Thomas Bennett House | Charleston Wedding Venue

Thomas Bennett House sits right in the heart of historic Charleston. It has all the charm you could want for a Southern Wedding. We visited Thomas Bennett House as a part of our tour of Charleston back in March. Of all the venues we visited, this house had one of the most gorgeous gardens at a downtown venue! When you walk onto the property you are greeted with splashes of color. You’ll find a centuries old oak tree that shades the entire ceremony lawn. The whole property puts you at ease. This is exactly what you want when picking a venue for your wedding. We had the pleasure of meeting with the venue manager Linda McCormick and asked her a few questions. Check out her answers below! 🙂

How did Thomas Bennett House get started as a wedding venue?

Thomas Bennett House is owned today by Roper St. Francis Healthcare. It has been used for hospital meetings, nurses’ graduations, retirement parties, weddings and social receptions for the past 32 years. Thomas Bennett House underwent a major renovation in 2007. The house was soon re-opened as a full time venue for weddings, receptions, social events and corporate functions. The events help provide the means to maintain this historic property while offering our clients the opportunity to enjoy their special day with family and friends in this magnificent, antebellum home. As a side note, Gov. Bennett’s daughter married Jonathan Lucas Jr., the son of Govenor Bennett’s business partner whose home still exists just around the corner, so weddings are a part of the heritage of the Bennett House since the 1800’s.

What unique services do you offer your brides?

The great part about Thomas Bennett House is that our brides may spend the entire day here on their wedding day!! We have a bridal suite on the 2nd floor of the House for the bridal party to arrive that morning to do hair and makeup on site. They can have brunch, relax and enjoy being together while preparing for the wedding. The Ceremony is held in the Crescent Garden around the fountain. Guests are then invited inside to the main level of the historic home during cocktail hour, followed by an evening of dinner and dancing on the oyster tabby on our side lawn.

What makes Thomas Bennett House unique?

The architectural details in this magnificent home provide our guests the opportunity to experience true Charleston charm. You’ll find hand carved detail work throughout Thomas Bennett House. Intricate plaster work on the ceilings make it one of Charleston’s most beautiful homes. The elliptical, freestanding staircase is only one of two in the entire city. There are three water fountains, four garden areas (including a secret garden) and a three hundred year old live oak to complete the ultimate backdrop for a beautiful southern wedding.

What do you love most about what you do?

We love seeing a bride just fall in love with Thomas Bennett House and gardens and watching her special day unfold exactly as she imagined it. We adore getting to know our couples during their months of planning their wedding and become so invested to do everything possible to ensure it is the day of their dreams. When we see the bride and groom depart on a horse drawn carriage or vintage car at the end of the evening, we feel a sense of pride in knowing we shared a small part in their joy as they begin their life together. It is especially exciting to follow them through the years after their wedding and watch their families grow. We have had several couples who married here and later visited Thomas Bennett House to take photos with their children while in Charleston.