Want to elope in a state park in South Carolina?

You’re in the right place if you don’t feel like a big wedding is the right fit for you and your partner, but you want the day to be a little more exciting than signing papers at the courthouse and calling it a day. South Carolina has 48 state parks. I’ve been to all of them and have all the details about the prettiest places in the state!

Devils Fork State Park/Lake Jocassee in Salem, South Carolina

How to Elope in South Carolina

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?

If you’re looking for places to elope in upstate South Carolina, check out my post for where to elope near Greenville!

Eloping in South Carolnia State Parks

While a few state parks have actual wedding venues, 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 State Park

Table Rock State 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. It also has a venue, the Gaines Lodge, if you’re looking for a space to host some of your family and friends.

Caesars Head State Park

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. This is just down the road from Pretty Place Chapel, Bald Rock Heritage Preserve, and the three waterfalls on the Wildcat Wayside trail. Also check out some of my other favorite places in South Carolina to see the mountains!

Devils Fork State Park

Devils Fork State 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!

Paris Mountain State Park

Even though it has “mountain” in its name, Paris Mountain State Park doesn’t actually have a good view of the mountains, or even a view from a summit. What it DOES have is beautiful foliage along the lake, and easy access to the rest of Greenville. You can elope along the lake here and then spend the rest of the day together in downtown Greenville. Here are some suggestions for how to spend an elopement day in Greenville!

Hunting Island State Park

Hunting Island is a barrier island in the Beaufort/Hilton Head area, just before you reach the Georgia border. There’s a driftwood beach here that’s perfect for a sunrise ceremony. Walk back to the rest of the park through a trail that feels like a jungle. You’ll be able to see for miles from the inside of the lighthouse!

Myrtle Beach State Park

Myrtle Beach State Park is a relief from the crowds and litter that you’d find in other parts of Myrtle Beach. If you spend the night in the park, you can easily get to the beach for sunrise, when not as many people are awake. If you like the idea of spending your elopement day in Myrtle Beach, you could have the privacy of getting married in the park, then hit up the actual city!

Huntington Beach State Park

About 25 minutes south of Myrtle Beach State Park is Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet. There are lots of overlooks over marshes, and if you like birds, you’ll probably see some cool ones. Atalaya Castle, a Spanish moor-style mansion, is also available to rent as a wedding venue. Huntington Beach State Park is also close to Brookgreen Gardens, where you’ll also see some of the sculptures that Anna Hyatt Huntington worked on from her home at Atalaya Castle.

Charles Towne Landing

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site in Charleston has two venues, The Legare-Waring House and Founder’s Hall. The Legare-Waring House is right in front of one of the prettiest tree tunnels! There’s also a small zoo here, the Animal Forest, if you want to see some animals afterwards. Charles Towne Landing is close enough to downtown Charleston that you can incorporate both into your elopement day.

Edisto Beach State Park

Edisto Beach State Park is part of Edisto Island. This island is basically the epitome of lowcountry South Carolina scenery., with marshes, Spanish moss, driftwood beaches, tree tunnels, and live oak trees. It feels pretty remote compared to the rest of the state. Not only can you have a sunrise ceremony at the beach here, our randomly chosen campsite had a gorgeous view of the marsh at sunset.

Santee State Park

Santee State Park has some of the lowcountry scenery, like Spanish moss and cypress trees in the water, while not being far away from Columbia. Stay in a cabin that “floats” over Lake Marion and get married on the porch, overlooking the lake.

Jones Gap State Park

Most of the scenery at Jones Gap 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, so you won’t be exhausted by the time you say your vows. The waterfall in the photo is Rainbow Falls, which is a lot more strenuous. The fall colors here are so beautiful!

Keowee-Toxaway State Park

If there’s a state park that I’d consider a hidden gem, it’s Keowee-Toxaway in Pickens County. There’s a beautiful little overlook here over Lake Keowee that requires a little bit of hiking. Stay a while to have a picnic and watch the sunset!

May Forest State Park

May Forest is still in its “soft-open” phase, but it would be a great spot for an elopement! It used to be a convent, so there’s a pink chapel surrounded by garden scenery and a perfect view of the Charleston Harbor and skyline.

Oconee Station State Historic Site

Oconee Station State Historic Site, in Oconee County, is a great access point to Station Cove Falls, one of my favorite waterfalls. It’s an easy trail with plenty of scenery along the way. There’s some other cool scenery nearby, 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. For more ideas for waterfall elopements in South Carolina, check out this post!

Start Planning Your Elopement

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 being outside as much as we love being on the couch and watching Pixar movies together.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it has just about everything in terms of scenery. Whether you’re looking for a mountaintop, a lake, or a beach; 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!

Start Planning Your Elopement