December Elopement in Downtown Greenville, SC | Ashley & Logan

Ashley and Logan eloped in downtown Greenville, South Carolina!

They knew they wanted a bigger ceremony with their families sometime in the future, but they wanted to become legally married before that. They still wanted to have a fun day together, even if nobody else was there. They’re both pretty new to the area and weren’t totally sure what they wanted, but they knew they liked the idea of downtown Greenville since they lived close to there and spent a lot of time there together. Ashley and I came up with some places based on their interests, and she checked them out and reported back to me.

Ashley said she liked the idea of old hotels and a cool library. The Westin Poinsett and M. Judson’s Booksellers happen to be right next to each other with a huge outdoor Christmas tree right in between. The elopement ceremony was on the veranda at the Poinsett, where the beautiful 1920s-style flooring and staircases were on full display. After the ceremony, Ashley said that it already feels different to finally be married. The Poinsett is named for Joel Poinsett, who introduced a plant to the US that’s named for him, so there are tons of poinsettias around the hotel in December. Even though it was one of the shortest days of the whole year, it was the warmest day of the whole month—a sunny and 65-degree day in a month full of cold and rainy days.

After we took some daytime photos with the outdoor Christmas tree, we walked down to Falls Park, stopping along the way to catch the sunset by the Peace Center, get Ice on Main in the background while nobody was on it, and get some photos with the string lights. We took some photos by the Reedy River Falls, the defining feature of downtown Greenville, and worked our way back towards the Poinsett as the sun went down. We got some photos in M. Judson’s, where we talked about the books we found and some of what was in the Greenville-themed section. By the time we got back outside, it was completely dark and we got some nighttime photos with the Christmas tree. Since they eloped downtown, there were lots of people around who were constantly telling them they looked beautiful and they were so happy for them.

Enjoy some of my favorite photos from Ashley and Logan’s December elopement in downtown Greenville!

If you’re still looking for a photographer, read more about my elopement and engagement photography services!

Ready for the best day ever?

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love finding new outdoor places to visit, but we also love hanging out on the couch and watching Pixar movies.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

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Clemson Elopement | Jenna & Chris

Jenna and Chris decided to elope in South Carolina Botanical Gardens on Star Wars Day, May the 4th.

They knew they liked the idea of eloping in a garden because they like spring scenery and colors. After looking through some pictures on my blog, they determined that they could see themselves getting married in the South Carolina Botanical Gardens. When we had our Zoom call, I walked them through what the scenery might look like at that time of year and some possible places to have their ceremony.

It started pouring rain right before we arrived, but we all had clear umbrellas. Jenna and Chris chose the pavilion at the duck pond for their ceremony, which is covered. The rain also drove away all the people who came to the gardens to take prom photos, so we almost had the garden to ourselves, and didn't hear much besides the rain and waterfalls.

There were so many wonderful smells in the garden, from the herbs to the flowers. We couldn't pinpoint what smelled like bubblegum and what smelled like fruity candy. Jenna and Chris heard that smell is an important trigger for wedding day memories, so Jenna picked out a cologne for Chris, and Chris picked out a perfume for Jenna. They also picked out each other's rings. Chris's was galaxy-inspired and can glow in the dark if it's had enough sun exposure!

Since Jenna and Chris like ice cream more than they like cake, they decided to get a bowl of "wedding ice cream" to share. We stopped at Andee's Ice Cream in downtown Clemson, where everyone was so excited to see newlyweds buying ice cream together. They shared a bowl of ice cream outside the shop before we headed to Lake Hartwell for sunset.

"Clemson sunset" was a big buzzword while I was a student because orange is a special color to the community and we like to see it in the sky. Lake Hartwell is one of the best places to see a Clemson sunset, and even though it was so rainy when we met up, we had the most beautiful orange sky over the lake!

They haven't lived in South Carolina for very long, but they knew they wanted to elope in a garden. This was their first time visiting Clemson and the South Carolina Botanical Gardens, and they're already planning a trip back to see more of it! I hope you enjoy my photos of Jenna and Chris's elopement at Clemson!

If you want a Clemson elopement too, check out where to elope at Clemson and ideas for what to do in Clemson on your elopement day!

Shoutout to everyone who helped make Jenna and Chris’s elopement day so wonderful!

Locations: South Carolina Botanical Gardens and Lake Hartwell

Officiant: Debbie Eliopulous

Hair and makeup: Meg and Jake with Cotton Rouge and Company

Dress: Evelyn's Bridal

Ice cream: Andee's Ice Cream

Photography: Christine Scott Photography

Ready for your best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love finding new outdoor places to visit, but we also love hanging out on the couch and watching Pixar movies.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

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More From Clemson

Intimate Wedding at Bent Creek Farm | Ashley and David

I met Ashley and David in June for their engagement photos in the South Carolina Botanical Gardens, so I was excited to see them again for their December wedding!

Ashley and David were married on a 70-degree day in December at Bent Creek Farm with about 20 family members and friends. Since they met while playing World of Warcraft, they walked down the aisle to World of Warcraft music, and they quoted it in their vows.

Ashley opted for a green dress instead of a typical white one, and I’m not sure whether she looked more like she belonged in a Disney movie or in White Christmas. She paired it with a burgundy cloak, which made me think of Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas. Thankfully, both of them have seen that movie and knew what I meant when I said it!

David chose to wear a kilt to honor his Scottish heritage. He chose a tartan to fit the color scheme they chose, rather than the tartan for one of the clans his ancestors belonged to. He had a cane with a sword in it, which was super cool.

They kept their reception pretty low-key since it was only about 20 people. I loved watching their nieces and nephew dance around together. Ashley made the party favors and table decor herself, including the same fabric she used as a scarf during the engagement photos. The red and green decor paired so well with everything they chose to wear, and it fit the Christmas scheme so beautifully.

Enjoy some of my favorite photos from Ashley and David’s December wedding at Bent Creek Farm!

Venue: Bent Creek Farm

Photography: Christine Scott Photography

Hair and makeup: Collective Beauty

Officiant: Evan Welcher

Bride’s attire: Amazon

Groom’s attire: Kilt Renal USA

Catering: Laurenda’s

Desserts: Publix and Whimsy Cookies

Invitations: Truly Engaging

For more information about photos for intimate weddings and elopements in upstate South Carolina, read about my elopement experience and where to elope in upstate South Carolina!

Ready for your best day ever?

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love being outside just as much as we love hanging out on the couch together and watching Pixar movies or Back to the Future.

One thing I love about Greenville is that it’s everything you DON’T think about when you picture South Carolina, but it’s still picturesque. Whether you’re into mountains, waterfalls, lakes, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Elopement at Lake Jocassee | Tabitha & Mike

Tabitha and Mike eloped in front of one of my favorite places in South Carolina: Lake Jocassee!

Tabitha and Mike knew for a long time that they wanted to get married. They also knew that they didn’t want their wedding to be a huge event or a courthouse ceremony. When Tabitha was googling what the options were for something in between, she came across my blog post about where to elope in South Carolina. She and Mike were so excited at the thought of getting married in a beautiful place by themselves!

When Tabitha reached out to me, I asked her when would be a good time for a Zoom call. She said that they could drive to Greenville the next day to meet me in person. They made the drive from Florence and we met up at Spill the Beans to talk about their options. They told me they liked water and mountains, and that they were willing to go check some places out after leaving our meeting. I told them that Lake Jocassee was probably the best combination of water and mountains, and they liked the pictures I showed them. Later that night, Tabitha texted me and told me that they visited a few places, but they knew as soon as they got to Lake Jocassee that it was the place for them.

Tabitha picked out a white dress and ordered a fall-colored bouquet, where she hung a small picture of her mom, who is no longer with us. Tabitha and Mike ordered a small cake from Publix with flowers that matched her bouquet. They stayed at Sunrise Farm, the same bed and breakfast where Dan and I stayed after our wedding. They made a dinner reservation at The Lighthouse, where Dan and I had our rehearsal dinner.

We met on the beachy area of Devils Fork State Park, the only public access point to Lake Jocassee. Ken of Upstate Wedding Officiant put together a beautiful ceremony for them in front of the water and mountains. Tabitha and Mike read the vows they had written for each other and sealed the deal! It was cloudy the entire time we were there, but we saw the sky change colors a few times, which was pretty cool. We took some photos at the beach, the docks, and the trees. We hardly saw any people, making for a quiet, private, and peaceful wedding day.

Enjoy some of the photos from Tabitha and Mike’s fall elopement at Lake Jocassee!

Venue: Lake Jocassee at Devils Fork State Park

Photographer: Christine Scott Photography

Officiant: Ken at Upstate Wedding Officiant

Cake: Publix

Does this look like the perfect way to get married? Read about Devils Fork State Park, other places to elope in South Carolina!

Ready for your best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love being outside as much as we love being on the couch and watching Pixar movies.

One thing I love about Greenville is that it’s everything you DON’T think about when you picture South Carolina, but it’s still picturesque. Whether you’re into mountains, waterfalls, lakes, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Intimate Wedding at Callaway Gardens | Natalie & Evan

Natalie and Evan were married on a cool November evening at Calloway Gardens with their families and a few of their friends!

Natalie and Evan have the classic Hollywood story of two strangers bumping into each other in a crowded place and building a relationship. In this case, it was a bar in Athens, Georgia, home of the University of Georgia. These two were married at Calloway Gardens in southern Georgia, a place Natalie went to a lot as a child. The gardens are about the size of a state park, with beautiful and unique spots all over to take pictures. As we took the shuttle through the gardens after dark, we saw some of the Christmas light exhibits that had already been set up.

Natalie got ready in the bridal suite in the lodge, which had three balconies overlooking the fountain outside. Even though they chose not to have bridesmaids and groomsmen, Natalie’s mom and two best friends helped her get ready. After Natalie and Evan did their first look in front of the fountains, we did their family photos in the butterfly exhibit, which was a greenhouse full of butterflies and the plants that they like!

With about 30 guests at their wedding, Natalie and Evan were married in the garden’s tiny chapel in the woods with stained glass windows. We came back to the lodge for the reception in the ballroom. Evan’s mom made their wedding cake. We ended the night with a sparkler exit outside of the lodge.

Check out some of my favorite photos from Natalie and Evan’s intimate wedding at Calloway Gardens!

Venue, catering, and bartending: Callaway Gardens

Coordinator: Magnolia Lane’s Polished Events

Photographer: Christine Scott Photography

Florals: Evan Bloodworth

DJ: Crash Boat Sound

Cake: Evan’s mom, Jenny

Dress: David’s Bridal

Officiant: Chuck Shaheen

Does this look like the small wedding you had in mind? I’d love to help you make that happen! Read more about my photography services for small weddings and then we can talk!

Ready for your best day ever?

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love being outside just as much as we love being on the couch and watching PIxar movies.

One thing I love about Greenville is that it’s everything you DON’T think about when you picture South Carolina, but it’s still picturesque. Whether you’re into mountains, waterfalls, lakes, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Table Rock Wedding | Danielle and Jamie

Danielle and Jamie were married on a perfect fall day at the Gaines Lodge at Table Rock State Park!

Danielle and Jamie wanted mountains to be part of their wedding day, and the Gaines Lodge had everything they were looking for. I was so excited to be part of a wedding here because Table Rock is one of my favorite state parks, but I’d never been to the Gaines Lodge. This beautiful lodge has a porch that overlooks Table Rock Mountain, Pinnacle Mountain, and Pinnacle Lake. The fall colors were just starting to change here, so we had a good mix of green and yellow leaves.

Danielle and Jamie were married in front of about 60 friends and family members, plus their dogs, Phoebe and Guinness. Danielle and Jamie did a first look (having photos together before the ceremony), which helped them feel more at ease going into the ceremony. I loved that Danielle had a color palette for her bridesmaids’ dresses instead of having all of them wear the same color. Jamie rocked the galaxy cat socks. One of the bridesmaids arranged wooden flowers into bouquets, boutonnières, and corsages, so they will look exactly the same years down the line. At the reception, Danielle changed into a lighter dress. There was pumpkin beer at the bar and a beautiful fall-themed cake with cupcakes! The temperature was perfect and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky all day long.

Enjoy some of my favorite photos from Danielle and Jamie’s wedding at Table Rock State Park!

Venue: Gaines Lodge at Table Rock State Park

Coordinator: Jessica Innes of Social Events Design

Photographer: Christine Scott Photography

Caterer: Larkin’s Catering

Hair and makeup: Trisha and Staci with Cotton Rouge

Dress: Elizabeth Cole Bridal

Cake: Bonnie Bundt Cakes

For more information about Table Rock State Park, check out this post, and check out my info for elopement and engagement photos!

Ready for the best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. Sometimes we wear hiking boots, sometimes we wear dress shoes, and sometimes we’re barefoot in the surf.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Vow Renewal at Lake Jocassee

Melissa and Hunter were married 17 years ago. They had been thinking for a long time about renewing their vows and decided to take a trip by themselves to somewhere new!

Melissa and Hunter live in Louisiana and had never been to South Carolina before. When Melissa’s friend showed her a photo from a wedding she went to at Pretty Place, Melissa became intrigued with the idea of visiting South Carolina. She came across my blog post about places to elope in South Carolina and emailed me about coming in October. She told me that they both love mountains and water, so I showed her some photos I’d taken at Lake Jocassee, and she loved it!

Lake Jocassee is accessible through Devils Fork State Park, one of my favorite state parks in South Carolina and the best combination of water and mountains you’ll get in this state. Some of the scenery in this park reminds me more of the west coast than South Carolina—it’s so hard to believe that this is the same state that gives us places like Charleston!

The day we met was a perfect fall evening. Melissa wore a white dress and Hunter wore a dress shirt with suspenders. A friend made them a bouquet and a boutonnière. Melissa makes cakes professionally, so she wanted a small cake to bring. She made a cookie cake because it would last better during the long car ride.

We took some photos in the shade at the beginning of the Oconee Bell Trail, but we didn’t get photos with the Oconee Bells because they only bloom in the spring. We did find an American Beauty Berry bush, which has lime-green leaves and bright purple berries in the fall. As the sun got lower, we moved towards small beachy area that faces the lake. We tried to chase the buzzards away, but a random dog showed up to do it for us. Aside from that, it was a pretty quiet evening, making a pretty intimate experience in nature.

I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect fall evening to show Melissa and Hunter how beautiful this side of South Carolina is. They’re already talking about when to come back to show this place to their boys! Enjoy some of my favorite photos from Melissa and Hunter’s vow renewal at Lake Jocassee!

If this looks like the kind of wedding day you want, I’d love to help you make that happen!

Ready for the best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love being outside just as much as we love being on the couch and watching Pixar movies.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Intimate Wedding at Skylight Chapel | Katie and Jeremy

Katie and Jeremy were married at Skylight Chapel in Taylors, South Carolina, with just a few friends and family members as their witnesses.

On the day of Katie and Jeremy’s wedding, the forecast was calling for thunderstorms and wind. The ceremony location changed at the last minute from Lake Robinson to just down the road at Skylight Chapel, a small and beautiful space that’s perfect for an intimate wedding like this one. When the storms died down for a few minutes, we went outside to take some photos on the stairs and at the gazebo. After the ceremony, there was a table with some of the most beautiful, colorful, and awesome flavored macarons.

With a combined total of six kids, this was a day that was truly about two families coming together. Katie, Jeremy, and each of their kids had a different colored bottle of sand to pour into a jar during the ceremony, making for a rainbow-looking sand bottle when they had all finished. Katie’s daughter was her maid of honor and Jeremy’s brother was his best man. Aside from the couple, the star of the show was Ivy, a gorgeous and friendly giant schnauzer who looks like a model in every photo I have of her. She wore a custom bandana to celebrate her parents coming together.

After the ceremony, Katie and Jeremy drove off to Brevard together to spend some time in the mountains before taking a honeymoon later this year.

Check out some of my favorite photos from Katie and Jeremy’s micro wedding at Skylight Chapel!

Coordinator and officiant: Magnolia Elopements and Microweddings

Venue: Skylight Chapel

Florals: Urban Petals

Macarons: Macarons by Renée

Dress: David’s Bridal

Photographer: Christine Scott Photography

Looking for an elopement photographer in Greenville? Read more about my elopement services!

Ready for the best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love being outside just as much as we love hanging out on the couch together and watching Pixar movies or Back to the Future.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources