Bluffton wedding venue business owner pleads guilty to operating without license
The owner of a popular event venue in the Bluffton area pleaded guilty to operating without a business license following her arrest last fall.
Bethany Boles Hewitt, 49, was fined $50 for the conviction after entering the plea on Tuesday, according to Beaufort County judicial records.
Hewitt Oaks, the namesake of its owner, is a 25-acre “all-inclusive” venue near Pritchardville that offers catering and event planning services. The site is a popular choice for weddings, and is known for its peaceful countryside views and a ceremony space under a live oak tree draped in Spanish moss.
Hewitt was arrested Sept. 24 as the South Carolina Department of Revenue accused her of continuing to host weddings and events without a retail license. That license was revoked in early February due to approximately $148,000 in unpaid business taxes, according to an arrest warrant.
The business’ license was renewed shortly after, according to Hewitt, who attributed the issue to a “filing error.”
“It was due to a filing error by an employee, but ultimately, I am responsive (sic) for everything that happens in the company, so I accepted full responsibility,” Hewitt said in an email on Thursday.
She said the licensing issue did not affect their ability to host any events, including a wedding that was scheduled for Sept. 26. However, organizers at the Bluffton Self Help nonprofit decided not to host their October gala at the venue, according to Hewitt.
“While this decision was disappointing, I am so deeply grateful for all the clients who rallied around me, steadfastly believing in us,” Hewitt wrote to The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette, adding that she was “excited” for the over 50 events the venue has booked for 2026.
Hewitt Oaks traces its roots back to 2002, when Hewitt founded her event planning and catering company, Southern Graces. The Hewitts met in 2005 at a catering conference in Las Vegas and opened the venue in 2018.
Company faced tax liens, past and current lawsuits
Records and legal filings show the recent licensing error was not Hewitt Oaks’ only financial issue. An SCDOR database search shows the company has had 35 tax liens filed against it since 2019. About half were listed as resolved.
“I am confident and thankful for my right standing with the state,” Hewitt wrote in response to a question by The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette about the tax delinquencies.
Hewitt, her husband Christopher and landowner Wanda Wetherington were sued last year by Bluffton-based Shoreline Construction and Development, which alleged it was not paid in time for work performed at Hewitt Oaks last year.
The Hewitts and Shoreline were also jointly sued by Virginia-based Eagle Fire Inc. for failure to pay after Eagle Fire installed a fire system. Liens for both lawsuits against the Hewitts have since been released, documents show.
As recently as Jan. 15, Hewitt and Hewitt Oaks were sued by Bluffton-based landscaping company The Greenery, Inc. for allegedly failing to pay almost $216,000 owed for maintenance services performed at the venue. The lawsuit remained pending in Beaufort County civil court as of Friday.
Next up on Hewitt Oaks’ calendar is a Burgundy wine-tasting experience Jan. 29 and the opportunity to pick up a ready-made Super Bowl party meal on Feb. 7.
This story was originally published January 23, 2026 at 11:25 AM.
