Yes, indeed we are! We were fortunate to have a very intimate wedding in December with our immediate family, and it was truly a special experience for us. But with that said, we missed all of you, and we missed the opportunity to do what we were looking forward to most: getting our extended family and friends together to meet, spend a few days together, share some laughs, and enjoy delicious southern food and maybe a cocktail or two. So we're changing that with a Celebration Weekend in Charleston in November!
Glad you asked! It’s our first as well, so there’s no precedent to go by. The goal is to get friends and family together for a weekend of events and dinners to toast to the “newly-wed” Holtgrewes and celebrate milestones that we missed this year. We will NOT be doing a formal wedding ceremony on Sunday, but it’s about time that we got Katrina in her dress! Katrina and Mike will renew vows infront of the group, and there will be the cocktails, dinner, dancing, and festivities you would expect at a traditional wedding (but likely even more fun because there's no "pre-wedding" jitters)
Big yes! It's been a difficult year for all of us, and we've missed many milestones. The fact we are all able to be together and safety celebrate calls for a celebration itself! On the Pregibon side, we'll also be raising our glasses not just to our wedding, but also to Katrina's grandmother's 90th birthday (which we missed in January), the birth of baby Emilia James (congratulations Natalie and Michael!), and Daryl's upcoming 70th birthday on Nov 8!
The Welcome Dinner on Saturday at Edmund's Oast will be smart-casual attire: no ripped jeans, athletic wear, baseball hats, or running shoes please. We will be outside on the patio, so please consider bringing a layer incase it gets chilly. There will be fire pits and heaters if needed! The Wedding Celebration on Sunday will be black-tie optional: floor-length or formal cocktail dresses for the ladies, tuxes or dark suits for the gentlemen. Katrina will be wearing her dress, Mike and Mr. P will be wearing tuxedos, and Uncle Clive will likely be wearing a bolo tie. We will be outside at the William Aiken House, so consider bringing a layer in case it gets chilly.
The health and safety of our family and friends is our priority, and we completely understand if you not comfortable joining us during these unprecedented times. For those that are still making the trip, know that we are following state and local safety measures during wedding festivities. All events will also be held outside and in open air venues, and hand sanitizer will be plentiful. If you are not fully vaccinated, we ask you to get a COVID test before you depart for Charleston and once you arrive to Charleston. COVID testing can be scheduled at CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens in Mt. Pleasant.
November is still "high season" in Charleston, so please look to book rooms and flights AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to ensure availability and the best prices. We've listed recommendations in the "Travel and Accommodations" section of the website, and we've secured discount room blocks at a few of these hotels. It's always helpful to check booking websites, like Expedia or Booking.com, for hotel deals as well, and most of these sites provide free modifications to reservations. Lock in a good price early, and adjust if needed later!
Completely up to you- we're just so excited that you're making the trip to celebrate with us! The main wedding events will on Saturday evening and Sunday evening, but there are so many things to do in Charleston and the surrounding areas, guests may want to spend a few more days. Mike and Katrina will be in Charleston from Thursday 11/4 - Monday 11/8.
Fingers crossed, in early November it should be 60's/70's during the day, and 50's in the evening. As always, check online a few days to get a more accurate forecast. The majority of our events will be OUTSIDE, so please bring a warmer layer.
Please see the "Schedule" section of the website. We will also be sprinkling in optional activities for the group Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. There are plenty of things to do on your own in Charleston, and you can find some of our favorites in the "Things to Do" section of the website.
Ubers and taxis are plentiful in Charleston, and Charleston International Airport is less than 20 minutes from downtown. If you plan to explore the areas surrounding Charleston (historic plantations, beaches, Kiawah island, golf courses) a car would be helpful, but not necessary.
We love that there have been so many new family additions in the past year! For planning purposes, please let us know if you'd like to bring your little ones.