Wyche Pavilion | Larkins | Greenville, SC
Location: Greenville, SC
Wedding/Reception Capacity: 250
Contact: Larkins on the River
So, to start this one off I must say that the Wyche Pavilion holds a special place in our hearts. On March 18th, 2006 Craig and I were married in the Courtyard beside Larkins on the River and hosted our wedding reception in the Wyche Pavilion. It was a 70 degree spring day in gorgeous downtown Greenville…a day we will never forget. I remember when we first laid eyes on the Wyche pavilion… we were walking through Falls Park and traveled under the Main Street bridge to see the stately shell of the former factory sitting on the banks of the Reedy River. Sandwiched between the Peace Center for the Performing Arts and the Michelin building on Main Street, this little jewel was hidden on the north side of Falls Park that was not well-traveled at the time. Boy how things have changed! It is now one of the most popular locations in all of Greenville, SC. We are in awe of the development of the area and are so proud to call Greenville home. This beautiful city continues to amaze us.
I remember walking down from the Westin Poinsett Hotel where we got ready, down the stairs to Japanese Dogwood Lane where the Wyche Pavilion sat and getting goosebumps in anticipation of our wedding ceremony. I can’t believe so much time has passed since that special day, but every time we walk past that spot on the Reedy it brings a smile to our faces and we hold hands a little tighter.
The Wyche Pavilion, as it is now known, was originally built in 1904 for the Greenville Coach Factory’s paint shop. The Greenville Coach Factory manufactured horse drawn carriages and wagons in a multi-acre complex along the Reedy River. It was a booming time for manufacturing and industry in South Carolina. But with the invention of the automobile, the coach factory soon had to close. In 1925 Duke mayonnaise occupied the pavilion as their first official factory. After World War II, as with most cities, manufacturing and populations in Greenville moved out of the cities and into the suburbs. Most of the industry in downtown and the grand factory buildings they occupied were abandoned. This is a trend we are happy to see has been reversed in Greenville today! Thanks to the vision of Mayor Knox White and generous donations from Harriet and Tommy Wyche and friends, this former dilapidated industrial center is a booming spot for events, concerts, weddings, and festivals.
Today, the building is just a shell of its former self. The two-story handmade brick building with double rows of arched openings (formerly windows) hosts 50+ weddings and receptions a year in the lofty, rustic, and regal place. We are so excited every time a bride and groom hire us to photograph their wedding at the Wyche Pavilion. On those evenings, we are transported back to our wedding day, and are flooded with happy memories. And the unique building itself inspires creativity in our photos.
As Greenville wedding photographers, we are lucky to have such a beautiful venue in which to work. And for the lucky brides who get married at the pavilion, they are treated to fabulous service and divine cuisine from Larkin’s on the River. Below are a few more of our favorite images that we have taken at the Wyche Pavilion, enjoy!!
