Amazing Waterfront Venue

Real Weddings

November 22, 2022

Diana and Cody want an Amazing Waterfront Venue

One thing is true of the Golden Empire, there is no shortage of amazing waterfront venues. When Diana and Cody first reached out to Swanson Signature Events looking for assistance planning their dream wedding, they were on the hunt for an outdoor venue on the coast. They were open to locations such as Hilton Head Island, Savannah, and the Ford Plantation; however, Jekyll Island was their favorite.

Diana and Cody on Jekyll Island

Diana and Cody were in medical school full time at Mercer. Because they had limited and precious free time, they spent as much time as possible outdoors. Jekyll Island’s Villa Ospo had the open air that Diana and Cody were looking for as the backdrop of their ceremony. A tented reception between the historic cottage and the water completed the wedding event. As a result, the venue was a perfect fit for their 80 guests. 

Villa Ospo Ceremony

Villa Ospo of Jekyll Island

The cottage was built in 1927 and functioned as the vacation home of Walter Jennings. Jennings, a former director of Standard Oil, built the cottage as a winter getaway for his family. Walter and Jean fully embraced the relaxed island style. After that, they turned Villa Ospo into an informal welcome center for Jekyll Island. Jefferson Memorial architect, John Russell Pope, designed the cottage with ten bedrooms, five bathrooms, and a magnificent great room with a seamless connection between indoors and out. A cypress-lined alley and a secret garden with a lily pond grace the beautiful grounds. On the other hand, Villa Ospo also sports historic Jekyll’s only garage. Jennings was undoubtedly an auto enthusiast!

Amazing Waterfront Venue changes hands

Long after the death of Walter Jennings, Mr. and Mrs. Scarboro discovered and acquired Villa Ospo in 1955. Dewey brought unique antiques from New Orleans, and Grace, an artist, restored and embellished the eclectic Spanish exterior. They transformed the property into a lavish showplace and for several years operated it as an attraction. Guests could sleep in a bed rumored to have once belonged to Napoleon’s second wife. 

Don’s Special Events

The Venue Speaks for itself

Diana and Cody chose a venue that already expressed the aesthetic they loved. An established setting allowed them to have more room in the budget for florals and decor. Villa Ospo, this amazing waterfront venue, exuded the organic bohemian vibe Diana and Cody desired for their wedding day. It was the perfect amazing waterfront venue for them.

Today, Villa Ospo houses the offices for the Jekyll Island Foundation and can be rented for special events by contacting the Jekyll Island Museum

It was our pleasure to serve Diana and Cody for their wedding day!

  1. […] first wedding cake was for a wedding at Villa Ospo in 2017. It was a three-tier, semi-naked almond pound cake with fresh florals. Today, one of her […]

leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *