Devils Fork State Park/Lake Jocassee in Salem, South Carolina
Let’s elope in Greenville, South Carolina!
I’ve called this place home since 2016 and love showing people this side of the state. We may not have the beaches and Spanish moss that people picture when they think of South Carolina, but we have a lot of other cool places! While some of these places aren’t necessarily IN Greenville, most of them are within an hour of it.
If you’ve read my post on how to elope in South Carolina, you already know that eloping doesn’t have to be at a courthouse or in Las Vegas, and you have multiple options for how to become legally married. A wedding without guests, or with only a few guests, still deserves to be the most beautiful day for you and your partner. Part of that involves setting the scene—where is the best place for YOU to elope in South Carolina?
Why wouldn’t you get married near the beach if you’re going to South Carolina?
Unlike Ken in the Barbie movie, South Carolina’s job isn’t “just beach.” Even though everyone pictures beaches and palmetto trees when they think of South Carolina, only a small part of the state is near the ocean. As much as I love coastal South Carolina, it’s not for everyone. Aside from the visual scenery being different in the upstate, there are fewer tourists here, and the humidity and mosquitoes aren’t so bad. The water is colder here, so you don’t have to worry about alligators if you’re getting married in a warmer month. AND—there are mountains and waterfalls on this side of the state!
However you choose to elope, you deserve the best photos from that day, and I’d love to help you make that happen!
How to Get to Greenville, SC
This city is about an hour from the North Carolina border and about an hour from the Georgia border. The only interstates that run through Greenville are I-85, I-385, and I-185.
If you’re flying, you can fly to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. Greenville is about an hour and a half from the airports in Columbia and Charlotte, and about two and a half hours from the Atlanta airport.
If you’re coming here by train, there is an Amtrak station on Washington Street in downtown Greenville. The Crescent is currently the only route that comes through here, which runs from New Orleans to New York.
Need help finding things to do while you’re in the area? Here are some of my favorites!
Skylight Chapel in Taylors, South Carolina
In this post, I’ll be talking about places to elope in South Carolina, including:
Wedding venues in upstate South Carolina
Hotels, Inns, and Rental Properties
Parks
Mountains
Gardens
Lakes
Downtown
Waterfalls
Somewhere that’s special to you
And of course, the classic places: churches, courthouses, the post office, or your house!
Elopement Venues in South Carolina
Why would you rent a whole venue if you’re eloping?
It can ensure that nobody else is around.
You have a solid plan for a place to go, and you won’t show up and have it be closed.
A venue will have bathrooms and usually better accessibility, like ramps for wheelchairs.
There are usually designated places within a venue, like a place to get ready and a place to eat, so you can keep your whole day in one place and between the two of you.
If there’s a wedding venue that you love, see if they offer an elopement package! Some venues only offer this package during certain days or times of the week, and some allow a small number of guests. Here are a few pretty venues in South Carolina for an elopement:
Pretty Place Chapel in Cleveland, South Carolina
Pretty Place (pictured above): Fred W. Symmes Chapel at YMCA Camp Greenville, or “Pretty Place,” is one of the most popular wedding venues in South Carolina. One of the most beautiful sunrises I’ve ever seen was at this open-air chapel in the mountains, right on the border between the Carolinas, and it gets some of the best fall foliage in the whole state. Explore other parts of Mountain Bridge Wilderness as you head back towards Greenville, then stop for a nice meal in Greenville or Travelers Rest to celebrate! This is about an hour north of downtown Greenville.
Cliffs at Glassy Chapel: This chapel is in a private living community in Landrum, in northern Spartanburg County. The view from the top of the mountain is one thing, but the stone chapel is one of the prettiest I’ve seen in South Carolina. This is about 45 minutes from downtown Greenville.
View Point at Buckhorn Creek: A garden venue with Japanese vibes in Greenville where you can see the mountains in the distance. Honestly, I can’t get over how many colors are here in the spring and how big the fish in the pond are. There’s a getting ready area and plenty of space for you and any guests to have a catered dinner. View Point at Buckhorn Creek is 20 minutes from downtown Greenville and right down the road from Paris Mountain State Park.
Heyward Manor: In the peace and quiet of Iva, South Carolina; you can get married inside a barn, outside among the flowers, or in a rowboat on the lake! Heyward Manor is about 1 hour and 10 minutes from downtown Greenville.
Bent Creek Farm: This venue in Anderson offers multiple ceremony spaces, a getting-ready area, and a covered indoor area as a rain plan or a space for a small reception. This is 45 minutes from downtown Greenville.
Skylight Chapel: This is a small chapel in Taylors with both indoor and outdoor ceremony options. This is just a few minutes from Lake Robinson and 30 minutes from downtown Greenville.
Old St. John’s Meeting House: A schoolhouse from the 1800s that was converted into a chapel and holds about 60 people. This is in Walhalla, about an hour from downtown Greenville and about 15 minutes from some of the waterfall trailheads in Oconee County.
Song Hill Reserve: This venue in Landrum has views of both the mountains AND the water! They have a cabin onsite for you to stay overnight.
Belle Tesoro: the name combines the French word for “beautiful” and the Italian word for “treasure.” This beautiful house has Tuscan-inspired scenery, a gazebo for an outdoor ceremony, and gorgeous staircases for photos! This is in Pauline, near Spartanburg, and about 50 minutes from downtown Greenville.
Ballenger Bridge: There are so many options here, from a gazebo to mountains to a creek! This is in Landrum, about 45 minutes from downtown Greenville.
View Point at Buckhorn Creek in Greenville, South Carolina
Hotels, Inns, or Rental Properties
First things first: make sure the manager or the owner of the rental property knows you’re planning to get married here. Some AirBnBs specifically don’t allow weddings, so you and the owner will need to be on the same page about what’s happening, even if you’re not planning to have guests. Here are some hotels and inns that would be great places in South Carolina to elope:
This couple eloped in front of the mountains at the Red Horse Inn in Landrum, South Carolina. See more
Red Horse Inn (pictured above): Red Horse Inn is in northern Spartanburg County along Scenic Highway 11. Coming up the stairs and seeing this patio just about took my breath away! You can see some of the private cottages in the background, where you and your dogs can spend the night. Also, you could have a mini-pig as your witness. Campbell’s Covered Bridge is just a few minutes down the road, too. This couple had their elopement photos taken in both places! Red Horse Inn is about 45 minutes from downtown Greenville.
Bleckley Inn: One of my favorite venues is right in the middle of downtown Anderson. There are multiple spaces here that can be used for an elopement or a small wedding, even if there’s another wedding happening in the main courtyard that day. You, and any guests you invite, can stay there the night before and after the wedding. This couple was married in one of the smaller dining rooms with a few family members and friends, then we took some photos outside. Bleckley Inn is about 40 minutes from downtown Greenville.
Hotel Domestique: a small European-style inn that overlooks the mountains. Since it’s an inn, you and your guests can stay there the night before and after, and have dinner together after the ceremony. This is about 30 minutes from downtown Greenville.
Westin Poinsett: Another one of my favorite venues is the Westin Poinsett, or the Poinsett Hotel, right in the heart of downtown Greenville! This 1920s hotel has multiple ballrooms and some beautiful staircases, windows, and floor tiles. If you think the word “Poinsett” looks like “poinsettia,” they’re both named for the same person, and there are plenty of poinsettias in there near Christmastime! The Westin Poinsett is almost right across the street from Falls Park.
Grand Bohemian Lodge: This gorgeous hotel is right at the end of Liberty Bridge and has one of the best views of Falls Park. If there wasn’t already enough scenery right there, you’re close enough to walk all around downtown Greenville.
Intimate wedding at Bleckley Inn in Anderson, South Carolina.
South Carolina State Parks
While a few state parks have actual wedding venues (like the Table Rock Lodge, Atalaya Castle at Huntington Beach, and the Legare-Waring House at Charles Towne Landing), you can also call the office at your favorite park to get information about eloping there! For more popular parks, you can avoid crowds by getting married on a weekday or during the winter. If you have a small number of guests, you can ask about renting a picnic shelter with a view.
I’ve been to all 48 state parks in South Carolina and can help you choose the perfect spot to get married. Waterfalls, beaches, mountains, marshes, a castle, a lighthouse - the state parks have it all! While I think all of them have the potential to be an amazing place to elope, here are some of the ones that stand out to me:
Table Rock (pictured above): This park in Pickens County has something for everyone, whether you want to hike for days or just drive to a pretty view. For an elopement, I’d recommend a short waterfall hike and watching the sunset over the mountains from the pier. Table Rock State Park is 45 minutes from downtown Greenville.
Caesars Head: One of my favorite views in the state is sunset over the mountains from the Caesars Head overlook in northern Greenville County. The overlook can be reserved during non-peak times so that you can have some privacy. Caesars Head State Park is about an hour from downtown Greenville.
Devils Fork: This park in Oconee County is the only public access point to Lake Jocassee, one of my favorite places in the state. Say your vows on the shore or take a boat to some of the islands and waterfalls! Devils Fork State Park is about an hour from downtown Greenville.
Jones Gap: Most of the scenery here involves a little hiking, which can vary from an easy trail to some of the hardest in the state. I’d choose Jones Gap Falls because the trail isn’t too hard. The fall colors here are so good! Jones Gap State Park is about 45 minutes from downtown Greenville.
Keowee-Toxaway: There’s a beautiful little overlook here that requires a little bit of hiking. Stay a while to have a picnic and watch the sunset! Keowee-Toxaway State Park is about 50 minutes from downtown Greenville.
Want to know more about what each state park has to offer? I’ve been to each of them, so you can read about my experience with them or reach out to start planning!
Elopement at Devils Fork State Park on Lake Jocassee (Salem, South Carolina).
Gardens
One great thing about gardens is that they’re made to look beautiful at any time of year. In the “pretty” times of year, you’ll have a wider window for when you’ll get spring or fall scenery. Here are some gardens in South Carolina where you can elope:
South Carolina Botanical Gardens (pictured above in the winter): This is part of Clemson University, which has strong roots in agriculture and tons of people who are passionate about plants. There’s endless scenery from around the whole state of South Carolina. There are also venues and ceremony spaces to rent if you’re planning to have guests. The South Carolina Botanical Gardens are in Clemson, about 40 minutes from downtown Greenville.
Hatcher Gardens: Hatcher Gardens is much smaller than the South Carolina Botanical Gardens, but there is still plenty of plant life to see! Hatcher Gardens are in Spartanburg, about 40 minutes from downtown Greenville.
Furman Rose Garden: Right in front of the lake at Furman University, there’s a pretty little gazebo surrounded by hedges with roses. This is a beautiful spot in the spring and summer. This is in Greenville, about 20 minutes from downtown.
Want to get the perfect colors for your garden elopement? Read about finding spring and fall color!
South Carolina Botanical Gardens
Downtown Greenville
If you don’t mind a crowd, or if urban scenery is your vibe, you can elope in downtown Greenville! Greenville’s downtown has a waterfall and a beautiful little park right in the heart of downtown, so you don’t have to choose between a place with urban or natural scenery. You could have the option to rent a patio space, amphitheater, restaurant, or rooftop. You can also hop from your ceremony to dinner to anything else that excites you there: live performances, festivals, ice skating, or just a hotel to relax afterwards.
To see an example of what an elopement in downtown Greenville could look like, check out this post! For more ideas of what to do while you’re in Greenville, here are some of my favorites!
Liberty Bridge in Downtown Greenville, South Carolina.
Mountains
Should you hike to a summit with a gorgeous view, or make it an easy day at a restaurant, inn, or venue? Up to you!
A small part of the Blue Ridge crosses into South Carolina, giving similar scenery to western North Carolina or northern Gerogia.
While I’ve already mentioned some venues in South Carolina with mountains, you can also find a view from a few different summits. Catch the sunset at Bald Rock or Caesars Head, or trek up to Sassafras Mountain for a 360 view while one of you stands in North Carolina and the other stands in South Carolina. Some of these views require hiking, so check out what I look for in a trail.
Pretty Place Chapel in Cleveland, South Carolina
Waterfalls
Whether you’re looking for a hiking adventure or an easy walk from your car, you have plenty of waterfalls to choose from in South Carolina. Waterfalls are a little tricky because they can either be difficult to get to or they can have a lot of people. Here are a few not-so-secret ones that I’d be happy to use for an elopement:
Oconee County alone has over 150 named waterfalls.
Station Cove Falls (pictured right): This is one of my favorite waterfalls. It’s an easy trail with plenty of scenery along the way. It’s in Oconee County, close to some other cool natural scenery, like Oconee Station and Stumphouse Tunnel. This couple chose Station Cove because they had about 10 family members they wanted to join them and they wanted a trail that wasn’t very difficult.
Reedy River Falls (pictured above): This is the most famous one, right in the middle of downtown Greenville, but there are other smaller waterfalls within walking distance of it. There are plenty of restaurants around it if you want to celebrate afterwards! For more ideas on having a reception after your elopement, click here.
Rock Quarry Garden: It’s easy to drive right past Rock Quarry Garden without realizing it’s there. It’s in downtown Greenville, below two streets. It has a small waterfall at one end of the garden.
Wildcat Wayside: This is a one-mile trail in northern Greenville County with 3 waterfalls. The first one is a 10-foot waterfall that you can see from the road. The second is a smaller, wide waterfall up a set of steps. The third one is the biggest, but it looks more like a little trickle on a rock to me, so I’d stick with the two at the bottom.
Table Rock State Park: There’s a dam near the visitor center, but there are also 3 waterfalls of varying sizes along the 2-mile Carrick Creek Trail.
Lake Jocassee: There are at least 5 waterfalls on Lake Jocassee that are only accessible by boat.
Jones Gap: While Rainbow Falls is one of my favorite places in the state, it’s a difficult trail for only being 4 miles. I’d suggest Jones Gap Falls, which is a little shorter and not as difficult.
Lakes
If you love water but you don’t live near the beach, we have plenty of lakes in South Carolina to have your wedding!
The lakes in the upstate along Highway 11 have some gorgeous views of the mountains. This couple got married at Lake Keowee with just a few family members!
I’ve mentioned Lake Jocassee a lot in this post, since it’s my favorite lake, but there are several in South Carolina. I was married at Clemson in front of Lake Hartwell, one of the biggest lakes east of the Mississippi River. Lake Keowee (pictured above) has multiple access points, but there are also lots of lake houses available for rent. Several of the South Carolina State Parks serve as a public access point to a lake, and you can ask the park staff what their policies are for weddings.
Lake Oolenoy at Table Rock State Park
Courthouse or Post Office
A post office? Hear me out on this one:
First of all, one venue in upstate South Carolina actually is an old post office that was converted into a wedding venue, but kept the aesthetic of a 1940s post office.
The Old Post in Easley, South Carolina
Second of all, a post office can provide a notary public, who can take care of the paperwork for you to become legally married. My friend signed as a witness in a UPS store for a couple who wanted to be legally married before their actual wedding ceremony. This is a quick way to start the day before you head out for an adventure together!
Churches
This is a great option for couples who want intimacy for their ceremony, but still like the idea of a church wedding. One good thing about getting married in a church is that it comes with officiants!
If you don’t want to get married at the church you attend, you can ask your pastor to come with you to a chapel that isn’t affiliated with a parish, like Pretty Place or Cliffs at Glassy Chapel.
Private Property
You could even get married at your own house! If a family member or friend has a beautiful house or land that you love, you could ask them to be a witness to your wedding.
A backyard wedding doesn’t sound glamorous, but using your home as your wedding venue can be really special. Make it as pretty as you want, and it’ll still be that pretty the next day!
Side note: South Carolina doesn’t require witnesses. North Carolina and Georgia both require two. I can sign as one, and literally anyone else you see can sign as the other.
Somewhere that’s Special to You
If it’s just the two of you, the sky is the limit for where to get married! For this couple, it was the amphitheater at Clemson University. Let’s face it, that amphitheater is a gorgeous place to get married, and they’ve been there so many times together.
At the end of the day, it’s about you two. It doesn’t matter how crazy your ideas sound to anyone else, especially if you’re not having guests.
How do you want to remember your wedding day?
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 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!
