If you’ve just gotten engaged and are looking forward to planning a spectacular destination wedding, but don’t want to spend your big day on an expensive tropical island or in another location where thousands of other couples have gotten married, you are in luck. The United States is home to dozens of interesting places that are rich in history, culture and natural beauty that also make ideal locations for unique destination weddings. Continue reading below to discover three unique destination wedding locations that you might not have considered. Any of them are sure make your wedding day extra special and delight your guests with their one of a kind culture and charm.
South Carolina’s Beaches, Low Country and Cities
Many couples assume that they will need to plan their destination wedding in Florida or on a Caribbean island in order to get married on a great beach. But most engaged couples never consider South Carolina. The state is home to several gorgeous white sand beaches that are much less crowded and are just as nice as those found on Florida’s Gulf Coast or in the tropics.
One of South Carolina’s most popular beaches, Myrtle Beach, makes an ideal destination wedding location. Myrtle Beach is home to many very nice hotels and resorts that host weddings and other types of functions, such as rehearsal dinners and wedding showers. And when your guests get tired of the sun and surf they will find lots of other fun and interesting things to do. The area is also home to many excellent restaurants that serve regional specialties that can help make your wedding dinner menu something everyone will remember, such as shrimp and grits, roasted oysters and Frogmore stew.
If the beach isn’t for you, South Carolina is also home to the Low Country region, located along the state’s beautiful coast. Once an important rice-growing region, today the Low Country is popular with visitors from around the country who come to experience the area’s historic sites, natural beauty and wildlife. South Carolina’s Low Country is home to several historic plantation homes, inns and hotels that specialize in hosting elegant weddings.
If an urban wedding is more your thing, you might also consider Charleston, one of South Carolina’s largest cities. One of the United State’s most historic places, Charleston is located on a beautiful harbor, is known for its iconic architecture and is home to several fine hotels, many of which offer wedding planning services.
Plan a Houston, Texas, Wedding
Enjoying year ‘round warm weather, Houston, Texas, is one of the country’s most interesting and diverse cities. It is home to a major international airport, making it easy for you and your wedding guests to get there, and prices for hotels, function halls and rustic wedding venues in Houston tend to be a bit lower than in other parts of the country. Planning your destination wedding in Houston will also give you and your guests the advantage of having tons of great things to do both before and after your wedding. Space Center Houston is a must see for anyone interested in space exploration, and the city is also home to several museums, live entertainment venues and professional sports teams.
Get Married in Tennessee
From Memphis’ Blues Clubs and Graceland, the former home of rock and roll legend Elvis Presley, to Nashville, home of the Grand Ol’ Opry and headquarters of the country music industry, the state of Tennessee is the perfect place to plan a destination wedding, especially if you are a music fan. The state is also home to 12 national parks and is known throughout the world for its mountains, forests, caves and natural beauty.
In the eastern part of the state, the gorgeous Great Smoky Mountains National Park makes a breathtaking backdrop for wedding photos. And Nashville, Tennessee’s capital city, offers dozens of fine hotels and exciting live music venues. Set along the banks of the Mississippi River, Memphis, in the southwestern part of the state, is known for its live blues music, authentic and delicious barbecue, and as home to several cultural attractions that your guests will appreciate seeing, such as the National Civil Rights Museum, created inside the Lorraine Motel building where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968.