In reply to the recent low reviews posted, let me clarify a few things that were not disclosed by the "disgruntled" clients and guests: 1. Bride & groom were provided with a handbook including a contract specifically stating cleanup requirements and their responsibility as to who they inform/ask to do so. We have NEVER told a client that everything has to be out and cleaned that evening. They have until noon the next day to take down decorations, personal items and remove trash. ONLY chairs and tables are to be taken down that evening and our staff monitors this closely to avoid food & drink being left on them which may attract insects. Miscommunication on the clients end and failure to read the provided handbook is not our responsibility. Also, the complaint about asking for insurance and cleanup deposit check is a requirement by the owners before ANY event begins. This can be done in advance. 2. Our staff does not "watch like hawks" as mentioned, they keep their distance and make occasional rounds to check bathrooms, trash cans, unsafe storage/behavior and overall safety check of guests and equipment. This group assigned bartenders who did not monitor alcohol consumption in a professional manner, leading to several areas of vomited up sangria with fruit, as well as one guest passed out cold on the grounds in his own vomit. As a staff member, I was accosted by that same intoxicated guest as well as another, both of whom threw their arm around my shoulders, almost knocking me down. Guests also discarded numerous cigarette butts and other trash with no respect or regard to the facility, the owners, or other guests. 3. The comparison of the owner, a 78 year old elderly woman to a "German SS" guard is not only uncouth and in very bad taste, it is also derogatory as well as defamatory, and it is highly recommended that the comment be removed immediately, if not sooner. She is a well-respected member of the community and has never been discourteous to anyone. 4. As for "eating the guests food", the owner asked the caterer for business cards as they were taking down the buffet to leave. The CATERER invited the owner to try their leftovers prior to being discarded. Anything else is a bald-faced lie. 5. The Bridal Cottage, which was referred to as a "fish camp" was recently completely redone following last years record flood. It is a place for the bridal party to use for their convenience prior to their event. It is not meant to be a showplace, but rather a clean, comfortable environment for wedding prep. If the client had any problem with the building, they should have addressed their concerns immediately to a staff member. 6. What started out as a lovely event turned into a boozefest, with men stumbling around in unbuttoned shirts, understandable for younger people who can't hold their liquor, but completely obnoxious given the average age of the attendees. 7. Upper Mill has hosted numerous events for many years and has many 4 & 5 star reviews on its Facebook page that attest to its reputation as a desired venue. The name-calling and childish negative remarks of a few people getting over a bad hangover will not tarnish that. Excessive consumption of alcohol contributed greatly to miscommunication with staff members. They are the exception to the rule, and therefore have been written off as such. read more

***Apparently my review was too long for one post, so read the first one before continuing! As I was saying, I went back with my planner. My planner spoke with her alone about the pavilion, so I'm not sure what all was said, but she convinced her to let me use all of the space for an extra $500. Even though we'd originally agreed I could use it all in the first place, I was just excited it wouldn't look weird. Then the weekend before my wedding rain from Hurricane Joaquin flooded half of the venue. The river rose so much that the river pavilion and bridal suite were halfway underwater, and there was standing water all over the place. Patsy didn't even call me to inform me of this. My fiancé called that weekend and she said at that point everything was fine. Then my mom called a few days later just to check in again and she informed her that the river had risen and they were underwater. Not sure if she'd planned on calling to tell me this or not, but I wouldn't have known if my mom hadn't called back. So the next day (3 days before my wedding) I went to see it. It looked terrible. I knew it wasn't her fault though, so I wasn't going to ask for any money back. But while I was there she said "Since you can't use the river pavilion anymore, I'll go ahead and let you use all of the main pavilion as a favor." WHAT. As politely as I could, I told her we were already using all of it anyway, that's what that extra $500 was for. She got very snippy back saying that no, it was to use half of it. $500 to add another little fourth of a pavilion to make half of it? Who in their right mind would ever agree to that? She was once again going back on her word. I called my planner right away and she agreed that it was crazy what I was dealing with. Half of my venue was underwater, it was calling for more rain that weekend, and that lady was impossible. Needless to say, we found a different (indoor) venue the next day (two days before my wedding). It was so stressful but worth it not to deal with Patsy Buck on my wedding day. Oh and I almost forgot, she also didn't want me rehearsing there the night before. There was no other event going on. She just didn't didn't want us to. Had to talk her into that too. To top it all off, Patsy came up to my new venue asking why I wasn't going with her anymore and told other people there that she tried to please us the best she could. RIGHT. Not calling her crazy, but you can come to your own conclusions. Do not work with this woman. She almost ruined my wedding. End of rant. read more

I'd like to respond to the review I just read. First off all, every group is presented with an event guide that lists 3 packages. It has always had three packages for "parts" of the venue. All weddings are provided slots from Friday noon until Sunday noon (shutting down at midnight). The new pavilion was a $200,000.00 investment taken on by the owner of the very private property in order to afford events to save money. Past events, including my own daughters required paying a ground usage fee, renting tents, renting restrooms, renting tables/chairs. Ours cost almost $10,000.00 for all of that with numerous vendors not including music, flowers etc. The current MAXIMUM price with all structures and full pavilion seating 200 with tables/chairs is less than $4,500.00. All In. Of course the main reception area is broken down by size (3 packages). Also the bridal suite (which other venues in this area do not even offer) was rustic/old. It like must of the property is on the Historic Registry. very little can be changed unless damaged. (which thanks to the thousand year flood Jill mentioned was approved to be done and has been completed. At no time was areas promised to be sodded for any particular guest. The Oaks are 300 years old and grass does not grow directly under them. That's the reason for all the shrubbery, and other items on the grounds. BTW the area mentioned is 30 feet wide by 40 feet long. All other areas surrounding the New pavilion were sodded in construction, and other areas are natural vegetation. The Flood that devastated not only Upper Mill but also almost every town/city in the state wasn't scheduled by Mrs. Buck. The main house is not open to the public, it is a private residence. She graciously offered the wedding to take place on prohibited areas at the house, as well as offered access to her private home for the bridal party. As with most cases, one side of any review is meaningless. I'd suggest folks visit the facebook page "upper Mill Plantation" and review the hundreds of real brides who used this venue )some even in bad weather and during the flood month). The Event Guide is also available there. Mrs Buck cannot be held liable for people who do not read what they are provided before and during contracts. Rick Tyler read more

My review of #UpperMillPlantation Not very happy with almost every part of the experience, where do I begin. Maybe I'll start with the positives. The property is very pretty and well maintained on the out side portions we used, The Pavillion is large and spacious with plenty of lighting and fans to keep you cool on the hot evenings, very nice building. The oaks trees add that southern charm and is perfect for weddings and seating under them. I'll give credit to the owner for keeping the grounds in tip top shape. BUT !!!!!!!!!!!! The "Bridal Suite" is a shack, Bathroom was dirty, no towels of any type to dry your hands if you washed them, musty moldy smell in the little shak, if you want to call it a bridle suite it should be a bit more elegant other than a fishing camp. The so called supervisor of the property is a total "ASS" who has a superiority complex, the lady that owns the the property is sort of like a German S S officer, No clue how treat people, our guest had to help pick up chairs and stack tables, the owner cursed one of my guest because he was not stacking the chairs to her standards, totally unacceptable. She acted as though some food that was dropped on her concrete slab was the end of the world and said we were going to have to pressure wash the entire slab, yea right. She hovered over the event all night waiting for anyone to step out of line, she even had the nerve to help herself to food that we catered for the GUESTS. The staff hung out on golf cart buggies in front of the event all night waiting to pounce. Very un-nerving. Most of the guest felt intimidated by thier presence most of the night. Most of our guest said the felt as though they were walking on egg shells due to the staffs presence. I would not recommend Upper Mill Plantation for any wedding event. My daughter and her new husband should have left this event with tears of joy, they should have felt as though they were on top of the world, newly married and ready to spend their lives happy and satisfied that they started their life together surrounded by friends and family and a very happy memory of the perfect wedding.... Well..... I hope that the owners of this venue are saddened by the fact that my Daughter and new Son in Law were so upset that they left upset, hurt, angry and sad due to the way the were treated and also the way their guest were treated. Shame on you Upper Mill Plantation !!! You had an opportunity to make a lasting beautiful memory, you blew it big time. read more