Myrtle Beach Elopement & Micro Wedding Venue
Looking for a Myrtle Beach elopement venue for a private ceremony, micro wedding, or intimate wedding? White Oaks Farm is a 43-acre private wedding estate where couples can plan everything from a quiet elopement with only a few guests to a full wedding celebration with family and friends.
Couples searching for a Myrtle Beach elopement venue or micro wedding venue often want something more private than getting married directly on the beach, while still staying close to everything the Grand Strand has to offer. White Oaks Farm combines the privacy of a secluded South Carolina estate with multiple outdoor ceremony locations, indoor and covered spaces, private getting-ready suites, and room for both intimate and traditional wedding celebrations.
Whether you are planning an elopement for two, a micro wedding with your closest family and friends, or a larger wedding celebration, choosing the right setting changes the entire experience. This guide covers the differences between elopements and micro weddings, what they cost, how many guests to invite, the best time of year to get married in Myrtle Beach, and what to look for when choosing a place for your wedding.
White Oaks Farm gives couples the flexibility to choose a wedding based on the experience they want rather than the size of the property. A small ceremony can feel intentionally intimate instead of lost inside a space designed only for hundreds of guests, while couples planning a full wedding still have the space and amenities needed for a traditional celebration.
What Is an Elopement?
An elopement is an intentionally small wedding centered around the couple and the ceremony rather than a large guest list. Some couples elope completely on their own, while others invite parents, children, siblings, or a few close friends to witness their vows.
Modern elopements can be every bit as thoughtfully planned as traditional weddings. Couples may still hire a photographer, florist, hair and makeup artist, and officiant. The difference is that the budget and attention are concentrated on a smaller number of things that matter most to them instead of creating an event for a large crowd.
Choosing a private elopement location also gives couples something that can be difficult to find on a public beach: privacy. Instead of exchanging vows around beachgoers, umbrellas, wind, and passing crowds, couples can choose a ceremony setting designed specifically for weddings and have space for portraits afterward without leaving the property.
What Is a Micro Wedding?
A micro wedding falls between an elopement and a traditional wedding. Guest counts commonly range from around ten to fifty people, giving couples enough room to celebrate with immediate family and their closest friends without planning an event for one hundred or two hundred guests.
The difference is scale, not the importance of the celebration. A micro wedding can still include a formal ceremony, wedding attire, professional photography, florals, cocktail hour, seated dinner, toasts, cake, a first dance, and an evening reception. You are having a real wedding, just with fewer people in the room.
For couples searching for a micro wedding venue in Myrtle Beach, the size of the property is only part of the decision. The best setting should feel beautiful with twenty or thirty guests rather than feeling like a large reception space with most of the room empty. Having several ceremony locations and indoor and outdoor spaces also gives couples the flexibility to build the celebration around their particular guest count.
That smaller guest list can also change the pace of the wedding day. There is more time for photographs, conversations with guests, a relaxed dinner, and the moments that can disappear quickly during a larger event. For many couples, a micro wedding provides the traditions they love about a full wedding without creating a day that feels overwhelmingly large.
Elopement vs. Micro Wedding: Which Is Right for You?
The easiest way to choose between an elopement and a micro wedding is to think about who you cannot imagine getting married without. If that list is only the two of you or a few immediate family members, an elopement may be exactly what you want. If you want your closest friends and family there for dinner, toasts, dancing, and a reception after the ceremony, a micro wedding is probably the better fit.
| Category | Elopement | Micro Wedding |
|---|---|---|
| Guest count | Typically 0 to 10 | Typically 10 to 50 |
| Overall experience | Private and ceremony focused | Intimate version of a full wedding |
| Timeline | Usually a few hours | Half day to full day |
| Ceremony | Yes | Yes |
| Reception | Optional | Usually included |
| Dinner | Optional private dinner | Often a seated dinner |
| Photography | Often a major focus of the day | Full wedding-day photography experience |
| Family involvement | None or immediate family | Closest family and friends |
| Planning | Simple and flexible | More traditional wedding planning at a smaller scale |
And if your guest list continues growing beyond the micro wedding stage, you do not necessarily need to start your venue search over. White Oaks Farm also hosts full weddings, allowing couples to choose the size of celebration that feels right while keeping the same private estate setting near Myrtle Beach.
How Much Does a Myrtle Beach Elopement or Micro Wedding Cost?
The cost of an elopement or micro wedding near Myrtle Beach depends largely on the type of celebration you are planning. A simple ceremony for two requires far less than a micro wedding with thirty or forty guests, dinner, florals, photography, and a reception afterward.
Instead of starting with a single number, it helps to think about what you actually want your wedding day to include. Your venue, guest count, photography, florals, food, entertainment, and length of the celebration will have the biggest influence on the final cost.
One advantage of choosing a property that can host the ceremony, portraits, dinner, and reception in one place is simplicity. Couples do not have to find separate locations for each part of the day or move guests between multiple properties. For a small wedding especially, keeping everything together can make the entire experience feel more relaxed.
The Wedding Venue
The setting is one of the biggest decisions because it affects almost everything else. A public beach may initially appear inexpensive, but couples need to consider permits, privacy, parking, restrooms, weather backup, getting-ready locations, rentals, and where everyone will go after the ceremony.
A private Myrtle Beach area wedding venue can bring those pieces together. At White Oaks Farm, couples have access to multiple ceremony settings, indoor and covered spaces, getting-ready suites, parking, and locations for wedding portraits across the same property.
Guest Count
Guest count is one of the clearest differences between an elopement, micro wedding, and full wedding. An elopement may include only the couple and a few witnesses. A micro wedding might include twenty, thirty, or fifty guests. A traditional wedding can bring together a much larger group.
Every additional guest affects more than the seating chart. Catering, drinks, tables, chairs, staffing, invitations, and reception space can all change as the guest list grows. Deciding who you truly want beside you is one of the best places to begin when establishing a wedding budget.
Photography
Photography often becomes especially important for elopements and intimate weddings because couples have more time available for portraits. Instead of spending much of the day moving a large wedding party and hundreds of guests through a timeline, a smaller celebration can leave room to explore several locations around the property and photograph the day at a more relaxed pace.
Florals and Wedding Design
A smaller guest list can also allow couples to concentrate their design budget on the parts of the wedding that will have the most visual impact. A beautiful bouquet, ceremony installation, tablescape, or floral arrangement can transform an intimate celebration without decorating an enormous reception space.
Dinner and Reception
For a true elopement, the celebration after the ceremony may be as simple as a private dinner. A micro wedding usually includes more of the traditional reception experience, such as cocktail hour, a seated meal, cake, toasts, a first dance, and time with guests afterward.
This is one reason couples searching for a micro wedding venue should think beyond the ceremony location itself. The right property should make sense not only for exchanging vows, but also for everything you want to happen afterward.
Best Time of Year for an Elopement or Wedding in Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach is a year-round wedding destination, but the season you choose can completely change the feel of an outdoor ceremony. Temperature, humidity, sunset time, landscaping, travel schedules, and available dates are all worth considering before choosing your wedding date.
Spring Weddings in Myrtle Beach
Spring is one of the most popular times to get married in the Myrtle Beach area. Temperatures are generally comfortable, the property becomes greener, and outdoor ceremony locations begin coming alive after winter.
Because spring dates are popular for elopements, micro weddings, and traditional weddings alike, couples with a particular date in mind should begin looking at wedding locations early.
Summer Weddings in Myrtle Beach
Summer gives couples long evenings and plenty of daylight, but heat and humidity become important considerations. Later ceremony times can make outdoor weddings more comfortable while also positioning portraits closer to the softer light before sunset.
Having indoor and covered spaces available becomes especially valuable during summer, when afternoon thunderstorms can develop quickly along the South Carolina coast. A wedding venue with a real weather backup gives couples an alternative without having to completely redesign the day.
Fall Weddings in Myrtle Beach
Fall is one of the most sought-after wedding seasons along the Grand Strand. Temperatures begin cooling, humidity usually becomes more comfortable, and earlier sunsets make it easier to build golden-hour portraits into the wedding timeline without pushing dinner late into the evening.
For couples imagining an outdoor Myrtle Beach elopement, micro wedding, or full wedding, fall offers one of the best combinations of comfortable weather and beautiful evening light.
Winter Weddings in Myrtle Beach
Winter is quieter along the coast and can be a beautiful choice for couples who want a more peaceful wedding experience. The light is often crisp and soft, tourism slows down, and couples may have more flexibility when considering dates.
Cooler evenings make indoor options more important, particularly for receptions. Having both outdoor ceremony locations and heated indoor spaces allows couples to take advantage of a beautiful winter afternoon without asking guests to spend the entire celebration outside.
No matter the season, the best wedding location is one that gives you choices. Weather can change, guest needs can change, and your original vision may evolve as the wedding gets closer. A property with multiple ceremony sites and indoor and outdoor options gives you room to adjust without changing venues.
Why Couples Are Choosing Smaller Weddings
For many couples, choosing an elopement or micro wedding is not simply about spending less or inviting fewer people. It is about creating a wedding that feels more personal. A smaller guest list gives couples more time together, more time with the people they invited, and more freedom to plan the day around what actually matters to them.
Instead of filling a large room because a traditional wedding is expected to be large, couples can choose the people they genuinely want beside them. That might mean exchanging vows with only parents and children present, hosting dinner for twenty close friends and family members, or planning an intimate wedding with fifty guests followed by a full reception.
Smaller weddings can also give couples more flexibility with the setting. When you are not trying to accommodate hundreds of guests, ceremony locations that would never work for a large wedding suddenly become possible. Waterfront docks, gardens, courtyards, open-air spaces, and other intimate settings can become the centerpiece of the day.
Why Get Married in Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach gives couples something few wedding destinations can offer in one trip: a popular coastal destination with beaches, golf, restaurants, accommodations, and easy access for traveling guests, combined with beautiful wedding locations away from the busiest tourist areas.
For couples planning a destination wedding, that combination can make the experience easier for everyone attending. Guests can stay along the Grand Strand, enjoy a few days at the beach, play golf, explore the area, and turn the wedding into a vacation rather than traveling only for a single evening.
Couples also are not limited to getting married directly on the sand. The Myrtle Beach area offers a variety of settings for couples who love the coast but want more privacy, comfort, and control over their wedding day. A private estate allows you to stay close to Myrtle Beach while exchanging vows somewhere that feels completely removed from the crowds.
A Myrtle Beach Destination Wedding Without Getting Married on the Beach
When couples begin searching for a Myrtle Beach wedding location, getting married directly on the beach is often the first idea that comes to mind. But wanting a destination wedding near the coast does not necessarily mean the ceremony itself has to happen on the sand.
A private wedding property gives couples another option. You can stay near the beach, enjoy everything Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand have to offer, and still have a private setting for the wedding itself. Your guests get the destination experience while your ceremony and reception take place away from public crowds.
This can be especially appealing for couples bringing family members or guests from out of town. Instead of asking everyone to navigate a public beach access, walk through sand in formal clothing, and hope the weather cooperates, a private property provides dedicated parking, seating, restrooms, getting-ready spaces, and indoor alternatives if conditions change.
Where to Have an Elopement or Micro Wedding in Myrtle Beach
If you are searching for a place to have an elopement or micro wedding in Myrtle Beach, start by thinking about the experience you want rather than choosing a location based only on photographs. The setting affects privacy, weather backup, guest comfort, photography, parking, accessibility, and what you can do after the ceremony.
Some couples want nothing more than to stand barefoot on the beach and exchange vows. Others want the beauty of an outdoor ceremony while still having private getting-ready spaces, comfortable seating for grandparents, a reception location, and an indoor option nearby if it rains.
| Wedding Setting | Best For | Things to Consider |
|---|---|---|
| Public beach | Simple coastal ceremonies | Public access, weather, wind, parking and permits |
| Private estate | Elopements, micro weddings and full weddings | Requires reserving the property in advance |
| State park | Natural outdoor ceremonies | Permits, public access and limited amenities |
| Golf course | Traditional weddings and receptions | Other golfers and club activity may be nearby |
| Waterfront property | Intimate ceremonies and sunset celebrations | Weather backup varies by property |
| Garden setting | Romantic outdoor weddings | Season and weather can change the appearance |
| Private wedding venue | Couples wanting the entire wedding in one location | Compare ceremony, reception and backup spaces before booking |
White Oaks Farm combines several of these settings on one private property. Couples can choose from waterfront, garden, courtyard, chapel-style, and open-air ceremony locations without moving guests to another venue. That flexibility works especially well for couples who are still deciding whether their celebration will remain a small elopement, become a micro wedding, or grow into a larger traditional wedding.
One of the most intimate ceremony locations on the property is the Hexagon, positioned on a small dock over the pond. For an elopement with only the couple and a few witnesses, the scale of the space makes the ceremony feel intentional rather than like a tiny wedding taking place inside a location built for hundreds of people.
Explore the ceremony locations at White Oaks Farm to see the different settings available across the property.
Myrtle Beach Beach Wedding vs. Private Wedding Estate
A beach wedding can be beautiful, especially for couples who have always imagined exchanging vows with the ocean behind them. But before choosing the sand, it is worth comparing what the wedding day actually looks like at a public beach versus a private property.
| Category | Public Beach | Private Wedding Estate |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | Beach remains open to the public | Private property for your celebration |
| Weather backup | Usually limited | Indoor and covered options |
| Getting ready | Separate hotel or rental needed | Private suites on site |
| Parking | Public parking and beach access | Dedicated on-site parking |
| Restrooms | Depends on beach access | Available on the property |
| Guest seating | Requires setup and may be restricted | Designed for wedding ceremonies |
| Accessibility | Sand can be difficult for some guests | More accessible options available |
| Photography | Primarily beach scenery | Multiple portrait locations on one property |
| Reception | Separate location usually required | Ceremony and reception can remain together |
| Privacy in photos | Beachgoers may appear in backgrounds | Greater control over backgrounds |
Neither choice is right for every couple. If standing on the sand is the most important part of your wedding vision, a beach ceremony may be exactly what you want. But if privacy, guest comfort, a weather plan, multiple photography locations, and having the ceremony and reception together matter more, a private wedding estate can provide a very different experience.
For couples who love Myrtle Beach but do not necessarily want a public beach wedding, White Oaks Farm offers a way to have both experiences: enjoy the coast throughout your wedding trip while celebrating the wedding itself on a private property.
How Many Guests Should You Invite?
Your guest count is one of the easiest ways to determine whether you are planning an elopement, micro wedding, intimate wedding, or full wedding. There is no perfect number. The goal is to create a celebration that feels right for the people you genuinely want there.
The size of your guest list also affects the type of wedding space you need. A ceremony for six people should still feel intentional and beautiful, while a wedding with fifty or more guests needs enough room for seating, dinner, dancing, and everything that happens after the ceremony.
Elopements With 10 Guests or Fewer
Ten guests or fewer keeps the celebration close to a true elopement. Parents, children, siblings, or a few close friends can witness the ceremony while the day remains centered around the couple. Smaller ceremony locations work especially well at this size because the setting feels intimate rather than empty.
Micro Weddings With 20 to 30 Guests
With twenty to thirty guests, the celebration begins to feel like a small traditional wedding. Couples often add ceremony seating, florals, cocktail hour, a seated dinner, cake, toasts, and a first dance while still having enough time to personally enjoy everyone they invited.
Intimate Weddings With 40 to 50 Guests
At forty to fifty guests, most couples are planning a true wedding experience at an intimate scale. A thoughtful timeline becomes more important, and the reception space, catering setup, guest comfort, and flow between different parts of the property begin to matter more.
What If Your Guest List Gets Bigger?
Sometimes a couple begins planning an elopement and realizes there are more people they want to include. That does not mean you chose the wrong property. One advantage of selecting a wedding location that can accommodate different celebration sizes is that your plans have room to grow.
White Oaks Farm can host intimate ceremonies as well as full wedding celebrations, so couples are not limited to one particular wedding size. You can choose the guest count that feels right without giving up the setting that made you want to get married here in the first place.
Sample Myrtle Beach Elopement or Micro Wedding Timeline
One of the advantages of a smaller wedding is that the timeline does not need to feel rushed. With fewer guests and fewer moving pieces, couples can leave more room for portraits, conversations, and simply enjoying the property.
Here is an example of how an afternoon micro wedding could flow when the ceremony, portraits, dinner, and reception all happen at the same location.
| Time | Wedding Day |
|---|---|
| 3:00 PM | Getting ready in the private suites |
| 4:00 PM | First look and couple portraits |
| 5:00 PM | Wedding ceremony |
| 5:30 PM | Family photographs |
| 6:00 PM | Additional portraits and cocktail hour |
| 7:00 PM | Dinner and reception |
| 8:00 PM | Toasts, first dance and sunset portraits |
A true elopement can be much simpler and may only require a few hours for getting ready, the ceremony, family photographs, and couple portraits. A larger micro wedding can extend into a full evening with dinner, dancing, and a reception.
Keeping everything on one property makes either timeline easier. There is no need to build travel time between a getting-ready location, ceremony site, portrait location, and reception venue.
How to Choose a Myrtle Beach Elopement or Micro Wedding Venue
If you are searching for a Myrtle Beach elopement venue or micro wedding venue, beautiful photographs are a good place to start, but they should not be the only reason you choose a property. The right wedding location should work just as well behind the scenes as it does in photographs.
Look for Privacy
Privacy matters even more during a small wedding because every person and every distraction becomes noticeable. Ask whether your ceremony location is private during your wedding or whether tourists, other events, golfers, hotel guests, or the general public may be nearby.
A private estate creates a very different experience. Your ceremony can feel removed from everything happening outside the property, even when you are only minutes from Myrtle Beach and the surrounding beach communities.
Make Sure There Is a Real Rain Plan
Outdoor weddings are beautiful, but weather along the South Carolina coast can change quickly. Before booking any outdoor wedding location, ask exactly what happens if it rains.
A good backup plan should be more than hoping the forecast improves. Covered and indoor spaces give couples the ability to move the ceremony or reception without searching for another location at the last minute.
Consider Where You Will Get Ready
Getting-ready spaces are easy to overlook when touring wedding locations, but they affect the first several hours of the wedding day. On-site suites allow couples and their families to arrive early, get dressed comfortably, and move into the ceremony without traveling from a hotel in wedding attire.
Think About Your Wedding Photos
If photography matters to you, look beyond the ceremony backdrop. A wedding property with several distinct portrait locations gives your photographer more variety without requiring you to leave your guests for an hour to travel somewhere else.
Water, mature trees, open lawns, architecture, gardens, covered areas, and indoor spaces can all create different looks within the same wedding gallery.
Think About Your Guests
Even an elopement with only a few family members should be comfortable. Parking, restrooms, seating, shade, climate-controlled spaces, and accessibility become especially important when parents or grandparents are attending.
Choose a Property That Can Fit the Wedding You Actually Want
Not every couple knows their final guest count when they begin searching for a wedding location. You may start imagining an elopement for ten and eventually decide on a micro wedding for thirty. Or your intimate wedding may grow into a larger celebration.
Choosing a property capable of hosting elopements, micro weddings, and full weddings gives you flexibility as your plans develop. You can change the size of the celebration without changing the place where you imagined getting married.
Browse real weddings at White Oaks Farm to see how different ceremony locations and wedding sizes look throughout the property.
Who Is an Elopement or Micro Wedding Best For?
There is no single type of couple who chooses a smaller wedding. Some couples know from the beginning that they never wanted a large celebration. Others begin planning a traditional wedding and realize that a smaller guest list would create a day that feels more like them.
Couples planning a destination wedding may prefer an intimate celebration because it is easier for a smaller group to travel together. Myrtle Beach allows guests to turn the wedding into a vacation while keeping the actual celebration personal.
Couples getting remarried often want something different from a traditional large wedding. An elopement or micro wedding can focus more on the relationship, children, immediate family, and the experience of being together.
Couples with blended families may choose a smaller celebration that gives children and immediate family meaningful roles throughout the ceremony and wedding day.
Couples who value privacy may simply feel more comfortable exchanging vows in front of ten or twenty people instead of two hundred. A smaller wedding lets the ceremony remain emotional and personal without making the couple feel like they are performing for a crowd.
Couples who want the full wedding experience without a huge guest list are often ideal candidates for a micro wedding. You can still have the dress, flowers, ceremony, beautiful photographs, dinner, cake, first dance, and reception. The celebration is simply built around the people closest to you.
White Oaks Farm for Elopements, Micro Weddings & Full Weddings
White Oaks Farm is a private 43-acre wedding estate in the Myrtle Beach area designed for couples who want more than a single ceremony backdrop. The property can accommodate everything from an intimate elopement with only a few guests to a micro wedding with close family and friends or a full wedding celebration.
What makes the property especially well suited for smaller weddings is that an intimate ceremony does not feel like a scaled-down version of a large event. Couples can choose from several distinct outdoor ceremony settings across the estate, including locations that naturally work for only a handful of guests as well as spaces suited for larger celebrations.
Five Outdoor Ceremony Locations
One of the biggest advantages of getting married at White Oaks Farm is having several ceremony locations available on the same property. Instead of choosing a wedding location based on one single backdrop, couples can find a setting that fits the size and style of their celebration.
The property includes five distinct outdoor ceremony locations: the Open Air Chapel, Waterfront Pier, Picture Frame Lawn, Hexagon, and Emerald Courtyard. Each creates a different atmosphere while keeping the entire wedding on the same private estate.
The Open Air Chapel
The Open Air Chapel gives couples the structure and visual focus of a traditional ceremony space while remaining connected to the outdoors. It works beautifully for couples who want their ceremony to feel formal and intentional without moving the celebration indoors.
The Waterfront Pier
The Waterfront Pier brings the water directly into the ceremony setting and creates a peaceful backdrop for vows and wedding portraits. For couples who originally imagined getting married near the water but want more privacy than a public beach can provide, it offers a completely different way to incorporate that feeling into the day.
The Picture Frame Lawn
The Picture Frame Lawn is centered around a freestanding architectural frame that naturally draws attention toward the couple. The open lawn provides room for guest seating while still creating a defined ceremony backdrop.
The Hexagon
For a true elopement or very small wedding, the Hexagon is one of the most intimate locations on the property. Positioned on a small dock over the pond, it creates a ceremony space that feels intentionally designed for a couple and a few witnesses rather than simply placing a tiny group inside a much larger wedding space.
The Emerald Courtyard
The Emerald Courtyard offers a garden-inspired setting surrounded by greenery. It is a beautiful choice for couples who want an outdoor ceremony with a softer, more romantic feel while remaining close to the other spaces on the property.
Explore all five ceremony locations at White Oaks Farm and see which setting feels most like your wedding.
Indoor and Covered Wedding Spaces
Beautiful outdoor ceremony locations are important, but a wedding venue near the South Carolina coast also needs a dependable weather plan. White Oaks Farm includes both covered and indoor spaces so couples are not relying entirely on the forecast.
The covered Veranda provides an alternative for ceremonies and celebrations when couples still want an open-air feeling, while the Main Hall offers a heated and air-conditioned indoor space for receptions and larger wedding celebrations.
That flexibility is valuable whether you are planning an elopement, micro wedding, or full wedding. If the weather changes, the celebration can move to another part of the property rather than another location entirely.
Private Getting-Ready Suites
Couples can also get ready on the property instead of traveling to the ceremony already dressed. White Oaks Farm includes private getting-ready spaces for both sides of the wedding party, with a family room between them.
Having these spaces on site makes the beginning of the wedding day easier and creates a natural transition from getting ready to first looks, portraits, and the ceremony without adding unnecessary travel time.
A Wedding Property Designed Around Your Guests
Even a small wedding needs practical amenities. White Oaks Farm offers on-site parking, golf cart valet, restrooms, climate-controlled spaces, and wheelchair accessibility throughout the property. These details become particularly important when parents, grandparents, children, or guests with mobility needs are part of the celebration.
One Property From the First Look to the Last Dance
One of the biggest advantages of choosing White Oaks Farm is that couples do not have to build their wedding around several separate locations. Getting ready, the first look, ceremony, family photographs, couple portraits, dinner, and reception can all happen on the same property.
For an elopement, that means a simple and relaxed day without unnecessary travel. For a micro wedding, it allows guests to move naturally from the ceremony into dinner and the celebration. For a full wedding, it provides the spaces and infrastructure needed to host the entire event from beginning to end.
What If You Are Still Deciding Between an Elopement and a Full Wedding?
You do not need to know exactly what your wedding will look like before you begin searching for a place to have it. Some couples start with the idea of eloping and eventually decide they want twenty or thirty people there. Others begin with a larger guest list and realize a smaller celebration would feel more meaningful.
Choosing a property that works for different wedding sizes gives you room to make that decision without starting your venue search again. White Oaks Farm hosts elopements, micro weddings, intimate celebrations, and full weddings, allowing the property to fit the wedding rather than forcing the wedding to fit one particular format.
Dedicated weekday options are available for smaller celebrations, while full wedding collections are available for couples planning a traditional wedding experience. Explore White Oaks Farm wedding collections or contact us to check availability for your date.
Myrtle Beach Elopement & Micro Wedding Planning Checklist
Once you know the type of wedding you want, planning becomes much easier. Use this simple checklist as a starting point.
- Decide approximately how many guests you want to invite
- Choose your preferred wedding season and date
- Find a Myrtle Beach area wedding location that fits your guest count
- Tour the property and compare ceremony locations
- Ask about indoor and covered weather backup
- Reserve your wedding date
- Apply for your South Carolina marriage license
- Choose your ceremony location
- Book your photographer and other wedding professionals
- Plan florals and ceremony design
- Arrange accommodations for traveling guests
- Plan dinner or your wedding reception
- Build the wedding-day timeline around sunset and photography
Frequently Asked Questions About Myrtle Beach Elopements & Micro Weddings
Is White Oaks Farm an elopement venue near Myrtle Beach?
Yes. White Oaks Farm is a private 43-acre wedding estate in the Myrtle Beach area offering dedicated options for couples planning intimate elopements. Couples can choose from multiple outdoor ceremony locations while also having access to covered and indoor spaces, getting-ready suites, parking, and other amenities on the property.
Can we have a micro wedding at White Oaks Farm?
Yes. White Oaks Farm offers options for micro weddings as well as smaller elopements and full weddings. A micro wedding gives couples the opportunity to have a ceremony and reception with their closest family and friends while keeping the celebration intimate.
Can we have a full wedding at White Oaks Farm?
Yes. White Oaks Farm is not limited to elopements and micro weddings. Couples planning a larger traditional wedding can also host their ceremony and reception on the property. This makes White Oaks a good option for couples who love the setting but have not finalized their guest count when they begin looking for a Myrtle Beach wedding venue.
How many guests is considered an elopement?
There is no universal rule, but an elopement commonly includes the couple alone or a very small group of approximately ten guests or fewer. Parents, children, siblings, and a few close friends are often included.
How many guests is considered a micro wedding?
A micro wedding commonly includes approximately 10 to 50 guests. Unlike an elopement, a micro wedding often includes more of the traditional wedding experience, such as a formal ceremony, dinner, toasts, cake, a first dance, and a reception.
Where can we have our ceremony at White Oaks Farm?
White Oaks Farm offers five outdoor ceremony locations: the Open Air Chapel, Waterfront Pier, Picture Frame Lawn, Hexagon, and Emerald Courtyard. Having several settings on one property allows couples to choose a ceremony location that fits both their wedding style and guest count.
See the ceremony locations at White Oaks Farm before scheduling your tour.
Why choose a private wedding estate instead of a Myrtle Beach beach ceremony?
A private wedding property gives couples greater control over privacy, parking, guest seating, getting-ready spaces, photography locations, weather backup, and the reception. A public beach can provide a beautiful ocean backdrop, but the beach remains open to other visitors and offers fewer options if weather conditions change.
What happens if it rains on our wedding day?
White Oaks Farm offers covered and indoor alternatives for changing weather. The covered Veranda and climate-controlled Main Hall give couples options if an outdoor ceremony or celebration needs to move because of rain, heat, or other conditions.
Can we get ready at White Oaks Farm?
Yes. Private getting-ready spaces are available on the property, allowing couples and their wedding party to prepare on site instead of traveling from a hotel already dressed for the ceremony.
Can our ceremony and reception be at the same location?
Yes. One of the advantages of White Oaks Farm is the ability to keep the wedding day on one property. Getting ready, the ceremony, wedding portraits, dinner, and reception can all take place without requiring guests to drive to another location.
Can we have dinner or a reception after our elopement?
Depending on the wedding collection and date, couples may be able to add a dinner or intimate celebration after their ceremony. Couples wanting a more traditional reception experience may find that a micro wedding collection better fits the day they are imagining.
Is the property accessible for grandparents and guests with mobility needs?
Yes. White Oaks Farm is wheelchair accessible, and golf cart valet is available to help guests move around the property. On-site parking also keeps guests close to the celebration.
Can children attend an elopement or micro wedding?
Yes. Children can be included in both elopements and micro weddings, which makes smaller celebrations especially meaningful for couples with children or blended families.
Can we bring our own officiant?
Yes. Couples are welcome to bring their own licensed officiant. Other vendor requirements depend on the wedding collection, so ask about the current vendor structure when you inquire.
Does White Oaks Farm offer elopement and micro wedding packages?
Yes. White Oaks Farm offers dedicated options for smaller weekday celebrations as well as collections for full weddings. Inclusions and availability depend on the date and type of celebration, so couples should contact White Oaks directly for current details.
Explore wedding collections and pricing to compare the available options.
When is the best time of year to get married in Myrtle Beach?
Spring and fall are especially popular because of their comfortable temperatures and outdoor ceremony conditions. Summer offers long evenings but brings more heat and humidity, while winter can provide a quieter wedding experience with greater date flexibility.
Can we plan a Myrtle Beach destination wedding at White Oaks Farm?
Yes. Couples can stay along the Grand Strand and enjoy the Myrtle Beach area while having the wedding itself on a private estate. This gives destination couples the beach vacation experience without requiring the ceremony and reception to take place on a public beach.
How far in advance should we book our wedding?
Popular dates can book well in advance, particularly during spring and fall. If you already have a preferred date, it is best to check availability before making other wedding plans. Couples with flexible weekday dates may have additional options for an elopement or micro wedding.
Can we tour White Oaks Farm before booking?
Yes. Touring the property is one of the best ways to decide whether White Oaks Farm fits the wedding you are imagining. You can see the ceremony locations, indoor and outdoor spaces, getting-ready suites, and the overall layout before choosing where each part of your wedding could happen.
Schedule a private tour of White Oaks Farm or reach out to check availability for your wedding date.
Planning an Elopement or Micro Wedding in Myrtle Beach
Once you find a place where you can picture yourselves getting married, the rest of the planning becomes much easier. Start with your approximate guest count and decide whether you are imagining a private elopement, a micro wedding with your closest family and friends, or a larger wedding celebration.
From there, think about the experience you want your guests to have. If people are traveling to Myrtle Beach for the wedding, accommodations, transportation, and the time of year become part of the decision. Many couples stay in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Cherry Grove, or elsewhere along the Grand Strand and make the wedding part of a longer coastal trip.
Your ceremony time is another important decision, especially if outdoor wedding photography matters to you. Late afternoon ceremonies can transition naturally into family portraits, couple photographs, sunset, dinner, and the reception without leaving the property.
Most importantly, choose a wedding location that gives you options. Your guest count may change. The weather may change. You may begin planning an elopement and decide you want a reception, or start with a traditional wedding and realize that a smaller celebration feels more like you.
A property that can accommodate elopements, micro weddings, intimate celebrations, and full weddings gives you room to make those decisions as your plans develop.
Couples getting married in the Myrtle Beach area will need a South Carolina marriage license. Before your wedding, review the current application requirements, fees, and waiting period through the Horry County Probate Court Marriage License page. Requirements can change, so we recommend confirming the latest information directly with the county before applying.
Looking for a Place to Get Married in Myrtle Beach?
If you are searching for a Myrtle Beach wedding venue but do not want your ceremony surrounded by the crowds of a public beach, White Oaks Farm offers a private alternative just minutes from the coast.
Across 43 private acres, couples can choose from five outdoor ceremony locations, waterfront and garden settings, a covered Veranda, an indoor Main Hall, private getting-ready suites, and multiple locations for wedding portraits. The property works for couples planning a quiet elopement, a micro wedding surrounded by their closest people, or a full wedding celebration.
You do not have to decide whether you want ten guests, thirty guests, or a much larger celebration before you fall in love with where you are getting married. Find the place first. Walk the property. See the ceremony locations. Imagine your family and friends there. Then decide what kind of wedding feels right.
Come See White Oaks Farm
Photos can show you what White Oaks Farm looks like, but walking the property is different. You can stand at the ceremony locations, see the water and mature trees, walk through the indoor and outdoor spaces, visit the getting-ready suites, and understand how the entire wedding day could flow from one part of the estate to another.
Whether you are searching for a Myrtle Beach elopement venue, micro wedding venue, intimate wedding location, or a place for a full wedding and reception, we would love to show you what your celebration could look like here.
Schedule a private tour of White Oaks Farm to see the property and check availability for your wedding date.
You can also explore our wedding collections, browse real weddings at White Oaks Farm, or see what is included in a White Oaks wedding as you begin planning.