Choose Charleston if…
- you want guests to manage without renting a car
- you want lots of private group options for friends to book together
- you love the setting: pastel townhouses, cobbled lanes, Lowcountry cooking and beaches 20 minutes away
Choose Nashville if…
- you want plenty of casual, inexpensive places to eat
- you love the setting: live music every night, hot chicken, honky-tonks and a growing food scene
Side by side
| Charleston | Nashville | |
|---|---|---|
| Best season | March to June, September to November | April to May, September to October |
| Getting there | Charleston International (CHS) is 20 minutes from downtown. | Nashville International (BNA) is about 15 minutes from downtown, with direct flights from most US cities. |
| Car needed? | Not usually | Mostly yes |
| Activity prices | Mid-range | Budget-friendly |
| Group-friendly activities | 12 of 12 | 9 of 12 |
| Relaxed activities | 7 | 6 |
| Foodie activities | 3 | 4 |
| Adventure activities | 3 | 4 |
| Full-day trips | 1 | 1 |
| Seasonal activities | 0 | 0 |
| Budget eats on our list | 4 | 5 |
| Currency | US dollar (USD). | US dollar (USD). |
| Tipping | Expected: 18 to 22% in restaurants. Large groups often get an automatic gratuity. | Expected: 18 to 22% in restaurants. Large groups often get an automatic gratuity. |
| Dinner time | Dinner usually from 6 to 9 pm. Popular restaurants book up weeks ahead. | Dinner usually from 6 to 9 pm. Popular restaurants book up weeks ahead. |
Top group activities in Charleston
- Historic horse-drawn carriage tour. A one-hour ride through the historic district's mansions and gardens.
- Lowcountry food walking tour. Shrimp and grits, biscuits, pralines and the stories behind Southern cooking.
- Fort Sumter ferry and tour. A harbor ferry to the fort where the Civil War began.
- Ghost and graveyard walking tour. Charleston's spookiest stories, told by lantern light in old churchyards.
Top group activities in Nashville
- Grand Ole Opry show. The live radio show that made country music famous, with several artists every night.
- Broadway honky-tonk and live music pub crawl. A guide takes your group to the best bars with live bands on Lower Broadway.
- Nashville food tour with hot chicken. Taste hot chicken, biscuits and barbecue on a guided walk through a local neighborhood.
- Jack Daniel's distillery day trip to Lynchburg. Tour the famous whiskey distillery with a tasting, plus a stop in small-town Tennessee.
Questions couples ask
Is Charleston or Nashville better for a destination wedding?
Choose Charleston if you want guests to manage without renting a car. Choose Nashville if you want plenty of casual, inexpensive places to eat.
When is the best time for a wedding in Charleston and Nashville?
Charleston: March to June, September to November. Nashville: April to May, September to October.
Which is easier for guests to reach, Charleston or Nashville?
Charleston: Charleston International (CHS) is 20 minutes from downtown. Nashville: Nashville International (BNA) is about 15 minutes from downtown, with direct flights from most US cities.
Made your choice?
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