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 Union, 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 Union, 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 Union 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:
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 Union'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 Union.
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 Union, SC, along with some helpful tips from our experienced wedding venue staff:
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.
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.
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 Union, 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.
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.
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 Union, SC, for the first time, we want you to feel like you have all the information you need to make an informed purchasing decision.
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.
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.
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.
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 Union, 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.
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.
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.
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 consultationUNION CO, S.C. (WSPA) – Deputies arrested 16 in Union County in one day last week.On Thursday, Feb. 16, the Union County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Department of Natural Resources, and the state Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services (PPP) served 24 warrants and arrested 16 people on a variety of charges.“There were some really bad guys, we actually had one fugitive from justice that we picked up that morning. Several other arrests, a couple guys had domestic...
UNION CO, S.C. (WSPA) – Deputies arrested 16 in Union County in one day last week.
On Thursday, Feb. 16, the Union County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Department of Natural Resources, and the state Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services (PPP) served 24 warrants and arrested 16 people on a variety of charges.
“There were some really bad guys, we actually had one fugitive from justice that we picked up that morning. Several other arrests, a couple guys had domestic violence charges, which is very serious,” said Sheriff Jeff Bailey.
This round-up took weeks of planning with the agencies taking an all hands on deck approach.
“When you have all these people, we’ve got to get on the same page,” said Sheriff Bailey. “That’s how we organized that morning and had our meeting and set our goals for what we were going to try to do, what time and how.”
Sheriff Bailey said with all the agencies involved, they had more tools at their disposal.
“So, when they bring that equipment to the table, we try to find our worst and try to pick them up and get them off the streets, as long as we can,” he said.
They also randomly selected 19 registered sex offenders to see if they were complying.
“We had some that had changed their residence and we tried to work that day to track them down and find out where they were, they were arrested,” said the sheriff. “We actually had people who had not reported their address or come in and report for their yearly.”
The sheriff said the people arrested are not first-time offenders.
“That’s what’s frustrating, it’s the same old people that we arrest. We pick up and it’s just, you know, a reoccurring problem,” he said.
He said a lot of them get out of custody on bonds.
“We constantly arrest them and then they make bond, their cases are still pending. So, some of them might be out on three or four bonds,” said Sheriff Bailey.
“So, it’s a problem but you just can’t take people to jail and house them, everyone is entitled to a bond.”
Sheriff Bailey said the men and women behind the badge are working hard.
“We’re doing our best to keep them off the street, because they’re a nuisance to the public, and we don’t want that,” he said.
“We’re trying to do our best. I promise, I promise people we’re doing our best to get these folks.”
Those arrested are:
Sheriff Bailey said they will be going through the rest of the sex offender list in the future.
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System on Thursday unveiled plans for the new $55 million Union Medical Center replacement facility.The combined replacement hospital and medical office building are designed to create a sustainable model for health care in Union County that centralizes physician practices, outpatient services and inpatient care, the health care system said in a news release.Located along Highway 176 across f...
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System on Thursday unveiled plans for the new $55 million Union Medical Center replacement facility.
The combined replacement hospital and medical office building are designed to create a sustainable model for health care in Union County that centralizes physician practices, outpatient services and inpatient care, the health care system said in a news release.
Located along Highway 176 across from Union Industrial Park and four miles from the current hospital, the plans call for a new three-story, 99,600-square-foot building.
“Growing up in Union County, I know firsthand the essential role this hospital plays in supporting the health and wellness of families,” Dr. Natashia Jeter said in a news release. “Residents, community partners and health care providers could not be more excited for this investment in clinical services and renewed commitment to caring for this area.”
Spartanburg Regional purchased 48 acres for the new medical facility in 2015 following the acquisition of then-Wallace Thomson Hospital, which was constructed in 1955. This new campus sits in the heart of Union County, central to the residential population and the business community.
“Our new facility in Union County is designed for the future, anticipating the ever-evolving needs of patients and innovations in care,” Mark Aycock, chief operating officer of Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, said in the release. “A variety of services will be available on this campus, including inpatient and outpatient care, emergency services, physician offices and telehealth visits.”
The hospital’s design includes large windows and open spaces with natural accents. Photographs of iconic Union County scenes will be featured, showcasing the hospital’s commitment to the community, the area, and its residents, the release said. Plans call for a chapel and healing garden.
Construction is scheduled to begin this spring, pending permit approval, the release said.
Medical services at the campus are to include emergency care, imaging, Gibbs Cancer Center infusion services, inpatient care, lab services, Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health mammography services, outpatient services, pharmacy and primary care.
“Spartanburg Regional acquired the former Wallace Thomson Hospital to ensure that quality health care was not interrupted in Union,” Paul Newhouse, president of Union Medical Center, said in the release. “Today, the health care system announces an investment that will benefit generations to come by improving access to health services and wellness opportunities.”
Talk about bad real estate deals: Seventy-five years ago, just after World War II, the city of Charleston gave away its waterfront docks to the S.C. State Ports Authority for nothing. Zero. Now the agency plans to sell a prime piece of that waterfront, Union Pier, for hundreds of millions of dollars.And Charleston is going to get the short end of yet another real estate deal with State Ports.Mind you, I am a huge fan of redeveloping Union Pier. Who doesn’t want to see 70 acres of parking lots and warehouses transformed in...
Talk about bad real estate deals: Seventy-five years ago, just after World War II, the city of Charleston gave away its waterfront docks to the S.C. State Ports Authority for nothing. Zero. Now the agency plans to sell a prime piece of that waterfront, Union Pier, for hundreds of millions of dollars.
And Charleston is going to get the short end of yet another real estate deal with State Ports.
Mind you, I am a huge fan of redeveloping Union Pier. Who doesn’t want to see 70 acres of parking lots and warehouses transformed into a grand new waterfront neighborhood? We’re all being asked to imagine the possibilities.
But here’s the rub: The bigger the Ports Authority’s payday, the bigger, the denser the eventual buyer (almost surely Los Angeles-based Lowe) will need to build to justify the price.
You want a world-class waterfront park overlooking the Cooper River? A new urban grid with streets that provide view corridors to the water and cool Charleston alleyways? You want to save the Bennett Rice Mill, honor the Mosquito Fleet and build a dog park or two? Add holding back the rising tides to that list of must haves.
You can have all of this. But it is going to be expensive. Very expensive.
“The hardest part of the whole project is the economics of it,” Jacob Lindsey, Charleston’s former planning director who is now the frontman for Lowe, said last month at a packed meeting of the city’s planning commission.
No one can say Lindsey, an impressive guy who no longer works for the city but for the developers, didn’t warn us. In the last eight minutes of an hour-and-a-half presentation, he said at least five times that the buildout of Union Pier is going to be very, very costly, adding “That is just the truth.” Very, he said.
This isn’t going to be paid for with affordable housing and dog parks. No, it will be density and height — “seven stories or taller,” one Lowe planner said, without elaborating — that pay for this fabulous new urban neighborhood, the most expensive in the city’s history.
Density and height aren’t a bad thing. In the right place. But Union Pier, our crown jewel, to use an already worn cliche, is not the place for a lot of towering piles of brick. That’s not why we love Charleston.
The value of Union Pier — back-of-envelope estimates range from $250 million to $400 million and up — will be determined by what the city allows to be built on the 40 acres that are suitable for development. And then there are the daunting construction costs, including cleaning up any toxic wastes.
That’s the process now underway as the Ports Authority, Lowe and Lindsey try to win City Council’s approval for a master plan, a so-called Planned Unit Development, or PUD, by the end of the year. Only then will the Ports Authority hold its faux auction.
Paying for it all, as Lindsey said, is the hard part.
There will be the usual alphabet soup of financing incentives to fund such infrastructure as streets, parks and water management. A TIF, or tax increment financing district, would allow future property taxes from increased value of the property to help underwrite those costs. And then there could be a MID (municipal improvement district), a separate tax on new buildings there to cover maintenance.
What no one is talking about, but should be, is that monster Ports Authority payday.
While selling at the highest price is good for the Ports Authority, it’s not good for Charleston if it’s going to mean a wall of pricey waterfront hotels and condo buildings. And it could.
For State Ports and the Statehouse, Union Pier is the golden ticket to finance the next phases of the Leatherman Terminal.
My advice: Settle the endless standoff with the Longshoremen’s union, which has left the $1 billion terminal operating at a quarter of capacity. Pay the Ports Authority bosses a quarter of their salaries until then, and they will find a way quick enough.
The Ports Authority is important to the state — it’s responsible for 1 in 10 jobs, as it reminds us ad nauseam. But it’s more important to some parts of the state than others. Fifty-two percent of the ports’ economic impact comes in the Upstate, home of BMW and Michelin. The Lowcountry: 12%.
Selling Union Pier for top dollar to expand Leatherman is, in effect, transferring the windfall from the Charleston waterfront to the Upstate and the Midlands.
If you are a legislator from Greenville or Columbia, sticking it to Charleston is the sport that is always in season. In the halls of the Statehouse, after all, ABC is shorthand for Anybody But Charleston.
Leatherman matters. But so should Union Pier. One need not compromise the other.
Steve Bailey can be reached at sjbailey1060@yahoo.com.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC/AP) - The South Carolina Ports Authority plans to appeal a labor board ruling in a dispute involving heavy-lift equipment, its president says.The National Labor Relations Board panel ruled against the Port of Charleston on Dec. 16, deciding that only union members may work that equipment at a new shipping terminal in one of the nation’s largest maritime centers.The Dec. 16 order brings an end to the “hybrid” union-non-union employment model long implemented by the State Ports Authority a...
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC/AP) - The South Carolina Ports Authority plans to appeal a labor board ruling in a dispute involving heavy-lift equipment, its president says.
The National Labor Relations Board panel ruled against the Port of Charleston on Dec. 16, deciding that only union members may work that equipment at a new shipping terminal in one of the nation’s largest maritime centers.
The Dec. 16 order brings an end to the “hybrid” union-non-union employment model long implemented by the State Ports Authority at the Leatherman Terminal, which opened its $1 billion first phase in March 2021.
SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin released this statement on the ruling:
SC Ports Authority is disappointed in the split ruling of the NLRB, which overturned the September 2021 ruling by the administrative law judge that was in favor of SC Ports Authority. We are still assessing the reasoning of the Board panel’s opinion, but we intend to appeal to the federal court of appeals in line with the reasoning of the Board’s dissenting opinion and the underlying initial ruling, which we believe is more consistent with applicable law and the facts of the case. We therefore remain confident in a favorable ruling from the courts.
Regardless of the current decision, SC Ports remains hopeful that we can work with the ILA to achieve a solution that will allow for full utilization of the Leatherman Terminal and preservation of the growth trajectory our port has experienced that creates more jobs for both SC Ports employees and ILA members.
State officials have said their working model benefits all employees. But the dockworkers’ union has claimed a contract with the United States Maritime Alliance requires that only members of the International Longshoremen’s Association may operate the cranes at newly constructed terminals. State Ports Authority employees had been carrying out such work.
The decision comes without intervention from President Joe Biden. Union officials had said they would “seek the support of the Biden administration” in November 2021 after a judge ruled against them. But leaders reversed course this summer when the union asked Biden to stay out of the dispute and avoid an “overreach” of presidential power.
South Carolina is a “right-to-work” state, meaning workers can’t be compelled to join unions, even if the organizations represent them. According to data released earlier this year by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, South Carolina had the lowest union membership rate, at 1.7%.
Copyright 2022 WCSC. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Soon, the soothing sounds of nature from Charleston's downtown waterfront will be accessible to everyone with a newly designed Union Pier."The redevelopment of Union Pier is designed with Charleston in mind," President and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority Barbara Melvin said.Read More: ...
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Soon, the soothing sounds of nature from Charleston's downtown waterfront will be accessible to everyone with a newly designed Union Pier.
"The redevelopment of Union Pier is designed with Charleston in mind," President and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority Barbara Melvin said.
Read More: Union Pier development seeks to address architecture, roads, and flooding in Charleston
The design brings the past to the future along Concord Street.
The new green space and five-acre park will hold on to the history of the rice mill and mosquito fleet while adding in new retail shops, affordable housing for those who work in the area, and linking to the aquarium and International African American Museum.
Soon, the soothing sounds of nature from Charleston's downtown waterfront will be accessible to everyone with a newly designed Union Pier. (WCIV)
"We did not choose to sell individual parcels, we decided to plan the entire site to make sure that the infrastructure was there to support the site, and that the city had a voice one time to make the area blended one time very well," Melvin said.
Read More: SCPA submits draft plan to city for Union Pier
"This area where we’re standing today is an industrial site. A place with containers, a place that’s a part of maritime infrastructure can be converted into a beautiful park, almost as large as Marion Square but on the waterfront and dedicated to Charlestonians forever," said Vict President of Lowe Real Estate Jacob Lindsey.
Lindsey said there will be architecture regulation in place and a comprehensive plan to address flooding and stormwater surge to align with the Army Corps of Engineers' project along the Battery.
Read More: Proposed future of the Union Pier includes green spaces, waterfronts, and more
"At the end of the day upland areas will drain better and the sight itself will keep every raindrop on site and will help storm surges out of the city by the construction of a unique storm barrier here at union pier," Jacob said.
While the project may take a decade to complete, Melvin said the future of the ports is something everyone can look forward to.
"Let's remove the chain-link fences and parking lots and warehouses. Lets re-imagine it's going to take some time before things get going on the development," Melvin said.
Read More: Public waterfront access, restaurants, hotels, housing could be coming to Union Pier
The ports authority is presenting the new renderings to the planning commission Thursday at a workshop and they will formally submit them on April 17.
You can also see the renderings and still submit comments through the Union Pier website.