Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Maupin.
Hi Stephanie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
After college where I earned a degree in Public Relations, friends began asking me to direct, consult, and fully plan weddings. While I started with no experience, I had a unique perspective having been through etiquette school and cotillion as a teen. I considered wedding planning my side hustle from my primary career as a flight attendant, where I enjoyed the hospitality industry and service aspects, not to mention the travel.
After a dozen or so weddings that were increasingly growing in size and detail, I determined that wedding planning was not for me, but in my 20’s I shared with my husband that “I would love to one day own a historic home in Savannah on the river AND host weddings there.” The idea was always to live in the home AND host private outdoor events on the grounds. These homes rarely come up for sale, so I had no inkling that I would ever find a home that fit the extensive criteria, but a girl can dream!
Little did I know that 25 years later, that dream would become a reality. In 2018 we were scouting acreage for sale and found this historic private estate, built in 1941 on 40 acres. We followed the driveway through the woods for 1/2 mile, and when we finally emerged, a grand home beckoned us forward. We both were astounded at the immense structure sorely in need of maintenance and repair, but beautiful and historic.
From that first introduction, we knew that HollyOaks was destined to be ours, and together, we set about turning it into our home as well as a luxury event venue that would host up a limited number of elevated events every year.
We were supposed to celebrate our grand opening in April 2020 just as the world shut down with the pandemic. Instead, I learned SEO on our self-designed website. Soon, the calls started coming from panicked brides whose venues had shut down with as little as two weeks notice. Due to our acreage, we had the spaces that allowed for legal social distancing, and we welcomed these couples and their loved ones to the estate. That first year, we hosted 10 events, and that success has continued each year since.
We now host up to eight events annually, four in spring, four in fall. The right couples find us, and I love that we play a small but integral part in their love story!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest struggle was the pandemic; however, we are of the glass-half-full mindset. We did not let that get to us, knowing that we would reach the couples who would love the estate and want to marry here. To have a full roster of events that first year absolutely astounded us!
Savannah hosts thousands of weddings every year, but there were shockingly few private estates that would open their doors to the luxury client, especially venues within 15 minutes of downtown. With each wedding hosted, we invested the proceeds back into renovations of the house and gardens, and each wedding was bigger and more luxurious that the last.
One of the early hurdles was to have this idealized vision of a luxury estate, but having to be mindful of the funds required to make that vision a reality as well as the time it takes. Still, we expanded a little more each year with baby steps early on. We kept moving forward and taking the next step. Today, we delight in hosting couples who want their guests to experience life at a private estate on the river, and this year we are debuting two new event locations on the property.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We are passionate about bringing people together with experiences that exude joyfulness. HollyOaks on the Marsh is the realization of a dream. We are creating a life together that we can be proud of, and we are inviting you into our home and lives by sharing HollyOaks with those who appreciate her the most. Nestled on 18-acres with exquisite views, expansive lawns, lush heirloom gardens, and an ambience that radiates relaxed Southern hospitality, we can host groups from 2 to 800. Whether you are planning a wedding weekend or an exclusive corporate event, your experience at HollyOaks will invite unforgettable experiences. We are in the business of hosting events that you and your guests will want to remember forever, and that starts with a team whose timeless goal is to share your story. We believe that every element of your celebration should be special, starting with the venue.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
We fall in love every day with Savannah. Over the past 27 years of living here, we have watched her evolve from small town to a true city. We love the different facets of the city from the sunrise touching the golden dome of City Hall to the sunset settling over the shrimp boats at Tybee, and everything in-between. There is such an interesting mix of people here from professional to artists, wealthy and struggling. We love being a part of the fabric that makes this community whole.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hollyoaksotm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyoaks_otm/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollyOaksOTM/
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/hollyoaks-otm
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HollyOaks_otm
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@HollyOaks_otm
- TikTok: https://tiktok.com/HollyOaks_otm
