes Grove sits on 14 acres of oak-lined waterfront along the Ashley River, the last great waterfront estate on the Charleston peninsula.
The main house showcases 1786-era architecture with period furnishings, a grand lawn, bluestone terraces, and panoramic sunset views that are difficult to put into words. Moreover, a ceremony on the Great Lawn with the river behind you and centuries-old oaks overhead is the quintessential Charleston wedding moment. For couples seeking timeless, deeply Southern luxury, this is the pinnacle.
Why we love it: The golden hour light on that waterfront is something our photographers talk about long after the wedding is over.
3. Kiawah Island Golf Resort
For the luxury couple who wants a full destination wedding experience — not just a venue, but a weekend — Kiawah Island Golf Resort stands in a category of its own. Located on a barrier island just 30 minutes from downtown Charleston, Kiawah offers world-class accommodations, championship golf, pristine Atlantic beaches, and a “design your own day” philosophy that gives couples tremendous creative flexibility.
Because no two Kiawah weddings look alike, the possibilities here are genuinely exciting. Our personal favorite configuration: a waterfront ceremony on the grand lawn as the sun begins its descent, followed by a reception beneath a dramatic sailcloth tent with the coastline as your backdrop. Furthermore, the resort’s service standard is exceptional, and for guests traveling from out of town, having everything in one place makes for a seamless, memorable weekend.
Why we love it: The all-in-one destination experience. Your guests will be talking about this weekend for years.
4. Legare Waring House
For couples drawn to old-growth trees, soft natural light, and the feeling of being completely enveloped by the Lowcountry landscape, Legare Waring House is extraordinary. Nestled within Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, the property’s most defining feature is its Avenue of Oaks — a cathedral of ancient, moss-draped live oaks that creates one of the most breathtaking ceremony backdrops anywhere in the Southeast.
Beyond the oaks, the property also offers lagoons, open meadows, and the flexibility to tent on site — making it ideal for couples who want the full Lowcountry aesthetic with the scale and production value of a tented event. In fact, a long, winding reception table set beneath those oaks at golden hour is one of those images that stops people mid-scroll.
Why we love it: The Avenue of Oaks is unmatched. If dramatic, nature-forward ceremony imagery is a priority, this venue belongs on your shortlist.
5. Private Estate or Tented Event
Last on the list — but first in our hearts — is the private tented wedding. No venue walls, no pre-set floor plan, no aesthetic compromises. Instead, you get a remarkable piece of land, a world-class production team, and a blank canvas to build your wedding day from the ground up.
This is Sweet Oak Events’ specialty and, frankly, our favorite type of event to produce. Whether it’s a private island in the Lowcountry, a family estate, or a waterfront property we’ve never worked before, we love the challenge of building something extraordinary in a new environment. Simply put, when the vision is truly custom and the couple isn’t willing to fit their wedding into a box — this is the answer.
Why we love it: Because when we say your wedding will be unlike anything anyone has ever attended, we mean it.
Planning a Luxury Wedding in Charleston, SC?
Charleston has no shortage of extraordinary venues, and narrowing the list to five was not easy. However, what makes the difference between a beautiful wedding and an unforgettable one is not just the venue — it’s how a talented team designs, produces, and brings it to life.
Sweet Oak Events specializes in full planning and design for luxury couples across North Carolina, South Carolina, and the broader Southeast. So if you’re dreaming of a Charleston wedding and want a team that knows this city, its vendors, and its venues intimately, we’d love to connect.
