You might think that event planning in the nation’s number one city (multiple years running) would be like batting softballs. Stunning landscapes, exceptional cultural experiences, the dreamiest places to stay, and a dizzying food scene. And, impossibly, it keeps getting better. So, with a pitch like that, is our destination doing our work for us?
While we do consider ourselves exceedingly blessed to live and work in this coastal corner of heaven, to say that the splendors of Charleston are self-curating minimizes our opportunities to more thoughtfully and enthusiastically offer its abundance to our fantastic (and singular!) clients.
Armed with a keen understanding of each visiting group’s personality and mission, we hatch a vision for the vibe, cadence, colors, and encounters of their Charleston experience. And though the KLH team is absolutely boots-on-the-ground and sleeves rolled up, the truth is that our vision would remain conceptual without the best (again, as in number one) hospitality partners. Not only are they some of the most gifted individuals in the business, but they are positively electrified by the hard work and hustle required to pull off our grand-scale events.
And so it is with gratitude that, in the late days of summer, we take a moment to slow down and celebrate the harmony we enjoy with our local partners. On a warm August evening, we gathered with them at Joe P. Riley Stadium for a night of Riverdogs baseball, a classic ballpark buffet, cold beverages, and post-game fireworks over the marsh. Of course, families came along for the fun, and we had our run of the field-side Murray’s Mezzanine and Shoeless Joe’s Hill. A kid’s zone, goodie bags, and a cameo by Charlie the Riverdog took the night to the next level.
Still, it was what happened at the start of the game – on the pitcher’s mound – that was the heartwarming highlight. Eight year-old Rush Horn of James Island, one of our Clubhouse Kids, experienced the swell of joy that comes with throwing out the first pitch. It is a feeling Rush has had to rediscover since losing his sister Insley – who was just two years older than him – to a brain tumor in 2021. His clubhouse build took place last November, and that special space became one that both honors Insley and his special bond with her, and also welcomes friends to help heal his loneliness. It was our great thrill to witness Rush’s big moment.
Looking around at our KLH crew, our collaborators, and the families that support us all, it was a reminder that we do this work together, and it’s all better for it. Sure, our field is pretty spectacularly situated, and we always aim for the grand slam. But loading those bases takes talent, planning, and teamwork. And Charleston, for all is generous hospitality, is not above throwing us the occasional curveball.
