Nolagirl - Goodluck planning your wedding. A nice website that may help www.soireecharleston.com
My DH and I were married there in Aug 01. We both lived there 10 years before. We decided in July to get married in Aug. We invited 25 family and friends for a wedding weekend. It was perfect. We planned all via phone and web. One of the nicest things I remember about planning - was each establishment I talked to and told what I was doing, gave me additional planning suggestions. That's how I found my florist, cake, etc.
We were married at the French Huguenot Church, horse drawn carriages picked all of us up at the Church and took us throughout the battery, pictures at the Gazebo, then dinner at Robert's.
Suggestions: Arrange a carriage (feel like a Princess in your wedding dress - and the tourists love it), flowers from Lotus, Cake from the woman who owns Fish restaurant.
All the best to you.

nawlinsgal -- what a coincidence -- no, we haven't done the deed yet . . . still planning - we are thinking maybe oct 06. (I'm a planner so of course I was already starting to look around!) I am so grateful for everyone's suggestions -- they are helping so much! we are thinking of Drayton Hall maybe for the ceremony -- on the grounds, under an oak tree -- it'll only be 3 people: the officiant, my fiance, and me -- and maybe staying at the Vendue Inn. But of course we are still actively looking and cataloging all the Fodorites' suggestions. What about you, nawlinsgal?

I could have written your post!!

Just today I made tentative arrangements for us to be married in Charleston on Sept 16! We are also eloping- it will be just the two of us. I've booked a room at the Planters Inn. We had dinner at Peninsula Grill on a previous visit and loved it. I remember thinking how lovely and romantic the courtyard is and that's where we'll have the ceremony. They also reserved the parlor as a backup in case it rains. I am so excited! We love Charleston and it is the most romantic city I know so it's perfect for us.

I spoke to a photographer who I really liked and she is also able to marry us! Both she and several others recommended Tiger Lily for flowers.

There is only a 24 hr wait so we plan to apply for the license on Thursday when we arrive and pick it up on Friday.

I hadn't thought about the carriage ride but I might have to add that to my list!

Congrats and good luck with your plans!