For sure you, the bride and groom, will have certain demands, that I don’t. You will want a venue that has a staff that is easy to work with—that maybe has chairs at the ready for the marriage ceremony, and perhaps a gazebo or some sort of trellis, too. You may want a venue that offers space for a reception, and maybe even a fully equipped kitchen to prepare the food for that reception. That is all beyond what I care about. I DO care about these things, but only because you do. They do not affect my work, one way or another.
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I think I could safely say that the Mill at Fine Creek meets my specifications. What say? The Mill at Fine Creek? Never heard of it? It’s in an out-of-the-way place in Powhatan County in the general vicinity of Richmond, however my GPS was clueless as to how to direct me there. I DID get there, though, and with time to spare since I had counted on getting lost.
On my first visit there I knew I was on sacred ground. I arrived before the rehearsal was to start. I wandered alongside the creek and took in the many varieties of plants, the colors of those. I sniffed the fresh air, and watched how the sun played off the water in the creek. It was a fall-though-still technically-summer—coolish day. I tell you, I connected with the holy. After I had had my fill of the out-of-doors, I visited the house on the property, which today is open to guests (there is another house, a cottage really, in which the property’s owners live. )The first room in the big house, the keeping room, maybe?, is richly decorated with ornamental rugs, and fine antiques. There is a large room for receptions, too, complete with chairs and round tables and other long tables for serving.
Downstairs and back out the front door is a large stone patio, ideal for a small to mid-size wedding. As I wandered the property, the staff were busily seting up chairs on that patio for a wedding that would be happening later that evening.
The wedding the next day, as the rehearsal the day before, went off without a hitch. This was partly due to the solicitous nature of the staff. Not only did they set up chairs, there are two-staff wedding directors, who help with every little thing. They helped me lead the wedding rehearsal and they helped to center the table center pieces and they lined up cute little table assignment cards on a table just outside the receiving room.
I am sure their responsibilities went far beyond these simple tasks—but you get my drift. The staff was into detail. They weren’t going to let little things slip.
I really can’t say enough good things about the Mill at Fine Creek. I am not at all surprised that it has been recognized by The Knot many years running. I certainly give it a five star rating! Enjoy the pics. Your Wedding Preacher for Hire
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