Get an exclusive peek into the world of Patrick Properties — we share a few of our favorite moments from recent events and happenings.
Springtime has officially arrived in Charleston - and are we ever ready! This season might just be our very favorite, with sun-drenched afternoons and fragrant blossoms every which way we turn. Surrounded by Spring’s natural beauty, we ask:
Could there be anything more blissful than a sweet, daytime celebration?
Among our historic Charleston wedding venues, the River House at Lowndes Grove Plantation offers a perfect setting for any outdoor occasion. From midday “I do’s” and intimate garden parties to bridal luncheons or a causal picnic brunch – there’s plenty here for Mother Nature to inspire!
Lush grounds are an open invitation to lawn games like bocce ball and corn hole. Host cocktail hour by the waterfront and stroll the dock for panoramic views of the Ashley River. When it’s time to eat, set a colorful spring table beneath centuries-old live oak trees. Or, bring the outside in. The River House boasts four sets of French doors that open onto a brick terrace ideal for entertaining.
As Charleston blossoms into its springtime best, there's no better time to carpe diem with an outdoor soiree at The River House at Lowndes Grove.
In the wake of recent events, we want to take a minute to help guide you through a few key things to consider when planning your Charleston wedding. From flower arrangements to seating charts, the list of details to coordinate is long enough without additional thought to all of the “What If” scenarios. However, if there was ever a time to prepare for the unexpected, it is now.
Your wedding is one of the biggest investments of your life – not just financially, but also in the time and energy you devote to bringing your loved ones together in celebration of your special day. And just like any investment, you need to protect it.
Our team is dedicated to helping you create the occasion you’ve always envisioned at any of our historic wedding venues in Charleston. That’s why we want to make sure you’ve taken the right steps to prepare for any circumstance that might pop up when you least expect it.
Here are a few tips from the PPHG event pros that will help ensure you’re never caught without a back-up plan:
Know your contract before you sign on that dotted line, especially when it comes to cancellation policies, property fees and food & beverage clauses. Many venue rental deposits, including those for PPHG properties, are non-refundable and non-transferrable, including in the case of unfortunate circumstances, and apply only to the date specified in your contract.
A back-up plan should always be in place for every scenario. Make sure to have this conversation with your coordinator, who will be able to help you consider all of your options - from rain plans to outdoor heaters to reserve on stand- by for chilly evenings.
Purchase event insurance that will cover what you haven’t thought of – from travel delays and inclement weather to natural disasters. There are a variety of plans available with different levels of coverage at very affordable rates. While we do not endorse our plan over another, we do highly recommend event insurance be considered.
Work with reliable vendors who will help you through these situations. We are happy to recommend vendors who have established relationships with our Charleston wedding venues.
We know it may be just another detail to add on your list – but in so many ways, it is also the most important. Having a solid plan will give you peace of mind in the days leading up to your wedding, allowing you the complete freedom to enjoy this special day as it was meant to be.
For more helpful tips on contingency planning, check out this guide on TheKnot.com.
Pink is the color of flamingos and bubble gum, cotton candy, and Barbie’s jeep. It is also the color of the day on June 23 every year. While the origin of National Pink Day is a little bit ambiguous, every girl knows you don’t need an excuse to appreciate the perfect shade of pink. Of course we’re all about weddings here at PPHG but I’m going to refrain from the obvious photo of the “blush” and “bashful” draped church. Instead, here are some perfectly lovely ways some of our brides have incorporated pink into their Charleston plantation weddings.
Satin Bows made this happily ever after fit for a princess. I’m practically drooling over this pretty-in-pink accent.
Sugar and Spice and all things nice, that’s what wedding cakes are made of. And by “all things nice” we of course are referring to the blooms of color that add just the right touch to this confectionary beauty created by Fish restaurant Pastry Chef Susie Ieronemo.
As for the guys, this groom proved once and for all that real men really do wear pink. And I have to hand it to him, he does it well!
The view from the River House at Lowndes Grove contrasted beautifully with the precious shade of pink chosen for the tabletops. This is why we love Charleston plantations!
We agree with these ladies, there is not a “right way” to use pink. Incorporating opposite ends of the color spectrum, these weddings were featured in Southern Living Weddings 2012 and The Wedding Row with bridesmaids that looked absolutely tickled pink for the ceremony!
Photos thanks to
As we all know, Charleston is the No. 2 destination wedding city in the country, and for good reason. Wedding season, which happily coincides with beach season, is upon us, so the weather is gorgeous, the flowers are blooming and the people are smiling.
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Image from Charleston Real Estate Guide
So, future, brides, if you're in the process of planning your wedding and you're considering Charleston, you'll probably want to visit sometime soon. Here are my suggestions for a cheap weekend visit to check out our fair city.
Where to stay: Hopefully you have a friend in or around town with whom you can stay for free (excluding the price of a thank-you coffee or bouquet), but if you don't there are a few inexpensive options. Charleston's Not So Hostel is a little, centrally located hostel that ranges in price from $24 for a shared room to $60 for a private room. You can also always check out sites like Hotels.com and Priceline for deals.
As for the $100 weekend, I'm going to assume you do have a friend close by and not include the cost of the hostel. Also, these are the prices for one person. So here we go:
Arrive on a Friday morning:
- breakfast at Glazed: coffee and a donut will be around $4
- window shop on upper King Street: free (depending on what you buy/don't buy)
- Moo Shu lunch at Fish + an alchoholic beverage: $12 ($10 without the drink)
- schedules appointments to take a tour of our gorgeous wedding venue, the William Aiken House. Chances are we'll be setting up for a wedding...
- rent a beach cruiser bike at The Bicycle Shoppe for two hours: $14
- bike up to Lowndes Grove to see our other venues, the plantation itself and the River House for smaller events.
- dinner at Dell'z Deli: average wrap is about $9
- a beer at Closed for Business: pint of Stoney's is $3
Total for Friday: approx. $42
Total left to spend: approx $58
Saturday:
- breakfast at Caviar and Bananas: approx. $6 for coffee and a bagel with cream cheese.
- walk around the historic College of Charleston campus and down to the battery (pictured above): free
- take a tour of the beautiful Edmonston-Alston House: $10 for a regular ticket
- lunch at the Blind Tiger Pub on Broad Street: the acclaimed NY Strip Sandwich is only $8.50
- take a little break. You've been walking a lot! Return to home base and relax for a little while: free
- walk around Charleston's Radcliffeborough neighborhood and check out local wedding vendors Mac & Murphy and Calder Clark on Cannon Street, and Tiger Lily, W.E.D. and Madison Row on Spring Street: free
- dinner and a drink at Lana on Cannon and Rutledge: $16 homemade gnocchi ai funghi and $8 cocktail
Total for Saturday: approx. $48.50
Total left to spend: approx $9.50
Sunday:
- breakfast at Wildflour Pastry: cinnamon bun and coffee will run you about $5
- now get to the airport, you gotta go!
Total for Sunday: $5
Total left to spend at the airport: $4.50, enough for a water and some gum. Safe flight, bride-to-be!
Sierranicole Butler: My experience with PPHG
When I applied for the event intern position with Patrick Properties Hospitality Group this past August, I had no idea what I was in for. Yes, there was an overview of requirements for the position and what would be expected of me, but there’s nothing like interacting and being hands on in the industry where you want to build your career.
As a senior at the College of Charleston, interning with PPHG has allowed me to gain real world experience before I enter the competitive event management industry. Seeing various dimensions of weddings from the start in the office to completion has been a very rewarding experience.
The best part of my internship is probably that nothing is ever the same. Each event is new and exciting; there’s always a coordinator who puts a different spin on the atmosphere, a different layout for plated events, and an interesting wedding party to get to know. Duties during an event ranged from bussing tables to carrying out beautiful plates of food to guests, to paying attention to the smallest details.
Each property is distinct and unique. While events at the William Aiken House can be enjoyed on the marvelous piazza which overlooks King Street, family and friends can feel the history of Lowndes Grove while admiring the Ashley River. Working long nights at these gorgeous properties always keeps me busy.
Mr. Goldman, CEO of PPHG always says that “Food is at the nucleus of any successful event.” Working at Fish restaurant—seating guests and prepping food in the kitchen—gave me a lot of insight into the heart of joyous occasions. The chefs crafted beautiful gourmet dishes and take their work very seriously. On my day in the kitchen, I went in knowing that cooking fried green tomatoes can be tedious. But once you slice, bread and batter enough for 350 guests, cooking takes on a whole new meaning! Creating a beautiful dinner is a lot of work, but when the perfect dish is delivered to an excited guest, it all seems worth it.
My time in a managerial role at PPHG is the experience which sticks out in my mind the most. Working as a banquet captain, I was the “middle man” for the event managers and servers. In this role I really learned that every detail counts from the presentation of food, management of servers, and making guests happy. All of these aspects are critical for an event to run smoothly.
I have learned a lot by working with PPHG this semester, about the event planning industry, myself, and life in general. It has taught me how to juggle my classes at the College of Charleston while seeing what the real world is like. Interning is the best thing that a college senior can do for him/herself. You learn what you like and what you don’t like, as well as your strengths and your weaknesses. I hope I will always be in contact with PPHG and the wonderful people who have helped me learn a great deal about event management. Thanks PPHG!
Hello! My name is Stefani McGee and I am a senior at the College of Charleston. I was born and raised in Southern California and moved to Charleston just two years ago! Since I was a little girl, cooking and planning parties have been two of my greatest passions in life. At the age of 8, I was cooking gourmet meals and throwing dinner parties for my entire neighborhood to attend. I’m 21 years old now, and I can honestly say- nothing’s changed.
This past summer, when I was searching for internships, I came across Patrick Properties Hospitality Group. A company that blends both gourmet food and special event management? It was too good to be true. I knew it was the perfect fit for me.
I’m proud to say my internship with PPHG has been one of the most rewarding experiences throughout my college career. This internship was not the type where your greatest accomplishment was the amount of Starbucks receipts you managed to accumulate by the end of the year. I was so refreshed to find that as an intern, I was given real responsibilities. Yes, I will admit this was a little nerve-racking at first, but after a few weeks, I felt confident as ever! The girls at PPHG are amazing. They helped me find my way and never made me feel out of place. By the end of my internship, I truly felt like a part of the PPHG family!
Before taking this internship, I had worked with an event planner on mostly corporate events. It was not until I started with Patrick Properties that I realized how much time and effort goes into planning and executing the perfect Southern wedding. This internship made me realize how important it is to be able to think on the spot. When it comes to events, curveballs are thrown at you all day and night. If something goes wrong, you have to be able to come up with a solution right then and there.
During this internship, I learned the various skills necessary to execute an event from both a catering and events management perspective. The food prepared by our chefs is phenomenal and the venues (William Aiken House, Lowndes Grove, American Theater and Fish) are all beautiful as well! Patrick Properties is the reason why Charleston is the most sought-after city for Southern weddings!
The part I loved most about this internship was being able to see a happy bride and groom at the end of the night. It is so rewarding to see that your hard work and dedication paid off. It was a pleasure working for PPHG. I truly appreciate the effort the girls’ put into making my experience the best it could be. They have been such an inspiration to me! I am so grateful for their help and will continue to look up to them as I journey forward in my career!
Hello! I’m Kelsey Achziger, one of the current Patrick Properties interns for the fall. I’m a senior at the College of Charleston, graduating in May as a Corporate Communications major with a Hospitality and Tourism minor. When I started with Patrick Properties I was beyond excited since I love planning parties. I wasn’t exactly sure what event managing entailed but I thought it would be somewhat similar to my party planning experience.
I was wrong, I had absolutely no idea the extent of time and work that went into shaping an event. The smallest details need to be accounted for. Especially since details going into events are different at all four of the PPHG properties. Londes Grove, William Aiken House, American Theater and the River House are unique properties that have different aspects to consider for different events. The event managers at PPHG are constantly adding to their to do list and the clients are constantly changing their event details. I never imagined I could learn so much so quickly!
Before events even occur there are frequent BEO updates, staffing assignments, tastings and rentals to consider. Then there is setting up for the event; table settings, station set up, linens, bar, service hall and so much more. Not to be forgotten, planning for unexpected situations that tend to pop up at most events. The most important thing I’ve learned from this internship is that anything could happen and you need to be prepared for it.
Going into my first day I had absolutely no idea what I was doing or what was even required of event managers. Thankfully, Patrick Properties was filled with wonderful and super patient women who helped guide me step by step. Shannon, Haley, Margaret, and Jackie each took time from their extremely busy schedules to sit and teach me. Even as the last few weeks of my internship near, they still put time into showing me things that I might have missed during the earlier busier months.
I’ve obtained an incredible amount of knowledge from this internship. It has helped me become confident in my decisions and quick with my responses, especially towards unpredicted situations. Event managing showed me a hospitality side of communications that I’ve really enjoyed and want to look further into after graduation. I would recommend this internship to anyone who wanted a valuable hands on learning experience. Thank you all so much for this opportunity!
Erin & Max were wed at the River House at Lowndes Grove in an elegant and charming affair. Many thanks to The Wedding Row for the lovely coverage!
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