History

Just 45 minutes north of Atlanta is the elegant and romantic pink marble mansion, known as the Tate House. The classic southern romantic fantasy is felt throughout the stately setting. The gardens invite you to stroll through the centuries old oaks and to host your garden wedding amongst the six flowing fountains and picturesque statues surrounding the Atlanta Area Wedding Venue’s property. This North Georgia wedding venue features the 19,000 square foot mansion and 4,000 square foot formal ballroom. It is an excellent example of the “second renaissance revival style,” which is an adaptation of Italian and English classical styles.

The Tate House is listed as the Pink Palace in the National Register of Historic Places, making it the perfect destination for your Georgia historic home wedding. Built as a private estate home by Colonel Sam Tate, land baron, philanthropist and business tycoon in 1926, it is now known and loved as an Atlanta Area Wedding Venue.

In 1834, Samuel Tate purchased the land the Tate House stands on and moved his family from Lumpkin County, Georgia. His son, Stephen Tate, began the mining of marble, which eventually placed Tate, Georgia on the map. It was Stephen Tate’s son, the eldest of his 19 children, known as “Colonel Sam Tate,” who consolidated the marble interests and gained control by 1917. Designed by the International Architectural Firm of Walker and Weeks, Cleveland, Ohio, building began in 1921. Legends were told of a rare, bright pink marble, referred to as “Etowah” marble. In 1920-21, Colonel Sam began watching the rare Etowah Pink Marble that came from the quarry just behind the house.

Setting the matching pieces aside, he began construction of the Pink Marble Mansion. By 1926, Colonel Sam, his brother Luke (family attorney) and sister Florentine resided at the mansion. The second floor has four bedrooms, each featuring its own marbled bathrooms, mantled fireplaces, plus a morning kitchen and an office. The summer kitchen on the first floor has the original triple oak iceboxes and tin sink with butler’s pantry.

Colonel Sam died in 1938 at the age of 78, only 12 years after moving into his house. Neither he, his brother Luke nor his sister Miss Flora ever married. The last of the immediate family left the house in 1955. The house remained unoccupied and neglected until 1974, when Ms. Ann Laird of Arizona discovered it. She purchased the house and began a 10-year restoration project. In January 2001, the estate was purchased by Holbrook Properties, LP. Lois Holbrook and Marsha Mann plan to continue the restoration of the mansion and gardens. Recently named one of the top “must see” places in Georgia by Georgia Magazine and one of “Georgia’s Most Gorgeous Wedding Venues” by The Venue Report, the beautiful pink marble mansion is one of the most photographed homes in Georgia and one of the most popular North Georgia Special Events Venues.

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