Sara and Derek’s wedding is filled with beautiful vintage details that we just fell in love with! From the bride’s vintage inspired turquoise heels, the birdcage veil and a lace cap sleeve dress! Sara shares a few of her favorite things from her wedding below!

Derek and I got married on October 13th, 2012 at the Historic Mankin Mansion. It was a sunny, clear afternoon with blue skies. We had the best day celebrating with our closest family and friends. Every single detail of the wedding was specially planned. My mom, sister, and I spent countless weekends crafting, designing, and analyzing. Some of my favorite details were the handmade the bouquets of burlap, lace, and broaches created by my Mom, and the mirrored centerpieces crafted in the garage by WC. Everything came together seamlessly to be the vintage- inspired wedding I had dreamed of!  We feel truly blessed to have chosen to get married at HMM. Jocelene, Martin, and the rest of the staff orchestrated the day with professionalism and ease.  The other vendors were equally as amazing; Red Shutter Studios Photography (Rod & Tara), A Sharper Palate catering, and Pearls Cupcake Shoppe were some of our favorites. At the end of the day, we became Mr. & Mrs. Creger, and that was by far the best part of all!:)

So do you just adore this wedding and want their wedding 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.  The top three finalists will get one more feature and then the one with the most votes will win a $250 gift certificate to Zeus Gallery while our second place winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to Zeus Gallery.

A big thank you to Sara and Derek for sharing their wedding with us and also to Red Shutter Studios for the beautiful images!

~Paula & Martin Ramirez

Paula and Martin Ramirez are the proprietors of Historic Mankin Mansion, a wedding resort just minutes from Downtown Richmond. They enjoy new restaurant finds, Virginia wines and discovering fun events and activities throughout the area for their guests.

Elizabeth and Scott had a beautiful September wedding; we just loved sharing their day with them. Elizabeth shared a few of her favorite moments and details about her wedding, check them out below.

If I had to use one word to describe our wedding it would be, Amazing!  Everything went so smoothly and without a hitch (except us of course).  When we first toured the mansion, I was in love and did not want to look anywhere else for a wedding venue.  The mansion was beautiful, elegant, and classy.  It also provided a more relaxed environment.  It combined the vision that Scott and I had for what our wedding day should be.

The mansion staff was great to work with. They were able to make recommendations and guide us through the planning process.  We were very lucky to have such great vendors.  I can’t say one bad thing about any of them.  The flowers were by Mona Ray and were absolutely beautiful.  The arrangements were even better than I had expected.  In fact, I dried my bouquet and made an ornament out of the dried petals this Christmas. We loved our photographer, Mike Topham.  He and his assistants did a great job and managed to always get the shot without being “in the way”.  I used White House catering and they provided us with delicious food.  Our signature ‘pomegranate martini’ was a huge hit!  We are so lucky to have such amazing and talented friends.  A friend of ours made our gorgeous cake and another friend offered to make us a quilt guest book.  What a great idea!  My childhood friend Nicole McConnell did the bridal party’s hair and makeup. She made us look fabulous!! Thank You Nicole!  

One of the fun things we did was to have a flip flop bin on the dance floor. We also had a display with lots of old pictures of our families for guests to see when they entered the mansion.  A friend had made some great decorations that helped personalize the space for us. But most of all, the beauty of the venue comes from the mansion and grounds itself.

Thank You for helping us to have the wedding of our dreams!! 

So do you just adore this wedding and want their wedding 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.  The top three finalists will get one more feature and then the one with the most votes will win a $250 gift certificate to Zeus Gallery while our second place winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to Zeus Gallery.

~Paula & Martin Ramirez

Paula and Martin Ramirez are the proprietors of Historic Mankin Mansion, a wedding resort just minutes from Downtown Richmond. They enjoy new restaurant finds, Virginia wines and discovering fun events and activities throughout the area for their guests.

Photo Credit: Mike Topham Photography

We are kicking of the New Year with our Best of 2012 series Marisse and Jeff’s is our first wedding and we are excited to share it with you!

The color palette with lavender, white and touches of black fit perfectly along with the April wedding. Check out all of the lovely details below!

So do you just adore this wedding and want their wedding 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.  The top three finalists will get one more feature and then the one with the most votes will win a $250 gift certificate to Zeus Gallery while our second place winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to Zeus Gallery.

Thank you to Daniel Min Photography for sharing these lovely photos will us.

~Paula & Martin Ramirez

Paula and Martin Ramirez are the proprietors of Historic Mankin Mansion, a wedding resort just minutes from Downtown Richmond. They enjoy new restaurant finds, Virginia wines and discovering fun events and activities throughout the area for their guests.

It’s that time of year again we are ready to take a look back on all of our weddings over the past year with our 3rd Annual Best of Weddings Series and we need your help!

That’s right, if you’re a 2012 Historic Mankin Mansion Bride or the wedding photographer who shot the wedding, we’d love to showcase your wedding loveliness!

Each wedding will be featured right here on our blog early next year and the top three posts with the most blog and Facebook comments will be selected as finalists.  Each finalist will then receive one more feature and the one with the most Facebook and blog comments by the deadline will be declared the winner!

This year, we are taking it up a notch by having amazing prizes for the wedding that is decided to be the best. The winner will receive a $250 gift certificate to Zeus Gallery while our second place winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to Zeus Gallery.

We are looking for brides, grooms or photographers to send us photos and details from their weddings to feature in the contest. Here is what we need from you:

• 15-20 of your favorite wedding photos. Please note that images must be web ready (no more than 10 MB total) and can include watermarks. Please send the images via zip file on email  (or) send as a folder with your last name on it, via Dropbox.com.
• The Photographer’s name and web site so we may properly credit.
• Permission from your Photographer to showcase the images.
• A paragraph or two (up to 250 words) about your Big Day. Tell us about your favorite details and memories-or anything else you’d like to share about your wedding day.

Submission will be taken now through Friday, December 28 and should be sent to director@historicmankinmansion.com.

We look forward to featuring your wedding!

See you soon,

~Paula & Martin Ramirez

Paula and Martin Ramirez are the proprietors of Historic Mankin Mansion, a wedding resort just minutes from Downtown Richmond. They enjoy new restaurant finds, Virginia wines and discovering fun events and activities throughout the area for their guests.

We here at the Mansion love a wedding full of whimsical details and love and Katie and David’s wedding had just that!

We knew this wedding was sure to be a show stopper when the bride told us her colors would be orange and blue. They incorporated the color combination throughout the wedding with little touches with the bride’s shoes, bowties, and place.

Grant and Deb Photographers captured the day of festivities check out their beautiful work below and also on their blog.

We would like to thank the couple for allowing us to be a part of their big day as well as Grant and Deb Photographers for sharing these gorgeous images!

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.

The Richmond Flying Squirrels made their return to the Diamond earlier this year and with the season in full swing there is no better time to come on out to the ballpark and enjoy some true Americana fun!

Starting this Friday, June 15, and continuing on through Sunday afternoon the Flying Squirrels will be taking on the Portland Sea Dogs. This is a perfect way to spoil Dad this Father’s Day weekend with some family time and baseball. The Flying Squirrels are playing for bragging rights with two losses and one win against the Sea Dog’s last weekend. The squirrels will be practicing all week to ensure a triple win this weekend.

The Diamond has made a few upgrades this year that are sure to make a better experience for all. The MBA Party Decks are a wonderful way for friends, family or coworkers to sit together and enjoy the game in comfort. These are group-seating areas located in the upper deck of the Diamond that has a great view right behind home plate! The decks can seat up to 24 guests with your very own party attendant to help facilitate your every need from drinks to food. The seats in this area are cushioned for comfort for those long games that go into extra innings. Party decks are $380 per group but are well worth the money to relax and enjoy the game.

We hope you come out and support the Squirrels this weekend and treat Dad to some fun!

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.

Photo Credit: http://www.richmond.com

This summer, Richmond Bride Magazine is hosting the first annual Aisle A-List survey, to select the best of the best wedding professionals  here in Richmond.  We’ve been most appreciative of everyone’s support of the Mansion over the years and thank you for considering us as you cast your vote.  All participants will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift certificate to Strawberry Street Cafe and voting ends on July 31, 2012.

Please click HERE for more information and to vote.

Thank you in advance for your support!

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.

Photo credit: Marta Locklear Photography

We love connecting with photographers after a wedding at the Mansion and revisiting the Big Day through their lens.  Lisa and James were married at the Mansion just a few weeks ago and we were delighted to reconnect with David Abel Photography. Enjoy some favorite shots from the day-

To check out more from Lisa and James’ wedding, visit David’s blog. Congrats to the happy couple and thank you to David for taking the time to share these fabulous images 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.

It’s that time again- wedding magazine season! We love seeing our favorite issues hot off the presses- so much inspiration! The latest issue of Richmond Bride Magazine is no exception as it’s chock full of swoon worthy details!

When you pick up your copy, be sure to check out page 80, as our very own Paula Ramirez assisted with the article Tick-Tock Couples! Keeping the Reception’s Timeline on Track.  We know first hand that a successful wedding reception is due in part to things running well behind the scenes so we were happy to lend some insight from our own experiences.

We were also thrilled to see that an image from the Summer/Smith wedding (courtesy of Hayes and Fisk the Art of Photography) in one of the latest Wedology 101 columns in the Richmond Times Dispatch. What a lovely wedding to revisit!

Our thanks to Richmond Bride Magazine for the opportunity as well as the Richmond Times Dispatch for the inclusion!

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.

Richmond Bride Cover: Todd Wright

Sweet treats are always a big hit with wedding guests and we here at the Mansion always love to oooh and ahhh over the wedding cakes. We have had the pleasure of tasting a few (okay, maybe a little more than a few!) cakes from Cakes by Graham and we’re here to tell you that they are both gorgeous and delicious. We sat down with Graham to find out how he got his start and he was also happy to share some tips for our 2012 brides.

I graduated High School at 16 and joined the Army, where I served 16 years with the British Military.  My interest in cakes started as a hobby.  I served as a Master Chef Instructor in the British Army.   In Ft. Lee, I served with the American Army as the Pastry Team Captain and Technical Advisor.  I trained food service personnel and the U.S. Army Culinary Arts Team (USACAT).

In 1991, I got out of the British Army and worked at 2 local bakeries back to back.  I worked at each of the bakeries for about a year.  It was during this time that I had the desire to start my own business.  In 1994, after I wrote my business plan, I sought advice and opened Cakes by Graham.  Wanting to stand out from what was already existing, I came up with the slogan “More than just the icing on the cake” and “Richmond’s only custom cakery”.  Weddings became a large part of Cakes by Graham.

What is your favorite part about working in the wedding industry?

My favorite part of working in the wedding industry is meeting with the bride, finding out what her vision is, and taking her vision and transforming it into a visual/physical object for everyone to savor.  It is about seeing the end result and hearing the feedback from the bride that the cake exceeded her expectations, ultimately, adding even more joy to such a memorable day.

What question do you most often get from brides about wedding cakes?

One of the most common questions I get from brides about wedding cakes, especially in the beginning of the planning process, is about budget.  Initially, she does not know how to set a budget and pre-printed articles use statistics and averages to determine cost.  Every bride is an individual and not “the average”.  I work with the bride to meet her needs.  It is important for the bride to know that “a cake doesn’t have to be expensive to look expensive”

Are there any favorite wedding trends that you’ve liked as of late?

One of my favorite wedding trends is the bride’s desire to make the cake what she wants it to be.

Any tips you’d like to share with our 2012 brides?

The one tip I have for 2012 brides:  Use websites such as Pinterest, Facebook, Etsy, and Instagram as a guide.  Use them as inspiration only.  Don’t think that all pictures apply to all circumstances- keep in mind that the pictures will probably need to be changed to meet the needs of her individual wedding.  For example, a picture of a 5-tier cake would need to be scaled down to 3 tiers to accommodate a bride’s guest count of 100.

To learn more about Cakes by Graham and set up a tasting, visit their website! Thank you so much Graham for chatting with us!

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.