RINCON — A beautiful, spacious new wedding and events venue at 1800 McCall Road conducted its grand opening Sept. 17. 

The Waters Estate owner Andrea Allsbrook, also the owner of Ms. Jean’s Restaurant, said she had been planning for the big day for more than four years.

The grand opening featured lots of vendors, offering everything from food an cakes to wedding dresses and photography. The event was set up to show off the 57-acre venue and its diverse wedding settings.

Allsbrook said she was following through with a desire of her mother — the original Ms. Jean — who always wanted to have a “party house,” a place where she could have events and where she could cater.

After Allsbrook and her brother, Walt Waters, catered an event in Statesboro, they got the idea to start planning on developing a place where they could have different kinds of events. After praying about it, they decided to see where the idea might go. 

The venue includes a 10-acre lake and a 3,600-square-foot pavilion for events under cover. There is also a smaller, casual area with a fire pit and a swing called “The Cove’. Another striking feature is the “Island,” which has a long walkway lined with columns.

Allsbrook said that her 20 years in the hotel industry helped with making sure the logistics worked and had a good flow for attendees and caterers. One key building on site has a catering station, a dressing area or bridal suite  and restrooms.  

Allsbrook emphasized that they want people to be able to hold all kinds of events from weddings to reunions, birthday parties and class reunions. They have already hosted a wedding shower and a concert for the American Cancer Society.

What the Waters Estate provides is just the venue, leaving it up to the user to decide on an event planner, caterer, rental company, etc.  Allsbrook wants other local businesses to share in this opportunity and cited companies like 21 Rentals, That Dress, and Ally’s Bakery, among many others.

Ally’s Bakery, owned by Allyson Porter, was a vendor at the grand opening. She is planning to open her business on 4th Avenue in Rincon beside the old Rincon Elementary School, in early November. She said this was her first time to be at a bridal show.

Porter loved the fact that the venue had so many different areas to hold weddings and have photos made. The large parking area was also a plus.

Mia Mayer, owner of That Dress, though the grand opening was a great way to show off her wedding dresses.

 She said, “I think it’s a beautiful piece of property. With the openness of it, I really think it’ll do well.”