Founded in 2015 by Mark and Stephanie Smith, the Venue at White Oaks Farm was born from a vision to reiengineer the wedding experience. With an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to value and service, they built not just a beautiful destination venue, but genuine bonds of trust with clients, families, and vendors across the Grand Strand. In April 2026, Mark and Stephanie passed the torch to a new couple with local roots, entrepreneurial experience, and the same dedication to creating exceptional experiences for brides, grooms, and their families.
Lauren and Chandler met during their sophomore year at the College of Charleston in the spring of 2008. They were wed in Charleston in November 2011, their children, Sayla, Holden and Coltare are the center of their world. After a decade in Charlotte, NC, in July of 2020 they made the faith filled decision to relocate to Lauren’s hometown, Myrtle Beach, SC.
Chandler and Lauren are committed to upholding the same meticulous attention to detail, service, and initiative that their predecessors started for them. At their core, they love people more than anything, and they truly derive a deep sense of purpose and joy when they see the moments people experience with their loved ones here at White Oaks.
With roots in southern Georgia and upstate South Carolina, Chandler graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in Business Administration before building a highly successful fifteen-year career in the CPG industry as a senior sales and business leader. Chandler has a solutions-oriented mind problem solving quickly when challenges arise, as they inevitably do on wedding days. Chandler now spends his workdays taking care of the property and handling the financial operations of White Oaks. He loves being out and about more than behind a desk nowadays, and taking care of couples and their families on their big day is highly rewarding to him.
Myrtle Beach born and raised, Lauren grew up in the life of small business ownership, with both parents and grandparents owning and operating businesses in the local restaurant and hospitality industries. Shortly after their move to Myrtle Beach, Lauren took over her parents’ business until it was sold in 2023. Lauren holds a degree in Psychology from the College of Charleston and a graduate degree in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling from Wake Forest University.
Alongside handling content, design, and marketing for White Oaks, Lauren loves connecting with couples and their families and works alongside Wendy with planning for our all inclusive clients. Our all -nclusive package also gives you unlimited access to Lauren alongside Wendy. You can often find Lauren walking around on wedding days taking photos and video while also helping Chandler and Wendy ensure a perfect experience for each and every couple.
The sister of former owner Stephanie Smith, Wendy is an invaluable part of White Oaks. Native to Conway, SC and residing in Charlotte, NC, Wendy brings 20+ years of corporate operations management experience and five years of wedding industry experience specific to White Oaks. As Venue Director, Wendy handles everything from ongoing operations management to day-of vendor and family coordination. Alongside her keen eye for detail, Wendy is forthcoming on costs and budgets, allowing couples to understand from the very beginning of the booking and planning process so there are no hidden surprises later.
Our all-inclusive package gives you exclusive, unlimited access to Wendy at no extra charge. This is something we truly believe no other venue on the Grand Strand can offer and execute at her level, and she is exclusively at White Oaks. With an impeccable reputation, Wendy is one of the more valuable aspects of booking with White Oaks.