Proposing at Pretty Place Chapel? Read This First!
We’re no strangers to good Surprise Proposal Locations, and we know Pretty Place Chapel at YMCA Camp Greenville (actually located in Cleveland, SC, equidistant from Asheville and Greenville) is one of the best. The pictures speak for themselves, and hopefully you can imagine yourself proposing at such a gorgeous place like this. But there are a few things you need to know in order to plan the perfect proposal, and that’s where we come in. Welcome to out Ultimate Guide to Proposing at Pretty Place Chapel. No filler, just useful information from the experts!
Pretty Place Schedule & Hours
The first thing to do when planning your Pretty Place Proposal, or any surprise proposal for that matter, is check their schedule and hours. The schedule, which is updated as often as something is booked (so don’t trust what you read a week or even a day ago) can be found at This Link. Sometimes it shows 3 weeks of their upcoming schedule, sometimes less, but rarely more. So know that You can plan your proposal day, but exact timing needs to be solidified less than 3 weeks from the proposal date.
And when thinking about the hours Pretty Place Chapel is open, it is most often open from 6 am until 9 pm daily. But once again, the schedule link above shows day-by-day hours, so consult this first.
Pretty Place Chapel Rental
As you can probably imagine, Pretty Place is a popular spot, not just for proposals, but for anyone to come and enjoy the sights and sounds this gorgeous chapel has to offer. It’s not cheap, but some couples do choose to reserve the chapel so that their proposal will be more intimate and they can take pictures afterwards without limitations or distractions. The pricing to reserve Pretty Place Chapel is $1,600 on weekdays (Monday-Thursday) and $2,250 on weekends (Friday-Sunday). To begin a reservation request, fill out the form at the bottom of This Page or email prettyplace@ymcagreenville.org. We are happy to reach out on your behalf as well to inquire about availability.
Pretty Place Directions
Getting to Pretty Place Chapel is as easy as clicking This Link and following the GPS. You’ll see your first bit of signage 5 miles/13 minutes before you get to the Chapel itself, that leads you through a 1 lane road, under the YMCA Camp Greenville sign, through a small bit of the camp itself, and to the Enterance Gate to the road that leads up to Pretty Place. If Pretty Place is closed/reserved, the gate will be closed and a staff member will be there to inform you what’s going on. Otherwise, the gate will be open and you can drive right in. Parking is along the side of the road. There are a set of port-a-potties in the parking lot (the only bathrooms available). There is nothing inherently difficult about navigating to this location, so rest assured!
Pretty Place Chapel Proposal Pro Tips!!!
We saved the best for last! Enjoy our professional tips:
The best time to propose is right after sunrise. Not sure when sunrise is? Use this handy website! From a photographic standpoint, Pretty Place is actually a difficult location to get a good image of BOTH the subject (y’all proposing) and the background (ideally mountains and the sunrise), so for that reason we suggest sunrise, or as close to sunrise as possible. I’ve told people “Wait for the sun to look like the opening scene of Lion King when the WHOLE THING is completely visible rising above the horizon.” If sunrise isn’t possible because of logistical issues, anytime during the day has equal weight for us, from daylight to sunset.
Beware of Fog. It’s something we don’t often think about, but the elevation and weather can mix to make for some dense fog at Pretty Place. It’s unfortunate, but completely out of our control. Just know that it’s still a wonderful experience, and just as heartfelt a moment with the vs without. Because of this potential though, we do suggest checking the weather beforehand, and any chance of rain might have a chance of fog.
There is no bad season to propose in, but just know winter temperatures plus wind equals cold. Because of this, anticipate the weather being 10 degrees colder and windier than in Greenville or Asheville. There is always the chance that weather doesn’t follow these rules, but better to be prepared with jackets, or long sleeves instead of short sleeves or pants instead of shorts.
It is not suspicious to ask your partner to take a photo with you in front of the cross as the setup for the proposal. Almost every visitor that wants a photo of themselves at Pretty Place does it there. And even more important, it’s okay to dress a little nicer too and not seem suspicious. Lots of people do the same, those proposing and those not.
The likelihood of Pretty Place being empty without reserving it is almost zero. Because of Tik Tok in 2020, Pretty Place exploded in popularity, and now has visitors every day of the year at all hours of the day, and especially for sunrise. So just know this will not be a private event, unless it is reserved for just you and your partner.
Pretty Place Chapel Proposal Photos
Enjoy a small selection of Proposal Photos taken by our team at Perfect Proposal.
Ready to start planning your Surprise Proposal? Send us a Message and we’ll get the ball rolling!