Get an exclusive peek into the world of Patrick Properties — we share a few of our favorite moments from recent events and happenings.
Bright sundresses and iced sweet tea aren’t the only things we’ll miss about summer. Behind the scenes of this season’s memorable weddings and special events was a dedicated team of interns whose support has been invaluable to the PPHG family.
As these talented ladies head back to class, we thought it a fitting tribute to look back on their successes and lessons learned along the way. They were happy to give us the inside track on this summer’s program - along with some helpful tips for future interns. See what we mean?
Clemson University senior Molly Brinson hails from Greenville S.C. With a major in travel and tourism, Molly was involved in every aspect of PPHG: when not in the events or sales office, she served as hostess for Fish Restaurant. Molly did it all!
What led you to an internship with Patrick Properties?
I stumbled across PPHG while searching for internships online. The properties are stunning, and after seeing all of the awards and press, I realized an internship would be an amazing learning opportunity.
What is the greatest lesson you have learned through this experience?
In this industry, be prepared to work! The team at PPHG really invests in their clients and wants to make each event as great as it can be, which is what I believe makes them so successful. I learned that it is crucial to enjoy what you are doing because, in the end, it's all worth it. P.S. buy comfortable shoes!
University of Mississippi senior Bailey Magee is also from Mobile, Alabama. Studying hospitality management and business, Bailey’s solid work ethic was rivaled only by her appreciation for air-conditioned tents at Lowndes Grove in the heat of summer.
What was your favorite aspect of this internship?
I enjoyed the whole internship because I got to see so many different aspects of what PPHG does on a regular basis. My favorite was assisting the events office with planning and later working each event, where everything comes together.
What is one piece of advice you can give to future interns?
The more details you include (from rental lists to menus), the more it will help you on the day of the event. Staying on top of tasks and being organized during each event is key in this industry.
Helen Franklin is a senior at Auburn University by way of Mobile, Alabama. The hospitality management major happened upon PPHG - and for that matter, Charleston - purely by chance. We’re so glad she did.
What was your favorite aspect of your internship?
Attending tastings with clients; it was so much fun getting to see how excited the bride and groom were about their special day.
Which is your favorite property?
Lowndes Grove - the sunset views over the Ashley River are just beautiful.
Give one interesting fact about yourself:
I had never been to Charleston before I decided to move here!
Beaufort, South Carolina native Charlotte Westcob is a junior at College of Charleston, on her way to a degree in hospitality/tourism management and business administration. We’ll miss her bright smile and event wrap-up status calls!
What led you to an internship with Patrick Properties?
Randall Goldman had been a guest speaker for the Club for Hospitality and Tourism at CofC, and his perspecitive really stuck with me. After attending a networking event at Lowndes Grove - a beautiful, historic estate looking out over incredible Low Country marshland – I was sold.
What are your plans for the future?
I am studying abroad at the University of Nottingham this fall before finishing out my junior year at CofC. After working with the great people at PPHG, I definitely plan to pursue other opportunities in the event planning/management industry upon my return to the States!
PPHG’s other Beaufort native and College of Charleston senior Morgan Fermin is also pursuing the same degree. Morgan quickly found her passion working on the sales team – the driving force behind her contagious motivation and eagerness to help.
What was your favorite aspect of your internship?
As the first point of contact with potential clients, it was fun to hear individual love stories and share in the excitement about their future nuptials (hopefully at our property!).
What is one lesson you have learned through this experience?
My most valuable lesson was learning how to best assist event professionals during their busiest season. This internship taught a lot of self-reliance and motivation to learn through hands-on experience, not in a classroom setting.
We are so lucky at PPHG to have such great neighbors and be a part of a community of people that support one another. Today’s blog post is inspired by our friends at the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry. If you have ever walked past this fun spot on Ann Street, you may have noticed it is extra sunny in the summertime filled with the smiles of children enjoying hands on learning and rooms of themed fun. It is truly a delight to hear deep-belly laughter echoing in the heart of downtown Charleston. That simple joy makes it no surprise that snapshots of children are often some of our most favorite images from our Charleston plantation weddings. As you check out a few of these “aww – worthy” moments, I dare you not to smile.
This little one has obviously stolen the show. What a great candid shot!
If there is one thing you can count on, it’s that kids always find a way to entertain themselves even if it means playing with a make-shift jump rope over the beautiful floors of the River House. These kids were dressed to impress and creating their own form of wedding entertainment.
Every bride needs her matching flower girls. You can almost hear the excitement in these smiles.
These little princesses are starting early making sure the boys are looking their best. And what a heartbreaker capturing the attention of not one, but two very lovely ladies in the room!
If this isn’t absolutely precious, I don’t know what is. Between the knee-high socks and the future-soccer-player running form, it’s no wonder some of the most memorable moments are those with kids in them.
Photo Thanks to
Tomorrow’s holiday is a nice (albeit obvious) tie-in for the sparkler send-offs that have become so popular. We love when couples let their personalities shine in the details and the departure is always one of the most memorable. Here are a few of our favorites:
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This American Theater couple departed in style in a vintage car fit for two. The hand-made “Just Married” sign autographed by the bridal party added a sweet personal touch to the grand finale.
These lovebirds went old school with a horse drawn carriage. Very “Charleston”. What a romantic and memorable way to seal the deal.
Enjoying the sunset is easily one of the most beautiful ways to end the day. This view never fails to be a show-stopper at every Lowndes Grove event.
Marriage is like a tandem bike. They must stay balanced, or they'll fall. Our friend Alice took an adorable retro approach to her exit on this tandem bicycle with her new husband. (We even got the sparklers in this photo, too!)
Happy 4th!
Photo thanks to:
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
Working with a bride on the details of her perfect day always has a way of making us miss them after the “I dos.” Luckily, some of our brides make the separation anxiety a little more bearable by keeping in touch or even choosing to commemorate an anniversary where it all began. We are always thrilled to help a couple reminisce and the Shugart pair is no exception. Anna sent us a few of her favorite shots and some of the sweetest words about her stunning William Aiken House wedding last year. Happy one year Anniversary Anna and Chris! We think you’re pretty great too!
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"From the minute we stepped foot onto the grounds of the William Aiken House, we knew we had to make this a part of our wedding. The natural beauty of the courtyard to the historic feel of the house created a picture perfect wedding day for us.”
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“We loved the airy, summer set up that opened up for us to look at the stars through the lights as night fell. We wanted to showcase just how captivating this place really was.”
“One of our absolute favorite parts of the wedding experience at WAH was getting ready and spending the night in the carriage suites. The suites made for rustic, chic getting ready photos and were plenty of space for everyone to gather and hang out before the ceremony.”
“All of the people that we worked with through Patrick Properties had a great sense of passion for what they do, care for their clients, and professionalism that ultimately provided for a very smooth and personal experience. We loved every thing about the William Aiken House from the beauty, service, food, and suites and they helped us to work within our budget. Looking back, there is nothing we would have changed, and we look forward to remembering this special day and night by staying in the suites for future anniversaries."
photo thanks to Heirloom Creative Photography
Ever heard the phrase “no two snowflakes are the same?” While it may be the wrong season to be talking about snowflakes, replace the word “snowflakes” with “events” and you have stepped into the world of PPHG.
When it comes to weddings, a critical stage in the planning process is choosing the venue that best fits a couple’s personalities. We have seen gorgeous ceremonies on the banks of the Ashley River at Lowndes Grove and elegant soirées behind the iron gates of the William Aiken House. But in all of these festivities, we have never seen such unique, wonderfully eclectic matrimonies as the ones that take place in the American Theater. I took a look into our archives for some of the memorable moments this historic landmark has seen.
Standing proudly as a timeless reminder of glamorous faces of the past, it is no surprise that The American Theater has both local and sightseer notoriety. After it’s debut as the launching point for Allie and Noah’s love story in the 2004 film The Notebook, the location has quickly become the inspiration for brides looking to mimic the classic.
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A closer look inside proves the glamour doesn’t stop at the marquee. With 13,000 feet of event space and a beautifully restored ballroom, the possibilities for creativity are endless.
I love this perfectly coordinated mint shade of green! The bride and groom definitely celebrated at a table fit for royalty, surrounded by the faces of Hollywood’s history.
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All it takes is a little imagination to have a couple feeling like the leads of their very own romantic movie. On the one-day that is all about you, why not roll out the red carpet, invite your wedding party co-stars and embrace your inner movie-buff for an event that will have you wondering when you will be getting your Oscar.
Centerpieces, Bouquets, Boutonnieres and… icing.
It is wedding season and that means there is no shortage of glorious flowered arrangements adding a splash of color to our brides’ special day. For those avid floral enthusiasts out there, everyday is a holiday when its warm and life is in full bloom. For those of us who are maybe not quite as knowledgeable on botanical trends, you may not be aware that the month of June not only brings sunburn and fresh strawberries, but it is also officially National Rose Month.
From Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to ABC’s The Bachelor, the rose has had long time symbolic significance of love and romance. In 1986 President Reagan even named the rose the National Floral Emblem of the United States making the love of roses simply, presidential. Needless to say, the rose has maintained a reputation for beauty and tradition that is unparalleled by any other flower.
Now that we have had our history lesson for the day, it is no surprise that many brides-to-be find themselves seeing things through rose-colored glasses. A quick glance at some of our most recent weddings reinforces that there is always room for a budding rose in the intricate details of a wedding.
This River House bride took my breath away with her charming photos. From the stunning detail on her gown to the simply perfect bouquet, you truly can’t go wrong with a rose.
Another PPHG bride celebrated her special day at The American Theater, and used these beautiful roses in a very special way to remember loved ones.
At the William Aiken House, this beautiful bride added a little drama to her bouquet by opting for an entire aisle of rose petals in lieu of a traditional sprinkling. What a perfect accent to her beautiful gown!
And for those of you who enjoy a sweeter take of a well placed rose bud, you will love this elegant cake by PPHG’s own pastry Chef Susie Ieronemo.
As you can see, when it comes to weddings, we really don’t believe in the thorny side of these beautiful flowers. And to be honest, a rose by any other name might not smell as sweet.
Photo thanks to:
Spring is the most perfect season in Charleston, for a lot of things; weddings… flowers… bumper to bumper traffic. If you are in the Charleston area and have been downtown in the last 24-48 hours you know what I am talking about. Thousands of our closest friends are pouring in to enjoy the rich, colorful history of the Spoleto Festival; or to sit in their favorite beach chair for Memorial Day.
Now, you may think that holiday weekends like the one looming before us would warrant a big red flag on the calendar for a bride choosing her dates. Between out-of-town guests or destination weddings, or, lets face it, simply finding parking has its challenges. Luckily, I am here to assure you that, at least at Patrick Properties, there is no shortage of celebrations to be had!
Since Memorial Day is all about remembering, I thought I would pull a few of the most darling examples of commemorative details for that special day. Enjoy!
Whether it's remembering a relative …
…Or your heritage…
Image via mywedding.com
…or maybe just your wedding story…
Image via marketplaceweddings.com
These details will make yours a wedding worth remembering!
