The Francis Marion Reviews

The level of professionalism and service far exceeded my expectations. Every member of the staff demonstrated an exceptional commitment to excellence, consistently anticipating needs and proactively offering assistance in a thoughtful and genuine way. Communication was prompt, clear, and incredibly responsive throughout the entire experience.

Most impressive was the flawless execution—the setting was absolutely stunning, and every detail came together beautifully. The timing and flow of both food and beverages were perfectly orchestrated, creating an effortless and enjoyable experience for all. Truly outstanding in every regard.

Bailey is truly one of a kind. We hosted our rehearsal dinner in the Gold Ballroom, and she went above and beyond to make the evening unforgettable. From the very beginning, she was responsive, organized, and incredibly flexible, helping us navigate every detail from arrangements and catering to vendors and special requests.

Her professionalism and warmth made the entire planning process seamless and stress-free. If you’re considering hosting a wedding event at the Francis Marion, you can feel completely confident knowing you’ll be in the very best hands with Bailey.

We hosted our wedding reception at the Francis Marion Hotel, and it was absolutely perfect from start to finish! Bailey was a dream to work with—responsive, professional, and genuinely kind. She made the entire planning process so smooth and stress-free.

The hotel staff were all incredibly friendly and attentive, making our guests feel welcomed and well cared for throughout the evening. The food was outstanding—we’re still hearing from guests about how delicious everything was! From the hors d’oeuvres to the plated dinner, every dish was beautifully presented and full of flavor.

The setup was spectacular—elegant, romantic, and exactly what we had envisioned. The Gold Ballroom truly has that timeless Charleston charm, and the Francis Marion team brought our vision to life flawlessly.

We couldn’t have asked for a better venue or a more wonderful team. Highly recommend the Francis Marion Hotel to any couple looking for a classic, elegant, and unforgettable wedding experience!

Francis Marion - What a beautiful hotel and wonderful people to work with! We were planning the wedding in the midst of COVID and with border closures, there were so many uncertainties with travel and us actually getting to Charleston for our wedding. Gillian and Marie understood our uncertainties and were willing to work with us through the process while so many other venues gave no room for flexibility. The staff were so understanding and supportive and worked seamlessly with our planners and all the other vendors to help give us a beautiful event. Not only did we have our wedding at the hotel, we also had our rehearsal dinner and brunch for our family the day after the after the wedding. Our stay at the hotel, the food and the staff was fantastic and we cant wait to go back to visit!

Wow! This venue was the best place to have our wedding. From the start, Savannah, made us feel comfortable and she was great! Savannah went above and beyond for everything, as it was a destination wedding for us so hard for us to come and visit a lot. We cannot say enough great things about Savannah and the Colonial room. It was absolutely beautiful! From the start of our planning to the end, it was a smooth process.
The hotel staff also made it enjoyable as they were all very polite and went above and beyond for not only ourselves but for all of our guests.
Highly recommend this venue to anyone! It is a beautiful reception hall.

We held our wedding reception at the Francis Marion Hotel. Its one of the iconic historic hotels in Charleston, SC. We wanted to thank FMH & Savannah the wedding manager for accommodating us and our guest in their beautiful Colonial Ballroom. The ballroom was large and could fit up to 300 guests. The colonial is very inviting with large windows overlooking the Marion Square Park at the intersection of Calhoun St. & King St. The lighting was well lit and as the night progresses, the lights dim to give the guest a sense of the night setting in. The food prepared by Chef Simon was fantastic and was well worth the wait. We had horderves served during the cocktail hour which was a collection of Antipasto and during the reception dinner we had Chicken Pesto over Risoto & Braised Beef Short-Ribs over Cheesy Grits paired with an appetizer of She Crab Soup which is an iconic Charleston soup. The service of the servers were mature and very respectful. The Francis Marion Hotel also gives the newly weds a complimentary night in their Bridal Room which includes a little gift of Champagne & Chocolate Strawberries for your romantic stay. Overall, we enjoyed the time spent at The Francis Marion Hotel and we look forward to visiting again in the future. If you are ever looking for a place to hold your wedding reception especially in the summertime, The Francis Marion Hotel is the place to go.

- XOXO
Mr. & Mrs. Salvador

We had our reception in the Gold Ballroom and it was absolutely beautiful! Gillian helped us initially then Savannah took over and they were both wonderful to work with! Excellent with communication and making sure everything was what we wanted. The option of providing your own alcohol gave us the option to chose our favorite beers and wines to allow our guests more choices crafted by us- we had 4 local beers.
Also, other venues in Charleston do not include tables, chairs, linens and dinnerware/ service ware/ glass wear; the Francis Marion does and it was great to not have to bring another vendor into the picture.
It’s convenient location in the heart of downtown was perfect for our guests. I’d recommend the Francis Marion to any bride looking for a beautiful venue in downtown Charleston.

Out of all the venues my fiancé and I contacted only two were responsive and flexible. Francis Marion and their gem, Savannah, happened to be one of them. Savannah is detailed oriented, made us feel comfortable and was extremely open. Francis Marion really provides a lot for your money. We are planning our wedding from Atlanta and are never worried since we know Savannah is on top of things. I would definitely recommend looking at one of their three ballrooms for your event.

We had our ceremony and reception at FMH, and our wedding experience was fantastic from the very beginning. The property itself is an absolute dream! From the architecture to the décor to the downtown location, the Francis Marion Hotel was everything we wanted and more (at a surprisingly reasonable price)! We worked with Gillian first and then Savannah, who didn’t skip a beat when taking over our wedding. Both ladies were wonderful! I planned the wedding from 900 miles away and did not meet Savannah in person until the wedding weekend, however it was super easy to coordinate the event via email. When we finally met for the rehearsal, she had everything organized and ready to go. We are extremely pleased with FMH and couldn’t be happier that we chose this venue!

This place was simply amazing.

I highly recommend Francis Marion for your wedding reception venue! We had our daughter’s wedding reception there a couple weeks ago. The staff is very helpful and go beyond the call to make your event a day to remember! We started working with Gillian, then after her promotion, we worked with Savannah! They both were professional and kind! Any questions I had they would respond to in a timely manner! They set up the ballroom for us and helped pack it up afterwards! Please give your business to Francis Marion! You won’t be disappointed!

I cannot express how amazing and beautiful my wedding was at the Francis Marion. The coordinator, Savannah, was AMAZING, and the staff was so friendly and helpful. Not once did I have an issue with planning. All my expectations were met and exceeded, and I cannot believe they are able to offer what they do at such an amazing price. They make weddings and events move flawlessly, and you’re missing out if you don’t snag this venue! If you’re wanting a Charleston themed venue, BOOK! I wish I could redo my wedding just to relive my reception at the Francis Marion all over again! HIGHLY recommend!!!

Beautiful facilities, great value for what is included, perfect location, staff was wonderful to work with. Would highly recommend to any bride seeking an indoor elegant Charleston wedding!

Everything was beautiful! Gillian was amazing with responses and working to make sure that we got everything we wanted. She did everything she could to make sure we were getting the most for our budget as well as offering any resources that she had available (uplighting, candles for tables, etc). Savannah helped for the reception evening and setting up, very big help to make sure that everything went according to schedule. We had ~250 guests and had the Carolina Ballroom. It was perfect with the DJ table and a dance floor!

Words cannot express how grateful I am for Gillian Crum and all of the Francis Marion Hotel staff. My husband and I choose the Francis Marion Hotel for both our wedding ceremony (in the Gold Ballroom) and reception (in the Colonial Ballroom) in April 2018. From start to finish Gillian and all of the Francis Marion Hotel staff were accommodating, communicative and professional. Gillian makes wedding planning fun and easy, providing a list of reputable vendors and also patiently talking through all options during the planning process. Our wedding guests have all been raving about their pleasant experience with the front desk, house keeping and how beautiful the historic hotel is! If you are looking for a beautiful historic Charleston venue with top notch service the Francis Marion Hotel is a perfect fit.

Beautiful venue. Reception in the Colonial Ballroom after cocktails in the lobby. Lovely old upscale hotel. The hotel wedding director Gillian is wonderful and logistics were perfectly timed. I thought their prices were reasonable, the food and bar service were great and the venue is a southern classic. I was the father of the bride and the guy writing the checks,

Fantastic venue. Beautiful ballroom, amazing staff, and wonderful location for guests to stay. We couldn't be happier with our wedding experience. Gillian, the coordinator-is AMAZING and so detail oriented and experienced. We highly recommend.

Perfect! Wonderful staff! Food excellent!

In December 2016, the Francis Marion Hotel played host to virtually every aspect of my Charleston, SC destination wedding. From the beginning, Gillian Crum was a dream to work with. She helped us to plan several events at the hotel including a welcome party in the Gold Ballroom, a bridal breakfast in Rutledge Room and our wedding ceremony, cocktail hour and reception in the Colonial Ballroom. Gillian advised and guided us throughout the process. She kept us up-to-date on our hotel room block as our guests were making reservations, she guided on menu selections (all food was excellent and we received many compliments on each meal), and she made us feel special and very well cared for. Additionally, the hotel is centrally located and perfect for guests traveling in from all parts of the world. We could not be more pleased with how our wedding weekend turned out and are so happy that we chose the Francis Marion Hotel to house our loved ones and to host our wedding festivities.

The Francis Marion lived up to all of our wedding expectations! We actually booked the Carolina Ballroom without even visiting and we couldn't have been happier with our choice. Being from out of town, we were very thankful for Gillian Crum (wedding coordinator at the Francis Marion)! She answered any questions we had leading up to the wedding day and was extremely helpful when it came to decorations and a timeline for the day. We were able to arrange a food tasting, which helped us narrow down our choices. Although, the decision was not easy because everything we tasted was amazing! On our wedding day, both sides of the wedding party were able get ready at the hotel. We used the bridal suite and reserved one of the conference rooms. Some of the staff checked in with us throughout the day and made sure we had everything we needed. Everything ran smoothly throughout the day and through the evening. Our guests raved about the food and how fun the venue was for a downtown Charleston wedding. We, along with our families, would highly recommend the Francis Marion! We are so thankful we were able to use them for our special day! -Laura & Jake

Absolute best venue! I had my ceremony in the gold ballroom and reception in the Carolina ballroom. I loved that my guests could stay in the hotel and just travel one floor between the main events! That staff was so wonderful and helpful. The food was great and my guests were so pleased!! I couldn't be more happy with my venue and the event staff at Francis Marion!

There are not enough nice things to say about Francis Marion Hotel. Everything I asked for they were able to do! The venue is gorgeous and the staff is fantastic. Gillian and her team went above and beyond to make our day extra special. My only complaint.....the day wasn't longer! If I had it to do all over again, I would choose Francis Marion for my reception every time!

Absolutely amazing and perfect venue!! We are so thrilled and satisfied with the whole wedding planning process and the actual day of. Gillian Crum, their wedding coordinator is absolutely the best! She is great with communication and replying and answering any questions we had! She went above and beyond for us! The best part was so much is included with this venue...food, alcohol, tables, chairs, linens, dishes, and even center pieces if you don't already have your own. Made for a very easy planning process! Can't say enough about Gillian and the hotel! Not to mention it's right in the heart of beautiful downtown Charleston which made for gorgeous wedding pics!

The Francis Marion is the absolute perfect hotel location! Having only been to Charleston one time before, we were unsure if we choose a good location or not. All of our older guests loved the ability to walk to dinners, and our wedding party and dates loved being right in the heart of the nightlife scene on King Streets. Very historic feel and nice accommodations.

I'm extremely late on writing a review on my wedding experience at the Francis Marion Hotel, but better late than never.
I had my gorgeous wedding last year in the Carolina Ballroom. Gillian and her team were phenomenal! I am very detailed when it comes to planning and Gillian was so patient answering my gazillion emails and calls.
My wedding went so smooth it's as if Gillian and I were rehearsing for years. Our family loved our wedding and still talks about the exceptional service and delicious entrees! Oh yes, the Chicken Wellington and Salmon were everyone's favorite meal.
The cost of the the venue was worth EVERY penny. I do mean that! I would definitely recommend having a wedding at the Francis Marion.
Also, we just had our 1 st Anniversary! We spent the night at the Francis Marion Hotel(complementary for having your wedding there). We are so glad we had our wedding here!

The Francis Marion Hotel was a beautiful location for our wedding reception and rehearsal dinner. Gillian Crum was very professional and easy to work with. We had so many great compliments about the dinner and how beautiful everything looked, we were very pleased. My only complaint was the wedding guests had no place to sit down while waiting for the bridal party to arrive, we fully expected the doors to be open to the ballroom so our guests had someplace to sit and be comfortable while awaiting for us to arrive.

I highly recommend Gillian and the team at the Francis Marion. Rarely does an event come together exactly as you pictured it. Our wedding was wonderful and all our guests cannot remember the last time a wedding was so perfect and when they had such a great time.

I can't say enough great things about our experience at the Francis Marion Hotel. From booking the event (15 months before the wedding) to following up after the wedding night had passed Gillian was an angel. She is prompt, professional, patient (which is HUGE), organized, and VERY knowledgable. The Ballrooms are BEAUTIFUL and well maintained, and any decorations only add to their historic charm. We used the Colonial ballroom and had a beautiful view of Hampton Park at night, already decorated for the holidays! We ended up having under 150 guests, plus staff and vendors in the ballroom and we were quite comfortable and it was all very roomy. The waitstaff, bartenders, and chefs are friendly and professional. My husband and I had a server introduce herself at the beginning of the night and she saw to it that we had anything we needed- food, drink, cake, tissues, you name it!

If we had to do this whole thing over again, I would still use the Francis Marion. It is a complete package- food, drink, tables, linens- It is all there! We did end up purchasing upgraded linens online, but everything else we used belonged to the hotel.

We absolutely LOVED every minute of planning our wedding at the Francis Marion Hotel! Gillian is amazing, as was the entire staff. From beginning to end, every question we had was answered and every detail planned to make sure we were getting exactly what we wanted. They were extremely accommodating and we loved the fact that we didn't have to travel all over Charleston on our wedding day. They're wedding packages and pricing are ideal for a couple on a budget (mindful however that this is Charleston we're talking about). The space was gorgeous and the food absolutely delicious. I really cannot say enough great things about the Francis Marion!

We have just started our wedding planning and we chose the Francis Marion as our venue for the wedding and ceremony. So far it has been an awesome experience and we look forward to the next few months of planning!

We are so glad we went with the Francis Marion for our reception! Being that they not only provide a beautiful venue with no further decor or furniture rentals needed, but also provide the catering, they were a fantastic deal and made wedding planning so much easier than it would have been otherwise. Caroline and Gillian were always incredibly kind, professional, and easy to work with. They also helped us out with many things in addition the reception itself, such as discounted hotel rooms, a big conference room furnished with chairs, tables, and mirrors for the boys to get ready in, another room with a dessert and coffee bar for the parent's after-party, and a complementary honeymoon suite for us! Most importantly, the reception itself was flawless!

We had our wedding reception at the Francis Marion for our April 11, 2015 wedding.
Gillian Crum was SUCH a pleasure to work with - friendly, responsive, she had great ideas too! We were planning our wedding from New York and she was always available to talk on the phone about the layout, set up, where things were going to be placed - such as photos, guest book, etc.

She really took care of everything and we didn't have to hire a separate wedding coordinator to help planning a destination wedding. The end result of the reception was absolutely gorgeous - it really looked exactly how i imagined it and planned for it to look.

Gillian was also very accommodating at the event, making sure we always had a drink in our hand or food on our plates.

The food was great and they were also accommodating with last minute people showing up to the wedding that werent planned.

I think this is a great location for a wedding - my theme was elegant and classic.

The Francis Marion Hotel basically sells itself as a reception venue, after visiting multiple locations I immediately thought the Francis Marion was "it" as soon as we stepped inside the Colonial Ballroom. Included with the venue rental were the services of a day-of coordinator, Gillian Crum. Gillian was awesome, my wife constantly came up with a million question e-mails that were always answered promptly. Gillian and the hotel were incredibly flexible, anything we could think of to ask was never a problem. Also included was a complimentary night in a suite the night of the wedding! The catering was perfect, we did stations and there were two hours of unlimited station refills. No one left hungry, and that's what we wanted. I'm still getting compliments on how good the food tasted. My wife constantly reassures me the wedding and reception were perfect, and we wouldn't change a thing if we could.

The Francis Marion was the PERFECT venue for our wedding ceremony and reception. The food was amazing! The staff did a beautiful job decorating the room EXACTLY how we wanted it! The staff was professional, helpful and courteous, and Gillian Crum did an AMAZING job coordinating our wedding from the day we booked until the day we walked down the aisle. I highly recommend this venue, you won't be disappointed!

We held our wedding at the Francis Marion in November 2014. We loved the classic Charleston feel of the Colonial Ballroom. The staff was always helpful and patient with us as we changed our minds about the menu every other day. I was a little nervous at first since we had to use the in-house caterer but we were blown away by the tasting! The food was beyond delicious and everyone raved about it after the reception.

We would highly recommend the Francis Marion!

I had to put together a small wedding for my daughter in 4 weeks over the Christmas holiday season. The entire hotel staff was very accommodating to our needs before, during and after the event; attention to every detail was excellent. Customer service was beyond outstanding from every employee you encountered. I would highly recommend the Francis Marion Hotel for any wedding or event.

Gillian Crum and the staff at the Francis Marion Hotel were exceptional to work with throughout the wedding planning process. My husband and I hosted our wedding reception in the beautiful Gold Ballroom. Our reception went perfectly thanks to Gillian Crum's professionalism, responsiveness, organization skills and attention to detail. We were truly impressed by the service provided not only by Gillian and her event planning staff but by the hotel staff as well (front desk, bellmen, Swamp Fox waiters, etc.) who treated our guests like VIPs from the moment they arrived. I cannot thank Gillian enough for making us feel so at ease on our big day. She deserves to be recognized as someone in the service industry that truly goes above and beyond for her customers. All our expectations were exceeded!

For the brides-to-be reading reviews on venues in Charleston, I highly recommend considering one of the ballrooms at the Francis Marion Hotel for your wedding ceremony and/or reception!!

Working with the people (Caroline and Gillian mainly) at the Francis Marion Hotel was a fabulous experience. Every question/detail was answered and addressed before the big day! They helped make our special day absolutely perfect and go off without any issues! They allowed us to make last minute changes and were very flexible to our requests. Really sweet sweet people who are happy to meet your every need. I have absolutely no regrets about using this venue for our reception!

Truly, I could not have dreamed of a better venue for my wedding. The wedding coordinator and hotel staff made sure every detail exceeded expectation. The grand hotel was built in the 20s, and the historic atmosphere, in the heart of downtown, gave our guests a true Charleston experience. Everyone loved the shrimp and grits, which are award-winning. We danced all night in the ballroom, and had a special farewell brunch the next morning in (another) beautiful ballroom. If I could do it again, I would pick this hotel every time.

Mrs. Caroline Bean was outstanding from the beginning of our search for a venue to several days after the wedding reception. She was right there at all times to answer any question, provide guidance and work with us on expenses. We were very fortunate to have Caroline be a part of our reception plans. The Francis Marion's ballroom was beautiful and our guests enjoyed themselves. The food was outstanding, the bars were tended by very courteous and friendly tenders and the wait staff helped to keep everything clean and in order. Our daughter's wedding reception was above expectations.

The caring and professional performance was second to none! I enjoyed every minute of the planning and preparation, and was always given immediate responses to my often silly questions and concerns. The wedding reception went perfectly and I could not have asked for better organization and service! The catering staff was flawless! Caroline Bean is a wonderful event planner and coordinator.

The Francis Marion was so easy to work with. While planning my daughters wedding, my husband made so many changes. No matter how many changes were made, Caroline Bean with The Francis Marion Hotel was always happy to assist us and offered ideas along the way. Also, all of my venders that I used in my daughters wedding, said no matter what day of the week it is, you can walk into the hotel at any time and everyone is always in a good mood and very friendly. They all love working with The Francis Marion Hotel.

The Francis Marion Hotel is the BEST hotel to have your wedding reception at. I worked with Caroline Bean in catering services and she was beyond FANTASTIC. Caroline made the entire process so easy. From being prompt to answer emails and make updates to our event, we were able to put together an amazing reception. The hotel front desk staff was wonderful as well. They made sure that all of the guest who booked rooms in our block were well taken care of as well. The Francis Marion worked extremely well with all the vendors that I hired for my reception (photographer, DJ, bakery, Chaircovers)

Everyone at the Francis Marion was so very helpful and kind. All went that extra mile to help with all requests. Great people to work with. Everyone was so professional. Caroline Bean was very responsive, organized, helpful, considerate and a joy to work with. I felt very confident that everything would be taken care of as planned. And was not disappointed. Beautiful venue, and wonderful staff!

Was super impressed- thank you Caroline for making our night perfect!

Everything was perfect! Caroline was so accommodating and helpful. My wedding turned out just how I imagined it would. Thanks so much.

Everything was amazing! The food, decor, staff, and the hotel were superb. I cannot say enough good things about the service my family and I received. I would recommend the Francis Marion to anyone. Affordable and extremely customer satisfaction oriented!

My wife, Tracy, and I used Caroline's services for our wedding reception. Caroline was incredible. She remained in constant contact with us during the eight months of planning. Since my wife and I did not live in Charleston, coordinating decorations for the reception was a challenge. Caroline easily conquered the logistical challenge, accepted early delivery of decorations, stored the decorations in her personal work space, developed and emailed floor diagrams to demonstrate the layout, and assisted with the schedule on the day of the reception. Caroline went above and beyond the standard to ensure a memorable wedding reception for our 150 guests.

I would recommend the Francis Marion for any wedding in Charleston. Caroline and her staff were so professional! She coordinated everything with all my other vendors and the day ran so smoothly. It was the little details that really stood out...making sure my husband and I had something to eat, ensuring that the DJ knew the timing of every event, securing our suite after the reception. Caroline and staff, than you for EVERYTHING!

The entire staff could not have been more amazing!! They were all so friendly, attentive, professional, and put all of my day-of stresses at ease! Can't say enough wonderful things about Caroline Bean! She was absolutely incredible to work with! I would HIGHLY recommend this venue to anyone wanting a beautiful, classic Charleston wedding! Food was delicious, rooms were beautiful, and the ballroom was gorgeous!

Caroline Bean was extremely helpful throughout the planning process. She helped to make our wedding flawless!

If you are hoping for a beautiful, historic Charleston venue for your wedding reception--you have to consider the Francis Marion Hotel (especially the Colonial Ballroom).

I am an event planner in town and would recommend the Francis Marion Hotel to anyone. I have held other events at the hotel for work and knew from their pervious service that they would take care of me on my wedding day. They have an onsite wedding coordinator, Caroline who is amazing. They also have the best inclusive wedding packages of any other venues I looked at in town--it made the planning so easy. The Colonial Ballroom was my personal favorite because of the huge windows overlooking Marion Square and color scheme. We got married in early October and had about 125 guests, station style with open bar and people were raving about the food, ambience, and service.

Not to mention the perfect location in the heart of Charleston for out of town guests (or even local) because of all the places you can walk for an after party.

You should also definitely consider renting gold chivari chairs--makes all the difference.

We used the Gold Ballroom and worked with Caroline for our wedding day reception. She made planning so easy, and the outcome was a beautiful night that went off without a hitch! The ballroom is recently updated with beautiful golds/neutrals that makes it easy to decorate with your own wedding colors. Gorgeous blue ceiling and crystal chandelier! Wish we could throw another party here soon.

The Francis Marion is a beautiful place! We had our daughter's wedding reception in the Gold Ballroom. Caroline Bean is amazing and the whole staff was fabulous start to finish. If we had to do it all over again, we would choose Caroline and the Francis Marion.

Caroline Bean and her staff were so accommodating and wonderful. Everything was perfect and the night could not have been any more pleasing. I would highly recommend F.M. to anyone for a special event venue.

Our wedding reception at the Francis Marion was absolutely wonderful! I would recommend this location to anyone. Our guests loved staying at the historic hotel so convenient to all of the wedding festivities. I don't have enough nice things to say about Caroline and the rest of the staff at the Francis Marion. Everyone was extremely professional, friendly, organized, and thorough.

The Francis Marion is the perfect place for wedding reception. It is beautiful, great food and wonderful service. Our daughter said it was perfect and our guest all loved it.

Caroline Bean is worth her weight in gold and if I could I would put her in my pocket and have her plan my entire life for me. If I could do everything all over again I would do it at the Francis Marion again. I have no regrets... The Gold Ballroom was stunning, the food was to die for, the service was impeccable and the organization made it all run smooth.

Working with the Francis Marion was a pleasure in every way! Our guests loved the hotel and our reception was amazing.

We enjoyed a magnificent wedding held at The Francis Marion Hotel on June 8th, 2013. From our first meeting with the hotel's wedding planner and representative, Caroline Bean, we knew we were right at home having our wedding there. Caroline exudes confidence and calmness, which is highly important in planning and organizing an event. She provided us with all of the information we needed, including the hotel's preferred vendors list, which we utilized; accommodated all of our requests with ease; and answered all of our questions promptly, succinctly, and provided suggestions if the hotel was not able to accommodate a certain request. Our wedding was so much fun and all of our needs were met for the wedding itself, and during our guests' stay at the hotel, some for several days. We will forever have fond memories of our wedding and of our time at The Francis Marion Hotel!

Francis Marion was by far one of the best decisions we made! Caroline is incredible at what she does truly cares about every aspect of your big day. I planned my entire wedding through email cross country, leaving much of my trust with her and every detail was as I imagined-she is truly an angel. The food is to die for!!!

Colonial ballroom was beautiful especially after the update to the interior design. Staff were so kind and helpful. Simon the chef prepared an amazing meal and was very accommodating. Caroline bean was helpful, flexible, and really knew all the answers to all of our questions. Definitely would recommend to anyone!

We used the Francis Marion for our reception site. We could not have been more pleased. Everything went perfectly. The food was great. Caroline Bean is a great person to work with.

Staff went above and beyond! Caroline is amazing, so thoughtful and helpful! Everyone is still talking about how good the food was! Food was a major selling point for us and we were not disappointed!!!!! Everything down to the smallest detail was taken care of! We didn't have to worry about a thing... made our day flawless!!

The Francis Marion Hotel was the perfect, centrally located venue for our wedding and primary stay location for our guests. The customer service was superb and the Catering Manager did a wonderful job of coordinating the reception with our wedding planner. Our wedding day was perfect and The Francis Marion team played a huge role in making that happen. Thank you!

Food was fantastic, staff was very helpful and professional and the venue coordinator was great! The price was really good for what we ordered!

The first impression of the Francis Marion was incredible. Both my fiancé and I knew right away that this would be the venue that we wanted to celebrate our marriage. This impression remained even after signing the contract. The Francis Marion Team worked to ensure that our wedding was perfect from the food to the extra-special Christmas decor. We truly appreciate all of the services that the Team afforded us including early check-in, upgrading our suite, allowing breakfast vouchers in order to meet our minimum, and treating our guests like VIPs. Gillian Crum is truly a fantastic asset to the team! She worked from day one to ensure that everything ran smoothly on our big day and constantly checked in to make sure there was anything she could do to make the day even better (even if that meant just being a good host and making sure the father-of-the-bride always had a drink). Gillian made this experience truly remarkable and deserves to be highly praised as a wedding coordinator!

My husband and I held our wedding reception in the Gold Ballroom and I couldn't have asked for a better or more beautiful experience! The Francis Marion and Caroline were wonderful to work with.

My daughter's reception was at the Frances Marion. Carolyn Bean was a pleasure to work with.

The wedding was great. I have nothing to complain about.

Having my wedding at the Francis Marion was a complete joy!! There were a couple hiccups along the way, but the staff immediately stepped up and resolved the issues! It reminded me a lot of Sandals resort- 'leave the details behind!' I planned everything, then just left it to them to carry out and it was spectacular!! The entire staff was fantastic and I would get married there again in a heartbeat!! Thank you for everything :)

While it was expensive, the location is PRIME! All hotels downtown seem to be expensive, but this one is worth every penny. The servic

I had a NYE wedding reception in the Colonial Ballroom. We had 65-70 rooms booked at the hotel and they gave us a good rate (for NYE). The suites (Mark Clark and Harbor View) were pricey- but much needed for our other wedding weekend plans (welcome cocktails, mimosas and muffins, etc). See if they will give you a booking code for your room block- calling the hotel for reservations was very dated as the "reservation specialist" don't work at night or on the weekends (when most of my guests tried to call)- it all turned out ok but that was a little frustrating! At the reception, I had several carving/action stations and I provided my alcohol (Burris Liquors). I think based on the number of people and hours (5.5 hours) and the fact it was NYE so everyone was in party mode- this turned out to be better value. We did a cocktail hour in the lobby, which was still decorated for Christmas and a lot of the guests commented on enjoying this detail to break the night up. The food was sort of expensive by the time all the extra charges were added- but WELL WORTH IT. Guests were raving about it being the best wedding food they have ever had (Shrimp and Grits, Seared Tuna, Beef, Fried Oysters, Baked Brie, BBQ meatballs, etc). They didn't send any leftovers to my room, as requested, but I was able to enjoy some of it at the reception! The staff was very nice and easy to work with. They were accommodating, even making a special praline station where they were making pralines for my guests to eat at the reception and take home. Having a band/stage/dancefloor, 2 bars, and 4 action/carving stations and 2 display food stations- I wouldn't have wanted too many more people in there- I had 130, but 150 would have been the max I would have wanted in that Ballroom. I really liked the Colonial best, the larger Ballroom was an addition and with a lot more decor it could have been pretty too. I loved it and would recommend a wedding reception in the Francis Marion Colonial Ballroom to anyone!

Great venue/ Wonderful ,wonderful food,action stations made for a interactive environment with the guest. Ballrooms Rooms are ample in size and include linens,china, glasses etc. Jessica was always professional and easy and flexible to work with. Food tasting is available.

Jessica planned and handled all the details from beginning to end. We had both our wedding ceremony and reception at the Francis Marion. 75% of our guests also stayed at the hotel. They gave us a great wedding group rate for all the rooms. But the best part of the whole experience was the reception food. We opted for the "Stations" rather than "sit down" dinner. This was a suggestion of Jessica's, based on the number of people we had, and it turned out great. And the food was unforgettable! I would do it all over again!

the only problem we had with this venue was that the rooms were rather small. Other than that, it was wonderful!

reception was in the gold ballroom. audra and jessica were our points of contact; both were very responsive, friendly, professional. we used their catering service for the food/drink and were very pleased. although the staff failed to prepare two boxes of food from the reception for us (a specific request we made very clear numerous times), the food that we did taste was deelish and our guests were impressed. jessica made good on the food error and we received a gift certificate for their restaurant, which we used for a spectacular sunday brunch. part of our package gave us 10 rooms at a very discounted rate (right before spoleto and the beginning of tourist season), honeymoon suite, and the venue rental was free when we used their catering service and spent a minimum amount on food/drink. the minimum $$ was VERY reasonable - we determined it would cost that much just to rent a venue elsewhere. this is such a great value - this place is beautiful, historic, shiny and big and we got a huge bang for our small buck.

We had our wedding reception at the Francis Marion, and to be honest, my experience with them is not easy to articulate in a review. We had many ups and downs. Although we were working with nice people, we still came across several frustrations, which eventually were made right. Overall, I was extremely pleased with how the event turned out – we loved our wedding, we love the vintage hotel, and it’s location in the center of Charleston, SC.

There are many benefits to choosing a venue like The Francis Marion: Room set up and clean-up is included in the cost. The price of silverware, plates, glasses, white/black napkins and linens, and cake cutting is all included in the cost. They allow you to bring in your own alcohol (at a fee per person) which helped us get better bang for the buck on the alcohol we were serving. The catering is done by the Francis Marion – and the food was awesome. I was somewhat concerned with how the food was going to taste, because we’ve had less than stellar meals at the Swamp Fox, but both our tasting for the wedding and the actual wedding food was amazing. People have been raving about it - particularly the Crab Cake Station, Pasta Station, and passed hor devours!

Our frustrations stemmed mostly from us asking for some (what we believed were reasonable) changes to their ordinary set-up. I was surprised how hard it was to get them to agree on some of these requests, especially with how much we were paying to the Francis Marion alone. Almost every change we made came at a price. However, let me reinforce, that in the end, it all turned out beautifully, but I can’t discount the frustrations we felt while getting to the final event. All the people we spoke with were more than caring and kind, but they didn’t necessarily have the power to make the decisions. Caroline was instrumental in helping us achieve our wedding day vision, she definitely had more say/empowerment than others we spoke with at the Francis Marion.

The venue is very traditional and located in beautiful downtown charleston. Everyone complimented us on the food. The overall event was relatively expensive since everything is a la carte. The best deal is if you supply your own bar, and unlike many other local venues tables chairs and place settings are included in the price which was nice to not have to rent everything.

FMH is gorgeous and the staff is very nice. Food is wonderful and it is in a prime location on King Street. Unfortunately when we arrived they did not have our suite booked for us even though we had planned this for 2 years. They had no other suites available so we were put in a regular guest room. When they lost our suite I also lost my getting ready space. They were able to get me another room to get ready in free of charge. The way they handled these mistakes was wonderful and professional and they did everything they could, but the mistakes were huge and should never have been made in the first place especially for a wedding weekend. The staff was lovely and attentive and made sure we had the best experience we could after this. It was an unfortunate experience with unfortunate circumstances but we loved the hotel and it was a beautiful location for a wedding. I recommend FMH and we will be back, just make sure you follow up on all bookings!

We had our ceremony and reception in the Colonial Ballroom at the Francis Marion Hotel. The ballroom is gorgeous and needs very minimal decorations! Gillian is their sales manager and coordinator and absolutely amazing. She is seriously the glue of that department and is just phenomenal at what she does. There were a few bumps in the road along the way, but our wedding turned out beautifully and the staff was amazing. Gillian, or someone from her department, acts as an in house coordinator for everything you would need. The staff at the hotel is responsible for all set up and break down so that took a huge stress relief off of our shoulders because we really just needed to show up! The staff also got everything back up to our room after the wedding and we didn’t have to worry about that either.

The hotel also did our food and we opted for an untraditional dinner option (chicken and waffles and a grilled cheese bar!). The kitchen staff was great and our dinner was a big hit!

I will say, we booked our wedding to begin at 7 and go until midnight. By 11 guests of the hotel (not the wedding) were complaining about the loud music and we had to shut down early, so that was a bit of a bummer. So definitely keep that in mind. If music is a big part of your day, don’t book a late wedding there. My husband is a musician so our music was probably louder than normal! All in all I would have another event there if there was ever the need.

Overall we where happy with our Wedding! The only thing that could be better explained was the pricing at the end was alittle more then expected however the staff was very helpful!

Caroline was very helpful in the planning processes! However you need to better explain the payment and the taxes do not go to the minimum! Over all the day was perfect.

I would say my wedding was wonderful but the last 3-4 months were a rollercoaster. I initially started out with Francis Marion Coordinator Gillian who really was the reason we ultimately chose Francis Marion because she was timely, great personality and went above and beyond with her customer service. About 3-4 months before the wedding we got a new wedding coordinator Marie and the experience was not the one I previously had. There was A LOT of miscommunication or none at all which lead to some pretty upsetting moments weeks before my wedding. Ultimately the wedding came together but not without more than a few hitches. And even after the wedding we didn't even get a correspondence from Marie nor the Francis Marion for having our wedding there. This wasn't Francis Marion's finest hour but the wedding itself was awesome.

There were a number of day of issues...the room that was promised to us for babysitting purposes.... above the room we used was taken......the food was great and the hotel was very accommodating to our needs and our guests. you cant beat the location either!

My husband and I had our wedding ceremony and reception at the Francis Marion on May 29th, 2016. The service that our guests, my husband and I received was absolutely outstanding. I would recommend having your wedding there.

The only reason I am giving them 3 stars and not 5 is because when choosing my vendors I called Francis Marion for their advice on a DJ. I called and asked specifically if they had worked with Burt of FingerSnappin Entertainment in the past. They said yes they had worked with this DJ and they would highly recommend him. Unfortunately, this DJ was absolutely terrible and I am currently trying to get fully refunded. My advice would be to make sure when a bride calls you for your professional and highly respected opinion about vendors, that they are actually a good business. Please do not ever recommend his DJ services to any bride in the future.

This venue, Francis Marion, was hired for my event for 4/2023….. I have tried numerous times… as much as 5-6 times, to contact Marie in Sales to asked basic questions concerning the venue in which I had already entered in a binding contract and paid deposit! I left voicemails, never return calls. I have left messages with another employee in office and she still never returned any calls. I finally left a message with another employee to relay message to Marie I no longer want to fulfill my wedding/reception day with them do to poor communication and wanted to cancel. Apparently, Marie got that message and immediately got a phone call! I told her I no longer want to work with them because she has not been reachable and I don’t want to go through a year not being able to talk with her about important questions…. I’m in another state! I’ve lost $1000!!!!!