Ahhhh. This weekend was GREAT. If you follow my instagram then you might have seen that I had some blogger friends in town for a visit. So here’s the deal… I worked with the Charleston CVB to bring 8 of my blogger friends to Charleston so that we could show off our amazing city. Not a bad situation at all… right?? Molly Waring at the CVB was unbelievable to get to work with on this project. I could go on and on about how fabulous she is but I know I would embarrass her. So let’s just say that she’s dope for life, and that she planned and executed a flawless, beautiful weekend. This has been many months in the making so it was so exciting to finally get to DO it!
So in flew Carly Heitlinger, Mackenzie Horan, Grace Atwood, Amy Stone, Jamie Meares, Amy Havins, Mary Summers, and Caroline Knapp! BIG thank you to the beautiful Mills House Hotel for providing an amazing stay for everyone. They really take such great care of their guests and it was no exception with us. And, the hotel is pink!
So Friday night we all met in the hotel bar for a bit and then jumped on rickshaws to head to upper King. We did a progressive dinner at a few places including The Daily/Butcher & Bee, The Grocery, and Macintosh. EVERYTHING was amazing. We pretty much had big full meals at each place. My takeaways- get the kale salad at The Daily. The Grocery’s whole fish and okra are amazing. Many of you might know that The Macintosh is my favorite restaurant, so being served so much from their menu was pretty much heaven. They are well known for their Deckle (that’s a steak). I wish I had more pictures from this night here we are.
And now we are finished with my bad iPhone pics and are moving along to the photos that Gray snapped throughout the weekend! Saturday morning we did a walking tour with John from Bulldog Tours. Such a good way to give the girls a little history/information and a lot of instagram worthy opportunities.
Step, step, snap.
After the walking tour we headed to my house for lunch. I’m sharing all of those pictures in a separate post right here, but here’s a glimpse of what that was like.
Then the girls had the whole afternoon free to do as they please, which pretty much meant shopping on King St. Did you see all the Hampden instagrams?! Too funny. That night the rickshaws came and picked us up and we headed to Mariana Hay’s home. The family has owned the jewelry store Croghan’s for four generations. The sweetest most charming family. An amazing home. Beautiful store on King St. Definitely stop in there if you come to Charleston. You have to see the goldbug collection of jewels designed by Croghans’ own, Mariana Hay (the 4th generation).
Cru Catering did an an amazing job on the food. I really loved the pimento cheese fried green tomatoes. Brooks Reitz mixed us amazing cocktails in sterling silver julep cups.
Some music by The Bluestone Ramblers.
After the party we grabbed a table at Market Pavilion Rooftop. It was such a great night to sit outside. The weather was perfect this weekend.
Sunday morning we had a farewell/Meet the Makers brunch at the Mills House. It was a great chance for the the girls to chat with some of Charleston’s local designers! Made my heart happy. It was really such a fun time. I stayed near the Fat & Juicy bloody mary bar and the Callies Biscuits station.
Photobomb.
Josh, Lilly, and Fletcher crashed the party for some biscuits.
This here is Molly Waring from the CVB. She put so much work into this weekend and it was perfect! I’ll never thank you enough, Molly!
So happy to show these girls around Charleston! We want everyone to love our city. If you want to visit give me a shout, I’d love to share my favorites spots with you. Also, I have a whole Charleston Guide right here!
Photography by Gray Benko.
That hotel is just wonderful, they’re going to love it! And the walking tour was fabulous, too!
She is such a doll, isn’t she?!
what a great weekend!! my parents are visiting this winter and they are going to stay in the mills house hotel! i should totally get them on board for a walking tour of the city too. xo jillian
How FUN! Love that they all came to Charleston. Too funny-Molly Waring and I studied abroad together in Austria. She’s great!
XOXO,
Megan
Beau Vie Blog
[…] of my favorite events during our Explore Charleston blogger weekend this past weekend (see that full recap here) was the Saturday lunch at my house. I just loved having the girls over! And I was so happy with […]
Emily you should!!
It’s pretty amazing. Come back soon Sienna.
Well, you know… I really think you should!
Come back to see us Joyce :) xoxo Thanks for reading.
Thank you so much Laura. It was a blast.
The whole weekend I was just like I need to go to Charleston NOW!!!
Charleston is one of my favorite places I’ve ever been, cannot wait to go back!
ah these pictures make me want to plan another charleston trip asap! looks like such a perfectly lovely girls weekend!
Chassity –
I’m a new follower and really enjoyed this post! I visited Charleston a few Memorial Days ago and loved it and now you have me itching to return. :)
Joyce
This looks like the most amazing weekend! What a great idea to explore and share a taste of Charleston. (I loved following along on Instagram, too!)
xo, Laura
bright and beautiful
Do you know how much I wish you could’ve been here too?! If only everyone could come. I want to see you and that cute baby bump soon.
Thank you Lindsay. Yes, the CVB doesn’t mess around. So beautiful. I’m looking forward to sharing those pictures :) !!!
Kate, you really have been with me on this blog since the beginning. Means the world to me. YOU MUST let me know when you come to town so that we can get together and I can tell you all my favorite things :)
This is dumb to reply here bc we’ve been texting back and forth but I LOVE you :) Can’t wait til I see you again soon.
Ditto on what Gaby said…looked like such an amazing weekend and I was having major FOMO!! Can’t wait to come visit you soon!
Wow! Charleston knows how to host a weekend! Looks like the perfect girly time. Can’t wait to see the lunch you hosted at your home! XO!
This looks like such a fun weekend!! I have dreamed and talked about going to charleston for years and your blog since the beginning has only made me want to visit more!! Trying to finally make it there in 2015 for a girls trip! All your recommendations are going to make for an amazing itinerary!
So freaking jealous!!!!! What an amazing weekend!! :)