South Carolina Mountain Elopements

Bald Rock Heritage Preserve

Want to elope in the mountains in South Carolina?

Even though South Carolina is mostly known for beaches, there’s a tiny little corner of the state that is known for mountains and waterfalls. Our tallest mountain is Sassafras Mountain, which is on the border with North Carolina, and is 3,554 feet high.

Highway 11, or the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway, is an alternative to taking I-85 in South Carolina, starting and ending in the same places. The highway goes through the mountains in South Carolina, through Cherokee, Spartanburg, Greenville, Pickens, and Oconee Counties.

While there aren’t a lot of summits in South Carolina that are easy to access, there are plenty of places in South Carolina with mountain views. Here are some of my favorite spots!

Note: Take into account that certain weather conditions might affect how well you can see the scenery. Read more about cloudy days here.

Pretty Place Chapel

This is one of the most popular wedding venues in South Carolina and one of the biggest attractions in the upstate. Since planning for a visit to Pretty Place is a little more complex, it has its own blog post.

Caesars Head State Park

Lots of people come across this park on the way to or from Pretty Place Chapel. Caesars Head is one of two state parks in Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. It’s one of my favorites, with a beautiful view of the mountains to the west, and it gets its own blog post. This is also where you can read about Bald Rock Heritage Preserve and Wildcat Wayside, which are also part of Mountain Bridge Wilderness and right along the road if you’re coming from Greenville.

Table Rock State Park

This is where you can access the trailhead for Pinnacle Mountain, the tallest mountain that’s entirely in South Carolina. It’s also one of the end points of the 77-mile Foothills Trail. Even if you don’t hike at all, you can still get some of the best views of the mountains in South Carolina here, like in this photo taken at the visitor center. Read more about Table Rock here.

Devils Fork State Park

When people tell me they like mountains and water, I tell them that Devils Fork State Park is is the best place in South Carolina to see both. Devils Fork is the only public access point to Lake Jocassee, but there are houses along the lake to rent. Even though the views from the shore are amazing, it’s even better from a boat. You’ll be able to get closer to the mountains, and you’ll see some waterfalls that you can’t reach from any road or trail. Read more about Devils Fork here.

Red Horse Inn

This is in Landrum, one of the best places in Spartanburg County to see the mountains. If you elope here, you can have your own cottage, where your dogs can stay until it’s time to take pictures with them. I couldn’t believe this view when I walked up the stairs to the patio! See more from this elopement here.

View Point at Buckhorn Creek

The ceremony site here has a view of the mountains in the distance. It’s best for weddings under 100 people, and there’s no shortage of beautiful garden scenery. It’s also right down the road from Paris Mountain State Park, which is one of the best places in South Carolina to see fall colors.

Side note: Paris Mountain State Park does not have views of mountains or a view from a summit.

Ballenger Bridge

If you like mountains AND water, and you also want a rain plan, Ballenger Bridge is a great option for you! They offer packages for elopements and small weddings, and you can even stay in the AirBNB on their property! This is located in Landrum, about 45 minutes from downtown Greenville.

Lake Robinson

The mountains at Lake Robinson are smaller than the mountains at Lake Jocassee, but this lake is less remote. Lake Robinson is on the Greenville County side of Greer. This is just a few minutes away from Skylight Chapel, but it would also be a great secondary location if you’re eloping at Red Horse Inn or Campbell’s Covered Bridge.

Sassafras Mountain

South Carolina’s tallest peak is actually shared with North Carolina. There’s a dividing line at the observation platform, so you and your partner can stand in different states during your wedding ceremony! The drive to Sassafras is one of the windiest I’ve encountered in South Carolina, so I recommend driving a taller vehicle and taking motion sickness into consideration. On the plus side, there’s a 360-degree view from the observation deck, so sunrise and sunset both have their time to shine here.

Other places to see the mountains in South Carolina:

View from the overlook next to Pretty Place Chapel at sunrise

These are some places with mountains in South Carolina that I don’t have example photos of yet:

Caesars Head on a rainy day when the haze covered the view of the mountains

Thanks for reading about places to see the mountains in South Carolina! Check out some of the work I’ve done in the mountains of South Carolina, then read about my elopement and engagement photo services!

More from the Mountains of South Carolina

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 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!

Planning Resources

Lake Lure Flowering Bridge

Today’s featured location is the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge! This is a little over an hour away in North Carolina, but it feels like such an easy drive to get there from Greenville. It’s a must-see if you’re visiting Chimney Rock State Park (also a must-see), just a few minutes down the road. As some of you might know, Lake Lure is where some of the scenes in Dirty Dancing were filmed, so I highly recommend listening to that super fun soundtrack on the way there.

The Flowering Bridge is a small botanical garden that covers a footbridge over a section of Lake Lure, literally right off of Memorial Highway. It may look small from the road, but there’s so much to see here! There are actually two levels to it, as part of the garden extends below the bridge and down to the water. Each section is so full of different plants and themed sections, so something will always catch your attention and make you slow down. Every time I’ve had a session here, I feel like there’s not enough time to include all the scenery.

I love the recurring theme of famous books throughout the garden, which made it an ideal location for this Harry Potter engagement session. For example, a small section has yellow bricks with slippers next to a brick painted like the Wizard of Oz book. One section is modeled to look like the garden in Peter Rabbit.

My first visit here was in the spring, after I had a session at Chimney Rock State Park. It was my first time in the area, but I saw a sign for the Flowering Bridge and remembered that I’d seen some photographers share pictures from there on Instagram. I couldn’t get over how good it smelled—so many flowers were in bloom, but there’s also a rosemary bush, which is one of my favorite scents. The next time I came back was in August, and the garden was so full of color! There were so many butterflies and bees hanging around the flowers, and I could just watch and listen to them all day.

Even though we tend to not see flowers in cold weather, this place still looks beautiful in the winter! The Christmas decorations and winter scenery are perfect!

For more information on the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge in Chimney Rock, North Carolina, check out their website! Scroll down to see some of the photos I’ve taken in the Lake Lure area, or send me a message to get started with planning your photos!

More Photos from Lake Lure

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

Table Rock State Park

When you hear “Table Rock,” you might think of super hard hikes. Yes, some of the hardest hikes in the whole state of South Carolina are accessible from this park, but this park really has something for everyone. We’ve been to every state park in South Carolina and Table Rock is one of our favorites because it pretty much has everything—long hikes, short hikes, pretty views that don’t involve hikes, mountains, waterfalls, a lake, you name it! We even had our own family photos here because we love the scenery here so much.

Where to Get Married at Table Rock

Table Rock actually does have its own venue for larger weddings, the Gaines Lodge, but it’s also a great place for engagement photos and elopements!

Where to Take Photos at Table Rock State Park

First of all, there’s about a 5-minute drive between the park headquarters and the trailhead, so make sure you know where you’re navigating to because it’s hard to get signal in the park. The trailhead is on State Park Road and the park headquarters is on Ellison Lane. The trailhead has a small waterfall, and there’s another one just a short walk up from it.

The photo below was taken at Carrick Creek Falls, along the Carrick Creek Trail. This is a moderate 2-mile hike and took us about an hour with all the stops for photos. It goes a lot farther than what you see in the photo, but this is where it was safe for me to stand.

If you go to the park headquarters, you’ll see a beautiful view of the mountains over Lake Oolenoy, including the famous Table Rock, which is easily recognizable with its granite face. There’s enough grass in front of the park headquarters to make it look like a big field in front of Table Rock. There is a T-shaped pier on Lake Oolenoy, with one side overlooking the mountains and the other side overlooking more of the water.

In the fall, the visitor center has some beautiful tall grass down by the water. The walkway to the visitor center is lined with beauty berry bushes, which give almost neon purple and green colors.

Also, while you’re in the area, feel free to check out some other nearby state parks, like Caesars Head, Keowee-Toxaway, or Devils Fork! You can also read about our adventures through all 47 state parks in South Carolina! For more information about Table Rock State Park, read about it on the South Carolina State Parks website.

Check out some of my other photos below from around Table Rock State Park, read more about my engagement photo services, or click here to get started with planning your session!

Ready for the best day ever?

If you’re envisioning photos like these, click the button below to send me a message, or check out some of my other pMy 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

South Carolina Botanical Gardens | Clemson, SC

I have to write a whole blog post about this place because it’s one of my favorite places, both to take pictures and just to walk around. There’s so much here that I can’t just show one or two photos to show you what it has to offer. I’ll also show you some photos taken throughout the year so you can get a better idea of what the scenery will look like at the time of your session or your elopement.

The South Carolina Botanical Gardens is at the Clemson University campus. Clemson, my alma mater, was founded as Clemson Agricultural College, and so much of the university’s culture is still rooted in agriculture. I mean, their signature ice cream and blue cheese comes from cows raised by the students—check out the ‘55 Exchange when you visit! All around Clemson’s campus, you’ll see a variety of plants that change colors at different times. It’s not unusual to see a class stopping at a tree and taking notes. It’s no wonder that a school like this would have such a wonderfully diverse botanical garden. Every time I go, a different spot stands out to me because of how the plants change through the year. I have my pre-designated spots to stop at, but I usually find different spots along the way that look pretty.

Venues at South Carolina Botanical Gardens

For larger gatherings, there are a number of venues within the Botanical Gardens to rent, including the gazebo on the duck pond, the carriage house, and the gazebo at the Xeriscape Garden. For elopements, these rental fees would still apply to ensure that two events don’t interfere with each other.

Gazebo on the Duck Pond

The entrance to the garden features Palmetto trees, South Carolina’s state tree. You can also find some throughout the Maritime Garden, which I’ll highlight later, but you don’t see them much in the upstate.

Take a left at the entrance and you’ll find the main parking lot, which brings you to the caboose garden. There’s an amphitheater here, a bell, and some cool overhangs. PS: this caboose is a much safer alternative to taking pictures on railroad tracks!

The Duck Pond has a beautiful Japanese-style pier. And ducks, but they tend to not cooperate for taking photos.

The Xeriscape Garden, near the Duck Pond, has a white gazebo, which would be a beautiful setting for an intimate wedding.

If you turn right after the main entrance instead of left, you’ll find an easily overlooked part of the garden, which includes exhibits like the Desert Garden, Jurassic Garden, and ones that represent the state of South Carolina, like the Maritime Garden, Prairie Garden, and the Carnivorous Garden. The Desert Garden is one of my favorite parts because you probably won’t find plants like this in many places east of the Mississippi River.

One thing I love about the South Carolina Botanical Gardens is that I don’t have to get there at the peak times in the spring or fall to find seasonal color. Different plants show their colors at different times, so a March session and an April session will both look like the ultimate spring session, but will probably have different places featured. This session was at the end of February, but we found one pink tree and one white tree to use.

This session was in mid-March, when most of the trees here turn white and a few are pink. What I consider “peak” is usually the end of March through the second week of April, but look how much color we got when we weren’t even in that window!

This bridal portrait session was late May in the same year—we still had a spring feel with the flowers, but also the full green trees of summer.

This session was in the summer, when all the plants are in full swing—especially the desert garden. That glowy light on the willow tree is everything I want to illustrate a summer evening!

For this fall session, we missed peak foliage by less than a week, and most of the trees were bare by the time we got there. We looked around and some orange and yellow caught our eye, so we used those spots as much as we could. I believe this was the last day of November and these 4 spots were all the color that was left. We usually don’t have much fall color before the beginning of November, but I’ve had some photos with yellow trees in the first week of December before.

This elopement was on New Year’s Eve. There were some coniferous trees that still gave us some green that time of year, but there’s enough scenery for us to still have a beautiful setting for our photos, even without flowers.

No matter the time of year, the South Carolina Botanical Gardens is a picturesque place for your wedding, your engagement photos, or just a nice walk! Check out some more of my work from the gardens!

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

Pretty Place Chapel

For information about eloping at Pretty Place, this blog post is for you.

Fred W. Symmes Chapel at YMCA Camp Greenville, more commonly known as Pretty Place, is one of the locations I get asked for the most. This is an open-air chapel at the edge of a cliff overlooking the mountains, right on the North Carolina border.  People from all over the country see pictures and videos of this place on Pinterest and TikTok and ask me to take their engagement photos, wedding photos, and proposal photos there. However, it’s also one of the most complex locations to plan for, which is why most of the people who ask me for it end up choosing another location after I respond. Pretty Place lives up to its name though, and if you can work it out, your photos will be stunning. Here are a few things to keep in mind for taking engagement or elopement photos at Pretty Place:

Check the visitation schedule. This is a very popular wedding venue, so the chapel will be closed to the public when there’s a wedding. The schedule on the Camp Greenville website lets you see up to 2 weeks in advance when the chapel is open. If it’s closed on the day you’ll be in the area, here are some other places with mountains in South Carolina.

Consider a weekday. Most weddings happen on weekends, and during the fall and spring, the chapel is sometimes booked for the whole weekend. The chapel has a lot of visitors during public hours, but there tend to be fewer on weekdays. If you’re coming from out of town, I recommend being in the area for at least one full weekday (Monday through Thursday) since you can only see the visitation schedule 2 weeks in advance.

Be prepared for crowds. If the chapel opens at 6 AM and sunrise is at 7:30, some people get there at 6 AM to make sure they get a parking space. The cross is the main feature of the location, so if you’re standing in front of the cross to take photos, all eyes are on you. You may even see another couple eloping or proposing. I’ve had multiple proposals where there were enough people to look like there was a whole church service when it was really just people who were there for the sunrise. For more ideas on how to avoid crowds, check out this post.

You can pay to reserve it if you’re trying to plan in advance or if you don’t want people there. You can only view the visitation schedule two weeks in advance, so if you’re making a long trip here, this can help you ensure that it won’t be booked up the entire time you’re in town.

Account for motion sickness. It’s a windy road and there’s not really anywhere to pull over.

Check out some of the other beautiful spots along the way. Right off the side of 276 are Caesars Head State Park, Bald Rock Heritage Preserve, and Wildcat Wayside. Caesars Head offers some of the more difficult hiking trails in the state, but there’s also a 4-mile round trip trail to see Raven Cliff Falls, the highest waterfall in the state. Pictured below is the overlook at Caesars Head, which you can read more about here, but here are some other places with mountains in South Carolina!

It’s pretty remote. For a wedding, you’ll need to accommodate for the amount of time it takes to drive here from wherever you’re getting ready and wherever you’re having your reception. For a reception venue, Victoria Valley Vineyards is probably the closest at about 25 minutes away, and there are a few venues in Travelers Rest. Otherwise, you’ll need to make the drive to either Tryon, Brevard, or Greenville for a reception.

Cell service is spotty. Coordinate beforehand with anyone you plan to meet there. It’s easy to follow signs to and from there though, so you might be able to get there and back without a GPS.

Be prepared for clouds or fog. The effect is cool, but it can totally hide the view of the mountains if it’s low enough and thick enough. Here is a post all about cloudy days and what to look for!

Sunrise has the best lighting. The sun will rise behind the cross and over the mountains, but you probably won’t see the sunset since it’ll be on the other side of the woods. Since the chapel is covered, it’s darker under there than it will be in the background.

Read their policies before you go. You will not be allowed to bring dogs or alcohol, and they encourage you to use as little decor as possible. Read more on their website.

Ready to have the best Pretty Place photos?

Visit the Camp Greenville website to check the schedule or to make a reservation, then we’ll get on a call to come up with the best plan for the date and time that you’ll be there!

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 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

More Photos from Pretty Place

Where to Take Engagement Photos in Downtown Greenville, South Carolina

I’ve lived in the Greenville area since 2016 and I think my first photo session in downtown Greenville was in 2017. Here are some of my favorite places downtown to use for engagement photos!

If you’re still looking for a photographer, click here to send me a message!

Liberty Bridge

I’ll start with the most iconic part of downtown Greenville—the curved suspension bridge over the waterfall. There are so many angles we can get of this bridge, so no worries if it’s crowded.

Reedy River Falls

What other city has a waterfall in the middle of downtown? If you get the right angle, it won’t even look like you’re in a city! The top photo was stealthily taken from a bench, which I plotted with the guy in advance.

Medusa Tree

Also called the Root Tree, this is along the Swamp Rabbit Trail, right next to the end of the Liberty Bridge. These roots kept growing after the ground around it was dug out.

(Bonus points if you have a Medusa tattoo)

Wyche Pavilion

You will have to check with the owners in advance about not conflicting with events they already have scheduled here, but this covered pavilion is a great option for a proposal if the forecast calls for rain (like it did for this session). Fun fact: this is actually the original Duke’s Mayonnaise factory!

Carolina Foothills garden club sanctuary

Some people don’t even realize this is here because it’s almost hidden in the woods! I had to do some digging to even find the name of this area. It’s a great place to find shade when the sun is still high and it has a little more privacy than the rest of downtown. Plus, the sun comes from behind the little waterfall, which gives you really pretty light!

Christmas tree

Downtown Greenville at Christmastime is straight out of a movie! The Christmas tree looks beautiful day or night—you decide which one you like better!

Overlooking downtown

The view from the top of the stairs next to the Peace Center is where the prettiest light is as the sun goes down!

Water Wall

When the golden hour sun and the lights at the bottom hit this spot just right, it makes the prettiest background!

Eugenia Duke Bridge

This green bridge gives you a great urban landscape that shows off some of the architecture of downtown Greenville!

Flowers near Mary’s Cottage

This spot smells so good, there’s pretty color there at any time of year, and it always has beautiful light before sunset!

Ivy Bridge

I couldn’t find a name for this bridge online, so let me know if you know the name of this one. This bridge always makes me think of Winnie the Pooh. I love the stone and ivy together!

Off of Main Street

Here are a few spots downtown that aren’t along Main Street or Falls Park, but are still gorgeous!

Rock Quarry Garden

This little garden is below the street near the Governor’s School. It’s far enough away from downtown that you won’t get as many onlookers, but it’s still very beautiful.

Cancer Survivors Park

This was actually a backup location after Falls Park closed at the beginning of the pandemic, then this park closed too. When everything reopened, we decided to still go here because we liked the futuristic feel of the pavilion with the light sabers. But as you can see, the light is also beautiful here in the morning, and it’s not as crowded as the rest of downtown.


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 of our state parks. But most days, the three of us are home on the couch watching something like Pixar 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

Photos from Downtown Greenville

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