weddings: hilton head SC Archives | Page 2 of 11 | Wedding Planner Hilton Head, Savannah, Charleston

Wedding Ceremony in Historic Charleston Churches

Voted #1 city by Conde Nast Traveler multiple years in a row, Charleston, SC is one of the most beautiful and most visited cities in the United States. With sweeping views of water, stunning antique architecture, and a rich historical heritage, the city is home to some of the most beautiful wedding venues for ceremonies and receptions in the country.

Some of the most prominent architecture in Charleston are the churches, which line the brick-laid streets that have been here for hundreds of years. Charleston offers over 20 different churches of different denominations to match your religious background and dream setting you’ve always wanted for your wedding ceremony.

If you’re planning a destination wedding in Charleston, SC and looking to exchange vows inside a church, we’ve compiled a list of those located in the historic district that welcome non-members for their wedding ceremony.

First Baptist Church of Charleston

First Baptist Church is located in the heart of Charleston on Meeting Street. This large white church that had its first congregation in 1662 is open to nonmembers and is a much sought after venue for Christian wedding ceremonies.

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

Although this church was opened in 2010, it was built with the historic, gothic architecture true to centuries ago. Available to nonmembers but is in such high demand there is at least a 6-month notice required!

Second Presbyterian Church

Located on lower Meeting Street and opened in 1811, Second Presbyterian is open to nonmember and even offers a smaller chapel adjacent to the larger worship area for smaller, more intimate ceremonies.

Here is a complete list of Charleston area churches, courtesy of Charleston Wedding Guide:

African Methodist Episcopal
Mt. Zion AME Church – 843.722.8118
Nichols Chapel AME Church – 843.577.7366

Baptist
First Baptist Church – 843.722.3896
First Baptist Mt. Pleasant – 843.884.8521
Friendship Baptist Church – 843.744.9935
Grace on the Ashley – 843.556.6802

Catholic
Charleston Anglican Catholic – 843.763.8873
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist – 843.724.8395
St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church – 843.722.7696
Sacred Heart Church – 843.722.7018

Episcopal
Cathedral Church of St. Luke & St. Paul – 843.722.7345
Grace Episcopal Church – 843.723.4575
St. James Episcopal – 843.795.1623
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church – 843.723.8818

French Huguenot
The French Protestant (Huguenot) Church – 843.722.4385

Jewish
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim – 843.723.7324
Birth Sholom Beth Israel – 843.577.6599

Lutheran
Martin Luther Lutheran Church – 843.795.4855
St. Johannes Lutheran Church – 843.722.8906
St. John’s Lutheran – 843.723.2426
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church – 843.884.3107

Nondenominational
Church Purchased with His Blood – 843.556.0029

Presbyterian
First Scots Presbyterian – 843.722.8882
Redeemer Presbyterian – 843.724.1164
The Second Presbyterian Church – 843.723.9237

Unitarian
The Unitarian Church in Charleston – 843.723.4617

United Methodist
Asbury-St. James United Methodist Church – 843.722.2826
Bethel United Methodist Church – 843.723.4587
Cherokee Place United Methodist Church – 843.747.9697
North Charleston United Methodist Church – 843.744.6669
Trinity United Methodist Church – 843.722.8449

Embellished Events | Jen Leiti
Wedding Planner & Coordinator + Luxury Design Services
Serving Hilton Head, Savannah, Beaufort and Charleston, SC
(843) 757-7762
Hello@EmbellishedWeddings.com

Katy and Fred’s Wedding at the Beaufort Inn

Beaufort, SC is one of my favorite towns to plan weddings in for many reasons, which I could easily create an entirely separate blog post about. Our bride, Katy was born-and-raised in Beaufort, so when it came time to plan her wedding to Fred, they knew right where it would be – in her quaint, waterfront hometown.

Katy and Fred were married at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, followed by a tented reception with 175 guests at the Beaufort Inn. Katy wanted a look that was crisp and organic with elements from the Lowcountry. Her colors were green and ivory with accents of rustic brown. We incorporated mixed metals of gold and copper to tie in with the ombre of browns in the magnolia leave accents, which graced every floral arrangement. I especially loved the hanging designs, which served as a focal point above the bar and dance floor.

Katy and Fred planned a strolling reception for their guests and had food stations sprinkled around the expansive tent. Chef Nick cooked up everything from quail and duck to some of the family’s secret recipes. For dessert, Minette Rushing of Custom Cakes Savannah created a tiered wedding cake with sugar magnolias and a hand drawn replica of their custom monogram.

Thank you Evan Laettner for capturing their wedding day so beautifully through your lens.

Photography // Evan Laettner Photography

Planning + Design // Embellished Events

Floral Designs // Branches Designs

Rentals // Snyder Event Rentals

Cake // Minette Rushing of Custom Cakes Savannah

Lighting // JLK Events

Catering // Nick Muehller Catering

Ceremony + Cocktail Hour Music // Lowcountry Strings

Band // Finesse via East Coast Entertainment

Trolleys // Old Savannah Tours

Church // St. Peter’s Catholic Church

Reception Venue // Beaufort Inn

Embellished Events | Jen Leiti
Wedding Planner & Coordinator + Luxury Design Services
Serving Hilton Head, Savannah, Beaufort and Charleston, SC
(843) 757-7762
Hello@EmbellishedWeddings.com

Wedding Dress Shopping – A Little Girl’s Dream

Every little girl dreams about her wedding day and this weekend, those dreams started for my 3 year old daughter. We were wedding dress shopping for my sister-in-law and this little cutie wanted to tag along for the fun. As my sis came out of the dressing room in the most amazing gowns, my sweet girl’s face lit up as if she were meeting her favorite Disney princess for the first time. My sis stood in front of the mirror admiring the intricate details of each dress while baby bug slowly and carefully circled her in sheer delight and amazement.

As we got through a few dresses, my little darling finally did what I expected any little girl to do – she asked me if she could try one on. It was in that moment that I knew her wedding dreams had begun. I explained to her how special one’s wedding day is and assured her that one day (in many many years!) she too will find her prince charming and get to wear one of these beautiful ivory gowns to her very own ball.

Embellished Events
Boutique Wedding Planner + Luxury Design Services
Serving Hilton Head, Savannah, Beaufort and Charleston
(843) 757-7762
Hello@EmbellishedWeddings.com

Thank You

Spring was filled with love and beautiful celebrations for several of our clients. As the photograph proofs start coming in, I can’t help but relive the day with them, gushing over every memory and detail and that was created. I am so grateful to call this my “job” and work with so many wonderful couples and vendors.

Congratulations to our spring couples who tied the knot! I can’t WAIT to share some of their gorgeous photos. For now, I’ll give you a little sneak peek of Evan Laettner’s shot from Katy and Fred’s picturesque wedding in Beaufort, SC.

Embellished Events
Luxury Wedding Design and Planning :: Serving Hilton Head, Savannah and Beaufort
(843) 290-2590
Hello@EmbellishedWeddings.com

Real Wedding: Madeline and Joe

Having vacationed in Hilton Head for many years, Madeline and Joe knew this was the place to get married. They wanted a venue that would allow them to intertwine coastal chic with Southern flair. After looking at several locations in and around Hilton Head, the Mansion at Rose Hill stood out the most.

The ceremony took place on the front steps of the historic house. The brick walkway separated two areas of chairs where over 200 guests were seated. The altar was covered in colorful flowers, creating the perfect backdrop for their photos. After Madeline and Joe said, “I Do,” guests made their way to the back of the house where signature cocktails and hand passed hors d’oeuvres were served.

The reception took place under a sprawling clear top tent, draped in sheer gold fabric. Madeline chose a color palette of coral, teal, shades of pink and metallic gold. We had fun collaborating with Dawn at A Floral Affair to create three different table styles to give a less uniform look under the large tent. The outcome was exquisite and just as Madeline had envisioned. The greatest reward from that day was Madeline’s tears of joy when she laid eyes on her reception space for the first time.

Congratulations Madeline and Joe!

Embellished Events
Luxury Wedding Design and Planning :: Serving Hilton Head, Savannah and Beaufort
Phone: (843) 757-7762
Email: Hello@EmbellishedWeddings.com

Real Wedding: Ashley + Peter

Ashley and Peter’s wedding was nothing short of a Savannah fairy tale and dazzled with luxurious details. Their black tie celebration began with a traditional Greek ceremony at St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church. After the ceremony concluded, guests boarded trolleys and made their way to the historic (and some say haunted!) Mansion on Forsyth Park.

I knew from my first call with Ashley that she was going to be a dream to work with. Not only does she have impeccable style and grace, she’s a GATOR too!! Did I mention her father is Chuck Leavell, the amazingly talented keyboardist for the Rolling Stones? Lucky for us, the Mansion had a gorgeous Bosendorfer piano that was tuned and ready for Mr. Leavell to play that evening. Upon conclusion of dinner, he played a selection of songs including “Ashley,” which he wrote for the beautiful bride when she was a little girl.

This wedding was nothing short of exquisite and I am still overjoyed and honored to have been part of it. Congratulations Ashley and Peter!