Old Wide Awake

We just got married June 2024 at OWA! We had an out of town wedding because we love the Charleston area. We stumbled upon the venue online then scheduled a tour, we immediately fell in love. The venue manager, Margaret McKenzie was amazing. She was very responsive throughout the whole process and made sure to provide thorough details on what to expect. Being an out of town bride, i had no issues with OWA or any of the vendors they recommended. Highly recommend using this property for your wedding. Everything was perfect thanks to the beautiful grounds and their upkeep as well as all those involved in facilitating the day of events!

My husband and I got married at Old Wide Awake Plantation in April and it was an absolute dream! The venue is gorgeous and Margaret is great to work with. All of our guests raved about the place and thought it was the best time! The perfect venue for a small and intimate wedding! I highly recommend Old Wide Awake for your wedding venue!

Perfect backdrop for our wedding. I like that it is just the house/grounds, which allowed us to build the wedding we wanted. Building and grounds are kept in excellent condition. Margaret McKenzie is very easy to work with and great with communication. Simple process for booking. Would do the day over again to enjoy the porches even more!

Old wide awake is affordable comparative to other venues in Charleston, plus you get the entire day there. They were accommodating and super helpful throughout the day. The property is absolutely beautiful and well maintained. We got married at the park and had our reception at the house and it was absolutely perfect. On top of that Margaret took over our wedding planning after we had issues with our original planner! She is so kind, organized, ready to jump in when needed and does a great job getting the crowd to listen and staying on time throughout the day! She made our day of dreams come true!

The owners, planner, and vendors went above and beyond to make our day as special as possible. They checked in with us through the planning process and made sure everything was executed to perfection. We cannot be more thankful for their hospitality and allowing us to use their venue!

OWA is the best wedding venue in the Charleston area hands down. They are extremely well priced and you get the use of the entire grounds and house for the whole day! It was perfect for us to get ready on the day of the wedding and not have to worry about logistics of getting ready some where else. Hair and makeup were done on site and it was so easy to be able to use the first floor for the guys and the second floor for the ladies. There are several gorgeous locations on the property to have the ceremony as well. By the pond or trees but we chose on the steps as we felt it was the best location for our time of year (October)! The staff at OWA is absolutely the best! They will help you with anything you need and Margaret is the amazing! Bonus if you are lucky enough to book her as your wedding planner too!

Choosing Old Wide Awake was one of the best decisions we made and I truly cannot think of a better and more perfect place for us to have had our special day. Not only is the venue absolutely stunning, it is also super affordable compared to a lot of other venues in Charleston. Our planner Margaret McKenzie made the wedding planning process a lot less stressful and the day was so seamless. She definitely knows what she is doing and I highly encourage anyone looking to go with this venue and have her as your planner. I promise you will not regret it!

OWAP is an absolute dream venue. It’s the most beautiful plantation home and gives the feel of a charming, elegant southern wedding. The beautiful ivy stairs and arches around the home along with the home itself, made the most beautiful backdrop. We also loved the fun atmosphere below the home where the bar was located. The grounds and house are well maintained and provide lots of space to get ready and party all night with your guests. Margaret McKenzie, the venue coordinator and also my wedding planner deserves more than 5 stars. She was beyond helpful and gave the best and most professional advice during our wedding planning process. She went above and beyond as a coordinator and also as a planner. She was very quick to communicate and was always one step ahead of the game which made the process so much easier and enjoyable. If you are looking to get married at OWAP I highly highly recommend Margaret to bring your wedding planner as well. I can’t say enough great things about the beautiful property and the people who work there to maintain the property. Thank you OWAP and Margaret for making our wedding dreams come true!!!

My husband and I got married here in May after having to reschedule our wedding due to Covid. Booking this venue and choosing Margaret McKenzie as our planner was the best decision we ever made! Margaret felt like family from day one and we simply could not have done it without her. She guided us throughout the entire planning process, even making the date change as smooth a process as possible. On the day, she expertly orchestrated every moving part and I could totally relax knowing she had it all taken care of. There is no place better for a wedding and no better planner! We love you Margaret!

Our son, Brendan and now daughter-in-law, Katti were married at OWAP last December under the guidance of Margaret McKenzie as our wedding planner. As a wedding planner, Margaret is a "maestro" . She conducted and shepherded us through a detailed and compelling planning process and expertly coordinated all the moving parts the "week of" and "day of"; the wedding took on the dimensions of a world class symphony orchestra whose music was as fragrant and graceful as the setting of the Old Wide Awake Planation. She plans weddings held at OWAP as well as at other wedding venues around the Charleston area. I worked with all the vendors behind the scenes on behalf of the wedding party, learning that securing a place on Margaret's "rolodex" of vendors is a coveted goal as her planning and communication/connection skills are second to none in this global class wedding venue of Charleston. May I join the chorus of others who endorse her planning practices.

This wedding venue was stunning! It embodies the southern charm of Charleston while also being in a quiet location! Margaret McKenzie manages the site and was wonderful to work with! She made the venue available to us at all times during the planning stage and even let us bury a bottle of bourbon on the property as a southern tradition for no rain on your wedding day! (It definitely held back some rain on our big day) As a bonus to the venue, We actually hired Margaret as our wedding planner since she made booking the venue such an easy process. She helped us pull off a wedding in less than 6 months while everyone was also rebooking COVID weddings at the same time. She offered great vendor suggestions and managed our vendors excellently on our wedding day. On our wedding day, the venue was immaculate! The bridal suite was a great area for the bridal party to get ready in while letting the guys run wild downstairs! The grounds keeper also executed the ceremony perfectly by making sure no cars entered down the long driveway during our ceremony. Needless to say this venue made our day special and we will always cherish the help Margaret gave us to execute/create a perfect wedding! I would highly recommend the venue and Margaret to anyone looking to plan a wedding in Charleston! (Some of the photos attached of our wedding were taking by Sharon Albright)

Our wedding at Old Wide Awake this past fall was absolutely beautiful! From the very beginning Margaret McKenzie (venue coordinator) was incredibly responsive and made me feel comfortable when inquiring about the venue. After booking a date, I decided to hire Margaret as my wedding planner as well and that made all the difference! She knows the venue inside and out, as well as so many vendors in the Charleston area. She made wedding planning so much easier. And all her suggestions paid off because on the day of the wedding everything fell into place perfectly and was just amazing. You cannot go wrong with this venue! I am still receiving compliments from guests about how gorgeous everything was. And your pictures will turn out gorgeous, there are so many photo opportunities all over the grounds. The venue is also unique in that you get it for the entire day! I have only the best things to say about Old Wide Awake, Margaret, and the rest of the team. They have beautiful weddings down to a science.

Last November, my fiancée at the time and I visited Old Wide Awake Plantation as we tried to find the perfect venue for our wedding. Margaret showed us around the house and grounds - with the oaks, moss, lake, and fountain, not to mention the beautiful house with multiple porches, we knew we had found our perfect venue. We quickly got our date set on the calendar as venues black book up quickly (especially coming off a Covid year). Our wedding finally arrived last weekend, and everything about the venue was absolutely perfect. We loved it, our guests were in awe of the venue in all the same ways we were when we initially chose OWA. My wife and I were incredibly pleased with the entire ordeal - including having the rehearsal on-site the nite before. Working with Margaret only added to the magic as she is genuinely excited and happy for all the couples who pick OWA for their wedding venue. We cannot say thank you enough!

We have been working closely with Margaret at Olde Wide Awake for years! As a small bakery in Charleston, we get asked to do wedding cakes pretty frequently - and Margaret has always made the process so smooth and easy for us. She facilitates conversations with the couples, and makes sure we are aware in the beginning of all their wants and needs, and making sure our needs are met as well. The process couldn’t be easier. Many couples don’t realize how important vendor relationships are, being “behind the scenes,” but it does make the day efficient and enjoyable for everyone involved in putting the wedding day together. We’re very happy to provide desserts for Olde Wide Awake - always a pleasure!

Old Wide Awake Plantation is Charleston wedding venue perfection. The house was a perfect getting-ready location and served as a stunning backdrop for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. The grounds were meticulously maintained with fresh flowers planted the day before our wedding. Margaret was easy to work with and day-of venue POCs were available to support throughout wedding day. Our guests were blown away by the wow-factor of OWA paired with the venue's ability to create an intimate setting for festivities. Zero regrets!

The most perfect venue for our special day! It was the first venue I toured. I didn’t need to see any others after that! I knew it was the one! The tree-lined drive leading up to the historic house with its beautiful stairway is breathtaking. I even used minimal decor and florals to let the grounds speak for itself. Our guests raved over how stunning it was. It truly was the perfect place for our fairytale wedding. And Margaret McKenzie with Old Wide Awake was a phenomenal wedding planner and ensured my day flowed perfectly. 10/10 would recommend her for your special day as well!

My daughter fell in love with OWA on our first visit and we were not disappointed! We decided on the venue approximately a year before the wedding, then extended the date another 5 months (Covid). From our first meeting through the event date, Margaret was so helpful and patient. She was pleasant and timely in her responses, offering advice and recommendations along the way. On the wedding day, John went over and above to ensure we had everything we needed and he assisted our family and coordinator with anything we asked. The venue itself is stunning. It is clean and well cared-for. It offers the rustic elegance that just makes everyone comfortable. Photography opportunities are plentiful within the beautiful rooms, the expansive porches and the lovely grounds. We very carefully planned every detail of our event, but Mother Nature offered up the coldest, wettest day of the season. The versatility of the venue allowed us to quickly pivot and relocate the ceremony from the front steps to the porch. (I highly recommend placing a tent on rain hold regardless of the season!) We tented the travertine patio, extending 15 feet beyond the end to allow distancing between dining tables. The set-up was lovely and easily accommodated our guests (approx. 120). The terrible weather prohibited full use of the property. We planned a cigar bar on the dock, a lounge setting near the arbor, and many other details that had to be relocated. The ample space under the house and on the porch allowed us to do this quickly and easily. I feared my daughter and son-in-law would be disappointed, but they both say they wouldn't change a thing. Despite the cold and rain, the vast majority of our guests stayed until the end of the reception. Our ceremony was at 4:30 and we all had a blast until 10 PM. I cannot say enough to convey how pleased we are with Old Wide Awake, the staff, and our experience. The entire event exceeded our expectations and I would highly recommend this venue.

My daughter truly had a fairy tale wedding in November at Old Wide Awake. On the day we visited the venue as a potential site for her wedding, we knew right away it was the perfect spot. The location is beautiful, with spacious grounds and a lovely historic home, restrooms and a terrace level bar (all of which are included in your venue fee.) As wonderful as the venue is, Margaret McKenzie, the venue manager, takes the experience to the next level. During the tour, we were thrilled to learn (in her understated way) that Margaret is an experienced wedding planner. She was truly a delight to work with. Every vendor we spoke to told us how much they enjoy working with Margaret. We had several elderly grandparents attending and Margaret made sure they were able to enjoy everything safely. She graciously and unerringly guided my daughter when she had questions. Her planning is meticulous but unobtrusive. Our guests told me over and over again what a wonderful time they had. But most importantly, she helped my daughter and her new husband have the wedding of their dreams. When the fountain came on as my son in law kissed his new bride, it was magical and just the kind of detail Margaret makes happen!

Old Wide Awake Plantation was a beautiful venue to host our wedding! Margaret, the Venue Manager was flexible and great to work with too. I wish she would've been available on my wedding date to hire her as my planner because she was so great. She was responsive and helpful, especially during the Covid craziness. We really enjoyed the venue and so did all of our guests!

As soon as we drove through the gates at Old Wide Awake Plantation, I knew it was the one for us! The grounds are beautiful, and it was so nice to be able to get ready at the venue. I could not be happier that we had Margaret directing our big day last weekend at Old Wide Awake! Planning a wedding is no small task, especially while balancing school and living in a different state, but with Margaret on your side anything is possible. I knew since the minute we met Margaret that we needed her as our wedding planner, and I am so very happy with that choice. Her name is well-respected among every vendor that we chose, and for a good reason. She kept us organized and made sure we had an all-together lovely experience throughout the planning process. She steered me in the right direction when I needed guidance, and I loved her elegant taste and eye for detail. On our big day, I was able to relax and not worry about anything because I had complete trust in her! Not only is she organized and efficient, but she cares about her couples and genuinely wants them to have the best day of their lives, which thanks to her we did!

Dream Wedding during the 2020 Pandemic! My daughter's original wedding date was in May 2020 but was postponed due to COVID. We switched to Old Wide Awake at the last minute and we are SO thankful we did! Margaret is a joy to work with - very responsive and informative which made things much easier on the mother of the bride. It was so nice to be able to arrive at the venue at 9:00 am and the "getting ready" rooms were perfect, complete with a porch for brunch and lounging before the ceremony. The venue is unique and very spacious so allowed for all COVID safeguards during the ceremony and reception. After 2 years of planning a wedding during a pandemic, I'm so thankful to have found Old Wide Awake as my daughter FINALLY had her dream wedding and happy ending! As a local, I have been to most of the venues in Charleston and I cannot praise Old Wide Awake enough!

Old Wide Plantation made our wedding day perfect! Very beautiful area and the staff was so helpful and polite which made my day less stressful! Mrs. Margaret was amazing! And the pictures came out gorgeous! So glad we went with this venue!

Old Wide Awake Plantation was an absolute dream venue to get married at for our intimate destination wedding. Margaret was SO wonderful to work with and constantly went above and beyond for my wedding always willing to help us along the way (especially during the tough decision to postpone). She was booked for our wedding weekend so we weren't able to hire her as our planner but if she is available book her now!!! She is truly SO helpful and is as sweet as they come. The venue was absolutely gorgeous and exceeded my destination wedding dreams. I visited 3 times before the wedding and every time it looked stunning and I knew I had chosen the right place. The day of the wedding was truly better than my wildest dreams and everything looked breathtaking. The plantation house has a beautiful getting ready area upstairs, a stunning staircase filled with greenery, a beautiful dance floor, a fountain, and SO many beautiful spots for photos (as a wedding photographer myself I appreciated this, my photos are gorgeous!) It was just perfect and I wouldn't have wanted to get married anywhere else. It's very private and it was wonderful having the getting ready, ceremony and reception all in one place! If you are looking for a stunning Charleston venue with so much character & beauty- you've found it in OWA. The staff was amazing to work with and we had the best experience. Brides- you won't regret choosing OWA! We plan to visit again on our 1 year anniversary trip and we can hardly wait to go back and be reminded of the the sweet memories we made from 9/27/20!

Wow! What an amazing venue. Margaret was the easiest person to work with and the owner was very friendly. We had our original venue cancel a month out and Margaret and my wedding planner were able to pull it all together in a couple weeks. The venue is so beautiful and gives you the ideal Southern Plantation wedding day. I just watched the wedding video and it was so magical!

Old Wide Awake Plantation is an absolutely incredible venue. My couple was forced to reschedule their wedding venue approximately 3 weeks prior to their wedding, and Margaret absolutely saved the day!!! She was extremely flexible and accommodating, professional, had great suggestions, and was quick to reply in our super sped up planning. One thing that I love about the space is that there are so many different layout options for ceremony, cocktail hour, and the reception. Having the large kitchen was perfect for all of us vendors to prep and hide our belongings in, and the multiple restrooms on different levels of the house were wonderful. The greenery on the steps and bottom level walls is just DREAMY. This is truly a special, unique property, and I cannot wait to be back!!

My daughter and her fiance were married at OWA on August 28, 2020. They were supposed to get married May 8th and then June 19th. It is no small task to hang onto a wedding venue and the myriad of vendors during a pandemic, especially a destination wedding such as this. We visited this and other venues in March of 2019. The only thing visiting other venues did was confirm that OWA was the perfect place for their wedding. It is a gorgeous setting, providing all of the beauty the South has to offer - proud old trees graced with Spanish moss, lush lawns and greenery, a pond with a fountain and a majestic house that will be yours and only yours for the entire wedding day. You will also get Margaret McKenzie, an extraordinary wedding planner. Margaret took the time to get to know this lovely couple, gave them "homework", and based on her knowledge and expertise, gave them a very thorough selection of recommended vendors for every component of their wedding. She has earned the respect of her vendors and they were all familiar with everything OWA has to offer; a plus when you are planning long distance and truly a life-saver when you are dealing with the heartbreak of postponements. Margaret stayed in close communication with our family and with the vendors. What great peace of mind during such stressful times! Additional but subtle safety measures were put into place by the venue and by our talented and capable vendors for all involved during this active pandemic. The wedding day was seamless and perfect (if it wasn't, we have no idea)! There were no uncomfortable and annoying lulls and in spite of the hot weather, our guests stayed for the entire celebration; no one wanted to leave. The key to a successful wedding is to surround yourself with great people. At this time in history, bridal couples are faced with unprecedented challenges. Having this wedding at Old Wide Awake Plantation with Margaret McKenzie graciously but firmly leading the way provided everyone with the only emotion a wedding should - great joy. We are all in agreement that we would do this all over again and wouldn't change a thing - well maybe the temperature.

March 21, 2020 was the most beautiful and intimate moment of Kevin and my life. After our engagement in April of 2019, we set out to find the most perfect, southern venue. We both grew up in the little town of Dillon, SC right on the North Carolina border, but we have called Charleston home for 10 years and wanted to be wed here. After looking high and low, I stumbled upon Old Wide Awake on Pinterest of all places. I called right away, scared we would miss a spring Saturday as the weekends were quickly booking. We didn’t necessarily care what the date of the wedding would be, just that it was on a Saturday in the cooler months. We almost picked March 28, 2020, my grandmother’s birthday but our photographer was already booked that day…this will be important later. So, we settled with March 21, 2020…God always knows best! As if the venue isn’t perfect enough with its old southern charm, its natural vegetation, grand oaks lining the driveway with Spanish moss, perfectly manicured lawn and fresh seasonal flowers, Margaret McKenzie was the most magical part of OWA. Margaret McKenzie is the event planner at OWA, however, for an additional charge she will step in as wedding planner…DO IT!!! She is worth every single penny! From the start she was very organized and met with us concerning our vision and we started from there. She made a list of approved vendors who met our price range and our taste, and we made the contact with each vendor. She stepped in when our caterer stopped responding to our emails and texts and the situation was fixed and the caterer was then on his best behavior. She met us at our rental company to pick out linens and made sure we had the correct seating, tables and chairs for our ceremony and reception. She coordinated everything. She spoke with my vendors to make sure everyone was on track and were where they needed to be. She sent them all a timeline the week of the wedding and asked that no one contact the bride or groom the week of the wedding. Well of course we had a few to do so and she fixed the problem. She stepped in the day of our wedding when our portable commode trailer did not show and had them upgrade us at no additional cost. Most importantly…our rehearsal dinner location cancelled on us two days before our rehearsal dinner. Before my fiancé could even tell me, she had called our rental company to have it arranged for our tent, chairs, linens and tables to be delivered to the venue the day before our wedding. She notified our rehearsal caterer and said the venue had been changed and they would give us a cost cut on our meals as they had cancelled their venue the last minute. She had everything set up so that we could have our rehearsal dinner at OWA. When I tell you, she is worth every penny, I mean it! I loved getting to know her on a personal level. She was hands down the best money spent on our wedding and we are forever grateful to her. Back to the importance of our wedding date. Had we waited until March 28, 2020 to be married we would have had to postpone. The COVID-19 pandemic shut all venues down the week after we were wed. When I tell you God is good!!! Book the venue and book the planner…you will not regret it!

Such a dream!! Originally, this venue was not our first choice, but by the end of our day, we could not have imagined getting married anywhere else. As one of the most affordable venues in Charleston, we believe you also get the most bang for your buck. Highly recommend!!

I could not have imagined a more perfect place to have our wedding than at Old Wide Awake Plantation. The venue is so versatile and overwhelmingly gorgeous ! They had added some additions, such as the gate, before our wedding day and it was even more beautiful than we could ever imagined! Our wedding was at the end of June and the grounds were perfect! Margaret Mckenzie was also so great and easy to work with! We also hired her as our wedding planner and she did an outstanding job! I highly recommend Old Wide Awake and Margaret to anyone considering their wedding in Charleston!

Old Wide Awake Plantation was truly a DREAM venue for us! We had an outdoor wedding in the month of May and everything could not have been more perfect. From the ceremony on the river under the grand oak, to the reception under the stars up at the beautiful white house, this venue is the definition of southern charm. The venue manager and staff are very professional and made everything seamless and perfect. Thank you Old Wide Awake for the best day of our lives!

We got married at this beautiful venue this spring- the house and grounds were immaculate and a peaceful oasis for our day. Bridal suite was the perfect getting ready space for my 5 bridesmaids, MOB, MOG, and flower girl. Porches and travertine dance floors were perfect spaces for our cocktail hour and reception. Venue was very flexible with booking and scheduling visits throughout our planning process

From the moment I found Old Wide Awake online, I was in love. Then I fell even more in love when we visited for the first time and met with Margaret. We had a specific vision and this venue was truly the only venue in Charleston that gave us everything we wanted. We did our first look and some bridal party pictures up at the park by the venue which was gorgeous. We had our ceremony by the pond under the new arbor. We had yard games and an oyster roast which were all able to take place in the yard. The boys used the fire pit for cigar hour and some people even used the dock on the other side of the pond. We loved that there were so many areas to use. Margaret was extremely responsive and helpful. I would recommend this venue to everyone! It is gorgeous and a beautiful setting.

We decided to go with Old Wide Awake Plantation for our wedding venue because it had everything we were looking for for our charming low-country wedding! The house is absolutely beautiful and dripping with southern charm with its wrap-around porches, green vines and palm trees, and 200 year old history. The house was so great for all of the wedding party and family to get ready at in the morning, and it has antique but cozy furniture so you feel instantly at home. They do a great job with upkeep as they continually re-paint it, landscape it, spray for bugs, and are always trying to add cute new additions (new pretty iron gate, new pergola, etc.) The huge covered front porch as well as the covered downstairs bar area is great if you want a cocktail hour but are anxiety-ridden about the weather like me, because if it rains you don't have to rent a tent for cocktail hour- your guests will be covered and they get to explore the historic home! We had a tented reception on the travertine stone in between the house and the pond and it was beautiful. It was so great to have everything close together but with gorgeous views of the pond and house, and again not having to worry about the weather (muddy/soggy grass for guests to step in like at other venues) because of the wonderful travertine floor and brick paving everywhere. Our guests would not stop talking about how cool the place was and how they wanted to get married here! We also used the campfire pit and dock on the other side of the pond for a little cigar bar area for the men- which all the guys loved! This venue has so many great areas to decorate and utilize for your wedding, you can really make your wedding unique and your guests will love exploring all around the house. We got married down at Wide Awake Park because we really wanted to get married under the giant oak tree dripping in Spanish moss with beautiful water views. Definitely check out the Wide Awake Park down the road- you need to rent the space separate from this venue but it will sell you on getting married here! We also liked the fact that this venue is 30 minutes outside of downtown Charleston- we just got shuttles for our guests and we never had to worry about loud city noises interrupting our ceremony or random strangers watching or crashing our wedding. It's so private and secluded that it felt like a beautiful backyard wedding. We had Margaret McKenzie, who works for Old Wide Awake, be our wedding planner and she was AMAZING!!! I could not rave about her and her assistant Kira enough, they always answered any questions I had, endured a million phone calls and meetings with me so I could perfect everything, helped me with all of the vendors, and made our wedding day run so smoothly that I was so relaxed all day because we were ahead of schedule the whole time (usually unheard of for weddings!). Margaret is like family to us now! Our wedding was absolutely perfect, I would pick Old Wide Awake Plantation a million times over! <3

The minute I walked onto the venue I knew this would be where I would get married. The White House was stunning with it’s two wrap around porches, and the concrete patio next to the house made for a beautiful outdoor reception site. We were able to get ready at the venue and the two upstairs bedrooms easily fit eight girls. Sipping mimosas on the upstairs balcony in the sunshine was a perfect way to relax before the ceremony. Margaret was very friendly and responsive via email as far as booking the venue. She answered all my questions very promptly. Both the house grounds and the park about a quarter mile away are gorgeous places for bridal photos. The park was right by the river and has many Spanish Oaks for fantastic romantic photos.

We got married there going on a year ago.... I know it's been way too long for me not to write a review- but life gets busy once done wedding planning! ;) From the moment we pulled up to the property and meet Margaret I was in love. As she walked us through the house and gave a little history on the property it made us both feel connected to this beautiful gem! After saying yes to our wedding venue we were sent over a list of vendors that were within out budget- not above as I was worried about but within out budget and people Margaret trusted. After working through out list some worked out off the bat and when others didn't she asked why so that she had as much knowledge to keep in her back pocket and provided us with a few more... now for me this was AMAZING as I work through list and love being able to give feedback and know its going to actually be put to use. All while planning our wedding I lost my job so that was more stress added onto planning a wedding. Knowing that we had her in out corner really helped take my stress level down! Day of our wedding: I was able to relax while getting ready in such a beautiful house with my soon to be sister-in-laws, best friends, mother and soon-to-be mother in-law. Margaret and her assistant took care of everything and let me know that they would only let me know if there was an emergency- which was perfect as I wanted to soak up this day fully! Trusting in her guidance to get the tent was one of the smartest decision we made as she knows what she is talking about! She made sure that everything was on time and running smoothly. We could not imagine our big day taking place anywhere else but here. We felt it reflected Charleston and who we are as a couple all while being able to an amazing first impression of our beautiful city to all our friends and family from out of town. Please make sure you take time to visit this plantation and Margaret before you make any decisions. I can tell you that you both will be in love with the plantation property and her! Margaret thank you so much for making my biggest day the best version it could have been!

I cannot say enough about Old Wide Awake Plantation and the staff there. Margaret is a dream to work with. I even came by on an off day, and one of the gentlemen working on the grounds (John, I believe?) stopped what he was doing and allowed me to show my MOHs the inside of the house. Margaret was very responsive to all emails and made sure we were fully equipped with any info we needed to make sure our big day was perfect. The venue is absolutely gorgeous and very accommodating.

We got married there 2 weeks ago and it was the most perfect, beautiful, romantic place that I've ever been! Having the house for the entire day makes setting up SO much easier than if you are only permitted to get in a couple hours before the wedding. We got there early, set up and then were even able to shower and get ready which was amazing. The contact person you'll initially work with is Margaret and she is PHENOMENAL! She treats every bride like they are her own daughter and that your wedding is the only one she has, even though she's a wedding planner herself and has many other brides she juggles. My family had a few specific requests and she made each one happen, all of which were above and beyond. The house inside is magical and timeless and outside is gorgeous and a classic southern home. I would recommend OWA to any bride, it's truly an amazing place!!!!

After and exhaustive search, we found Old Wide Awake and instantly knew it had to be the reception venue for our wedding. It was so charming and beautiful, but it also had some of the amenities we were looking for - including air conditioning inside, plenty of time to spend the day there getting ready, sufficient bathrooms for our guests, etc. Margaret McKenzie is the best in the business. She was professional and friendly, and put us at ease throughout the entire process. Old Wide Awake was the perfect venue for us, and it will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Old Wide Plantation was the PERFECT venue for our June wedding. Margaret McKenize is absolutely fantastic! She was always very responsive to my numerous questions and genuinely cared about making our day the best ever (and it was!) The day of the wedding was a little hectic but Margaret kept me at ease and assured me everything was going to be perfect. It was so nice being able to use the house all day- my bridesmaids and I really enjoyed getting ready in the beautiful room! If you are looking for a beautiful Charleston plantation venue, I highly recommend Old Awake Plantation. I PROMISE you will not regret it!!!!!!

I just left my nephews wedding that was held at this establishment. If I pay the amount of money that this place costs, I expect management to not harass me until our time is up and we are to be out of there. If something was left undone after the event, I can understand confronting me with a problem. This was NOT the case here! The lady started complaining about everything from clothes being laid out for changing to the DJ being too loud, AT EIGHT OCLOCK our time to be cleaned up and gone WAS NOT until 10pm! The vendors even had an extremely difficult dealing with this lady! If you want the ADDED STRESS to your wedding day, then, BY ALL MEANS!

We visited 10 other venues before discovering Old Wide Awake, which is in a class all of it's own. This venue, unlike any others we looked into, provided an entire experience. Beginning the day in the beautifully decorated historic home and spending the afternoon out on the lush grounds before the festivities began was the most perfect way to spend our moments before marriage. Much like our decision to go with Old Wide Awake, deciding to hire Margaret McKenzie as our planner was without a doubt one of the best wedding decisions we made. She poured her heart and soul into helping us plan the most phenomenal night. Margaret provided us with a list of recommended vendors (who were absolutely fabulous) and accompanied us on vendor visits (including a few last minute meets!) to offer guidance. She was a crucial support system for me when I was lost with the planning process or flustered with which way to go on a decision. Margaret’s professionalism and eye for beauty and detail ensured that our entire event (day and night) ran smoothly. Everything felt so natural, seamless and perfect. Her exceptional service is unmatched and her fair pricing fit well with our fixed budget. I'm disappointed that we won't be having another party of this scale as I would love nothing more than to be back at OWA and working with Margaret again. I'm truly envious of brides that are still in the midst of planning their Old Wide Awake wedding with her!

This venue is so beautiful! It was perfect for our outdoor ceremony and reception. Margaret is also amazing! She was our wedding coordinator and she made sure everything went off without a hitch!

We got married here on 12/9/17 and Old Wide Awake is truly breathtaking.! We fell in love with the venue when we first toured it and got a chance to tour it a second time after booking our date during the Wedding Revolution tour and knew then we had made the right decision! The pictures don’t do it any justice. The house is beautiful in and out! It was a pleasure working with you Margaret. Thank you for everything!

From This Day Forward Wedding Services had the distinct honor to be floral designer, day of coordinator and officiant for the Mallory DeWitt/Hunter Ginn wedding that took place at Old Wide Awake Plantation. What an absolutely beautiful venue for a wedding and reception! The plantation house is lovely and has magnificent wrap around porches. The tree lined drive makes for beautiful isle way lending itself to a rather dramatic entry of the bride and wedding party. The patio area adjacent to the house is the perfect space for the reception to dance the night away under the stars. The venue is full of Southern charm and has all the amenities for the perfect outdoor wedding/reception. The staff, Margaret, Dennis, John and Rob are extremely accommodating and want to make certain that bride and groom have the wedding of their dreams! We can not thank them enough for working with us to ensure Mallory and Hunter's day was perfect! We HIGHLY recommend this venue to any bride seeking a traditionally southern style wedding! You won't be disappointed! It is beautiful!

I just can't say enough about Old Wide Awake Plantation. Margaret McKenzie and her assistant, Kira, elevated our wedding as a "Welcome to Charleston" experience for our whole family!!! We were married there on October 28, 2017. My husband noticed OWA mentioned in a Reese Witherspoon article years ago! We joked about getting married there. Except, I could never stop looking up pictures and dreaming of getting married there!! When we visited, we both immediately knew it was everything we'd imagined. My only concern from the beginning was that the location is a bit far out from proper Charleston. That was easily solved with booking a guest bus from the hotels, making the party safer for everyone anyway. Plus, it's more fun to have a private location to yourself, and not have to share the property with other weddings. My bridesmaids, mothers, sisters, etc. all spent the morning and afternoon with me getting ready at OWA, having lunch and drinking coffee and mimosas. It was exactly what I pictured. All in all, I can't recommend Old Wide Awake enough!!! Book OWA and rest easy: your wedding WILL be incredible! PS The pricing is very reasonable. If you can AT ALL afford to add Margaret McKenzie as your full wedding planner.... just trust me. You NEED her.

We got married at Old Wide Awake on 4/15/17 and it was everything we have ever dreamed of - it was PERFECT! We also rented out Old Wide Awake Park and had both the ceremony and the cocktail hour there. The beautiful tree covered in Spanish Moss was the perfect ceremony location, as it was a little cooler by the water - and then the guests were shaded from the tree as well. They watched dolphins and boats go by as they waited for the ceremony to begin. Margaret is a MUST if you do get married at Old Wide Awake Plantation -- she will ensure every detail is perfect before the wedding even begins, and then ensure it is all executed day of. She is a professional, and truly an expert at both Old Wide Awake Park and Old Wide Awake Plantation!

This was the perfect place to host our wedding reception on June 11, 2016! In the search for our venue, I found this to be the best choice for a several reasons: 1. It's a gorgeous plantation house with wrap around porches, a large patio, a neat bar area, and a quaint bridal suite at a reasonable price. 2. The rental lasted all day (most places make you pay a ridiculous price for only a few hours of the venue). 3. They were the most flexible (you can have any food/drink/cake/music/rental/photographer/etc. vendor you want--which is hard to find in Charleston). 4. Their day of coordinator, Margaret McKenzie, was a HUGE help with planning and executing our vision on our big day (definitely worth the cost--see below). Margaret and I communicated frequently throughout the engagement and met up a few times to discuss my progress. After our first meeting, she put together a list of suggested vendors based on the vision I had. She was always responsive and answered all of my questions in a timely manner throughout the whole process. She would often check in on me for updates on who my vendors were, what my vision/layout was, and day-of timeline ideas. Closer to June 11, she helped me solidify my timeline and included all of the special moments, and even the times that my vendors were supposed to arrive. The day of, Margaret and her assistant set up all of the decorations we brought while my party ate breakfast, relaxed, and started hair and makeup. Throughout the day she handed out tips and was the first point of contact for any vendor/guest questions. The best part about Margaret's services was that we didn't have to lift a finger the entire day! Everything was taken care of so that my family, friends, and I were all able to just relax and enjoy the day! And with the combination of me being so organized and on top of things throughout the engagement and for the day of, and Margaret's understanding of my vision and her professionalism and experience, my day was absolutely perfect. NOTHING went wrong all day! The only minor thing was that we got off schedule by 15-30 minutes (no big deal). She asked all of my vendors if they would be willing to stick around for extra time at no extra charge (and they all said yes)! And at the end of the evening, she had all of our decorations neatly organized for my mom and sister to put in the car (which I heard only took about 15 minutes)! For the most important day of our life, I could not have trusted it with better people. Thank you so much for all you did for us and for making a supposed-to-be-stressful day, totally stress free!

I can't say enough great things about Old Wide Awake and Margaret McKenzie!!! My daughters wedding was Oct 15, 2016 approximately 1 week after Hurricane Matthew decided to make landfall near Charleston, SC. Margaret worked valiently to make all my daughters dreams come true for her special day from getting electricity back to the house and park, cleaning up the grounds and working with all our venders. We are so grateful to Margaret and her entire team. Old Wide Awake was the perfect backdrop for my daughters vision of Southern Elegance.

Old Wide Awake plantation is the PERFECT wedding venue for Charleston in every way. If you are looking for a plantation outside downtown that is beautiful, charming, near the water, and within your budget-- look no further. This venue is amazing. I first found OWA online while researching venues and I was immediately struck by the beautiful photos. When I visited Charleston to view all the venues I had found online, I was disappointed because online photos were not matching the real thing. Not true with OWA!! I knew from the moment we pulled up in the drive that was where I wanted to get married. Something about the pond with the running fountain and the wide southern porches won me over. After touring the plantation and visiting the park down by the water, we worked directly with OWA's coordinator, Margaret McKenzie to book our wedding date. And let me say a little something about Margaret- I don't even know how girls get married at OWA without booking her services as well. She helped me plan my wedding down to the very last detail- I owe her so much! She is a wonderful lady and so very sweet- you will end up loving her as a person, much less as a coordinator! Both my ceremony and reception were held at OWA, with the ceremony happening out on the lawn in front of the pond. We had a big band out on the patio with a tent to provide shade. Our initial guest number invited was 200 people, but since almost every guest was coming from out of town our final count was around 140-150. During the reception I had so many guests telling me how the setting was so beautiful and how much fun they were having. I loved seeing all our pictures of guests either out in the lawn playing corn-hole, or sitting on the porch overlooking the party, or at a cocktail table underneath the house by the built in bar, or dancing the night away. Old Wide Awake will forever be a special place to my husband and I, we loved it!

What a wonderful, wonderful wedding we had for my daughter and her husband last Saturday at Old Wide Awake Plantation. OWA is a quintessential plantation that has been lovingly restored. The wrap around porches and travertine patio, the ivy draped staircase and sweet pond, the tree framed driveway and pub like bar…all add up to a very special wedding location. But the real magic starts when you add the amazing talents and kindness of Margaret McKenzie. From the moment we started the wedding process…almost 13 months prior…until the day after our wedding, Margaret made everything click. She was there through the planning process with the caterer, florist, band, rentals, photographer and transportation. She helped in the design process, making suggestions that enhanced our vision. The week before my daughter’s wedding she distributed a timeline and set up schedule to all of our vendors. When the bride, bridesmaids, MOB and MOG arrived Saturday morning she greeted us with confidence and warmth. As the MOB, I didn’t lift a finger on wedding day. Margaret took care of everything. She was our "most valuable player”. I would highly encourage anyone to engage Margaret’s services when booking the OWA. Honestly, looking back I wouldn’t change a moment. Thank you OWA and Margaret Mckenzie!

Was an excellent venue! Extremely private and intimate. We had a small ceremony and reception for our close friends and family and it was brilliant. My wife and I along with our wedding party were able to use the house all morning and early afternoon to set up and get ready, which took a lot of pressure away from us. Margaret was always friendly and very helpful in all aspects, even turning the water fountain on in the background of our ceremony site, when it was time to "kiss the bride" We had a great time and would highly recommend using this venue for large and small weddings, the size of the venue could accommodate both. Thanks again! Rob and Jessi Drayton

We are newly weds and Old Wide Awake was just the perfect backdrop for our wedding! All of our guests are still raving about how beautiful everything was!

This is a spectacular venue. I was really drawn in with the availability of the house/land for the entire day and evening. It was fantastic to have everything in one location. The grounds are so beautiful and accommodating. I'm really glad we used this space on our wedding day.

Magical. That's the best word I can find to describe our entire wedding experience at Old Wide Awake. It's a day we'll cherish forever, in part because the venue was so beautiful and our guest were in awe of the grounds. And also in large part because Margaret McKenzie is incredible. She went over and above for us from the moment we first reached out to her, and my husband and I will be forever grateful for her role in making our special day so perfect. Almost a year later, we routinely have friends and family make a point to tell us how it was one of the best, if not the best, wedding they've ever been to. Thank you Old Wide Awake and THANK YOU Margaret!