Tis the season for family, friends, and celebrations. The perfect time for the ultimate gift ... a marriage proposal! Here in the popular wedding destination of Charleston, SC (where there are always quite a few holiday proposals), that means the race is on to find the perfect date, venue, and vendors, adding stress to the already stressful task of planning a wedding.

To help make this time a little less stressful, here are a few steps to get you off on the right foot!

Choosing to spend your holidays in a vacation home is a great idea. You’ll have a sparkling clean, neutral home base where family and friends can gather, and everyone can pitch in with the host- and hostessing duties.

Pick one with plenty of room so everyone can stretch out and have privacy, then come back together to enjoy meals in the gourmet kitchen and dining areas.

And choosing a vacation home in the Charleston area is an especially good idea. Charleston is charming at all times of the year, but it’s downright enchanting during the holidays!

There is such an abundance of festive merriment going on right now that’s guaranteed to get you in the holiday mood. From holiday markets to parades (including one with boats in Charleston Harbor), tree lightings and concerts galore, festivals of lights and Santa all over the place… the Lowcountry has a plethora of all things holiday....

Charleston is known as the Holy City, but it’s also the Holy Mecca of outdoor activities, delicious restaurants, and of course- boats. Choosing the right itinerary may seem daunting, but fear not, we have you covered!

Charleston boat tours are the perfect way to see the gorgeous city from a different perspective while sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying a beverage (or two). Without the hustle and bustle of Downtown, your group can enjoy the open ocean views on either a private tour or public tour with a few new friends! There are a handful of ways to view Charleston from the water, but nothing quite compares to the way Saltwater Cycle does cruising.

Here are 5 reasons you should float, pedal, and party with the only pedal pub in the Lowcountry:

It’s no secret that Charleston is full of historic homes that are rich in beauty and charm. People from across the globe visit the Holy City to admire the stunning architecture and stylish details that are featured in many of our historic houses.

Our iconic historic homes are a source of pride for Charleston. If you’re planning a visit to the Holy City or searching for real estate in Charleston, you’ll no doubt run into the beautiful characteristics that set our historic homes apart from other styles:

With its fine dining, historic mansions and pristine beaches, Charleston often gives visitors the impression of being an opulent city. While it’s true that many locals and visitors take advantage of Charleston’s more luxurious offerings, there are also plenty of ways to enjoy the Holy City on a budget.

In fact, one of the best things about Charleston is that many of its attractions are free. Rather than burn a hole in your wallet, consider this list of free things to do in the Holy City.

When you’re planning a wedding in the South, you might consider incorporating some deep-rooted traditions and decoration styles into your celebration to make for a memorable event. These traditions have been handed down through generations and can be fun, quirky, and even superstitious. Many people don’t even know where these customs came from but including them in your celebration can be a great way to make your event truly unique. Here are just eight Southern wedding traditions to keep in mind:

"Charleston is an extraordinary place. There is a deep connection between the residents and nearly three hundred and fifty years of history, and those ties between daily life and the distant past are strengthened by the occasional glimpse beyond the veil."
-- James Caskey, Charleston's Ghosts: Hauntings in the Holy City

Established in 1670, Charleston boasts a wonderfully rich and diverse history. However, its storied past also lends itself well to ghost stories and whispers of supposedly haunted dwellings.

Although Charleston has countless historic cemeteries, few can rival the haunting beauty and rich history of Magnolia Cemetery. Located just off Meeting Street Road near Charleston’s Wagner Terrace neighborhood, this antebellum cemetery is full of gorgeous 19th century art and architecture, notable burials, native wildlife and much more.

Of all the memorable fact and fictional couples through history I share during my Love Stories of Charleston walking tour, one of the most surprising tales doesn't exactly involve people, but rather a pair of guinea fowl who, as far as anyone can remember, simply appeared one day about 13 years ago and have simply never left. (Hey, they knew a good thing when they saw it. Charleston charms.)

For history buffs and maritime aficionados, a Charleston vacation isn’t truly complete without a visit to Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum. Home to legendary World War II battleships such as the USS Yorktown, the museum is one of only two museums in the country that has more than two battleships, making it one of the most popular attractions in the Holy City.

Located in the top-rated city of Mount Pleasant on the beautiful Charleston Harbor, the museum offers visitors a chance to see Charleston’s magnificent monumental battleships up close and learn about the heroes aboard them. As the fourth largest naval museum in the country, you won’t be short on things to do at Patriots Point.