North Charleston, South Carolina Wedding Guide
Become a Wedding Officiant in North Charleston as an AMM Ordained Minister. Learn more about getting ordained in South Carolina, officiant training, wedding ceremony planning, and more.
Become a Wedding Officiant in North Charleston as an AMM Ordained Minister. Learn more about getting ordained in South Carolina, officiant training, wedding ceremony planning, and more.
Although sometimes unfairly overshadowed by Charleston, its neighbor city to the South, residents and visitors alike have long known that North Charleston packs quite a punch and should not be overlooked. In this city, you’ll find fine restaurants, unparalleled historic sites, and a unique flavor that sets it apart. As a modern city with southern charm, North Charleston is one of the most popular tourist destinations in America.
Whether you have been asked to officiate the wedding and you are trying to navigate your first ceremony, or you are the happy couple looking for the perfect venue, everything you need will be found in this guide. North Charleston is the perfect city to create memories of a lifetime precisely because it brings with it all the amenities of Charleston with a more modern vibe. Take a stroll through Riverfront Park and then head on down to the hip Tanger Outlets to check out some of the best shopping North Charleston has to offer.
However, before you get too deep into the fun stuff, let’s make sure to get the legal legwork out of the way.
According to the laws in South Carolina, any minister of a religious organization is able to “solemnize” a marriage. The pertinent law in South Carolina states: “Only ministers of the Gospel, Jewish rabbis, [and] officers authorized to administer oaths in this State ... are authorized to administer a marriage ceremony in this State.”
This is great news for you! The simplest and easiest way to fulfill these requirements is to get ordained with AMM. We are the only IRS Certified 501c3 Non-Profit that offers free online ordination. It just takes a couple of minutes and lasts for life.
Once you get ordained with AMM, in South Carolina there is not any additional paperwork to file with any local government offices, so you are ready to go right away!
Getting ordained can be exciting, but there is still a lot to be done. With the ordination out of your way, your next step is preparing for the ceremony. Since you have been asked to officiate the wedding, we are sure you are already aware of how big of an honor this is. But, we also know that it can feel like a lot of pressure. Don’t worry, just head over to our wedding training pages.
These are an excellent resource for a first-time officiant. You will want to keep these in the back of your mind because everything you will need is here. You will find all sorts of useful info from sample wedding ceremony scripts and brainstorming ideas, to preparation and planning tips, and more.
The responsibility of obtaining the marriage license is solely on the couple. However, it is your job to make sure that it is valid and to sign it after performing the wedding. On the big day, you will want to review the license with the couple, make sure that all the names and dates are accurate, make sure it is still within the legal timeframe to be used after the couple applied, and finally to sign the license.
After you have performed the ceremony and the license is filled out completely, just make sure that it gets returned to the County Clerk’s office. After that, you are all done!
For The
Couple
Getting the officiant ready is only half of the process. The other half is making sure the couple has their marriage license ready to go. Within 30 days of the wedding, both parties will need to have their info ready and then apply online with the probate court in Charleston County.
When you apply with the Probate Court, ensure that all info is completely accurate and both parties are 18 years of age (16 with parental consent). After 3-5 days from your time of application, you will be emailed the application and an affidavit from a marriage license clerk. You will need to accurately fill out the forms, sign the affidavit and application, photocopy your ID, and email them back to the probate court.
The original signed application, affidavit, and copies of your IDs must be immediately mailed to the Probate Court at: 100 Broad Street, Suite 469, Charleston, SC 29401, or a dropbox is available at their office door from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
When you apply, remember to have:
After that, you are done! Just return the completed and signed license within 30 days of the completion of your ceremony.
Issuance Office: 100 Broad Street, Suite 469, Charleston, SC 29401
Fee: $70
Waiting Period: 24 Hours
Expiration: None
Return: 30 Days from the Wedding
For The Couple
& Officiant
North Charleston is a one-of-a-kind place. It’s both chic and historic. It has new-world offerings and old-world charm. It is home to the Charleston International Airport and boasts over 8500 hotel rooms, nearly twice as many as its cousin city to the South. This makes it easy for family and friends from all over to come to your wedding. North Charleston is one of South Carolina’s largest cities and is growing in popularity every year. It is no longer the industrial town it once was in the 1900s. It's now hip, fun, and has tons of fun things to do and see. This city is the perfect place to host a wedding.
As you check out the city, make sure to look at a couple of our top wedding venue picks:
The Carolina Girl Yacht - Simply put, this is one of the most magical and fun wedding venues you will ever experience. Take your guests on a journey to the high seas along Charleston’s shores. You and up to 150 friends and family members will soak in the views of the Charleston Historic District, Charleston Harbor, and the Arthur Ravenel and Ashley River Bridges. The yacht offers everything you need including a non-skid dancefloor and DJ booth, rentals and in-house wedding coordination, and beautiful 360-degree waterfront views.
North Charleston Marriott - For a more conventional but equally memorable experience, check out this amazing hotel event space. This venue is perfect for those hoping to host a larger wedding as it has a 700 person capacity and over 12,000 square feet of space - that leaves a lot of room for dancing! The hotel has skilled wedding planners and caterers that can suit the needs of any couple, even if you are hoping for a theme party. For those of you who want a stress-free, clean, and family-friendly wedding spot, this should be your top choice.
Getting around North Charleston is a breeze! It is located right next to Charleston so it is easily connected to major highways and is just a short drive to downtown. The North Area Shuttle Bus (NASH) route 4 will take you between visitor centers downtown and in North Charleston, and route 105 is a free route that goes to the airport. The Charleston International Airport is located here, making it a convenient central location for out-of-town visitors. There are multiple rental car services near the airport and ride-share services like Uber and Lyft are easily accessible.
Spring and fall are the best times to host a wedding in North Charleston, with summer falling not far behind. You will get to enjoy the beautiful blooming gardens in Spring and Summer, or wait for fall when the leaves begin to change. Summers can be quite hot and humid, so make sure to have access to shade, refreshments, and/or indoor air conditioning. Winters are mild with frequent, short rain showers and the possibility of snow. If you are having an outdoor wedding, no matter the season, light rain is a possibility, so make sure to have access to a covered area.
For The Couple
& Officiant
Yes, your marriage license is valid anywhere in the state.
There is no official expiration date on the marriage license in South Carolina.
No, there is a 24-hour waiting period to use the marriage license after you apply.
Become a Wedding Officiant with Our Free Online Ordination!