William Aiken House

At 456 King Street, in the middle of Charleston's Upper King design and dining district, the William Aiken House is an 1807 mansion turned event estate managed by Patrick Properties Hospitality Group. Martha Stewart Weddings and Brides have both named it South Carolina's premier wedding venue, and its location puts guests within walking distance of the city's hotels, restaurants, and shopping.

Ceremonies happen on the front lawn, which seats 200, in the Carriage House Lot, or in the private garden beneath the pergola. Receptions then move through ballrooms on the first and second floors, a formal dining room, a gentleman's study, covered piazzas, and the Oyster Tabby Terrace, which seats 160 outdoors. Catering and bar service are handled exclusively in-house by the Patrick Properties catering team, and the rental includes four hours of exclusive use of the property with setup and breakdown time built around it.

Using the full house and grounds, events can reach roughly 500 guests, unusually large for a downtown Charleston venue, though the parlors and garden suit small weddings as well. Per city ordinance, music ends by 11 p.m. Third-party listings put the rental fee at $2,500 to $8,000 depending on day and season, with food and beverage minimums on top.