There’s no doubt that one of the most challenging parts of a wedding is budgeting for it. What kind of wedding do you want to have? Where do you want to have the wedding? And on top of that, who is going to pay for all of that?

For decades there have been so-called ‘rules’ or ‘traditions’ as to who is supposed to pay for the different parts of your wedding, and we’re here to help break down that list.

Traditionally, the bride’s family usually takes on much of the cost, and in general their responsibilities include:

• Ceremony Venue- whether it’s a church, synagogue or any other location
• Bride’s gown
• Floral Arrangements
• Reception Venue
• Photographer and/or videographer
• Engagement Party- sometimes groom’s parents also will host one, however it is customary that bride’s parents hold the first one
• Groom’s wedding ring
• Reception- this includes all costs that go along with the location like food, music, decorations, etc.
• Invitations and Paper Goods- This includes save the dates, invitations, programs, menus and so on.
• Bridal party transportation to and from wedding location

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As for the family of the groom, their responsibilities include:

• Marriage license
• Groom’s outfit
• Bride’s bouquet and groom’s boutonniere
• Honeymoon- Full cost
• Rehearsal dinner
• Bride’s wedding ring

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Today, with DIY style weddings becoming more of the norm, families are able to split the cost more evenly and even spend less altogether.

This list is by-the-book traditional and by no means is set in stone. Many couples are deciding to throw tradition out the window and are not only pitching in for their wedding but paying for it all themselves. It is entirely a family decision and making sure everyone involved with the finances feels comfortable with what they are paying is the most important.

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.

Wedding season is upon us! Robbie and Emily recently exchanged vows at the Mansion and we could not be more thrilled to share these enchanting photos with you.

The lovely couples dashing wedding theme was elegant with splashes of vibrant green, creating a delightful backdrop. Mixing in their own unique style, the couple created a memorable wedding from start to finish.  It was not only enjoyable working with Robbie and Emily, but also heartwarming to see two individuals so much in love.

Thank you to Robbie and Emily for letting us share in their special day. Congratulations! Also, we would like to send a huge thank you to V.A. Photography for allowing us to use these lovely photos.

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.

Wedding planning can be very exciting, but also extremely stressful. Thankfully, you have wonderful people in your bridal party to help take your mind off planning and help you relax.

It’s customary for brides and grooms to enjoy activities with their bridal party, but deciding can be difficult. Do you take a trip? Go to a day spa? Take a night out to a popular club? There are numerous options, but picking that perfect activity can be hard to do. Traditionally, the maid of honor and best man plans this party, but that does not mean the bride and groom have no input. The challenging part of deciding is to ensure everyone involved will enjoy themselves.

We at the Historic Mankin Mansion have done a little research and have come up with several options everyone will enjoy and remember for years to come.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Plan a trip to a local or out-of-town brewery for a day of beer tasting. This is mainly geared towards groomsmen, but can be enjoyable for bridesmaids as well. Beer tasting is both adventurous and enjoyable, plus you can purchase some new and exciting finds. Just remember to bring a driver or better yet rent a limo.

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Activities for both men and women, but this scenario is geared more towards bridesmaids. Set up lawn games like croquet, corn hole, ladder toss, badminton, and giant lawn checkers, then have your bridesmaids dress up in sundresses and turn the day into a glorified tea party. It will bring back childhood memories of playing with friends, plus be a good activity to help individuals relax and have fun.

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This is for all you outdoorsy groomsmen. Basically, talk amongst the group and pick a handful of outdoors activities that everyone would be interested in. Such activities could include skydiving, obstacle courses, go-cart racing, camping or fishing. These activities are great for releasing stress and strengthen bonds. Not to mention just plain fun and adventurous!

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This is our favorite for bridesmaids! Both the bride and bridesmaids go to a local thrift store and purchase some ugly bridesmaids dress, then it’s off to play some paintball! This activity is all about trashing the newly purchased dresses and letting loose with your friends. One of the best ways to abolish any pre-wedding stress!

The most important thing to remember is to have fun and enjoy your special moment!

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.

To many, the reception is the best part of a wedding. Now don’t get us wrong, we absolutely adore the ceremony, but the reception holds a special place in most people’s hearts.

A reception is for tasty food, delicious drinks, questionable dancing and various games the delightful newlyweds have conjured up. Traditional reception activities like the question game or horseshoes have always been a success, but if you’re the kind of couple that is looking to spice up your reception, take a stab at something original.

We here at the Historic Mankin Mansion understand that deciding on new reception amusements can be somewhat difficult, but have no fear. Here are several innovative games that are sure to get your guest up and moving during your reception.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

This fun lawn game has become all the rage! It is simple, engaging and easy to assemble. The best part of corn-hole is the board and beanbags can be personalized for your wedding. You can add portraits, a monogram or even your favorite team onto the playing board, which really makes the game a personalized touch.

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A very traditional lawn game, croquet that can be enjoyed by all ages!  It’s an easygoing game that can be set up on any lawn, plus the set up is kind to the budget. Not to mention croquet creates an ideal photo opportunity!

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Who doesn’t enjoy Jenga? This game is an enlarged lawn version of the classic that everyone loves. Lawn Jenga is perfect for a small lawn and can be enjoyed by several participants. This activity is sure to get your guest engaged and laughing at your reception.

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Bowling is so much fun and a great activity for guests who are not interested in dancing. This game is easy to set up, does not require much lawn space and is entertaining for all ages.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

This could be a little difficult for ladies in dresses, but they would be more than happy to watch the men hop towards the finish line. Sack races transports guests to childhood and will give nothing but pure bliss. The added bonus is watching the show!

Whether your wedding reception is packed with games or you stick to traditional activities, we are confident that your Big Day will be a hit! With so many games to choose from, it could be hard to pick just one! Happy playing!

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.

Best friends, family members and those crazy individuals that bring a certain flair to your life, make a couples wedding not only fun and memorable, but also possible. From jumping up and down with you after announcing your engagement to wiping the tears from your face, the bridal party is the backbone of a successful wedding.

Bridal parties put their hearts and souls into your ‘big day’ and assure the event runs beautifully.  They come in all shapes and sizes, some have been there from the beginning and others come later, but all fit perfectly into your life. A wedding requires a lot of time and effort from those special people, so it is very important to put a good deal of thought into your bridal party gift.

Many traditional gifts include jewelry, flasks, personalized clothing or engraved glasses, all of which are very thoughtful and appreciative. However, if your looking to get creative and give your special bridal party something he or she would love, here are some favors sure to amaze!

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Personalized bobble heads! Who would have thought of this? These bobble heads are fun and extremely exclusive; a favor everyone can appreciate and cherish for years to come. You can create entertaining characters for each individual person. Design a superhero, princess or favorite animal for your exciting bridal party.

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Drink coolers are very popular for wedding favors. Most of the time they contain the couple’s names and wedding date, sometimes a fun quote. However, this drink cooler raises the bar with its material and engraving. This favor is both handy and elegant.

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Always looking for that bottle opener that is hidden behind all the other utensils? Here is a great bridal party favor that is useful and thoughtful. The key chain doubles as a bottle opener, plus you can engrave witty phrases or just names into the metal.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Today, almost everyone has their iPhone glued to their side, so why not give a favor that will surely be used frequently. Personalized iPhone cases can be used for both groomsmen and bridesmaids. Simply choose patterns to fit each individual and finish it off with initials.

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Every bridesmaid would love this thoughtful favor! An engraved compact is helpful and convenient. Not to mention, the compact is absolutely stunning.

Good luck finding the perfect bridal party gifts! We are sure they will be nothing but amazing!

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.

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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.