Ceremony Locations & Venues
I have THOUSANDS of pictures from ceremonies I have performed for my amazing couples. Scrolling through these pictures of people in love will bring you to your happy place!
Ceremony photos are organized by popular location. The final gallery is comprised of couple and family photos from our Ceremony + Photography packages. Click through the picture to see each of the galleries!
Forsyth Park
Forsyth Park is the most popular place to be married in Savannah, GA! The number of weddings we have officiated in Forsyth Park is now in the THOUSANDS, and most likely, will always be a couple’s first choice.
Pros & Cons
Now, there are pros and cons to choosing Forsyth Park as your wedding location.
Pros: Beautiful fountain (of course!) and lots of other spots to be photographed at within the park under Spanish moss, and in front of flowers, if they are blooming in the early Spring. If you get married in front of the fountain, the applause when you kiss from admiring visitors can feel amazing! If you do not like the openness of the fountain for your ceremony, there are lots of other private spaces in the park.
Cons: If you are eloping, it is almost impossible to be married in front of the fountain on Saturdays or super busy tourist days, even if it seems uncrowded, tourists and other park visitors may appear and get very close to your wedding. Lighting can be harsh against the white fountain midday.
If you are planning on having more than 25 guests, or use chairs or other structures, the City of Savannah requires a permit to use it for your wedding ceremony.
Enjoy our gallery of elopement and wedding ceremony photos at Forsyth Park!
Lafayette, Orleans, and Columbia Squares
Lafayette, Orleans, and Columbia squares all have gorgeous fountains for your ceremony, each with a distinct look and feel.
Lafayette, Orleans and Columbia are three of our most popular squares to be married in because of their gorgeous fountains. Here are pros and cons to choosing each as your ceremony location.
Lafayette Square
Pros:
Lafayette has a darker, almost gothic (some use the word “moody”) look because of its trees and is beautiful at almost any time of day. It is next to the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and is centrally located.
Cons:
It is on the main tourist route, so parts of the square may seem crowded. The space around the fountain is small so you will be separated from any guests if you decide to stand close to the fountain.
Orleans Square
Pros:
Orleans is bright, open, and airy, and yet also has gorgeous, beautiful trees. It does not get much tourist traffic.
Cons:
The lighting can be iffy for midday ceremonies because it is so open. The fountain can be loud and if you have more than 3-4 guests, your guests will need to be separated from you.
Columbia Square
Pros:
It is a square off the typical tourist routes and has four open sides for your guests to stand.
Cons:
It is far from Forsyth Park if you are planning on using that as a background for some of your Savannah Elopement Experience photos. However, it is super easy to get there on pedicabs!
If you are planning on having more than 25 guests, or use chairs or other structures, the City of Savannah requires a permit to use it for your wedding ceremony.
Enjoy our gallery of elopement and wedding ceremony photos in Lafayette, Orleans, and Columbia squares!
Whitefield, and Crawford Square
Whitefield and Crawford Square are the only two squares that offer a gazebo for a truly southern feel. Here are pros and cons to choosing each as your ceremony location.
Whitefield Square
Pros:
Pros: Many couples love the “classic gazebo look” for their wedding. It is a great place for rainy weather.
Cons:
It is a popular spot for Savannah’s homeless population. You will not be very close to your guests if you choose to stand close to the gazebo.
Crawford Square
Pros:
The second of two squares with a gazebo. Crawford has a slightly bigger gazebo than Whitefield Square. Another great option for rainy weather. Beautiful, mature trees dripping with Spanish moss. Good parking.
Cons:
A basketball court is right next to the gazebo. However, our photographers are great at shooting around it. There may be a homeless person in the gazebo, but treated respectfully, I have never had an issue with a homeless person interfering with a wedding.
Troup, Pulaski, and Chatham Square
Troup Square is located on Habersham Street and has an armillary sphere in the middle of a recessed circle. Pulaski Square and Chatham, both on Barnard Street, are full of gorgeous trees.
Troup Square
Pros:
Troup Square was chosen by our Founder, Tracy, for her wedding. I’ve found many people who identify as “nerd” types love the bright armillary in the middle of the square. The armillary is in the center of a circle which can feel very spiritual during a ceremony.
Cons:
If the statue does not speak to you, I would pass. Also, it does not have the great trees that other squares have.
Pulaski Square
Pros:
The trees are symmetrical! And gorgeous! Every May, a bush of pink flowers appear for a week which are great for photos.
Cons:
Some of the best places to have ceremonies are in the pathways, which can feel awkward.
Chatham Square
Pros:
Lots of trees, if not as symmetrical as Pulaski. However, people love some of the specific trees in Chatham Square.
Cons:
Same as Pulaski Square.
Just a friendly reminder that if you are planning on having more than 25 guests, or use chairs or other structures, the City of Savannah requires a permit to use it for your wedding ceremony.
Enjoy our gallery of elopement and wedding ceremony photos in Troup, Pulaski, and Chatham squares!
More For Your Consideration
While we don’t get frequent requests for weddings in these squares, we feel they are great options for your wedding or elopement ceremony in Savannah. Here are my summary thoughts on the locations featured in this gallery.
- If you have a larger wedding, Greene, Warren, and Washington provide a lot of green space, while being incredibly photogenic!
- Telfair Square is popular for large weddings because of its size and beauty. It is at its peak of beauty in the Spring! It’s also the starting point for Savannah Sip & Cycle
- Chippewa Square is very pretty, but the busiest square in Savannah as it was the setting for much of Forrest Gump. While the bench is no longer located in the square, it is so pretty! We have only been able to pull off ceremonies here during the summer and winter seasons. It is a great place for a post-ceremony photo, though.
- Monterey Square is very small, and split into four quadrants, but some couples request it because of its proximity to the Mercer Williams House, featured in the book and movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The lighting here can be great in the late afternoon and early evening. At night, it’s downright spooky!
- Calhoun Square is big and accommodates up to 100 guests, but it also has a haunted past.
- Emmet Park is located off Bay Street and Morrell Park is on River Street and features our famous Waving Girl statue. Both underrated and both beautiful!
If you are planning on having more than 25 guests, or use chairs or other structures, the City of Savannah requires a permit to use it for your wedding ceremony.
Enjoy our gallery of elopement and wedding ceremony photos in these Savannah squares!
Tybee Island & Bonaventure Cemetery & Red Gate Farms
If someone decides to venture away from the downtown historic area of Savannah for an elopement or intimate wedding, they usually choose the beach at Tybee Island, Bonaventure Cemetery, or Red Gate Farms.
Here are pros and cons to each, and directions on how to book them. One pro that applies to all is that they are beautiful. The con that applies to all is that they are extremely buggy so bring your sunscreen AND your bug spray!
Please note that some of these locations make changes to their booking policies and fees frequently, so it is important to verify these at the time of your booking. While we can assist you with information, you must secure these two locations directly and personally.
Tybee Island
Pros:
Sunset is a gorgeous time for a beach ceremony and North Beach and South Beach offer some more private areas.
Cons:
The beach is mostly first come, first serve, so you may have sunbathers close by. It can be brutally hot and bright in the summer during midday and afternoon. There is only one way on or off Tybee Island by car and traffic can be at a standstill during peak season.
Ceremonies are not conducted during beach season activities – Beach Bum Parade (May), Pirate Fest (October), Independence Day Celebration (July 3rd & 4th) and Orange Crush (Dates change yearly).
Booking:
Getting married on the beach at Tybee Island is free, unless you want structures (wedding arch, etc.) or chairs or have a large party. If any of that applies to your celebration, you can apply directly to the City of Tybee Island for a $25 beach permit.
Bonaventure Cemetery
Pros:
It is a gorgeous setting, especially during the spring when the azaleas are blooming. If you rent Greenwich Park, you get an entire large park to yourself with sweeping trees and a bridge over water.
Cons:
It is a cemetery so there may be funerals going on in a nearby location on your wedding day. In addition to mosquitoes and gnats, there are fire ants so wear closed toed shoes if you can!
Booking:
You must get a permit to be married and/or to take photos anywhere in the cemetery, even if it is just the couple. The cost is $50 per hour before 5PM and $150 for the first hour after 5PM and then $50 per hours. The bookings are managed by Savannah’s Cemetery Department.
Red Gate Farms
Getting married at Red Gate Farms offers a quintessential Southern wedding experience on a 125-acre rural estate located just 10 minutes from historic downtown Savannah. The family-run property features three distinct venues: The Barn, The Grainery, and The Belle Tower, allowing for various aesthetic styles from rustic to industrial-chic.
Pros:
Versatile Venue Options. Couples can choose from the traditional Red Barn (rustic with twinkle lights), The Grainery (modern industrial with a lakeside view), or the Belle Tower (traditional home for intimate gatherings). Picturesque. The giant, moss-draped live oak tree is a favorite for outdoor ceremonies, offering a “fairy tale” atmosphere.
Packages often include affordable bar services, included decor/lighting, and spacious, air-conditioned bridal and groom’s suites. The venue allows couples to bring in their own wedding cake and desserts and offers flexible setup options for different weather scenarios.
Cons:
The property is large – 125 acres – and shared with an RV park and equestrian center, which may mean other visitors are on the grounds during your wedding weekend. While indoor backup options exist, many of the venue’s most “magical” elements are outdoors and subject to Georgia’s heat and humidity.
Rooftops, Restaurants, and Historic Homes (Oh my!)
I officiate all over Savannah and the low country of Georgia and South Carolina and have performed ceremonies at so many venues beyond the squares and parks.
Unfortunately, I do not always receive photos from my larger weddings to display (for various reasons) but here is an assortment of photos I do have from my engagements at popular local venues. You can contact the venue listed in the caption for pricing and availability.
Marrying on a hotel rooftop offers stunning, intimate views of the historic skyline and sunset, creating a romantic backdrop for weddings at venues like Perry Lane Hotel, Cotton Sail Hotel, JW Marriott (Plant Riverside District) or The Alida Hotel.
Pros:
Rooftops provide breathtaking views of the Savannah River or historic downtown, perfect for sunset ceremonies. Having the ceremony and reception in one location simplifies planning, allowing guests to stay on-site and reducing transportation issues. Ideal for smaller, modern, or boutique-style weddings.
Cons:
Weather! Rooftops are vulnerable to wind, rain, and/or heat and cold; a solid, appealing backup plan is essential. Rooftop weddings can get pricey, and they often require utilizing specific, higher-priced, in-house vendors. Rooftop venues are generally suited for smaller, more intimate gatherings.
More and more dining establishments are offering space for the actual ceremony, as well as the reception or celebratory meal. Places like Churchill’s Pub, The Common, Belford’s, Cha-Bella and The Olde Pink House (just to name a few) offer spaces that are accommodating to most any size wedding. Prices and offerings vary from restaurant to restaurant.
Pros:
Convenience. Everything is right there. Your guests are present for your ceremony and while you get whisked away for pics after, your guests can stay and have a cocktail (or take a cocktail to-go and walk downtown) before the reception. Many allow you to bring your own florals, cake, dessert, etc. for the celebration.
Cons:
Many dining establishments require a minimum dollar amount spent on food and drink. If you don’t have many people attending, you could end up spending more money than you anticipated. A telephone conversation or email with the events manager should answer your questions and/or concerns.
Getting married in a historic Savannah, GA home offers unparalleled Southern charm, romantic ambiance, and stunning, built-in decor (often with gardens or courtyards).
Pros:
These venues offer picturesque, and often central locations. Historic homes and mansions provide a romantic, timeless, and uniquely Southern backdrop for ceremonies and receptions. They not only offer ceremony space, but you can also book room(s) for you and your guests, giving you space in which to get ready for your big day! Suited more for micro weddings and small, or true, elopements. True elopements are considered two people only – bride and groom.
Cons:
They may come with limited guest capacity. Some may have potential accessibility challenges. Most will have rules regarding decorations or structural preservation given the historic nature of the venue.
