How to Elope in Charleston, SC: A Countdown From Picking a Spot to Saying I Do

To elope in Charleston SC you need a South Carolina marriage license, a place to stand, and someone the state allows to perform the ceremony. The license is the part that catches people, because it cannot be issued until 24 hours after you apply, so applying and marrying on the same day is off the table.

We are Augusta Officiant. We are based in Augusta, Georgia, we are licensed to officiate in South Carolina, and we travel to Charleston for small ceremonies. This guide runs as a countdown, so start wherever you are on the calendar.

A month or more out: choose the spot and count heads

Most couples who elope in Charleston SC choose between a downtown park and a beach. Each comes with rules, and the rules are set by whichever city or town owns the ground.

For city parks, the City of Charleston says a permit is required for any organized event at any city park. At Waterfront Park and White Point Garden, events including weddings are limited to 25 people in total, and that count includes the two of you. The city asks you to contact its Recreation Department at least 21 business days before the event, which is why this step comes first.

Folly Beach publishes its beach wedding rules too. Using the beach is free, but you cannot reserve a space or ask anyone to move. Weddings with more than 25 people must go before the city's Special Events Committee. Alcohol and receptions are not allowed on the beach, and anything you set up has to come down before sunset or before the tide reaches it.

Other beach towns around Charleston have their own rules, and we have not listed them here. Check with the city or town office before you plan on it, and ask the same of any private property.

Who can legally perform the ceremony when you elope in Charleston SC?

South Carolina spells this out in statute. S.C. Code Section 20-1-20 limits who may perform a marriage to ministers, rabbis, officers authorized to administer oaths in the state, and the chief or spiritual leader of a Native American Indian entity recognized by the state's Commission for Minority Affairs.

So a friend or relative generally cannot officiate your elopement unless they are one of those. That is no knock on your friend. It is simply the list. If you were counting on someone close to you, our post on asking a friend to officiate is worth a read before you decide.

We are licensed to officiate in both Georgia and South Carolina, and we have married more than 1,200 couples across the Augusta area, which sits right on the line between the two states.

A few weeks out: book the officiant and settle the budget

When you elope in Charleston SC with us, the budget has two lines. The Elopement Ceremony is $200. Charleston is well over two hours from Augusta, so travel adds about $200 to $300, and we confirm the exact figure when you tell us where you will be.

• Elopement Ceremony with travel: about $400 to $500 in total.

• What it includes: a short ceremony with a set script, standard vows, and a ring exchange.

• Guests: up to 20. No rehearsal.

Payment plans are available and they cover travel too. Split the total into as many payments as you like. Over 12 months, $400 to $500 comes to about $33 to $42 a month. If you want a ceremony written from scratch, the Custom Ceremony is $400 before travel, and its planning meeting happens by Zoom or FaceTime. You do not need to come to Augusta for either one. Both are described on our wedding services page.

Two more things you are paying for. We hold a business license and $2 million in liability insurance, and we run a backup officiant system, so a ceremony is never left without an officiant. Our fees also support the Augusta Birth Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in our hometown.

A week or more before: apply for the license

You apply through a South Carolina probate court. Charleston County takes applications online, for $70 by credit card plus a transaction fee. There is no residency requirement and no blood test. Then the clock starts. State law requires 24 hours between the application and the license, and Charleston County says it emails the license within two business days after a completed application.

Couples who fly in to elope in Charleston SC should apply well before they travel and print the license at home. If you live in South Carolina, here is a shortcut. A license issued in any South Carolina county can be used anywhere in the state, so you can apply at the probate court near home and bring the license with you.

Fees and steps differ by county and they change. These were checked in October 2026, so confirm with the Charleston County Probate Court, or the court where you plan to apply, before you rely on them. A Georgia license will not work here. A South Carolina ceremony needs a South Carolina license.

The day itself: a short ceremony and three copies to sign

Bring the license. All of it. It comes in three copies, and the two of you sign all three exactly as your names appear. We complete the officiant lines and the date, then hand all three copies to you.

A few things we have learned from small outdoor ceremonies. Wind carries voices away, so stand close. Give the rings to someone with pockets. And on the coast in summer, a morning ceremony is kinder to everyone in formal clothes.

Within 15 days: get two copies back to the court

You keep the original. The other two copies must be back at the probate court that issued the license within 15 days of the ceremony, and returning them is your job. Do it in person or by mail. When you do, ask about certified copies, because you will need them for a name change.

Charleston elopement FAQ

Can we get the license and get married on the same day?

No. South Carolina has a 24 hour waiting period after you apply before the license can be issued, and Charleston County emails it within two business days after a completed application, so apply well ahead of the ceremony.

Can a friend marry us in Charleston?

Generally not. Section 20-1-20 limits who may perform a marriage in South Carolina to ministers, rabbis, and officers authorized to administer oaths in the state, so a friend or relative cannot officiate unless they are one of those.

How much does it cost to elope in Charleston SC with Augusta Officiant?

About $400 to $500 in total. The Elopement Ceremony is $200 and travel from Augusta adds about $200 to $300, with payment plans available on the full amount.

How many guests can come to an elopement?

Our Elopement Ceremony covers up to 20 guests. Your location may set a lower limit, so check the rules for the park or beach you choose.

Do we have to live in South Carolina to marry there?

No. South Carolina has no residency requirement, and the license can only be used in South Carolina.

Tell us your date

If you are ready to elope in Charleston SC, send us your date and the spot you have in mind. We will check the calendar, confirm the travel fee, and lay out a payment plan if you want one.

Curious what other couples thought? Our 5 star Google reviews are there to read while you pick your spot.