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Wedding Guide · Georgia

Savannah and Coastal Georgia Wedding Guide: Venues, Costs, Seasons, Permits, and Local Planning Tips

By Claire Bennet

Claire Bennet

Senior Travel Editor · WeddingUFO

Claire Bennet is Senior Travel Editor at WeddingUFO. A longtime destination-weddings writer with bylines in Brides and Travel + Leisure, she covers the regions, venues, and logistics that make a place worth saying yes in.

July 30, 2026

Treat Savannah as a softer Charleston and you will miss what it actually is.

It is stranger, moodier, more intimate, and often more interesting. The live oaks hang lower. The squares create ceremony and portrait moments that no designer could build. The historic district is walkable in a way almost no American city is.

It is also a city that will hand you a public park as your ceremony site, then remind you that the public is still in it.

Savannah is strongest when the wedding stays historic and walkable. Coastal Georgia is strongest when the wedding fully commits to the island or the marsh. The couples who struggle are the ones who try to run both in one weekend.

Quick Answer: Is Savannah Good for a Wedding?

Yes. Savannah is one of the best walkable destination wedding cities in the South — historic squares, garden courtyards, live oaks and Spanish moss, boutique hotels, a serious restaurant scene, and a historic district compact enough that most guests never need a car. Coastal Georgia adds beach and marsh options at Tybee and the Golden Isles, but those are separate weekends with separate lodging plans, not add-ons.

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Minutes from downtown Savannah, The Mackey House is a family estate with a stately Colonial manor, oak shaded gardens and a covered pavilion with chandeliers, offering Southern charm and modern amenities.

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A smaller Savannah wedding with 40 to 80 guests often falls around $30,000 to $85,000. A full service wedding with 100 to 150 guests often ranges from $75,000 to $200,000 plus. Luxury Sea Island, private estate, tented marsh, or multi-event coastal weekends can move into the $225,000 to $450,000 plus range.

Savannah and Coastal Georgia Are Two Different Weddings

The distance between the historic district and the Golden Isles is not a detail. It is the whole planning decision.

Historic District Weddings

Best for walkable weekends, 60 to 200 guests, and couples who want the city to do the work

Everything inside the roughly one-square-mile grid — the squares, the courtyards, the hotels, the restaurants — is walkable to everything else. The Perry Lane Hotel, The DeSoto, and the Olde Pink House all sit within this footprint, as does the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, which seats a genuinely large ceremony. This is the version of Savannah that needs almost no transportation budget.

Square and Forsyth Park Weddings

Best for small ceremonies, portraits, and couples who understand they are renting a public space

Permittable, beautiful, and governed by real rules and real fees — see the permit section below. The city is candid that a permitted square wedding still happens in public: street performers, tours, traffic noise, and a farmers market can all be within earshot. Your immediate area is secured. The city around it is not.

Riverfront and Savannah Harbor Weddings

Best for larger guest counts, skyline views, and hotel-anchored weekends

Across the river, the Westin Savannah Harbor handles up to about 400 guests with a ferry ride to River Street as part of the experience. It solves capacity and lodging in one booking and trades some of the historic-district walkability for it.

Marsh and Country Venues Outside Town

Best for tented weddings, longer timelines, and couples who want space

Red Gate Farms and Bethesda Academy sit fifteen to twenty-five minutes outside the historic district and offer the room that downtown cannot. These are largely bare-site builds — you are bringing infrastructure — and they need bug management and a hard weather backup.

Tybee Island Weddings

Best for relaxed beach ceremonies, smaller guest lists, and couples who want the ocean without a resort

About 25 to 30 minutes from downtown in normal traffic, and considerably longer on a summer weekend. Tybee is a real beach town rather than a resort island, which is exactly its appeal and exactly its limitation: lodging is vacation rentals and small hotels, and parking is the recurring problem.

Sea Island, St. Simons, and Jekyll Island Weddings

Best for resort weekends where everyone stays on property for three days

These are the Golden Isles, and they are not near Savannah. St. Simons is roughly one to one and a half hours south. Jekyll is closer to two. If you are marrying there, run it as a Golden Isles wedding with Brunswick or Jacksonville logistics — not as a Savannah wedding with a long drive attached.

Best Time of Year for a Savannah Wedding

March, April, May, October, and November are the strongest months, and the City of Savannah agrees with that assessment in a way that costs you money: those six months are the city's designated peak season for park and square permit fees.

March is the most complicated month in the Savannah calendar. The azaleas are spectacular and the weather is close to perfect. It is also St. Patrick's Day, which in Savannah means roughly 300,000 people downtown for one of the largest celebrations in the United States, with more than 18,000 hotel rooms across Savannah and Chatham County effectively sold out. The city does not permit any events in its parks and squares around the celebration dates. And the fountain in Forsyth Park is dyed green at the beginning of March and is not cleared until after the celebration — so a first-half-of-March Forsyth portrait includes a bright green fountain whether you planned for it or not.

April and May are the best of the spring. Warm, green, long light, and the most competitive dates in the market.

June through September is hot and humid in a way that changes the wedding rather than inconveniencing it. Afternoon storms are routine, and marsh and Tybee venues get buggy at dusk. Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with the real exposure concentrated from August into early October.

October and November are, for guests, the best weeks of the year. Warm days, cool nights, low bug pressure, and the historic district at its most photogenic.

December through February is Savannah's quiet season and its best value. Historic house interiors, restaurant buyouts, and small guest counts all work, permit fees drop to the off-peak schedule, and hotel rates fall with them.

My pick: the first half of November for the outdoor wedding, and late January for the small indoor one. If you want March, take the last week of it and check the city's block-out calendar first.

How Much Does a Savannah Wedding Cost?

These are planning ranges, not quotes. Savannah is meaningfully less expensive than Charleston at the same guest count, largely because the historic district's walkability removes a transportation line that Charleston cannot avoid.

The cost couples underestimate is the gap between Savannah and the coast. Tybee looks close on a map. Add summer traffic, parking, heat, and formalwear and a 25-minute drive becomes an hour-long production twice in one day. If the ceremony and the reception are on opposite sides of that drive, you are buying shuttles.

The second underestimated cost is the square permit itself, which is a real four-figure line for non-residents in peak season once you add the off-duty police officer the city requires.

Getting Legally Married in Chatham County

Chatham County Probate Court lists a marriage license fee of $76 without a Certificate of Premarital Education, or $36 with one. To qualify for the reduced fee, applicants must present a signed and dated certificate of completion from a qualifying premarital education program of at least six hours. The fee includes one certified copy of the marriage certificate.

Four things surprise destination couples.

All marriage license applications are by appointment only, and the process has three steps — complete the application online, schedule the appointment, then appear in person. Walk-in applicants are handed a link and sent away to book.

Both applicants must be present at the appointment, with current driver's licenses or passports, and a stamped and sealed divorce decree or death certificate if either was previously married.

The Probate Court of Chatham County does not offer or conduct wedding ceremonies. If you were planning a quiet courthouse ceremony, you will need an officiant regardless.

Georgia residents may apply in any Georgia county, but if neither applicant is a Georgia resident, the license must be obtained in the county where the ceremony will be performed — so a Tybee wedding means Chatham County, and a St. Simons wedding does not. The ceremony must be performed in Georgia. Blood tests are no longer required.

The court accepts credit cards, debit cards, cash, money orders, or cashier's checks in the exact amount, with a 5% service fee on card transactions, and no personal checks. All fees are non-refundable. After the ceremony the completed license must be returned to the Probate Court by mail for recording. Marriage licenses: (912) 652-7264, option 2. Confirm current requirements before you build travel around them.

Savannah Square and Park Wedding Permits

This is the section most Savannah guides skip, and it is the one that changes budgets.

When you need a permit

If your wedding has fewer than fifty people and no setup, you may proceed without a permit — the squares are first-come, first-served. But any wedding with chairs, aisle runners, tents, tables, or any other décor requires a permit from the City of Savannah. In practice, almost every real ceremony needs one.

What it costs

The City of Savannah currently lists a $25 application fee, plus a permit fee based on a four-hour minimum rental: $350 for City of Savannah residents in either season, $725 for non-residents in peak season, and $575 for non-residents in the off-season. Additional time runs $60 per hour. Peak season is March, April, May, September, October, and November — which is to say, wedding season.

The requirement nobody expects

When you obtain a permit, you must hire an off-duty Savannah Police Officer for the duration of your event. Budget for it from the start.

Timing

You may apply as early as one year out from the month of your date — for a July 25 wedding, applications open at 12:01 a.m. on July 1 of the prior year. Leisure Services asks for applications at least 20 days in advance, with an on-site meeting about two weeks before the event. Popular squares in peak season go quickly at the one-year mark. Leisure Services is at 912-351-3837, with an office at Daffin Park.

What a permit does and does not buy

The city permits up to two events per day across its parks and squares, with buffer time built in and no overlapping events — so another wedding a few hours from yours in the same square is normal, not a mistake. The permit secures and clears your immediate area. It does not remove the tours, street performers, traffic, or the farmers market from the surrounding blocks. You are also responsible for cleanup, and any damage or unusual cleaning costs are assessed to you.

Tybee Island Beach Permits

Tybee Island requires a beach permit — currently $25 — for any activity beyond that of ordinary beachgoers, obtained in advance through the City of Tybee's Facilities Manager or an approved wedding planner, with an online reservation system. Confirm current requirements and setup limits with the city before finalizing a design.

Best Savannah and Coastal Georgia Wedding Venue Styles

Historic Hotels and Ballrooms

Best for 100 to 350 guests, weather certainty, and guests who want to sleep upstairs

The DeSoto and The Perry Lane Hotel both put ceremony, reception, and room block in one building inside the historic district. In a city this humid, that is worth more in July than any view.

Squares, Courtyards, and Forsyth Park

Best for 20 to 120 guests, spring and fall, and couples who want the live oaks in every frame

The most Savannah thing you can do, and the most regulated. Permit first, design second.

Museums and Cultural Venues

Best for 150 to 300 guests and couples who want a room with a point of view

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum pairs the 1819 William Scarbrough House with two acres of what are said to be the largest private gardens in downtown Savannah, plus a covered, open-air North Garden Assembly Room that seats a full dinner and dance floor.

Restaurant and Private Dining Weddings

Best for 20 to 120 guests and couples whose priority is the meal

The Olde Pink House and Soho South Cafe are the archetypes — a Georgian mansion and a converted garage, a block or two apart, both capable of carrying a whole wedding without a single rental order.

Churches and Cathedrals

Best for traditional ceremonies and large families

The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist seats up to about 700 and is one of the most recognizable interiors in the South. Book the ceremony date before the reception venue, not after.

Marsh, Farm, and Tented Venues

Best for 150 to 300 guests, tented receptions, and couples who want room to build

Red Gate Farms and Bethesda Academy. Twenty minutes out, full infrastructure builds, and the best option in the market for a large guest count that will not fit downtown.

Beach and Island Venues

Best for relaxed coastal ceremonies and resort weekends

The Tybee Island Wedding Chapel for small beach-town weddings; the Golden Isles resorts for three-day island weekends. Different lodging plan, different weekend.

Where Guests Should Stay

Stay in the historic district for any historic district wedding. This is the whole advantage of getting married in Savannah — guests walk to the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony, the reception, and brunch. Do not spend it.

Stay on Tybee for a Tybee wedding, and expect vacation rentals rather than a hotel block. Splitting a Tybee wedding across downtown hotels means shuttling twice a day through beach traffic.

Stay on or beside the island for Sea Island, St. Simons, or Jekyll. Savannah is not a practical base for a Golden Isles wedding.

Book March dates around the city's St. Patrick's Day block-out calendar, and book any peak-season block early. Chatham County's 18,000-plus rooms are not as many as they sound in mid-March.

Give guests one parking instruction per event. Historic district garages are almost always the answer, and saying which one prevents a dozen small frustrations.

The Local Logistics Couples Usually Miss

The squares are public and stay public. A permit clears your immediate area, not the block. Tours, performers, and traffic noise are part of the deal.

March belongs to St. Patrick's Day. The city blocks out park events around the celebration, the Forsyth fountain runs green from the start of the month, and hotel rates roughly double.

Brick, cobblestone, and oyster-shell tabby are hard on shoes. Tell guests in the welcome materials, and put a flats basket at the reception. This is not a small thing across a walkable weekend.

Tybee traffic is a timeline risk, not an inconvenience. Highway 80 is the only road on and off the island. Summer weekends and any beach event can add thirty to forty-five minutes each way.

Marsh and garden venues need bug management booked weeks out. Dusk near the water is exactly when you scheduled cocktails.

Storm season is a contract question. August through early October carries real hurricane exposure. Ask about event cancellation coverage early.

Off-duty police are mandatory for permitted square weddings. It is a line item, not an option, and couples routinely find out about it late.

Final Planning Advice

Choose Savannah or choose the coast.

Savannah is architecture, squares, food, and a weekend guests can walk. Coastal Georgia is marsh, beach, resort, and island rhythm. Both are wonderful. Forced into the same weekend, they produce a wedding that is mostly transportation.

If you pick Savannah, pull the permit first and design second. If you pick the coast, put everyone on the island and stop apologizing for the drive.

Compare it with Charleston and the Lowcountry →

Or read the Hilton Head and Beaufort guide →

Estimate your real headcount before you tour venues →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Savannah good for a wedding?

Yes. Savannah is one of the best walkable destination wedding cities in the South, with historic squares, live oaks, boutique hotels, strong restaurants, and a historic district compact enough that most guests never need a car.

How much does a Savannah wedding cost?

A 40 to 80 guest wedding typically runs $30,000 to $85,000. A full service wedding with 100 to 150 guests typically runs $75,000 to $200,000 plus. Luxury Sea Island, estate, or tented coastal weekends can reach $225,000 to $450,000 plus. Savannah generally costs less than Charleston at the same guest count.

How much is a marriage license in Chatham County?

Chatham County Probate Court lists $76 without a Certificate of Premarital Education and $36 with one, where the certificate reflects a qualifying program of at least six hours. Applications are by appointment only, both applicants must attend, and card payments carry a 5% service fee.

Do you need a permit to get married in a Savannah square?

Usually yes. Weddings with fewer than fifty people and no setup can proceed without one, but any wedding with chairs, aisle runners, tents, tables, or décor requires a City of Savannah permit.

How much does a Savannah square wedding permit cost?

The city currently lists a $25 application fee plus a four-hour minimum permit fee: $350 for residents, $725 for non-residents in peak season, and $575 for non-residents in the off-season, with additional hours at $60. Permit holders must also hire an off-duty Savannah Police Officer for the duration of the event.

When can I apply for a Savannah square permit?

As early as one year out from the month of your date. For a July 25 wedding, applications open at 12:01 a.m. on July 1 the previous year. Leisure Services asks for applications at least 20 days in advance.

Can you get married in Forsyth Park?

Yes, with a permit. Be aware that the fountain is dyed green at the beginning of March and is not cleared until after the St. Patrick's Day celebration, and that the park stays open and active around your ceremony.

What is the best month for a Savannah wedding?

The first half of November is the best guest experience. April and May are the most beautiful. Late January is the best value. Avoid the first three weeks of March unless you want to be part of St. Patrick's Day.

Is Tybee Island good for a wedding?

Yes, for relaxed beach ceremonies and smaller guest lists. Tybee requires a beach permit, currently $25, for activity beyond ordinary beach use, and lodging is mostly vacation rentals. Highway 80 is the only road on and off the island, so build traffic into the timeline.

Is Savannah or Charleston better for a wedding?

Savannah is more walkable, less expensive, and easier to run. Charleston has more venue range, more restaurants, and stronger island options. If guest experience and simplicity matter most, Savannah usually wins.

What is the biggest mistake couples make in Savannah?

Trying to combine a historic district wedding and a beach or island wedding in one weekend without building in the transportation to support it.