Getting Married In The Lowcountry
People getting married in Savannah are also looking at Bluffton, Hilton Head and Jekyll Island. Here is how they compare, from a photographer who works all of them.
The Short Version
| Place | State | Drive From Savannah | Beach Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tybee Island | Georgia | Closest beach to the city | Required |
| Bluffton And Oldfield | South Carolina | Usually under an hour | No beach here |
| Hilton Head And Sea Pines | South Carolina | About an hour | Required, free |
| Jekyll Island | Georgia | Around two hours | Not required |
Drive times are rough. Check your own route for the day and the season, and remember your guests will be driving it too.
What Changes When You Cross The River
Your marriage license does. Chatham County says a Georgia license is for a ceremony in Georgia. A Hilton Head or Bluffton wedding uses a South Carolina license, and Beaufort County has a 24 hour waiting period between applying and getting it. Don't leave that for the Friday of your wedding.
How To Choose
- A big historic estate. Jekyll Island.
- A resort with the water, the marina and the lighthouse. Sea Pines.
- Something private and quiet. Oldfield, if it has room for you.
- The full luxury weekend. Montage Palmetto Bluff.
- A city your guests can walk. Savannah.
From My Side Of The Camera
I have shot about 10 weddings on Jekyll Island, about 10 at Palmetto Bluff and about 5 at Sea Pines, and I have worked at Oldfield about 3 times. Here is what they look like in my photographs.
