EP# 229: Behind Twickenham House: Where Weddings Become Family

What makes Jocelyn Hunter with Twickenham House a good neighbor?

Tucked away in the breathtaking mountains of Western North Carolina sits Twickenham House, a wedding and events venue with a story as unique as the ceremonies it hosts. What began as a beloved family retreat has organically evolved into one of the region's premier wedding destinations through sixteen years of attentive listening and thoughtful growth.

Owner Jocelyn Hunter never set out to create a wedding venue. After building the house on 400 acres of family land in 1990, life circumstances led them to place it on the vacation rental market. When guests began requesting to host weddings on the property, they started with simple tented events. Each rainy season and muddy lawn became an opportunity to improve, leading to annual capital projects that have transformed the property into the comprehensive venue it is today. As Jocelyn explains, "If I had started out to plan and do a wedding venue, it probably wouldn't be what Twickenham is today. It's evolved by listening to our clients."

What sets Twickenham House apart is their all-inclusive approach. General Manager Leigh Powers, who discovered her passion for wedding planning during college, helps dispel the misconception that their pricing is prohibitive. The venue offers in-house planning, coordination, catering through Marcella Provisions, on-site accommodations, and extensive décor options – creating a seamless experience that often proves more valuable and less stressful than coordinating multiple vendors. Each client works with one dedicated planner from booking through departure, turning what could be an overwhelming process into a personalized journey.

Even through significant challenges like Hurricane Helene washing away their access road in 2023, the Twickenham team has demonstrated remarkable resilience. But perhaps their most significant achievement goes beyond physical structures or services – it's the family they've created. Relationships with couples often continue long after wedding days, with one bride even relocating from Florida to Western North Carolina after falling in love with the area during her celebration. As Jocelyn puts it, "We're family, not only with staff, but also with our clients."

Ready to experience the magic of Twickenham House? Visit twickenhamhouse.com to learn more about creating your unforgettable celebration in this extraordinary mountain setting.

To learn more about Twickenham House go to:

https://www.twickenhamhouse.com/

Twickenham House

828-783-8942

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Skip Monty.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Hello everyone and welcome to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
So I'm super excited todaybecause I've got two special
guests in our studio and I'mreally excited to learn all
about them and their business.
And so today I'm sure you willbe too, because today I have the
pleasure of introducing yourgood neighbors, ms Jocelyn
Hunter, who is the owneroperator, and Lee Powers, who is

(00:34):
general manager of TwickenhamHouse.
Ladies, welcome to the show.

Speaker 3 (00:39):
Hello, thank you.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
So, like I said, we're really excited to learn
all about you guys and what youdo.
So if you don't mind, why don'tyou kick us off one of you by
telling us all about TwickenhamHouse?

Speaker 3 (00:53):
Oh sure, so we've been running Twickenham House
about 16 years.
We are a wedding and eventsvenue.
We are a wedding and eventsvenue and I guess around 2020,
we added catering in to serveour clients all their meals on
site and we mostly do weddings.

(01:13):
But we also do corporate eventsand we've done a quinceanera
and we do family retreats.
A lot of times people who comefor weddings will come back and
do a different type of retreat,so we've done some business that
way.

Speaker 2 (01:34):
Very cool.
Well, how did you guys get intothis business, into the wedding
venue business?

Speaker 3 (01:42):
It's kind of an interesting story.
I didn't start out doing awedding and events business.
My husband's from Ashe Countymany, many generations and he
grew up there.
His grandfather had a largelike a 1600 acre farm which is
now a golf course, but he justhad a special love for the area.

(02:05):
So we purchased the propertylike in 1990, we had 400 and
some acres and we built which isnow Twickenham house.
We built the house just to be afamily gathering place and we
ended up living there for sixyears and during that time I

(02:28):
homeschooled my children.
When they were ready to be putinto public school, we moved to
Boone to put them in schoolthere and the house sat empty.
So, as everyone knows, it's nota good idea to leave a property
vacant for any period of time.

(02:49):
So we decided to put it on thevacation rental market to keep
people in there and then we justkind of use the money to keep
the house up, kept, and so itwas in use and then we just
people just started asking tohost weddings there and we
started with just doing tents onthe lawn and after a rainy fall

(03:15):
we decided that tents wouldn'twork anymore because there was
no grass left after a fewweddings and we felt horrible
for the brides having theirreception on a muddy lawn.

Speaker 2 (03:29):
Oh, my goodness yeah.

Speaker 3 (03:32):
So really it's.
We didn't intend on doing awedding venue, but really it's
like a product of all the bridesthat have been there.
So we just listened, and onwhat people would suggest and
ask for.
And we we usually do a capitalproject each year just to
improve on our, you know, on theproperty and better serve our

(03:55):
guests.
So we, it's, it's been ajourney.
So it's been a journey, butit's been a journey of just
really just listening.
If I had started out to planand do a wedding venue, it
probably wouldn't be whatTwickenham is today.
So it's, really is.

Speaker 2 (04:15):
It's just sort of evolved into what it is.

Speaker 3 (04:17):
It's evolved by listening to our clients.

Speaker 2 (04:21):
And awesome.
Well, Lee, what about you?
How'd you get into thisbusiness?

Speaker 4 (04:26):
Yeah, yeah.
So when I was in collegechanged my major quite a few
times and no clue what I wantedto do.
Eventually my dad, you know,kind of brought up wedding
planning to me, said you'vealways loved people and planning
events and designing.
Have you ever thought aboutbeing a wedding planner?
Of course, at that point I'donly seen a J-Lo movie called

(04:47):
the Wedding Planner and had noclue what that actually looked
like.
So yeah, going into my senioryear of college, I interned at
another venue in Boone,absolutely fell in love with
wedding planning and kind of youknow all different sides of the
venue, so stuck with them for alittle bit, got a full time job

(05:08):
right out of college, decided Iwas ready to move on and kind
of put myself out there, appliedwith Twickenham on Indeed and
she got back to me really quickso I'd come over for an
interview.
And history ever since.

Speaker 2 (05:23):
Very cool.

Speaker 3 (05:24):
We weren't quite ready for a second wedding
planner at the time, but I lovedLee and I was like I want to
hire you.

Speaker 4 (05:31):
Can you just wait a?

Speaker 3 (05:31):
few months.
So we found jobs for her to doto make money.
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (05:41):
So App State.

Speaker 4 (05:43):
Yes, I went to App State in Boone.
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (05:46):
Nice, Well, I'm an app dad.
My daughter class of 24.

Speaker 4 (05:49):
So awesome Congrats.

Speaker 2 (05:52):
Oh, thank you.
Same to you.
So what are some myths ormisconceptions in the wedding
venue industry?
I'm sure there are some.

Speaker 4 (06:00):
Yeah, absolutely there's plenty.
I would say, you know, one thatwe receive a lot is that our
venue is quite pricey or clientsworry that you know they don't
have the budget for us.
You know we offer a lot onin-house.
We offer in-house planningcoordination.
Of course we mentioned ourcatering company, marcella

(06:22):
Provisions.
We offer on-site accommodations.
So you know, when you kind ofsee that big number together, it
can be a little intimidating.
However, you know a lot ofpeople don't realize when
they're booking a venue orbooking an outside planner,
booking an outside caterer, youknow, renting decor, buying

(06:42):
decor, that adds up really,really quick.
So when you kind of comparethose two totals you realize, oh
, you know, we're actually notthat expensive.
It's actually a lot easier, youknow, to use everything kind of
in-house through us, which isagain kind of like Jocelyn
mentioned something we'veevolved into after you know,

(07:03):
kind of hearing what clientsreally need.
We also offer a lot of decor onsite.
I always joke, you know,someone came to us and wanted a
wedding tomorrow.
We could, we could do itbecause we do yeah.

Speaker 2 (07:16):
Don't we offer one-stop shop exactly,
absolutely very cool, very coolwell and the other thing that's.

Speaker 3 (07:24):
I always think that's kind of interesting on the
wedding, when you're always onthe industry, when you're trying
to compare apples to appleslike our wedding planners that
they have they do.
When we compare with otheroutside planners we do so much
more but sometimes it's it'shard to get to get across what

(07:46):
you do because people they getmarried once and it's a learning
process the whole time but it's, but you're learning something
you'll never do again.
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (07:55):
Right Hopefully.

Speaker 4 (07:56):
Hopefully yeah, or if you do it'd be different so.

Speaker 3 (08:02):
So, it's so hard to convey just the level of service
that we provide.
We have one person right fromthe beginning that you're
assigned to as soon as you book,and they walk you through till
you pack your bags and leave.

Speaker 2 (08:21):
Wow, very nice, very nice.
Well, service makes all thedifference in the world,
especially with word of mouthadvertising, which is some of
the best advertising you can get.

Speaker 3 (08:30):
Absolutely.
I have to say, when Lee wasdoing more planning, she planned
one lady's wedding and then hersister the following year.

Speaker 4 (08:42):
Yeah, decided to get married with us.
I think that is pretty, prettyhuge.

Speaker 2 (08:50):
For sure.
Well, ladies, outside of work,what do y'all, what do y'all
like to do for fun?

Speaker 3 (08:54):
Yeah, well, I have four children, so they they are
my fun Getting close to emptynesting, so that'll be sad, but
now I just visit them in otherplaces, yeah.

Speaker 4 (09:12):
I love being outside hiking, of course, taking
advantage of the beautiful areawe live in, and I love working
out.
So those are some of my funactivities outside of work.

Speaker 2 (09:22):
Very cool, very cool.
Now is the Blue Ridge Parkwayopen, now.

Speaker 4 (09:26):
It is Now.
There's still some trails,different spots, that are closed
or being maintained, but theparkway itself is open again,
which is awesome.

Speaker 2 (09:34):
Awesome.

Speaker 3 (09:36):
Yeah, you can, there's been quite a few.
I like to do a lot of hikes aswell.

Speaker 2 (09:42):
Awesome, same here.
That's a beautiful area whereyou guys, live Sounds great for
it.
Well, if, jocelyn, if could youdescribe or think of a hardship
or a life challenge?
Actually, either one of youwant to take a hardship or a
life challenge that you'veovercome and how it made you
stronger in the end, eitherprofessionally or personally.

Speaker 3 (10:06):
Oh, I mean, the hugest one was the Hurricane
Helene last fall.
We lost our road completely andhad to either move or cancel
weddings and, as you can imagine, weddings are such an emotional
time.
I mean we would just spend dayscrying in the office.

(10:28):
I mean, same thing with COVID.
I mean I guess we're a littlebetter prepared, having gone
through COVID and similarsituation and trying to
accommodate people and maintainthe business.

Speaker 2 (10:45):
So did you guys, as far as your facilities were okay
, except for the road, or yeah,the facilities were fine.

Speaker 3 (10:52):
I mean we were really blessed with, like, the
department of transportation.
They came in and we I wasshocked, yeah, I mean we had
canceled weddings, thinking thatit would take like six months.
I mean, there literally was noroad, it was a river.

Speaker 4 (11:09):
Wow.

Speaker 3 (11:10):
And they were really awesome.
I mean they were so amazing.
But the NDC came in and rebuiltit and took about six weeks.
I mean they didn't start forright away because we are
secondary road, but yeah Stillsix weeks is no short time frame
when it's your road.

(11:30):
Six weeks was a rebuild.
It probably took them a coupleof months before they could get
to it.

Speaker 2 (11:37):
Oh wow, oh wow.
So it was a while.
Well, we were very fortunate to.
I live in a neighborhood on theNolichucky river which flooded
and on the Tennessee side, andvery fortunate, and it's been
amazing to me how the communityhas come together.
You know, all over WesternNorth Carolina, especially
Asheville, you know BooneMarshall, you know it's been

(12:03):
amazing to me how people, howresilient Western North Carolina
is.

Speaker 3 (12:07):
Yes, it's huge with our church.
Samaritan's Purse was stationedat our church.

Speaker 2 (12:14):
Oh, wow.

Speaker 3 (12:15):
So we were kind of like the hub and my son now
works on the rebuild projectthat they're rebuilding 500
homes.

Speaker 2 (12:22):
Wow, that's incredible.

Speaker 3 (12:26):
So it's been an amazing process.

Speaker 2 (12:27):
Please thank your son for us.
We want to support what he'sdoing.
So if you guys could think ofone thing that you would like
our listeners to remember aboutTickenham House, what would that
be?
I?

Speaker 3 (12:43):
think cause we're like a family.
I have four sons, so this hasbeen a fun business to get
daughters.

Speaker 4 (12:54):
Staff is like family, even the you know the couples
that come through and getmarried with us very rarely is,
are we not, you know,maintaining that relationship
after a wedding.
You actually had a bride movehere, I actually did, yeah.
A bride that got married withme several years ago.
We're now really great friends.
She just attended my babyshower.

(13:14):
She was at my wedding, movedfrom Florida to this area after
her wedding because she fell inlove with it so much.
So, yeah, we're family, notonly with staff, but also with
our clients.

Speaker 2 (13:27):
Wow.
Well, it's all family.
That's awesome.
So for those of us, if we havesome listeners who were thinking
about getting hitched, having afamily reunion, just checking
your place out, how can theylearn more?

Speaker 4 (13:41):
Yeah, our website is a great place for that.
So that's twickenhamhousecom.
There's different links.
You can click on there to shootus an email or hop on a call,
but that's definitely the bestplace to reach us or find more
information.
And you will reach Lee.
Yeah, you'll probably betalking with me, awesome.

Speaker 2 (14:00):
Awesome, good to remember, very cool.
Well, ladies, I can't tell youhow much I appreciate you taking
time out of your busy scheduleto spend with me and with our
listeners and telling us allabout Twickenham House and
moving forward.
We wish you and your family andcolleagues and Twickenham House
all the best.

Speaker 3 (14:21):
Thank you, oh, thank you.

Speaker 2 (14:23):
And maybe we can have you back sometime when you got
a really big event going on.

Speaker 4 (14:27):
Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2 (14:29):
All right.
Thanks so much, ladies.

Speaker 1 (14:31):
Thank you for listening to the good neighbor
podcast.
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