Lowndes Grove | Charleston Wedding Venue

Wedding VenueResourcesDesign
Written By Taylor English

Lowndes Grove is a Charleston, South Carolina premier wedding venue and estate. It is picture-perfect for wedding photography!

Built along the Ashley River and surrounded by an oak tree grove, the Lowcountry scenery simply cannot get better. The estate features a grand lawn, a 700 ft. private dock, on-site parking, and a glass enclosed portico. Hedged with tropical floral and fauna, Spanish moss, and palm trees, your guests will feel as though they are on vacation as they take in the scenic views. And of course, this is just the outside of the striking Lowndes Grove estate.

The home was established circa 1786, and showcases its period correct architecture and finishings throughout. The character of the mansion is undeniable. The arched windows and doorways, the opulent crown moldings, flourishing wallpaper, and antique furnishings all tell a story in themselves. Combined with a thoughtfully curated wedding design, your wedding photos will become cherished heirlooms much like the character of Lowndes Grove.

Sweetgrass Social Event and Design rates Lowndes Grove a 10 out of 10 for wedding venues in Charleston!

“Lowndes Grove is a dream venue because it is the perfect backdrop to any color palette. Also, we always say, you can't beat a Lowndes Grove sunset. The way the sun sets over the water there is absolute magic!”

In fact, if you want to make an unforgettable entrance or exit, consider arriving or leaving by boat from the private dock on the Ashley River! This would be a must-have moment we would capture using our drone for an extraordinarily cinematic wedding photo!

The sheer volume of space Lowndes Grove has opens up an abundance of options for creative event design and planning. We love the idea of hosting your welcome dinner on the second story covered patio. Imagine banquet tables, floral centerpieces and Blue Willow china, and the soft music of cicadas and katydids as the background melody to your joyful, excited chatter. If you are hosting a more intimate celebration, your reception dinner could take place under the oak groves, or like Sweetgrass Social designed - on the grand lawn itself with the mansion as the beautiful backdrop.

“We loved Mallory and Kristian's wedding where we were able to do a dinner on the front lawn. It was so intimate and romantic. The guests kept saying they felt like they were in a movie!”

Take a peek at that fabulous wedding design here!

Alternatively, you could plan your ceremony on the front lawn as well. An eye-catching floral installation, garden seating, and chic white umbrellas would make for an unrivaled, “WOW” factor! The glass-enclosed portico is bare bones. It is perfect to be able to enjoy the environment and scenery while also protecting your guests from unwanted nuisances like summertime mosquitoes! Sweetgrass Social says,

“We love a unique tent installation and Lowndes is the place to do it. Since the tent was built custom for the space, it is load bearing meaning you can hang much heavier objects than in normal tents. We love a hanging floral piece or custom build like this one we did last September. For this wedding, we had custom 12x12 diamond wood structures built to hand and be covered in greenery.”

Don’t miss this notable wedding design by Sweetgrass Social!

To have such a formidable estate and unprecedented scenic views, you’d be shockingly pleased to know that Lowndes Grove is just a mere 15 minutes from downtown Charleston. While there is on-site parking, it is quite simple to shuttle your guests or give them the option of ride-shares. They will be able to spend their free time exploring the plethora of activities, food and drink, and the history Charleston has to offer. This charming city, nicknamed The Holy City, is a perfect destination wedding location, and we highly recommend Lowndes Grove as an exceptional elevated wedding venue!

Explore the property down below, and be sure to hover over the image for more details, as well as how we love to capture weddings at Lowndes Grove!

A special thank you to Sweetgrass Social Event and Design for their Guest Blogger Contribution! Be sure to explore their phenomenal work and offerings!
WEB| https://www.sweetgrasssocial.com/

INSTAGRAM| https://www.instagram.com/sweetgrasssocial/

Lowndes Grove

WEB| https://www.pphgcharleston.com/venues/lowndes-grove/

Instagram| https://www.instagram.com/PPHGEvents/

Lowndes Grove has a formidable exterior presence - it is a “WOW” factor for your wedding guests!

Architectural character like arched windows and column posts will make for stunning wedding day detail photos.

Plenty of tropical floral and fauna dot the venue landscape.

Even though Lowndes Grove is within 15 minutes of downtown Charleston, the secluded grounds make it feel like your own private wedding estate.

The low country’s signature landscape - palm tress, oak trees, and Spanish moss.

The pathway would make for beautiful wedding day portraits with your venue in the background. Don’t forget to take a photo win front of your venue - you chose this place because it spoke to you!

Charleston is a perfect destination wedding location - palm trees always feel like vacation!

Oak trees are stunning, and it’s impossible not to take beautiful couples portraits beneath the low branches and hanging Spanish moss.

The exterior tent, flanked by impressive Oak trees, is clear in order to fully enjoy the low country landscape and stars overhead.

Your nighttime venue reception photos will be a showstopper in your Legacy album!

Lowndes Grove has an amazing view - the epitome of low country landscape.

Behind the wedding venue is an extended pier. This would be an incredible location for more beautiful wedding day photos.

Your guests will be taken in by the long boardwalk pier over the water.

Pelicans pass the time on the boardwalk. The view of Lowndes Grove from the boardwalk is a showstopper!

The greenery and character of Lowndes Grove is unbeatable. We love the idea of planning your wedding design around the natural character of the venue.

The low hanging branches of these gorgeous Oaks could easily be incorporated into the design of your wedding day as well. You could even host your intimate ceremony beneath the trees.

The foyer entrance to Lowndes Grove sets the scene for the day!

So much character throughout the Lowndes Grove estate including this black and white tile and arched windows.

We love the idea of flowing florals cascading down the curved staircase - this would make for a breathtaking wedding portrait!

Beautiful vignettes are dotted throughout the mansion. We love photographing these additional storytelling details.

I would love to photograph a pair of dangling gold earrings from this candelabra sconce!

Consider placing a floral centerpiece on the antique furniture to draw your guests in to the unique artwork throughout the estate.

Decadent drapery, lush lounges, and detailed furnishings make Lowndes Grove an exceptional Charleston wedding venue perfect for incredible wedding photos.

Lowndes Grove has stories of its own. Consider including a bit of background on the history of the mansion in your wedding stationery.

With many rooms to explore, your wedding guests will love the interactive experience of the venue. Each room could serve its own purpose. Perhaps one for your guest book, gifts and cards and another to showcase your wedding cake.

If you were as inspired by Bridgerton as we were, look no further for the perfect Victorian-era stateside wedding venue. Lowndes Grove might easily be mistaken for a Bridgerton background!

Classic portraiture inspires us to capture your own reverent bridal portrait.

Fireplace mantles and antique finishings.

Delicate detailing in the crown molding and arched doorways. This is a perfect location for a blurred movement photo of a bride walking through the arches, with her gown train trailing behind her.

There are plenty of rooms for the wedding parties to get ready together but separately. Some rooms feature richer and warmer tones perfect for the groom and groomsmen.

This staircase is so eye-catching. Direct flash photos would feel very editorial, especially if the banister is wrapped in florals and greenery.

Another room that feels very, “Bridgerton.” Pink walls, gold accents, and slate blue curtains - this is a fantastic option for a bride’s getting ready room.

More alluring fireplace mantles.

These adjoining rooms at Lowndes Grove are fantastic options for the bridal party to get ready. The doors open up to the sweeping porch overlooking the grounds. The light is magnanimous and soft - perfect for bridal portraits.

Charming details throughout.

The doors open wide to the covered second-story porch with sweeping views of the Lowndes Grove property.

The view from the second story covered porch. We love the idea of staging a private and intimate rehearsal dinner on this porch. Imagine banquet tables, beautiful floral centerpieces accompanied by Blue Willow china, taper candles, and the sounds of Cicadas and Katydids as the background music to the joyful dinner table chatter.

The Lowndes Grove covered porch could also be the perfect First Look location on wedding day.

The view from the window of the second story includes the in ground pool surrounded by abundant greenery.

Another beautiful room of the Lowndes Grove estate.

Charming details throughout the property provide an incredible context to your wedding story.

Thoughtful curated pieces throughout Lowndes Grove can lend to the design of your own wedding.

Even the lavatories have their own charisma.

A posh powder room in Lowndes Grove.

The view from the top of the spiraling grand staircase would be the perfect photo location for a bride dashing down the stairs.

The quaint bedroom inn on the top floor of the estate.

The attached exterior tent allows your wedding reception to be protected from the elements like summer mosquitoes but still allows you to enjoy the environment and scenery around you.

Dense greenery and florals dot the landscape surrounding the estate.

The gardens, complete with a pool, are the perfect place to stroll through, relax after the wedding celebrations, or for my more adventurous couples perhaps a triumphant cannonball at the end of the reception!

Lowndes Grove offers the complete package for a beautiful wedding experience, and even more importantly, the perfect backdrop for exceptional wedding photography!

Taylor English

Taylor English is the definitive creator of quiet luxury photography for discerning clients of art, style, and design. Internationally renowned for modern wedding photography, lifestyle and resort photography, and boutique brand photography. Refined and unreserved, Taylor English's photographic style is fashion-forward and gallery-inspired.

http://www.taylorephotography.com
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