Carly Elston & Adam Klein's Wedding Website

When in Charleston ...

Experience the charm of Charleston in a two hour walking tour with genuine local flavor. Join native Charlestonian sisters Mary Helen Dantzler and Therese Smythe, whose family dates from 1793, as you stroll through Charleston’s most beautiful streets and scenic alleyways. Share in their hometown knowledge of Charleston’s rich history and its famous landmarks. Along the way you will be entertained with anecdotes of colorful characters, notorious events and tales of days gone by.  

At the South Carolina Aquarium, you'll explore exhibits such as the Touch Tank, the expansive Saltmarsh, the Blackwater Swamp and the 385,000 gallon Great Ocean Tank. You'll feel as if you're thousands of miles away when you visit the Madagascar Journey experience. Take an exclusive behind-the-scenes look in the Sea Turtle Hospital, and be sure to check out the daily educational programs with animal feedings and dive shows. But whatever you do, don’t leave until you’ve met Alabaster the Alligator- he’s unlike any other Gator you’ve ever seen! 

Fort Sumter National Monument incorporates several sites around Charleston Harbor, which tell the unique stories of the people and places that shaped the United States of America. Confederate forces fired the first shots of the Civil War upon Federal troops at Fort Sumter at 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861. The roots of that conflict are buried deep within the stories of the development of the United States. Fort Sumter would continue to serve as the focal point in Charleston throughout the Civil War. From self-guiding to ranger-led tours, opportunities to learn about Fort Sumter are available for visitors of all ages!

Located in Marion Square in the heart of Historic District in Downtown Charleston, SC, the CFM is open each Saturday, from April 9th through November 26th, 8 AM to 2 PM. The CFM is dedicated to the support and advocacy of Lowcountry farmers, growers, prepared/packaged food, artisans, crafters, live performers and community groups of all kinds. They offer a variety of local produce, plants, herbs and cut flowers as well as breakfast and lunch vendors, live entertainment and an assortment of juried arts and crafts from local artisans.

Centrally located near The City Market, Riley Waterfront Park is one of the peninsula's most visited parks. With old-fashioned park benches dotting the park, walkways ideal for leisurely strolling, family-sized swings, numerous spots for picnics and sunning, and spectacular views of the Charleston Harbor, Waterfront Park is a fun way to spend a relaxing afternoon together. If you get hot, join the kids as they splash around and cool off in one of the two fountains. Also home to the infamous “Pineapple Fountain”. If you wander through the surrounding streets, you’ll find charming historic brick alleyways with hidden gardens and beautiful architecture.

Visitors to the historic landmark of White Point Gardens, also known as Battery Park, will find an impressive display of mortars and cannons from the Civil War used to shell as well as defend the city. At the corner of Murray and East Bay, don't miss the confederate monument dedicated to the hanging of the infamous "gentleman" pirate Stede Bonnet. And be sure to check out the beautiful gazebo in the middle of the park where countless I Do's have been said. IfIf you don't have time to walk, we highly recommend a leisurely drive to view the impressive mansion architecture and glorious live oak trees.

Completed in 1771 by South Carolina's provincial government, The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon is South Carolina's most historic building and is regarded as one of the three most historically significant buildings of colonial America. In 1774, during the American Revolution, confiscated tea was stored here as well as South Carolina's revolutionary leadership councils. After the British captured the city in 1780, it was used as a barracks, and its basement a military prison. Soon after taking control of Charleston, the British started housing prisoners in the Exchange, however not exclusively in the "dungeon".
In 1788, the ratification of the United States Constitution was held here, as well as many of the events in George Washington's week-long stay in Charleston. The building continued as an Exchange until the 19th century, when it also became a post office. In the American Civil War, the building remained a Confederate post office, but was hit by several shells during the war, and thus abandoned. In 1913, the building was granted to the Daughters of the American Revolution, who have preserved it ever since.
Today, there is documentation of at least 120 prisoners that were held in the Exchange, but there were many more whose identities could not be discovered.

King Street is Charleston at her best! She has developed into three distinctive areas: the Upper King Street Design and Dining District, Mid-King Street Fashion District and the Lower King Street Antiques District. On the whole you will find many fun and interesting shop that include antiques, art galleries, chocolate and confections, book stores, cosmetics, home décor and lighting, gifts, jewelry, and women's, men's and children’s fashions. Each shop has its own sense of style and flavor, and each one uniquely Charleston.

Charleston is a great restaurant town and has recently become one of the top culinary destinations in the country. The cobblestone streets lined by pastel homes with flickering gas lamps house a seemingly endless array of oyster bars, chef-driven farm to table restaurants, and craft cocktails. We promise you won’t want for delicious bites while you’re visiting, only for enough time to try them all. Here is a list of some of our favorite spots to help you narrow it down!

One of our favorites. The Ordinary is a Southern seafood hall and oyster bar located in an old bank in Charleston, SC. Our menu celebrates the “merroir” of the Coastal Carolinas and the East Coast, and we strive to support local and regional fishermen, crabbers, oystermen, farmers and producers. From the same team behind FIG, our approach is recognizable: we aim to pair great food with great drink and friendly, detailed service. At The Ordinary, we do so against the backdrop of an historical Charleston building that has been transformed into a high energy, bustling American brasserie.  

Tucked away on Charleston's bustling upper King Street, above The Macintosh, The Cocktail Club is an upscale lounge dedicated to the art of the craft cocktail. With an extensive selection of house-made infusions, rare liquors, and farm-to-shaker beverages the Cocktail Club features fresh-squeezed juices and modern ingredients and is set in the interior in the historic 1881 building boasting reclaimed wood structures, exposed walls, fireplaces,

original beams, salvaged doors, a rooftop terrace, and three lounge areas, this is the prefect rustic ambience to enjoy a craft cocktail or two. 

Page’s Okra Grill combines simple Southern cuisine with the casual elements of traditional coastal seafood. We look to use fresh, seasonal, local ingredients in our made-from-scratch dishes wherever we can. While our kitchen partners with local farms and seafood suppliers, our bar program follows suit and focuses on local spirits and craft breweries. Come join us for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner and let our professional and courteous staff show you true Southern hospitality.

Middleton Place is a National Historic Landmark and home to America’s Oldest Landscaped Gardens. The Garden Club of America has called the 65 acres “the most important and most interesting garden in America”. Centuries-old camellias bloom in the winter months and azaleas blaze on the hillside above the Rice Mill Pond in the spring. In summer, kalmia, magnolias, crepe myrtles and roses accent a landscape magnificent throughout the year. The Gardens have been planned so that there is something blooming at Middleton Place year-round. Get lost in the maze of secret gardens, visit the goats, hogs and buffalo in the 19th century stableyards, explore the House Museum, or take a guided tour through the allées, pools, canals, and gardens.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, selected as one of "America's Most Beautiful Gardens" by Travel + Leisure Magazine, was founded in 1676 by the Drayton family. Having survived the centuries and bared witness to the history of our nation from the American Revolution through the Civil War, and beyond, Magnolia is the oldest public tourist site in the Lowcountry, and the oldest public gardens in America. Cooperating with nature to create a tranquil and harmonious landscape, the plantation opened its doors in 1870 to allow visitors to view the thousands of beautiful flowers and plants in its famous gardens.

Boone Hall is one of America's oldest working, living plantations. Founded in 1681 the plantation changed ownership in 1955 and has since been continuously growing and producing crops as well as making improvements to the house and grounds so that visitors can experience what plantation life was like. Knowledgeable staff will help you understand the day to day activities of those who lived on plantations as well the history of the people who lived there. Once known for cotton and pecans, Boone Hall still actively produces strawberries, tomatoes, and pumpkins, as well as many other fruits and vegetables for visitors to enjoy. The U-Pick fields are open in season and the main modern market on Hwy. 17 is open for business. 

This fairytale-esque Angel Oak tree in Charleston, SC, is thought to be one of the oldest living organisms east of the Mississippi River. It stands 65 feet (20m or 6 stories) tall, is 28 ft (8.5 m) in circumference, and an area of 17,000 square feet is shaded by its tentacular crown. The largest branch reaches 187 feet. Estimated to be 400-500 years old, this Southern live oak has survived a number of hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes. It was damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989 but recovered and continues to grow. Well worth the little road trip.  