Emily & Jesse at Seibels House

Historic Columbia’s four downtown properties offer the perfect venue to host your next celebration. Whether it’s a fairy tell wedding, a staff retreat, a birthday party or a family reunion—whatever you need, Historic Columbia can accommodate you and your group.

Emily and Jesse Folk chose to make history on their wedding day at the Seibels House, Columbia’s oldest home. Located in the heart of the Robert Mills Historic District, this property was built around 1796 and has been a place of reflection and celebration for more than 200 years.

It’s easy to make the Seibels House feel like your own with customizable seating layouts as well as a flexibility to fit your style. While the house itself has a classic feel, its versatility allows renters to paint with their own contemporary brush. Emily and Jesse brought their own new Southern style on their wedding day.

The couple was married in the ceremony garden, used the patio and lawn for cocktails and hosted the reception on the home’s first floor. Emily and Jesse strung lights across the lawn to create an open-air “room” for their guests to sip and savor in at dusk. Over the course of an evening, the Seibel’s signature black-and-white tiled sun porch can go from a perfect portrait studio to a cocktail reception space to a dance floor.

The Seibels House also has private suites for the couple and their party to get ready. One suite features two full-length antique mirrors and brick fireplace, while the other affords a beautiful view of the home’s gardens. (A perfect spot to peep at your guests as they arrive!)

The couple put a twist on the typical antipasto spread by switching it up with a custom pickle bar from local favorite War Mouth. Growlers from the couple’s favorite local bars and breweries served as funky and playful centerpieces. (Jesse’s boutonniere was a fun combination of hops & wheat pinned neatly with a Stella Artois bottlecap.) In lieu of a guestbook, folks could sign the gorgeous rings of a cedar tree.

While the Seibels House was the perfect venue for Emily and Jesse, Historic Columbia does offer three other properties for you to choose from: the romantic Robert Mills Carriage House & Gardens, the stately Gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion, and the whimsical Gardens of the Woodrow Wilson Family Home.

Too difficult to choose? Why not host your ceremony on the grounds of the Robert Mills House, then stroll across to the magnolia alley at Hampton-Preston for the reception? Or have your rehearsal dinner in the Robert Mills Carriage House, and your ceremony under the canopy at Woodrow Wilson?

We invite you to explore the possibilities and schedule a tour. Our rental coordinator, Brittany Buckner, is here to make your event one for the history books. To learn more, visit our rentals page, call (803) 252-7742 ext. 11 or email rentals@historiccolumbia.org.

Photographer: Alexis Schwallier
Tables/Chairs/linens: Something Borrowed
Catering: Hudson’s Classic Catering
Pickle Bar: Zarah Newton from The War Mouth
Invitation: Ali Loncar
Guest Book: Crafted by the best man
Hair & Make Up: Amy from Metropolis Salon
Bouquet & Florals: Mother of the bride
Centerpieces & decorations: Crafted by the bride
Koozies: Image Ink