The wedding attire is formal / black tie optional. We kindly ask that gentlemen wear a suit and tie, and that ladies wear an evening gown, or midi or formal cocktail dress. We recommend checking the weather forecast ahead of your trip, as fall weather in Charleston is pleasant but not always predictable! The ceremony will take place inside the Gibbes, and the reception will be in the Lenhardt Garden. Due to the nature of the outdoor reception area, we recommend comfortable shoes for dancing! For more information, please visit https://www.yeahweddings.com/what-is-black-tie-optional/, or https://www.lifesavvy.com/123697/what-you-should-wear-to-a-formal-or-black-tie-optional-wedding/.
While we absolutely love your children, due to the nature of our venue, the events on Saturday evening (our ceremony and reception) are for guests aged 21+. If you require childcare, we suggest looking into accommodation at the Elliot House Inn or Mills House, which are immediately adjacent to the venue and will be easily accessible throughout the evening.
We're excited to celebrate with you! Due to venue capacity, we ask that only guests that were named on the invitation attend.
For our friends and family who are traveling from out of state, we recommend arriving in Charleston on Friday, October 20th. For arrival to the wedding ceremony, we suggest arriving between 5:30 - 5:40pm on Saturday, October 21st at The Gibbes Museum of Art; the galleries will be open for guests to enjoy before the ceremony and immediately following.
Yes! We're so excited to have the Gibbes art collection as part of our big day. The galleries will open exclusively for our wedding guests at 5:30pm, and will remain open until cocktail hour ends, approximately 7:30pm. If you'd like to learn more about the museum in advance, please visit https://www.gibbesmuseum.org/exhibitions/ .
There are many options for getting to the Gibbes! Downtown Charleston runs a tourism trolley system that stops at major attractions, including right behind our venue; Ubers are aplenty; and it's safe to walk near and around the Gibbes, in the heart of historic Charleston. If you'd like to park at the Gibbes, we recommend the Cumberland Street parking garage at 90 Cumberland St. Also known as pedicabs or rickshaws, bike taxis are a fun way to travel around downtown Charleston. Companies like Charleston Pedicab, Charleston Bike Taxi, and Charleston Rickshaw operate from about 9am in the morning to midnight, seven days a week. You can either call them and give them your location, or simply flag down an empty one! The cost is about $6 per person per ten minutes.
From the sweet Southern charm to the centuries-old gorgeous architecture, Charleston is the crown jewel of the South. You have access to the best of the old and new, with history on every street and a mouth-watering restaurant just around the corner. Add in Charleston’s proximity to beautiful beaches, and there’s plenty to keep you occupied no matter how long you’re in town! The bride and groom recommend experiencing the Market, the South of Broad neighborhood, and the French Quarter neighborhood on foot or in a pedicab, as well as the Battery. You can spot some filming locations from The Notebook at the gorgeous College of Charleston campus, snap a photo at the classic Pineapple fountain at the waterfront, or do some shopping on King Street! There are several companies that provide walking tours downtown on Saturday mornings. We'll update this page as the wedding gets closer for more details, if you'd like to self-organize a tour. Shem Creek (Mount Pleasant), Folly Beach, and Sullivan's Island are all driving distance (20min+). For our history buffs, Fort Moultrie, Fort Sumpter, and the USS Yorktown are three of several of excellent history stops. For those with children, we recommend the Charleston Aquarium, the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry, and Mount Pleasant Waterfront Park Playground. There are too many activities for us to list, so we've linked a few itineraries and guides below! https://chsblonde.com/ultimate-charleston-travel-guide/ https://www.cosmosmariners.com/blog/visitors-guide-charleston-sc https://www.cntraveler.com/story/an-ethical-guide-to-plantation-tours https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-guide/charleston If you would like to take a tour of downtown Charleston, we suggest the following tours on Saturday morning: Free Tours by Foot, 9:30 a.m.: “Historic Charleston", an introduction to the city Bulldog Tours, 10:00 a.m.: "Charleston Stroll"
While we would love to see you at the room block at the Francis Marion, it's not mandatory! One of the wonderful things about Charleston is that there's a large variety of hotel properties and AirBnBs at many different price points, with incredible attractions within walking distance. Wherever you choose, please plan ahead to arrange for transportation to and from the wedding. The informal "welcome" hangout at the Francis Marion on Friday and the goodbye breakfast at the Francis Marion on Saturday are open to all our wedding guests, regardless of where you're staying.
Charleston International Airport (CHS) is approximately 20-25mins driving from downtown Charleston. At peak rush hour, allow for 40-45 mins. Lyft, Uber, and taxis are available, as well as an express public bus service. For guests planning additional travel before or after the wedding, you may also consider Myrtle Beach airport (1.5hrs away), Savannah GA (2hrs), or Hilton Head (2hrs).