Best of 2011: Jaimie and Christopher!
January 18th, 2012Today, we’re back with our Best of 2011 series, where we get to revisit some of our favorite weddings from last season. We enjoyed revisiting Blair and Nick’s day on Wednesday and today, we’re back with Jaimie and Christopher!
As Jaimie told us-
If the saying, “Rain on your wedding day means good luck,” is true, then my husband and I are very lucky. Our wedding day started off like any bride’s worst nightmare. As my soon to be husband at the time and I woke up, the first thing we heard was little droplets hitting the roof of our honeymoon suite. I immediately went into panic mode. If it weren’t for Mary-Catherine and the other staff at the Mankin Mansion I probably would have had a mental breakdown! They assured us that everything would work out and we would have the wedding day we always dreamed of.
As hard as it was to believe them at the time, they were completely right. We had a delicious breakfast with our bridal party, a relaxing massage, and then separated into different cottages to get ready for our wedding. Spending that time getting ready with my mother, sister, soon to be mother in law, and best friends is a memory I will always cherish. My gorgeous bouquet, along with my bridesmaids, was brought to my room and I knew it was getting close to 6 pm, the start of our ceremony. I took one last look out the window, expecting to see the dreaded rain, but instead I caught a glimpse of the sun attempting to break through the clouds. At that moment, I knew my grandmothers and other passed loved ones were with us on our wedding day.
As family, friends and guests started to arrive, the sun pushed out even more. As my father escorted me down the aisle, I stared into the love of my life’s eyes, and knew I was the luckiest bride in the world. Everything worked out perfectly. Our dachshunds Walter and Winifred, ring bearer and flower girl, made it all the way down the aisle without biting or lifting their leg on anyone or anything. Everyone loved the idea of a wine box ceremony, where we put a letter to each other expressing our hopes and dreams in a wine box that would be sealed until our 5th anniversary. The photo booth captured all of our guests and made a lasting memory for everyone. Our guests dined on Italian food and delicious cupcakes topped with eatable pearls and chocolate dachshunds, while Chris and I danced our first dance as a married couple. A slideshow of memories captured from when we met at age 16 until now played in the background. Our friends and family then joined us on the dance floor as we celebrated the night away.
The night ended with sparklers and a song that sums up everything we both felt on our wedding day, “Today Was A Fairytale”.
Now remember-this year’s blog series is going to be a bit different as each wedding will be featured on the Historic Mankin Mansion Blog and the top three posts with the most blog and Facebook comments will be selected as finalists. Each wedding will receive one more feature and the one with the most Facebook and blog comments by the deadline will be the winner! This year, we’re taking it up a notch as we will be hosting a contest along with it for a complimentary overnight room stay at the Mansion, as well as a gift certificate to one of Paula and Martin’s favorite restaurants in town.
So do you just adore Jaimie and Christopher’s wedding and want them to win? Simply comment on this blog post and let us know why you love this wedding so much. If you’d like to score an extra point for the couple, visit our Facebook page and comment under the Facebook post in which we share this fabulous feature.
Thanks Jaimie and Christopher for revisiting your Historic Mankin Mansion Wedding Day with us!
See You Soon,
Paula & Martin Ramirez
Paula and Martin Ramirez are the proprietors of Historic Mankin Mansion, a wedding resort and bed and breakfast just minutes from Downtown Richmond. They enjoy new restaurant finds, Virginia wines and discovering fun events and activities throughout the area for their guests.
January 18th, 2012 at 7:13 am
Jaimie the pictures from your wedding are beautiful. I am so happy for you and Chris. I loved reading the story especially the part about the photobooth and the wine box that was sealed until your 5TH anniversary. You guys look amazing!So so happy for you, and you should defintely win best wedding of 2011
January 18th, 2012 at 7:15 am
I adore these two. They are such a cute couple and deserve to win. I know the both of them and they are just genuinely great people! They had been waiting for this day for a long time!
January 18th, 2012 at 7:44 am
Jaimie and Christopher’s greeter is here to say……..WHAT A DAY! I am not from the area, and really enjoyed my day at the mankin mansion. I loved the grounds, and although, I think it was the coldest day in Virginia this year, I really enjoyed myself. We had a great time at the reception. Jaimie and Chris along with the Mankin Mansion hosted a fine time. I would love to return and actually stay there for a night. I LOVED THIS WEDDING. A GREAT TIME HAD BY ALL!!!!!!!
January 18th, 2012 at 7:51 am
Best day of my life!!
January 18th, 2012 at 7:52 am
I loved attending this wedding – it was a beautiful location and everything was wonderful. Many years of happiness are wished for this very special couple !
January 18th, 2012 at 8:32 am
Jaimie and Chris your wedding was so filled with love! We had such a great time!! xoxo
January 18th, 2012 at 9:21 am
This was an absolutely stunning wedding. Extremely enjoyable – so much fun! Mankin was beautiful!
January 18th, 2012 at 10:22 am
The wedding was beautiful, the bride was stunning and I love the blog she wrote about her special day. I have seen other weddings at the Mankin Mansion and each has been unbelievably gorgeous!
January 18th, 2012 at 11:35 am
Thank you to everyone at the Mankin Mansion for making our wedding day perfect! Everything was beautiful and just how we imagined. Thank you!!!!!
January 18th, 2012 at 11:44 am
The most beautiful wedding I’ve ever seen!
January 18th, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Beautiful!
January 18th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Best day ever!
January 18th, 2012 at 12:12 pm
This is so lovely, I especially love the puppies! The photographer is amazing this was definetely a truly beautiful wedding!
January 18th, 2012 at 12:56 pm
I had a great time! Thanks to Jaimie and Chris for letting me be a part of their special day.
I also enjoyed the food a lot.
January 18th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
The pictures are absolutely beautiful, but you can see the joy and fun and the love between the couple!
January 18th, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Truly a story book wedding. The wine box ceremony was touching and the reception exceptional.
January 18th, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Jaimie and I have been friends for a long time now, and have known each other for even longer. Being able to watch your best friend grow up and take on this giant step in her life was an amazing adventure; one that I will certainly never forget. The wedding ceremony was beautiful and the reception was lots of fun. The Mankin Mansion was the perfect background for all of this. <3
January 18th, 2012 at 4:36 pm
Jaimie, I’m not sure if i did this right but i’m trying like anything to vote for you guys!!! We had a fantastic time and what a beautiful wedding it was !
January 18th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Jaimie this story of your wedding day is great i very much enjoy reading it and i always love looking at your wedding pictures. You guys had one of the most beautiful weddings i have ever seen
January 18th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
So cute! This was a wonderful story.
January 18th, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Jamie and Chris,
Although I couldn’t make it to your special day I can tell by the pictures it was fabulous!!! Jamie, you were a beautiful bride and Chris looked very handsome as well. The photos are amazing. I can tell The Mankin Mansion did a great job, everyone looks relaxed and very happy. I very much enjoyed looking at the photo booth pictures, great idea!! Thanks for sharing and Congratulations to both of you!!
January 18th, 2012 at 4:58 pm
This wedding was soooo beautiful! Awwwhhh. Wish I was there! Jaimie and Chris are so cute together! And I LOVEE the photography pictures! (:
January 18th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
Congrats Jaimie and Christopher
January 18th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
My roommate, Megan, showed me lots of pictures of your wedding! Simply gorgeous! Good luck to you both!
January 18th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
Lexi and I had such a great time at the wedding. Everything was just beautiful! You were a beautiful bride and everyone was having so much fun.
January 18th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
I Miss You cutie:)
January 18th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
Great wedding,,,the absolute best!!!
January 18th, 2012 at 5:16 pm
This was the most amazing wedding I have ever been to. The mansion, ceremony, and reception were beautiful, the food was great, the drinks were plenty, and the staff was very hospitable. Thanks for a great time!
January 18th, 2012 at 5:19 pm
Hope this is how we vote…The wedding blog is awesome! Wish I could have seen how beautiful you looked that day.
January 18th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
This was a great wedding that I had an awesome time at. I’m glad I got to meet you two and I really enjoyed seeing such a happy couple get married! Much luck to you both!
January 18th, 2012 at 5:22 pm
great wedding!
January 18th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
I loved the wedding(: Congratulations!
January 18th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
It was so beautiful everything was perfect! me and my partner had an amazing time!
January 18th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
Beautiful Wedding!
January 18th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
I love the wedding!! Hopefully one day I can have something as nice as this.
January 18th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
The pictures are beautiful and the composition is excellent! The Mankin was a excellent choice for a proper wedding. And just look at those dachshunds in the tutu and tie, now that is BALLER. Congratulations to Jaimie and Chris!!
January 18th, 2012 at 5:46 pm
awsome pictures what a beautiful wedding
im happy for both of you 
January 18th, 2012 at 5:50 pm
Chris&Jamie- Your wedding was a most spectacular event, both colorful and romantic… enjoy your time together.
January 18th, 2012 at 5:53 pm
awesome!! pretty pics…. soooo much fun!!!!! I loved the wedding . gasp!-Nemesie
January 18th, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Dawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, im proud of you kids! best wishes and all that jazz!
January 18th, 2012 at 5:59 pm
The wedding was unbelievably amazing ! Everything was special and beautiful and I’m glad I got to share it with them .
January 18th, 2012 at 6:05 pm
The wedding was absolutely beautiful. We had a wonderful time!
January 18th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
Jaimie and Chris,
I had so much fun at your wedding. It was so beautiful.
Love,
Lexi
January 18th, 2012 at 6:07 pm
I had so much fun at your wedding . It was so beautiful.
Love you.
Lexi
January 18th, 2012 at 6:10 pm
they’re a rly great couple and i wish the best for them
January 18th, 2012 at 6:46 pm
Beautiful wedding and a beautiful place
January 18th, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Beautiful wedding and so happy for the wonderful couple.
January 18th, 2012 at 6:58 pm
I think that they deserve to win this they are an amazing couple and have an amazing family!! Beautiful wedding!!!!
January 18th, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Congrats Jaimie. Your pictures were beautiful! Enjoy the married life!
January 18th, 2012 at 7:07 pm
Amazing day at an amazing facility. We were not guests at the “mansion”, we owned it.
January 18th, 2012 at 7:21 pm
Pictures were great. Had a wonderful time with Family! Especially enjoyed my ride there with your Granddad! We had a great adventure and one I wouldn’t trade for the world. Loved the pictures and the wedding was beautiful!
January 18th, 2012 at 7:45 pm
Jaimie and Chris….
Your wedding was fantastic! Loved the location…..and really loved the cupcakes! Much love and happiness forever!
January 18th, 2012 at 7:48 pm
Jaimie and Chris,
I loved your wedding! Thanks for inviting me! I had lots of fun!
January 18th, 2012 at 7:51 pm
Jaimie and Chris,
I had so much fun at your wedding…..I loved the music and dancing!
January 18th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
Beautiful venue plus Chris & Jamie’s unique and personal touches made for a wonderful wedding.
January 18th, 2012 at 7:58 pm
Hey Jaimie and Chris,
Awesome wedding! Loved the cupcakes and photo booth!
January 18th, 2012 at 8:21 pm
The pictures of your wedding are absolutely beautiful…. Im very happy for you hun and congratulations on your marriage!!!!!
January 18th, 2012 at 10:13 pm
The album fully conveyed what I can only imagine was a fantastic and memorable wedding. My roommate being one of the bridesmaids showed these to me and I was genuinely mesmerized. The event location is beautiful and makes me more than a little nostalgic for Virginia and I wish the best to the happy new weds.
January 19th, 2012 at 7:42 am
We had a wonderful time at your wedding! It was enlightening to see one of my youngest sons long time friend getting married!! Wow how time flies! Wish you both the Very best in you future endeavors! Congratulations once again!! Photo Booth, Great idea!
January 19th, 2012 at 8:53 am
It was a beautiful wedding. From the décor, the wine box, the photo booth, to the puppies as part of the ceremony, what a wonderful way to start the rest of your life together with your best friend. Thank you for letting us be part of your special day.
January 19th, 2012 at 10:32 am
As the father of the Maid of Honor I have seen Jaimie and Megan both grow up together.. Jaimie is a beautiful and inteligent young woman who knows what she wants and will go after it. This wedding and all its accoutrements was no exception. It was well-planned and beautifully executed. The dauchunds were a wonderful touch and a testiment to Jaimie and Chris’ sense of life and fun – everyone was smiling at them. The location of the wedding ceremony was outstanding and wonderfully accented. The stature of the mansion as a backdrop stood strong and pleasingly aged as all marriages themselves should be. The reception area was nicely decorated with lights, bows and white linen everywhere. The old-style photo booth was a great idea for the guests to be able to have their memory pictures immediately available and to beable to sign their well-wishes in the book for Jaimie and Chris’ memoirs. It was a spectacular evening to see these young adults take their first steps together. ~ All the Best Wishes for them ~
–Glen & Sherry Kelley–
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:44 am
[...] Jaimie and Christopher [...]
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:23 am
Jaimie & Christopher should win Best of the Best
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Susan Womack said you are awesome so do I,
hope the best and be the best of the best.Good luck
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Awesomeee!
February 22nd, 2012 at 9:53 pm
I vote for Jaimie and Christopher – beautiful love story!