The more I connect with wedding vendors in Savannah and the surrounding areas, I am introduced to the most beautiful properties. 30 minutes outside of Savannah, you will stumble upon the town of Bluffton, South Carolina. Bluffton is a beautiful community you may recognize from THE Bieber wedding at Palmetto Bluff. There is so much more to explore in Bluffton: beautiful architecture, incredible restaurants, and many outdoor activities. Nestled between the oaks you will find a stunning property that is perfect for your Bluffton Wedding. Bethany Hewitt, owner of event production and catering firm Southern Graces, discovered this hidden oasis and created Hewitt Oaks Wedding Venue. Hewitt Oaks has grown in popularity and amenities since it opened its doors in 2018. Walk through their property and learn all about their offerings below.
Meet owner, planner, and designer – Bethany Hewitt
Share a little about your journey from planning weddings around the Lowcountry to creating your luxury wedding venue- Hewitt Oaks:
In 6th grade I was the girl reading Victoria magazine for the recipes and planning decadent experiences for my family and friends, using my Grandmother’s china, of course! 😉 So for sure – my love language has always been setting the table for lovely celebrations, which meant that weddings came naturally to me in every way. My husband, our Executive Chef, and business partner -Christopher – I knew about 10 years after being here that we wanted more, and prayed for what that might be. We started dreaming of how it would be to have our OWN venue to create the magic in an even more lavish way – since we would have total control over the set-up and what was allowed. (Totally understandable, but so many venues have such tight set times and rules, we felt stifled!) We wanted to create luxurious wedding experiences with dreamy floral installations and indulgent food.
After 4.5 years of searching high and low from Charleston to Savannah, we had what I call a modern-day miracle, as the way things lined up, we knew that Hewitt Oaks was just what we had been waiting for. Only God could have made it all work out the way it did, and we STILL cannot believe, even after almost 5 years, that this is where we get to share our love of hospitality and all things weddings!
Choosing the right wedding venue
All-inclusive weddings at Hewitt Oaks include planning and design, catering, florals, rentals, and more. What is the benefit of choosing a venue that includes all these amenities?
When I first started out, we just did catering and I would work so hard to understand what my clients were envisioning, and then we would show up and I would think I was at the wrong place as the elements didn’t come together like they had described to me! That combined with the fact that 90% of our couples are from out of town and do not know where to turn for other vendors, we started adding additional services – first planning, then florals, until we morphed into what we create now which are full-service event experiences. We hear over and over again how relieved our couples are once they find us as they know that they love the Lowcountry and want this to be their destination, but feel overwhelmed to line up all the individual services while away.
Bluffton’s best kept secret
This family business includes your partner and Executive Chef Christopher Hewitt. Share with us how your on-site catering elevates the couple’s wedding experience:
Christopher is Bluffton’s best-kept secret (even if I am biased), in that he has so many remarkable achievements and experiences in the global culinary world, and zeroed in on taking Southern cuisine and elevating it – not just with flavors but also in presentation. We are amazed our couples take so much pride in their “bragging rights” of having THE BEST wedding food. One of my favorite parts of the wedding reception is when guests are all seated around their tables and share those first bites. It brings me such joy to hear all the oooohs and ahhhhhs as people expect some boring Beef, Fish, or Chicken and then are SO thrilled by the surprise of incredibly thoughtful & intentionally presented food.
Explore Hewitt Oaks
Hewitt Oaks wedding venue is made up of two indoor venues, a getting-ready cottage, and canopies of trees with endless outdoor event spaces. Customize Gracie Ballroom or Huling Hall to appeal to any wedding couple’s aesthetic. Event rentals, tablescape items, lighting, and florals are all included in your rentals. Transform the bright blank canvases that are their indoor event spaces into your dream venue space.
When couples are searching for southern charm, they usually envision moss-covered oaks as their ceremony backdrop. With three beautiful spaces to marry or celebrate under the southern sun – Angel Oak Canopy, The Swooning Tree, and The Promise Tree – your options are never-ending!
If you’re searching for a garden party atmosphere, Hewitt Oaks Wedding Venue offers Riders Courtyard and Cardinal Courtyard.
Take a peek at all their event spaces here.
Tour Hewitt Oaks with Bethany
What spaces in your venue excite you to design one-of-a-kind wedding days for your couples?
Oh my goodness – where to start?! 24.82 acres and I have so many ideas in this heart of mine! I do love the Promise Tree for a ceremony as the sun sets behind it so the natural backlighting is insanely dreamy. All the flowers and chandeliers imaginable are what I dream of – suspended from all the branches of the Promise Tree. I am not a minimalist, so more is more to me. There is no such thing as too many flowers where I’m concerned! I also absolutely love Gracie Ballroom draped in soft whites with subtle uplighting so that the designs on the fireplace POP with gorgeous intention. Then there is the Meadow – the most perfect blank canvas to dream of. Refined opulence in a grand clear tent so that the stars take center stage once the sun sets.
What sets your venue apart from other estates in the south?
The exclusivity of our venue is unmatched. Our clients receive the property for their wedding day. No worries about bumping into another wedding in a different space or having other guests meandering into your space. There are so many lovely locations in the South, but many of the venues are also resorts or hotels that have other guests, so it’s so special that the venue is private for your wedding here at Hewitt Oaks.
Tips from a wedding planner
What is important for a couple to look for in their wedding venue?
Weather backup options. While living here in the Lowcountry is lovely most of the time, making SURE that you have weather plans in place is very important. A storm can come up quickly here. With our Chapel and Gracie Ballroom, we can adjust and make sure your wedding celebration happens with ease.
Envision your day at Hewitt Oaks Wedding Venue
Share a little about your dream wedding day vision for this venue:
Layers of surprise and delight continuously unfold throughout the entire event for my couple and their guests! My hope is that our couples experience an overwhelming peace and undeniable sense of joy, mixed in with the most FANTASTICAL day of their lives!
What is one trend you would like to see your couples put a spin on in this space?
I really would love to get to design a Groom’s Blooming Lapel. Not just the blooming pocket square, but the entire lapel…so unexpected!!
What inspires your designs?
First and foremost, my Father God. I am deeply aware of how fortunate I am to be able to do what I love. Gratitude sparks inspiration in unexpected ways. I feel like I just try to be open – to be present. Interestingly for me – I have to feel organized in my heart, and in my life to get to the good stuff! Music, travel, shopping, trying new restaurants, nature for sure, pop culture, and all things Paris/Marie-Antoinette/Versailles/Afternoon Tea.
What are three vendors you can envision working alongside you in this event space?
Alphalit Savannah – Make your statement grand with custom marquee letters!
@PaintingsNStuffLLC – A timeless wedding experience is having a live painter there to paint your ceremony or guests during cocktail hour.
Station Seven Band – Live music is unlike any other wedding experience! Guests are on the dance floor all night and Station Seven Band makes a huge impact.
Your wedding photographer’s seal of approval
I am always excited to photograph Hewitt Oaks Wedding venue. There are so many beautiful backdrops for portraits, the getting-ready space embodies the property’s charm, and the team of vendors that put together the design is so wonderful. Your way will be one-of-a-kind and filled with intentional details that your guests will love. If you’re looking for an experience that is unmatched and full of your personality, Hewitt Oaks and Southern Graces are the team for you.
If you’re ready to connect with Hewitt Oaks about your wedding day, reach out to their team here.
