Last Monday, we featured a video from Kuhn’s Photography of Kara and Jared’s wedding and now we want to share a few of our favorites images with you!

Kara and Jared’s color palette was deep purple and the Pantone color of year emerald green. Fun was had by all with a photo booth in the gazebo, featuring a ton of silly props. The guests then danced the night away!

Thank you again to Kuhn’s Photography for sharing these photos with us and to Kara and Jared for allowing us to be a part of their special day!

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.

Kara and Jared’s wedding was recently at the Mansion and the wonderful Kuhn’s Photography captured all of the festivities. Check out the video below to see all of the fun from the Big Day!

Thank you to Kuhn’s Photography for sharing this video with us.

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 were just ecstatic when we saw the June issue of Virginia Living Magazine on newsstands because one of our lovely couples’ wedding was featured! Lisa and James’ wedding was captured by the wonderful David Abel Photography and you can check out all of the photos on page 49.

Our sincerest thanks to Virginia Living Magazine for this wonderful opportunity, as well as to David for sharing his fabulous images. Pick up your copy today to see the full feature!

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 Historic Mankin Mansion love to serve as the backdrop for photo and video shoots and this lovely RVA Fashion Week 2013- Dream Shoot was no exception.

You can see the wonderful video below! We just adore the polka dot dresses and 50’s feel of the fashion choices.

RVA Fashion Week 2013 – Dream Shoot from Christopher Harris on Vimeo.

Thank you to RVA Fashion Week for the wonderful opportunity!

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

Video Credit: Image Machine and 2B Determined Studios

Today, we’re excited to share our latest press, which is a bit different than our usual real wedding features. This past week, Work It, Richmond was kind enough to share an interview with our very own Paula Ramirez, who lent insight into the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into running the Mansion.

To enjoy the article, please visit this link. Our thanks to Work It, Richmond for the opportunity!

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.

After the wedding is all said and done you’re left with beautiful memories, lots of new gifts to open and a brand new spouse. To hold onto those memories many couples will frame pictures of their favorite moments and start using those wedding gifts. But many brides also want to hold onto their bouquet, and unfortunately flowers don’t naturally last that long. However, there are ways around it for not only petals but full bouquets.

When preserving your wedding bouquet, you can either DIY or take it to a professional, depending on your budget. First, there is the old-fashion method of drying your bouquet via hanging them upside down. To do this the right way, remove all of the lower leaves on the stems and divide them into small bunches, holding them together with a rubber band. And hang in a dry environment for about five days.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Another more traditional and easier DIY way to preserve your bouquet is by pressing them. Selecting a few petals from your favorite blossoms and then putting them in between the pages in a heavy book for several days. This is a great method if you want to mount and frame them in a cute arrangement. If you don’t think you want to bother with the framing, you can also take your pressed petals to a pro and they can mount and arrange them for you.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Finally, there is a much more high-tech way of preserving your flowers, freeze drying. However, this method is not DIY friendly and should be taken to a professional. This will yield the best looking results, and can make your bouquet look fresh and alive forever. The bouquet is put into a special vacuum sealed freezer and completely dehydrated. Your bouquet will remain 3-dimensional and perfectly preserved, but must be put into a glass dome or shadow-box.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Any of these methods for preserving your wedding bouquet can be made to look beautiful for years to come, whether you hang it on your wall or just keep some of your favorite petals pressed into your wedding album.

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.

One of the most fun activities you and your fiancé will do after getting engaged is your wedding registry. There is nothing better than walking into your favorite department store and go on a huge shopping spree and not have to pay a dime.

Living in the 21^st century means that making your registry is simple, you can do it in person or you can set it up all on-line. At most major department stores like Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Macy’s you can click on their registry page, set yours up and shop away. When you’re choosing where you want to register, we suggest making a checklist of everything you want and figure out which places have them. Make sure not to go overboard, pick a couple national stores and one local place if you really love it. Also remember to check that your registry will be available for your guests to view on-line, so they can purchase your gift at their convenience.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

When deciding how much you should be registering for, just remember too much is better than too little. Department stores aren’t going to force you to buy the leftover items after the wedding (although some do offer discounts if you do), so make sure there are an adequate number of items to go around so that everyone can find a good gift.

When choosing your items, make sure you have varying prices. Not everything should cost at least $200 because most likely not all of your guests will have that kind of money to spend. Have some of the more pricey gifts listed, but also items that are under $100 and under $50. Your guests will certainly appreciate it.

Just remember, include your fiancé in the process, be practical about what you choose and have fun with it. Also, don’t forget, thank you cards always go a long way. Happy Registering!

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.

A wedding announcement is a formal write-up of the details of your wedding that is published in local or national newspapers. While it can sometimes be seen as old-fashioned and out-of-date, but many couples see it as a time honored tradition.

When choosing where the announcement should appear, consider places like your hometown, the groom’s hometown, where you as a couple currently live, or even grandparent’s hometown. On a national scale, choose a paper that you, your spouse and friends/family regularly read. Once you’ve selected where you want to send your announcement, make sure you know each of the paper’s requirements, some want it to be a certain length, some will want to write it themselves and all of them will have some sort of cost.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

After you’ve chosen where to submit your announcement, you have to actually write it. The must-includes are you and your spouse’s names, parents of the bride and groom’s names, the officiators name, the venues and the date of your wedding. Some other important details to include are a description of your wedding dress and the bridesmaid’s dresses, your honeymoon destination and who gave you away. Just remember to keep it short and concise. If you are unsure what the paper is looking for exactly, we suggest picking up a copy and taking a look at the most recent wedding announcements they’ve published.

Despite your wedding announcement being published after you say ‘I do,’ it should be submitted at least six weeks before your wedding day, and with some publications they will want it sooner than that. Your chances of getting chosen increase the sooner the paper gets it. If you want a picture of you and your groom on your wedding day to go along with your announcement, some papers are willing to accommodate and print your announcement a few weeks post-wedding day. However, if you would like your announcement to be published immediately after, you will want to submit a picture along with your article ahead of time.

The most important thing is to make sure your announcement still comes off as uniquely yours. While the paper may want certain things included, you can still have fun with it by submitting a unique photo of you and your groom that makes you stand out.

Do you have any advice on writing your announcements? Let us know below!

Photo Credit: Pinterest

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.

Unique and Beautiful Wedding Bouquets!

Flowers, Flowers, Flowers! Who doesn’t love the feel that flowers bring to any occasion? They brighten up a venue with vibrant colors, add touches of memorable scents and can bring a smile to almost anyone. However, unlike the common misconception that all weddings must be full of flowers, your Big Day can be just as special with a few other creative touches.

If you’re a couple looking to add a pop of distinctiveness to your wedding, why not try something unconventional with your bouquets? This area of your wedding really allows brides and grooms to look outside the box and create an imaginative personal feel to the ceremony.

We understand that couples have a difficult time trying to grasp their creativity during the wedding planning process. We get it; this is a very exciting and whirlwind time. But have no fear; our Historic Mankin Mansion experts are here to lend a helping hand with these exceptional flowerless bouquet ideas!

This bouquet is beyond perfect for a spring/summer garden wedding. The bouquet is completely made out of colorful paper butterflies attached to a wire stem. Simply add a beautiful ribbon around the middle and you have a splendid bouquet that is sure to get your guests talking.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

A waffle cone bouquet! How fun is this idea? This sweet tooth inducing option is a waffle cone filled with marshmallows topped with gummies and accented with colorful sprinkles. Your deliciously stunning creation will mesmerize every one of your guest’s inner-child.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Pine cones are a beautiful emphasis for fall and nature beauty. This arrangement is simply a grouping of pine cones assembled with twine, burlap or a colorful ribbon around the center. This would be delightful for any nature themed wedding!

Photo Credit: Pinterest

What better way to symbolized a winter wedding than vibrant red and white-stripped candy canes? This arrangement is not only visually appealing, but also kind on the wedding budget.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Ocean front weddings are always fun and beautiful. Why not bring those aspects of the sea into your bouquet? The seashells are arranged in such a way to create an impressive bouquet; it’s whimsical and has numerous color possibilities.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Whether your wedding bouquets are solely flowers or something different and unique, we here at the Historic Mankin Mansion wish you nothing but happiness and beautiful memories of your Big Day!

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 were so excited to host Katelyn James Photography’s The Workshop Experience here at the Historic Mankin Mansion where photographers from around the country attended to learn more about how to keep their business always moving forward!

It was great seeing the Mansion come to life in the off season and we’ve particularly loved revisiting the day with the following recaps:

Anna Kerns Photography
Sarah Goodwin Photography
Gina Petersen Weddings
KC Photography
Jessica Mae Photography
Karen Allen Photography
Kelly Ewell Photography
Taylor Whitham Photography

A big shout out to all the vendors that helped make this a huge success: Marvelous Things Photography who modeled for the event, Emily from Emily Hudspeth Hair and Makeup for making everyone looks so wonderful, Dana and Janie for their design and floral arrangements and Mosaic for catering the delicious food. And of course, Katelyn James for coming up with this wonderful workshop idea and allowing us to serve as the beautiful backdrop! For a behind the scenes look from the day, visit Katelyn’s blog HERE.

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.