‘It was like going to Vegas’: Why did NC residents once travel to this SC city to elope?

Just a few miles from the North Carolina-South Carolina state line lies Dillon, S.C., a small city of about 6,000 residents where many North Carolinians once traveled to elope.

A North Carolina resident posted to Reddit last year writing that “several sets” of their relatives eloped in Dillon throughout the mid-20th century.

“I did that,” one user commented. “Married in S.C. and living in N.C. in 1992 because it was like going to Vegas. Drove down, filled out paperwork, and within 2 hours we were married.”

“My parents got married in the 60’s (from eastern NC) and they eloped to Dillon SC,” another wrote. “My mom was 18 & dad was 20… the story is pretty entertaining but I don’t recall the impetus other than it was the thing to do at the time.”

‘The Wedding Capital of the East’

The high number of nuptials in Dillon could be due to the once-relaxed marriage laws in the state.

In 1993, the Los Angeles Times reported that, with parental consent, kids as young as 14 years old could get married in South Carolina, and those requirements could be waived in some cases.

At the time, South Carolina only required a 24-hour wait for marriage licenses, the L.A. Times reported. And, unlike neighboring states, South Carolina did not require tests for sexually-transmitted diseases or mental competence to receive marriage licenses.

South Carolina’s marriage laws have since been updated, but trips to the altar are still abundant in Dillon.

According to the Dillon Marriage Chapel, more than 7,000 weddings take place each year in the town, earning the appropriate nickname of “The Wedding Capital of the East.”

Dillon’s ultimate honeymoon destination

After saying “I do,” many couples made their way to South of The Border right off Interstate 95 for their honeymoons.

Why was it so attractive to newlyweds?

The business started as a small beer stand known as South of The Border Beer Depot in 1949, according to its website, allowing North Carolina residents who lived in nearby dry counties to purchase alcohol.

Twenty motel rooms were added to the property five years later, and the business was expanded to include trinkets imported from Mexico. In the years that followed, a cocktail lounge, gas station and souvenir shop were constructed.

In 1962, fireworks — which were illegal in North Carolina at the time — became a hot commodity at the motel.

In the mid-1960s, the business broadened to include a barber shop, drug store, variety store, post office, outdoor go-kart track and an 104-foot tall of the motel’s mascot, Pedro.

How old do you have to be to get married in NC?

According to the N.C. Judicial Branch, people who plan to get married must be at least 18 years old unless specific requirements for minors are met.

Minors ages 16 and 17 must file with the Register of Deeds a written consent to the marriage signed by a parent with sole or joint legal custody, or legal guardian, the N.C. Judicial Branch says. Those ages 14 and 15 must file a court action if they want to get married. Both of these options are only available in cases of pregnancy or teenage parenthood.

Children under the age of 14 cannot get married in North Carolina.

How to get a marriage license in NC

Couples whose weddings are in North Carolina can get a marriage license from the Register of Deeds in any county in the state.

Applicants must pay a fee of $60 and fill out a form stating their names, ages, marital status and intention to marry.

In most cases, both partners must visit the Register of Deeds office, but some counties, including Mecklenburg, allow online applications to be submitted before visiting the office to save time.

How old do you have to be to get married in SC?

According to South Carolina law, people under the age of 16 cannot get married in the state, but there are exceptions.

Those who are at least 16 years old can get married with the permission of a parent or guardian, according to the S.C. Appleseed Legal Justice Center.

If a woman who is 16 or 17 is pregnant or has a child, she and that child’s father can get married without the consent of his parent or guardian, but the woman’s parent or guardian must still give permission.

How to get a marriage license in SC

Couples who plan to marry can apply for a marriage license at ez-filing.net.

Applicants must pay a fee of $70, upload a valid form of identification and proof of social security number and sign a sworn statement saying they are legally entitled to enter a marriage in the state.

According to South Carolina law, there is a 24-hour waiting period after the application is filed before the marriage license is released