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Wedding & Event Venue near Chester, SC

Your wedding day. Without a doubt, it's one of the most significant events you will ever experience - when you and the love of your life officially seal the deal and get married. On this day, your friends and family will gather to celebrate the next step in your life. Photographers will be running around snapping photos, catering plates delicious food for guests to enjoy, and the DJ sets the mood for a night of fun and libation. You've worked extra hard to make everything look perfect and run smoothly. You have examined every moving part down to the tiniest detail. At the center of all your effort is your wedding venue near Chester, SC.

Your event space can mean the difference between an unforgettable event and an average occasion. Capturing your uniqueness as a couple is paramount to a memorable wedding. But, without the right venue location and staff, your unforgettable event can turn into a painfully average occasion. Fortunately, at Abney Hall, you won't ever have to worry about dingy reception spaces and crummy chow halls.

Constructed in Greenwood SC, in 1962, Abney Hall is 15,000 square feet and sits on 500 acres of land, making it a large wedding venue unlike any other. Abney Hall was originally the home of Mrs. Josephine Abney, a Greenwood native who was a lifelong philanthropist. Mrs. Abney devoted much of her time and effort towards supporting charities, educational institutions, hospitals, and other noble efforts. Today, Abney Hall stands tall as a symbol of love, both in our community and for the couples who choose to get married here.

Abney Hall is an exclusive event experience unlike any other, surrounded by verdant forests and sparkling ponds. Our venue is a natural fit for several occasions, including:

Special Event Space Chester, SC

Weddings

 Event Venue Chester, SC

Bridal Showers

 Event Space Chester, SC

Bridal Portraits

 Rehearsal Dinner Venue Chester, SC

Rehearsal Dinners

 Bridal Shower Venue Chester, SC

Corporate Events

 Business Event Space Chester, SC

Much More!

The Top Wedding Venue near Chester, SC

The beginning of your life starts at Abney Hall. With our team by your side, we can create the fairy tale wedding you have dreamed about since childhood. Whether you have 100 guests or 1,000, our waterfront ceremony locations and French-inspired courtyard are perfect for your big day. Celebrate in luxurious style surrounded by shady magnolia trees, a private forest, large ponds, and the beauty of Mother Nature. While our venue location and aesthetic have been praised far and wide, so too have the practical aspects of Abney Hall. Looking for a relaxing, comfortable spot for your bridal party to get ready in? We offer an entire floor in the Abney Hall residence to get the bridal party ready. Want to make your groomsman feel extra-special too? We've got a private, plush house just feet from a sparkling pond that is a proper hangout spot for the guys in your group.

To make life easier on you, we also offer Abney Hall as your go-to spot for rehearsal dinners. Why book an expensive restaurant or travel to another location when unmatched beauty and convenience are right at your fingertips? Abney Hall is just the place for that very important dinner the night before your big day. We are also happy to host your bridal shower at Abney Hall. Our venue makes for one of Chester's most unique bridal shower settings, where your family and friends can gather to give gifts and be merry before you walk down the aisle.

With such a large, magnificent house and a vast property, Abney Hall also makes for an unforgettable location for your bridal portraits and other wedding-related photography needs. Don't take our word for it - book a tour and see for yourself why so many new brides and grooms choose Abney Hall as their wedding venue near Chester.

 Wedding Space Chester, SC

What Sets Abney Hall Apart from Other Wedding Venues near Chester?

You've already found the person you want to spend the rest of your life beside. The next step? Finding the perfect wedding venue for your ceremony, reception, and celebration of your lifelong commitment to one another. Remember, the backdrop for photos, dancing, eating, and all other activities will be at your wedding venue. That's why we work so hard to set Abney Hall apart from our competitors - so you and your guests can focus on love and living your new life while we work with your vendors and photographers to make your magic night a reality.

Here are just a few reasons why guests choose Abney Hall as their wedding venue near Chester, SC, along with some helpful tips from our experienced wedding venue staff:

Venue Size

Choosing the appropriate-sized venue for your desired guest count is a critical decision. A venue's capacity affects the number of people you need to consider having at your ceremony and reception. As you're first starting out, we recommend having a guest count in mind as you're searching for the right venue. Try to stick with that number. You may fall in love with a particular venue, but if its max capacity can't accommodate your guest count, it may be time to cross them off your list.

 Wedding Venue Chester, SC
Abney Hall Pro Tip

Abney Hall Pro Tip:

Keep in mind that this is your big day. You shouldn't feel obligated to invite the college roommate you shared a dorm with for one semester. At the end of the day, your wedding venue should be one that can accommodate those closest to you. Abney Hall is equipped for both small and large weddings, consisting of 500 acres of forest, ponds, and lush natural beauty. Whether you want an intimate wedding with only your best friends or a grand ceremony with hundreds of people, we have the right amount of room to make you comfortable.

Location and Nearby Lodging

On your big day, you're likely to have friends and family traveling in from other parts of the state or country. These folks will need a place to stay during and even after your wedding. Accessibility and ease are important factors when it comes to choosing your wedding venue for both you and your guests.

Located near Chester, SC, Abney Hall is situated in a memorable, natural setting, giving your wedding a private vibe in the midst of Mother Nature. While we pride ourselves on having a secluded wedding event space, our venue is within an easy driving distance of hotels and vacation rentals.

Abney Hall Pro Tip

Abney Hall Pro Tip:

When you contact us for a tour, make sure to speak with our experienced venue manager about nearby hotels and shuttle service options. We understand that your guest's comfort and convenience are important, and we're happy to work with you to figure out the best way to get your guests to Abney Hall.

Venue Staff

At Abney Hall, our staff has earned its reputation as one of the industry's most friendly, accessible teams. We will provide you with a purpose-minded point of contact that can help answer questions relating to timelines, preferred vendors, and every aspect of your wedding. When you tour our wedding venue near Chester, SC, for the first time, we want you to feel like you have all the information you need to make an informed purchasing decision.

We would be happy to go over:
  • Venue Pricing
  • Ceremony Specifics
  • Reception Specifics
  • Catering Possibilities
  • Decorating Possibilities
  • Entertainment Options
  • Photography and Photo Opportunities
  • Venue Amenities
  • Bridal Party Needs
  • Groomsman Needs

At Abney Hall, our goal is to be your first resource when it comes to setting up and coordinating the details of your wedding day.

Decor

When it comes to your wedding's decor, you probably already have a few ideas in mind. We love it when our brides and grooms have a vision in mind because one of our greatest joys is turning that vision into a reality. At Abney Hall, our team is available to help you and your decorator fit, accent, and accommodate your fairy-tale wedding - whatever that may be.

Are you looking to dress up your wedding with decorations galore? Just want to add a few accents that tie into your preferred color palette? Abney Hall is versatile and ready to help however we are able.

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Abney-Hall-Pro-Tip

Abney Hall Pro Tip:

If you're thinking about bringing in your own greenery, lighting, floral pieces, and more, we recommend discussing your vision with us on your initial tour of our event space. That way, we can get a head start on making your big day exactly how you envision it.

Photo Opportunities

10 years from now, when you and your spouse are celebrating your anniversary, you will pull out photographs from your wedding and will reminisce about the unforgettable time you spent at Abney Hall. Your wedding photos will be with you forever, and as such, we work closely with you and your photographer to suggest extra-special photo op spots that you can only find on Abney Hall grounds.

From the grand staircase and French-inspired courtyard to our manicured gardens and lovely pond, there is no shortage of photo-op locations for your photographer to choose from. As one of the most popular wedding venues near Chester, SC, we have worked with dozens of photographers over the years.

Our experience has allowed us to cultivate a list of preferred photographers - all of whom have the talent to take your pictures to the next level in a setting they're familiar with. We encourage you to check out our gallery to get a sense of the scope of our wedding venue and gain inspiration from other happy couples.

Abney-Hall-Pro-Tip

Abney Hall Pro Tip

The gallery on our website is extensive but be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages as well. We keep our social pages updated with recent wedding photographs, giving you an incredible resource that you can use for your own photography purposes.

 Reception Hall Chester, SC

The Premier Corporate Event Venue near Chester, SC

Abney Hall is known across the United States for our stunning weddings, but we also play host to some of the largest corporate events in South Carolina. Why choose a bland, lifeless meeting space when you can enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature coupled with a professional atmosphere? If you have an important team-building event or corporate conference that you have to coordinate, look no further than Abney Hall.

The epitome of class and style, our corporate event space is large, lavish, and chock-full of onsite amenities for you and your co-workers to enjoy. If your team needs a morale boost, don't bring them to the local Olive Garden for a cheap lunch. Treat them to a refreshing experience in our main dining room, where we can work with you to incorporate your catering options with the goals of your event.

When the hard work is done, and your team needs a breather, what better way to relax than with a quick dip in our pool? To burn off a little steam, head over to our brand-new tennis court - the perfect place to get some exercise in an ultra-private setting while you enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Don't forget to bring your fishing poles for a couple of hours of fishing. There's even an opportunity to go hunting if you wish.

Special Event Space Chester, SC

What Our Clients Are Saying

Elegance at Its Finest - Only
a Phone Call Away

If you're ready to learn more about Abney Hall as your wedding venue, don't hesitate to reach out. We would love to hear more about your plans, your vision, and your needs. We know that planning a wedding isn't easy. It takes time, attention to detail, and a whole lot of patience. Our goal is to help provide you with all the info you need to learn more about our venue. Once you decide on a date, we'll work closely with you and your vendors to craft a wedding experience that you will treasure for the rest of your life.

Our available dates for your big day are going quick, especially during peak seasons like spring and fall. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Contact us today for a FREE initial consultation
 Event Venue Chester, SC

Latest News near Chester, SC

City of Chester approves plans to create social, arts & entertainment district

City officials approved an arts and entertainment district in downtown Chester, introducing the area's first social district in the process.CHESTER, S.C. — The city of Chester is getting an arts & entertainment district.City officials approved plans to create the district in downtown Chester. Its creation will also allow for a social district in Chester.RELATED: ...

City officials approved an arts and entertainment district in downtown Chester, introducing the area's first social district in the process.

CHESTER, S.C. — The city of Chester is getting an arts & entertainment district.

City officials approved plans to create the district in downtown Chester. Its creation will also allow for a social district in Chester.

RELATED: 'Expect the unexpected' | Historic Carolina Theatre reopens in Uptown Charlotte

The city said this new social district will be the first social district on the South Carolina side of the Charlotte region.

"For the past two or three years, the city of Chester has been a magnet to local investors from Charlotte, Greenville, and Georgia, and it’s here now," shared Mayor Carlos Williams.

For years, there's been pushback on the growth from residents wanting to keep the historic feel of the area. Leaders say they're taking that request into consideration.

"We want to keep the small town charm. We don’t want to be like another city, we want to be like Chester. You can see from the architecture – it’s a very special place and we want to enhance that," explained City Administrator Malik Whitaker.

The mayor shares thatright now they're looking to bring in "restaurants, bars, more retail spots, and things for the family.”

Final details for the location of the district have not been announced, though the city provided a map of potential options.

Credit: City of Chester, SC

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One dead after school bus carrying 35 students overturns on I-77 in South Carolina

CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. —For the latest information, click here.One person is dead after a school bus carrying 35 students overturned on Interstate 77 in Chester County, South Carolina, according to South Carolina Highway Patrol. ...

CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. —

For the latest information, click here.

One person is dead after a school bus carrying 35 students overturned on Interstate 77 in Chester County, South Carolina, according to South Carolina Highway Patrol.

'Our hearts are broken': SC governor and state superintendent react to fatal school bus crash

According to troopers, at 1:45 p.m., a 2021 Blue Bird school bus was traveling south on I-77 near mile marker 55 in Blackstock when a tire blew out. The bus then struck a guard rail and overturned.

Due to the crash, both directions of I-77 were shut down. Officials with the Richburg Fire-Rescue later said northbound lanes reopened, but southbound lanes remain closed.

Lexington District 2 said that students were traveling home from a field trip in Charlotte when a tire blew out, causing the driver to lose control and the bus to overturn.

According to the school's website, an eighth-grade field trip was scheduled for Thursday.

The school district confirmed that the bus was carrying 35 students from Pine Ridge Middle School and three adults at the time of the crash. For the full statement from Lexington District 2, scroll down.

An official with Lancaster County confirmed five people were transported to area hospitals in critical condition. At this time, we do not know how many of those who were injured were students.

Shortly after 6 p.m., Highway Patrol said one person is dead following the crash. Again, we do not know if the deceased is a student at this time.

South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the collision.

Stay tuned with WYFF News 4 as we learn more.

"Early this afternoon, three buses carrying students from Pine Ridge Middle School were traveling home south on Interstate 77, following a field trip just outside Charlotte. A tire blew on one of the buses, causing an accident. The bus was carrying three adults and roughly 35 students.

"The two other buses traveling back on Interstate 77 were not involved.

"EMS is on the scene, along with other emergency responders, law enforcement agencies, and district/school personnel. EMS is assessing everyone on the scene, and some students are being transported for further evaluation."

Previous coverage below:

One person is dead after a school bus carrying 35 students overturned on Interstate 77 in Chester County, South Carolina, according to South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Just after 3 p.m. Thursday, the Chester County Sheriff's Office asked people to avoid the area of I-77 southbound at mile marker 55 in Blackstock due to an overturned school bus.

After 3 p.m., officials with Richburg Fire-Rescue said that both directions of I-77 were expected to be blocked for an extended period of time.

As of 4:30 p.m., fire officials said the northbound lanes have reopened, but traffic is moving slowly. All southbound lanes remain closed.

Lexington District 2 said that students were traveling home from a field trip in Charlotte when a tire blew out, causing the driver to lose control and the bus to overturn.

An official with Lancaster County confirmed five people were transported to area hospitals in critical condition. At this time, we do not know how many of those who were injured were students.

Shortly after 6 p.m., Highway Patrol said one person is dead following the crash. Again, we do not know if the deceased is a student at this time.

South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the collision.

Stay tuned with WYFF News 4 as we learn more.

On a South Carolina Farm, a House Born From a College Promise

When Joe Filippelli was completing architecture school at the University of Michigan’s Taubman College in 2013, his classmate Peyton Coles made him a promise.“Peyton said, ‘Joe, if you ever start your own office, you can build my house,’” Mr. Filippelli said. “People joke about stuff like that, but you never think it’s going to be real.”The friends had studied buildings together, but by the time they graduated, Mr. Coles had realized he didn’t actually want to work as an arc...

When Joe Filippelli was completing architecture school at the University of Michigan’s Taubman College in 2013, his classmate Peyton Coles made him a promise.

“Peyton said, ‘Joe, if you ever start your own office, you can build my house,’” Mr. Filippelli said. “People joke about stuff like that, but you never think it’s going to be real.”

The friends had studied buildings together, but by the time they graduated, Mr. Coles had realized he didn’t actually want to work as an architect. After growing up on a farm in Virginia, he decided to pursue a career in agricultural technology.

For years, Mr. Filippelli didn’t think much about that conversation, as college friends routinely make such grand declarations that are eventually forgotten. But within a few months of establishing his own architecture firm, North House Architects, in Grand Haven, Mich., in early 2020, Mr. Coles called — he was ready for that house.

By then, Mr. Coles had married Peanut Belk, and the couple had moved to Wild Hope Farm, an organic produce and flower operation that Ms. Belk runs in Chester, S.C. They were in the process of purchasing a 28-acre portion of the 400-acre property owned by Ms. Belk’s parents for $100,000 so they could build a house of their own on the farm.

The project revived Mr. Coles’s interest in architecture and his admiration for his friend.

“I worked next to Joe for three years at school and knew what he was good at, and that we would work well together,” said Mr. Coles, now 38. “Maybe this was a consolation prize for not moving back to Virginia or something, but Peanut pretty quickly let me have fun with it, and to lean into the architectural side of it.”

With plans for a family — the couple now have three children, ages 1 to 4 — Ms. Belk, 33, did have ideas about how the home should function.

“We wanted to spend as much time outside as possible,” she said. “We wanted great lighting and a good kitchen. We wanted an open, comfortable space where we could be cooking while hanging out with the kids.”

It didn’t take long for Mr. Filippelli and Mr. Coles to arrive at a shared vision for the home. Drawing inspiration from Amish-built pole barns and old tobacco drying sheds, they envisioned a 1,528-square-foot rectangle of a building.

“It’s a super simple form,” Mr. Coles said. “We landed on a long, low shape with a peaked roof.”

“Without a doubt, it’s a very agrarian form,” Mr. Filippelli said.

But with that traditional shape as a starting point, the friends were also intent on designing a low-cost, high-performance building that reflected a contemporary take on the American farmhouse.

“One of the things Peyton said early on, which became a driver, was that he wanted to build it with materials you could find at a local lumber yard,” Mr. Filippelli said. “We didn’t want to have high-end fabricators coming in,” he noted, to install expensive, exotic materials.

They were pleased to discover that much of the construction-grade lumber they planned to use was actually grown and milled in the area. “It’s hyperlocal,” Ms. Belk said, much like the produce Wild Hope Farm sells to its customers.

That, in turn, led to a decision to expose the home’s structural elements instead of hiding them behind drywall. Leaving the walls as wood framing and sheathing would have the added advantage of creating an extremely hard-wearing interior.

“We decided that we were going to expose the innards of this thing — the guts of the house — and move all the insulation to the outside of the walls, where it wraps the whole house like a sweater,” Mr. Filippelli said.

The home is built largely with Southern yellow pine, both in lengths of dimensional lumber and plywood. Even where they needed a laminated veneer lumber, or LVL, beam above sliding glass doors opening to a covered porch, they found one from Roseburg, an engineered wood manufacturer just a few miles away.

The closets and cabinets were made from more plywood, and the simple shelves made from pine boards stretch across open walls to help maximize storage.

To clad the exterior, they used cedar that was grown, collected and milled right on the farm into long, slender slats.

“We were milling cedar for farm use but also for this house project,” Ms. Belk said.

Built by Spoke & Hammer Construction Company, the house took a little more than a year to complete, at a cost of about $550,000, and it was ready for the family in February 2023.

Now, Mr. Coles and Ms. Belk relish the sweeping views the house provides, as well as the direct connection it has to the fields.

“We’ve got skylights, we’ve got views in every direction,” Mr. Coles said.

Preparing meals in the kitchen, Ms. Belk said, “It’s fun to watch the kids just playing outside.”

There’s just one unintended downside to all that glass, they joked. “We see storms coming, head on,” Mr. Coles said. “That adds anxiety when you’re farming.”

Chester County schools STEAM program helps shape students academics

Event is to help students learn more about science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathCHESTER, S.C. (WBTV) - Students in Chester County were able to get creative during STEAM Education Month by creating their own sustainable cities.Giti Tires in Chester County has sponsored the Chester County School District’s STEAM Competition every year since it started in 2017. The goal of the event is to help students learn more about science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math.Lewisville High School senior ...

Event is to help students learn more about science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math

CHESTER, S.C. (WBTV) - Students in Chester County were able to get creative during STEAM Education Month by creating their own sustainable cities.

Giti Tires in Chester County has sponsored the Chester County School District’s STEAM Competition every year since it started in 2017. The goal of the event is to help students learn more about science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math.

Lewisville High School senior Samuel Crouch has been a part of his school’s STEAM program since his freshman year.

He says, “It’s just it’s a lot of different types of design, designing and engineering, especially through the 3D printing aspect.”

This year, the school district wanted students to create sustainable communities. District leaders say they wanted to focus on something that will continue to impact students in the future. After he graduates, Crouch wants to study law. He says this experience has taught him more about project management.

Crouch says, “We just felt once we got enough information. We started researching, looking at different real cities and different real places, and just kind of built based off of the research what we wanted to do.”

Students in Chester County made their final presentations on Wednesday and will get to participate in a larger banquet showcasing all the district’s projects on Thursday at the Gateway Conference Center.

This competition is sponsored by Giti Tire, which says they wanted to move into this community to make these connections and inspire future employees.

David Shelton, with Giti Tire, says, “I’ve seen some of these young people from elementary on into middle school and on into high school and watch them develop both from an intellectual standpoint learning the fundamentals understanding the projects understanding what failure and success all lead into more growth and preparation for life.”

Over the last few school years Chester County School District’s math and science scores have gone up. District leaders say this competition has helped inspire kids. Samuel says he would continue to encourage students to get involved.

Crouch says, “To do it, it’s worth it. It’s a lot of hard work for sure, but it’s worth every second of it and make sure you find a good team because it just makes it feel like you’re not working.”

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