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Wedding & Event Venue Near Pickens, SC.

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Your Magic Moment Awaits

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 in Pickens, 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 Pickens, 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 Pickens 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 Pickens, SC

Weddings

 Event Venue Pickens, SC

Bridal Showers

 Event Space Pickens, SC

Bridal Portraits

 Rehearsal Dinner Venue Pickens, SC

Rehearsal Dinners

 Bridal Shower Venue Pickens, SC

Corporate Events

 Business Event Space Pickens, SC

Much More!

 Wedding Space Pickens, SC

The Top Wedding Venue in Pickens, 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 Pickens'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 in Pickens.

 Wedding Venue Pickens, SC

What Sets Abney Hall Apart from Other Wedding Venues in Pickens?

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 in Pickens, SC, along with some helpful tips from our experienced wedding venue staff:

Venue Size

Choosing the appropriate-sied 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.

 Corporate Conference Hall Pickens, 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 in Pickens, 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 in Pickens, 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.

 Reception Hall Pickens, SC
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 in Pickens, 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.

Special Event Space Pickens, SC

The Premier Corporate Event Venue in Pickens, 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.

 Event Venue Pickens, SC

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 Space Pickens, SC

Latest News in Pickens, SC

Estimated 50k attended Trump rally in Pickens; city, county incurred $40k in costs

(WSPA) – Pickens County leaders estimate 50,000 people lined the streets of Pickens for former president Donald Trump’s rally less than one month ago.The county said they paid about $30,000 to first responders working the July 1 event. The city of Pickens also spent an additional $10,000 in setup costs.However, while many said they wonder why Trump’s campaign didn’t pay those costs, the county said it would have been foolish to send the campaign a bill.Under law, a campaign expense is an expense t...

(WSPA) – Pickens County leaders estimate 50,000 people lined the streets of Pickens for former president Donald Trump’s rally less than one month ago.

The county said they paid about $30,000 to first responders working the July 1 event. The city of Pickens also spent an additional $10,000 in setup costs.

However, while many said they wonder why Trump’s campaign didn’t pay those costs, the county said it would have been foolish to send the campaign a bill.

Under law, a campaign expense is an expense that influences the outcome of an election.

“The numbers getting tossed around, that they left the city of Pickens owing money is absolutely not true,” said Barry Crawford, who helped assist Trump’s visit. “We had a very successful event that day outside of the heat. No one went to jail, it was a peaceful event and we were glad to have Mr. Trump in Pickens.”

Vice Chairman of Pickens County Council Roy Costner said whether you support Trump or not, having a former president visit the area is a historic event.

He said the safety of those attending that event was their top priority.

“We are always going to do what we can to keep the public safe, make sure there are no problems. And if we as a county council can find a way to fund that portion of it without it costing the taxpayers any extra dollars, I think that is a win all the way around,” Costner said.

County Council members said the county will pay the expenses of the event at no cost to taxpayers using their accommodations tax (ATAX) money. The ATAX is the extra sales tax motels and hotels pay for short term overnight guests. The county government collects about $250,000 in ATAX money a year.

This year they said they had $75,000 left over.

“That is what the accommodations tax is for,” Costner said. “When you have a big event, it really should be that money used for bringing all these people into the area. There were a lot of people from all over. Those weren’t all people from Pickens.”

The county added the crowd that traveled to Pickens was about 16 times bigger than the city’s population.

“This is huge,” Crawford said. “We have never had anything this big in Pickens. It was a huge successful event and I don’t know that we will have anything that matches it anytime soon.”

County leaders said the event was beneficial to both the city and county and they believe it was a success from start to finish.

Christmas Things to Do in Easley and Pickens County, SC

Looking for holiday things to do in Easley and Pickens County? There are holiday events, places to see Santa, tree lightings, lots of Christmas parades, shopping events and much more all happening right in Pickens County. Celebrate the season with some of these Christmas things to do in Easley and Pickens County for the whole family.Still looking for Christmas Things to Do? Gifts to give? Ways to give back? You can find all our best Christmas content in our ...

Looking for holiday things to do in Easley and Pickens County? There are holiday events, places to see Santa, tree lightings, lots of Christmas parades, shopping events and much more all happening right in Pickens County. Celebrate the season with some of these Christmas things to do in Easley and Pickens County for the whole family.

Still looking for Christmas Things to Do? Gifts to give? Ways to give back? You can find all our best Christmas content in our Holiday Guide to Greenville.

Things to Do Throughout the Holiday Season in Pickens

Upstate Holiday Light Show 2023

Visit District Park for the Upstate Holiday Light Show. In addition to driving through the dancing lights, guests can also visit a winter wonderland and Santa’s free petting zoo.

Where: District Park, 148 Crumpton Lane Easley, SC When: Daily Thanksgiving – December 31st, 2023 (Sun-Thurs 6 pm-10 pm / Fri & Sat 6 pm-11 pm)$35 per carUpstate Holiday Light Show 2023

Carriage Rides

Ride in a horse-drawn carriage through historic downtown Easley starting at the Old Market Square. Reservations open November 6th, 2023 at noon. Carriage rides start November 24th and run Friday and Saturday nights until December 16th, 2023. Tickets are $5 per person, carriages hold 5 people.

Santa Sleigh Rides

Ride Santa’s sleigh in Easley. Reservations open November 6th, 2023. Rides are $5 per person, and the sleigh holds up to 15 people. It is not a private sleigh ride and the sleigh will likely be filled each ride. The sleigh will run on Thursday nights from 6-9 pm, November 30th, December 7th and 14th, 2023.

Parades and Lightings in Easley and Pickens

City of Easley Tree Lighting

Easley’s Christmas Tree Lighting will be Friday, November 24h, 2023 at 5:30 pm at City Hall in Downtown Easley.

Liberty Tree Lighting

The Liberty, SC Tree Lighting event is on December 1st, 2023 at 6 pm. In 2022, this event had holiday carolers, Santa at the gazebo plus hot cocoa, cider, and cookies. Bring your own camera if you’d like a photo with Santa!

Liberty Christmas Parade

Main Street, Liberty, SC 29657Saturday, December 2nd, 2023 at 6 pm

Beginning on Main Street in downtown Liberty, the Liberty Christmas Parade will kick off your holiday season.

Pickens Christmas Tree Lighting

The Pickens Christmas Tree Lighting takes place on November 24, 2023 at 7 pm at the Pickens Doodle Pavilion, 409 East Cedar Rock Street, Pickens.

Pickens Christmas Parade

Downtown Pickens Christmas parade ushers in the holiday season on Main Street in Pickens on December 1, 2023 at 7 pm.

Six Mile, SC Christmas Parade

December 2nd, 2023 at 10:30 amMain Street, Six Mile, SC

Line up along Main Street in Six Mile between GBS Lumber and the Post Office for the Annual Six Mile Christmas Parade.

Easley’s Christmas Parade of Lights

Saturday, December 9th, 2023 at 6 pmDowntown Easley, SC

Head to Downtown Easley for the popular Christmas Parade of Lights. The parade begins at the intersection of East Main St and Bradley Avenue. It will head down Main Street, then turn left onto South 1st Street, and finally left again onto West 1st Street.

See Santa in Pickens, SC

Santa will be at the tree lighting on November 24th. Get a free photo with Santa in Pickens Doodle Park from 5 to 8 pm on November 24th, 2023.

Easley has 4 letterboxes that bring letters straight to Santa. The letterboxes will be available until December 8th, 2023.

More Holiday Events in Pickens County

Mark up your calendar, friends! You could have a full schedule of festive and fruitful entertainment right at your doorstep this year.

Pickens County to use tourism funds for Trump rally reimbursements. City will bill Trump.

The Donald Trump rally might be long over, but the discussions to recoup security expenses continue.The two local bodies involved, the city of Pickens and Pickens County, continue to pursue different routes to recover the money.Based on discussions at Monday's Pickens Co...

The Donald Trump rally might be long over, but the discussions to recoup security expenses continue.

The two local bodies involved, the city of Pickens and Pickens County, continue to pursue different routes to recover the money.

Based on discussions at Monday's Pickens County Council meeting, county officials are on track to use ATAX or accommodation tax dollars, collected every time a visitor books a hotel or an Airbnb, to give overtime pay worth $30,000 to local law enforcement and emergency service providers who worked the July 1 rally.

County Attorney Les Hendricks said the council will first need to send an application to the ATAX committee before they approved funding.

But using tourism funds is no longer in the plans for the city of Pickens. County officials initially sought to give $10,000 to the city of Pickens from the tourism fund. But come Monday, the city of Pickens, told the county they would not be requesting ATAX funds.

Instead, the city said in a Facebook post they would collect their invoices and send the bill to the Trump campaign.

The difference in the city and county's approach towards reimbursements is emblematic of a simmering question: Whose responsibility it is to foot the security bill for campaign events?

It's been over a month since the Trump rally and weeks since county officials first started contemplating the use of tourism funds, and in turn, avoiding tapping into the general fund.

During the Aug. 7 meeting, Hendricks clarified that ATAX money could only be used for tourism purposes, and since the Trump rally brought in a significant number of out of state visitors, the rally fit the requirement.

Hendricks also notified the council that the State Ethics Commission reached out to him and said they were interested in playing an advisory role should the council need it.

"Their advisory opinion may be helpful, not only to us, but to other municipalities and counties as political campaigns come through," Hendricks said.

Majority of the council leaned towards using ATAX funds for reimbursements. The sole opposition came from County Councilwoman Claiborne Linvill, who represents areas surrounding Clemson.

Linvill recommended the county bill the city of Pickens for reimbursements.

"If the city of Pickens is sending an invoice to the campaign to be reimbursed, it only makes sense to me that the county's expenses should be billed to the city so that they can include that as part of their total invoice," she said.

Linvill added that if the county council were to go with the ATAX option, the county would be setting a precedent of footing the bill for largescale events held by a municipality that never asked for permission or consultation.

"We are setting a new relationship between counties and municipalities," she said.

Vice Chair Roy Costner asked if the county had ever felt the need to sign a contract when it came to other large events, such as the Pickens Azalea Festival or the Senior League World League Series, or did the county law enforcement just cover it?

"In usual cases — no," County Administrator Ken Roper said. "We would just know that the event was going on and we would know we needed to be prepared."

County Councilman Alex Saitta said the precedent of local bodies recouping security costs has been in place for years.

"If you start to charge the Trump rally, the new precedent would be — you have to charge Dacusville Farm Days, you have to start charging the Azalea Festival and the Hagood Mill (Historic Site)," Saitta said. "The county just absorbs it."

Devyani Chhetri covers SC politics for the Greenville News. You can reach her at dchhetri@gannett.com or @ChhetriDevyani

City of Pickens addresses concerns about drinking water

PICKENS, S.C. (WSPA) — The City of Pickens and ClearWater Solutions held a town hall Tuesday to address concerns about the city’s drinking water.In the third quarter of 2023, DHEC alerted the city that elevated levels of disinfection byproducts, specifically haloacetic acids (HAA5), were found in the city’s drinking water during a routine...

PICKENS, S.C. (WSPA) — The City of Pickens and ClearWater Solutions held a town hall Tuesday to address concerns about the city’s drinking water.

In the third quarter of 2023, DHEC alerted the city that elevated levels of disinfection byproducts, specifically haloacetic acids (HAA5), were found in the city’s drinking water during a routine test. According to the city, DHEC conducts these tests quarterly.

“HAA5’s disinfection byproduct comes from using chlorine that interacts with natural occurring organic matter in the water,” Drew Langston, the state director of ClearWater Solutions, said.

According to state officials, consuming water with haloacetic acids over many years could lead to an increased risk of cancer.

DHEC immediately alerted the city and ClearWater Solutions about the elevated levels, and residents were informed. Mayor Isaiah Scipio said the issue was fixed the following day.

“We were within our legal limits the next day,” Scipio said. “Right now, we’re in compliance, and we’re now moving forward in a good, positive way.”

At Tuesday’s town hall, leaders tried to reassure residents their water is safe to drink. Langston said ClearWater Solutions will test the water more often for disinfection byproducts

“Now, we are taking monthly samples to follow up on this data to make sure if we see something elevated, we’re going to address it,” he said.

During the town hall, some residents explained they sometimes see brown water coming out of their faucets or have to wash their clothes twice because the water has a strange smell.

Langston said the city and ClearWater Solutions are working to replace old pipes.

Scipio said he is hopeful that many of Pickens’ water problems will be resolved when the city opens its new water treatment plant on Lake Keowee in the next three to four years. The city currently gets its water from the City Lake Reservoir.

“We’ll have that pristine water from Lake Keowee, and we’re going to have a state of the art filtering system,” Scipio said. “It looks good for us in the future.”

The City of Pickens releases a Consumer Confidence Report each year. To read the most recent report from 2022, click here.

SCDOT approves plan to improve Highway 183 in Pickens Co.

PICKENS CO., S.C. (WSPA) — Pickens County officials are working to make one of the busiest highways in the county safer.“In the past four years, 350 people have had accidents, 150 people have been injured and 5 people have lost their lives,” said Roy Costner, vice chairman of Pickens County Council.In October, the county received a $44.7 million grant to fill the gap of the funding needed to improve SC HWY 183. Last week, the South Carolina Department of Transportation approved the application to move the proc...

PICKENS CO., S.C. (WSPA) — Pickens County officials are working to make one of the busiest highways in the county safer.

“In the past four years, 350 people have had accidents, 150 people have been injured and 5 people have lost their lives,” said Roy Costner, vice chairman of Pickens County Council.

In October, the county received a $44.7 million grant to fill the gap of the funding needed to improve SC HWY 183. Last week, the South Carolina Department of Transportation approved the application to move the process forward.

The plan is to widen the 7.5 mile stretch of the highway to ease congestion and provide turning lanes where they are needed.

“I believe they will start at the Greenville County line first because there’s a bridge there. There’s a portion of Greenville County that’s got to continue to wide out as you go across that bridge and then it will begin to build out from there,” said Costner.

According to Costner, planning for this project has been years in the making.

“It’s taken us seven and a half years to get to this point and I’m super excited to see what’s gonna happen next,” said Costner.

The next step is a joint bond review.

“We had to come up with the 20 something million dollar local match, 28 million dollars from Greenville County and then the state infrastructure bank so the bond review is going to review those bonds to make sure that we have the ability to pay it. Our portion of it is very easy because we’ve already just based on the growth of the population without raising taxes were able to do that,” said Costner.

After the joint bond review, the county says they want to hear from the public.

“Whenever we’re having those meetings, show up and let us know what you think! Hopefully there will be lots of maps and lots of conversations about what makes the most sense and how we’re gonna be able to use this money to best service the people who live here,” said Costner.

The county has not released when a public meeting will be, but they encourage residents to follow the county website and social media platforms.

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