Francis Marion Hotel

Select services venue

The venue will provide the space, plus a few extras.

Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing

Starting at $5,000 for off-peak dates, and $7,000 for peak dates

Packages

Prices start at $1,200

Guest capacity

Up to 500 seated guests

About this venue

Since it originally opened its doors over 90 years ago, the Francis Marion Hotel has been the epicenter of weddings and social events in Charleston society. The tradition of elegance and grandeur live on in two of the most elegant ballrooms in Charleston. With unique features like antique chandeliers, 20-foot high ceilings, monumental windows, and marble accented fireplaces, the Francis Marion Hotel provides the ideal location for a romantic Charleston wedding. Let us show you why generations of Charlestonians continue to select the Francis Marion Hotel for their wedding festivities.

Seated guest capacity

  • 0-500

Venue type

  • Ballrooms, Banquet Halls
  • Historic Estates, Mansions
  • Hotels, Inns, Resorts

Venue setting

  • Indoor
387 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

Our event spaces

Colonial Ballroom

The tradition of elegance and grandeur live on in one of the most elegant ballrooms in Charleston.

The Colonial Ballroom is the original dining room of the hotel located just off the grand lobby. Some noteworthy features of this ballroom are the eight expansive Palladian windows overlooking Marion Square Park, offering natural light, and a striking fireplace with ornamental furnishings.

Guest capacity

Up to 250 Seated

Up to 250 Standing

Square footage

3,500

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Elopement, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Engagement party, Other, Cocktail hour

Gold Ballroom

The Francis Marion Hotel provides the ideal location for a romantic Charleston wedding.

This original ballroom of the hotel is adorned with gorgeous handcrafted trim and moldings. The most notable features of the ballroom are the hardwood floors, crystal chandeliers and fireplace with an antique mirror. The ballroom also includes an orchestra balcony.

Guest capacity

Up to 200 Seated

Up to 130 Standing

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Elopement, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Engagement party, Welcome party, Other, Cocktail hour

Carolina Ballroom

The Francis Marion Hotel provides the ideal location for a romantic Charleston wedding

The Carolina Ballroom was an addition to the hotel in 2004. Ideal for the a more flexible & creative use of the space, this ballroom maintains the historical charm of the other ballrooms, with an updated feel.

Guest capacity

Up to 500 Seated

Up to 350 Standing

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Elopement, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Engagement party, Welcome party, Cocktail hour

Parkview Room

The perfect, intimate space to welcome your special guests or to celebrate post-nuptials.

Our on-site restaurant, The Swamp Fox has the Parkview Room that can accommodate parties looking to enjoy the private company of their guests. Take in views of Marion Square while enjoying southern classics in a more intimate space. The Parkview Room is perfect for bridal luncheons, farewell brunches or an intimate rehearsal dinner. Enjoy live jazz music Thursday – Saturdays.

Guest capacity

Up to 30 Seated

Up to 10 Standing

Square footage

435

Ideal for

Elopement, Wedding shower, Engagement party, Welcome party, After party, Farewell brunch, Couples luncheon, Cocktail hour

Colonial Ballroom

The tradition of elegance and grandeur live on in one of the most elegant ballrooms in Charleston.

The Colonial Ballroom is the original dining room of the hotel located just off the grand lobby. Some noteworthy features of this ballroom are the eight expansive Palladian windows overlooking Marion Square Park, offering natural light, and a striking fireplace with ornamental furnishings.

Guest capacity

Up to 250 Seated

Up to 250 Standing

Square footage

3,500

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Elopement, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Engagement party, Other, Cocktail hour

Francis Marion Hotel packages

Microwedding Package

2-16 guests

Peak pricing $1,600

Off-peak pricing $1,200

Description

Say I Do in the Heart of Charleston.! This package is designed for the Couple Only or for Up to 16 People. Enjoy our Bridgeview Suite, overlooking the beautiful Charleston Harbor for your ceremony complete with chairs, champagne, a cake, valet parking, a two night stay in the suite and a $150 dining credit to our in house restaurant. Add additional items such as spa services, additional champagne & hors d'oeuvres.

Available services that can be provided by Francis Marion Hotel

Services & amenities

  • Bar services
  • Catering services
  • Clean up
  • Dance floor
  • Dressing room / Bridal Suite
  • Event coordinator
  • Event staff
  • Lighting/Sound
  • On-site accommodations
  • Pet friendly
  • Service staff
  • Set up
  • Wedding cake services
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Wifi

Transportation & access

  • Self parking - paid
  • Valet - paid
  • Wheelchair accessible

Accommodations

  • Bedroom suites
  • Double bed rooms
  • Honeymoon suite
  • Luxury suites
  • Room blocks offered
  • Single king rooms

Francis Marion Hotel menu options

Starts at $75 per guest

Carolina Station Style Package

    Starts at $75 per guest

    Magnolia Plated Dinner Package

    PASSED HORS D’OEUVRES - Please Select Three | Total of 6 pieces per person included in the package price FIRST COURSE - Please Select One | Choices include a range of soups & salads. Entrees - Please select up to Three | Choices include a beef, chicken, fish or vegetarian option. All Dinners Served with Iced Water, Iced Tea with Lemon Freshly Brewed Regular and Decaffeinated Coffee and Herbal Tea Rolls with Butter

    • Seated dinner
    • Three course dinner
    • A la carte items
    View menu
    Starts at $85 per guest

    Palmetto Buffet Dinner Package

    Passed Hors D’oeuvres - Select up to three -Total of 6 pieces per person included in the package price Salads Includes a variety of three different salads Entrees - Select up to Two. Choices include beef, fish, chicken and vegetarian options. Side Options - Select Three. Choices vary. BUFFETS ARE LIMITED TO 1.5 HOURS OF SERVICE All Dinners Served with Iced Water and Iced Tea with Lemon Freshly Brewed Regular and Decaffeinated Coffee and Herbal Tea

    • Buffet dinner
    View menu

    Reviews

    Write a review

    4.9 out of 5

    7 reviews

    Write a review

    • Bailey made our wedding a dream!

      •Verified review•Incentivized review
      •Eliana C.•Oct 27, 2024

      The team at the Francis Marion Hotel was an absolute pleasure to work with. Their communication was prompt, attentive, and highly detailed throughout the entire planning process. The venue itself is large, elegant, and impeccably clean - the perfect backdrop for our special day. They were extremely accommodating, working closely with my mother and other guests who had major food intolerance issues. The hotel also provided amazing vendor referrals that helped make our wedding day run seamlessly. I cannot recommend the Francis Marion Hotel highly enough to any couple looking for a beautiful, stress-free venue with a top-notch staff.

    • Almost perfect

      •Verified review
      •Ashley A.•May 6, 2022

      Overall, our experience with the Francis Marion Hotel was great. The price tag looks huge initially but once we detailed out everything that it includes vs bringing in outside vendors, the price is well worth it. I didn’t need to rent chairs, flatware, dinner ware, glassware, linens, hire an event planner or a caterer, or even buy/make centerpieces- all of those were provided to us. I took it upon myself to set up in the morning pre-ceremony with my Maid of Honor; their staff set up the chairs but we rolled out and measured the aisle runner, set out decorative floral arrangements, placed out the guest book, pens, and place cards for guests, and our welcome sign. The FMH staff flipped our ballroom from Ceremony to Reception during cocktail hour, however I did have a couple of people assigned to set up the reception decorations and from everything I’ve heard, it all went very smoothly. Our ceremony and reception were perfect and the food was delicious. 4 stars instead of 5 because my planning experience started with Gillian, then we were transferred to Marie, then Melissa met us for our menu tasting and we loved her so we asked to work with her exclusively through the wedding, she left the FMH and we weren’t informed of this until about two weeks before the wedding after I called to follow up unanswered emails, then we were moved back to Marie, and Marie was difficult to keep track of during the reception when things started to fall off of the timeline- thank god for my mother, former corporate event planner, taking the wheel and directing the staff and DJ what to do next and when. I don’t imagine this is a common occurrence, at least I certainly hope it isn’t. Overall, we had a very good experience and I will continue to recommend the Francis Marion Hotel to anyone that asks for my opinion concerning a wedding venue. Nearly all-inclusive, you have a day-of coordinator (if you can find her!), and all of the “extras” are included. We opted to provide our own liquor to save money, we purchased florals, and purchased favors. Every other major item was included in our bill. I don’t know how anyone keeps their head attached when they have a dozen different vendors they need to keep track of for all of those items I mentioned before.

    • Highly Recommend- Gorgeous and easy to work with

      •Verified review
      •Tara & C.•Feb 24, 2021

      Having our wedding reception at the Francis Marion Hotel was one of the best decision we made while planning. Gillian made sure that everything was organized and was very responsive and attentive to questions. She helped make the process for planning my wedding at this venue a breeze. They were also extremely accommodating for COVID (namely the possibility of reduced guest count) and I never had to worry. They have numerous wedding packages to help fit your budget.. I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that this gorgeous downtown hotel was within my budget! The packages include most everything you'll need to have an incredible event, including tables, chairs, linens, food, and bar packages. The food is incredible, the service is unbeatable, and they strive to ensure that you have an incredible day. Do yourself a favor and book Francis Marion Hotel to host your event!!!

    • Make it so easy!

      •Verified review
      •Kylie & T.•Jan 28, 2021

      We are so thrilled to be getting married at Francis Marion! Gillian has made everything so easy for us! We are so grateful that so much stuff is included in the package and we don’t have to worry about as many vendors. Highly recommend Francis Marion!

    Preferred vendors of Francis Marion Hotel

    Photographer
    Richard Bell Photography

    5.0 (2)

    Charleston, SC
    Starts at $4,400

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