Planning a wedding during COVID-19 was a challenge to say the least. Over the course of this year I gave up a lot of what I had envisioned for my wedding and had some heartache and peace-making in the process. It was a long lesson in finding grace and finding joy during so much disappointment and uncertainty.
Two things proved to be a saving decision for my wedding during a pandemic: the amazing man I got wedded to and selecting the Mill at Fine Creek for our ceremony and reception venue.
I got engaged in February and had most of my major decisions made before March. I was lucky in that my fiancé and I had chosen the Mill at Fine Creek right before everything shut down. I will be honest and tell you that The Mill was the only place we visited in-person, but that is a testament to its allure and beauty. We came, we saw, we were awed – it immediately spoke to us. The wild beauty of the surrounding creek, forest, and the whimsical variations of outdoor ceremony options met and even exceeded every vision we had. What’s more, choosing The Mill made things easier for our families because we were able to rent out all of the cottages.
Let me just say that the staff were exceptional as well. I had to cut the guest list not once, but twice. This impacted the menu, catering, the ceremony, the seating layout, among other things. The owner, Lisa, met me where I was and served as a voice of reason and assurance: if we still wanted to get married, they would help make it happen.
She and her wonderful staff worked with me and my now husband to make sure that we had a beautiful wedding despite the restrictions, challenges, and circumstances outside of our control. For example, one wrench thrown into the mix was that the governor of Virginia issued a restriction on gatherings one week before our wedding reducing it to 25. The Mill talked with us and we worked out a plan, adjusted the menu, and moved forward.
Day of the wedding, everything went so smoothly. The food was delicious, they had ordered French wine we had wanted, and they even allowed for a cash bar for those who wanted specialty scotch we were able to order.
They were accommodating, patient, and kind. I was comforted because I did not have to worry about anything when it came to the Mill. I would highly recommend them for your wedding and ceremony. And if I had to do it all over again, I would choose no other.
Lindsey, 12/2020
My son & daughter-n-law just had their wedding at The Mill at Fine Creek this past weekend and the venue is beautiful & tranquil. We are not native Virginians and we’re not familiar with the venue, but were very pleased with the the food & service throughout the entire event. The on site cottages were outstanding and the cottage accommodations are quaint & have everything needed for a comfortable stay. I would definitely recommend this venue!!
Mary Beth, 11/2020
The Mill at Fine Creek is a hidden gem! The outside locations are stunning. We utilized the grounds for our engagement photos and wedding photos and they are STUNNING. We got married in the ruins part and everyone who attended was blown away at how quiet and peaceful the ceremony site was.
So many things are included with this vendor that helps take a lot off the bride & grooms plate (chairs, tables, linens, dishes, table signs, votives).
They work with food allergies, which was extremely important to us. Their pastry chef made our wedding cake, as well as a surprise groom’s cake for our rehearsal dinner. No one could tell they were gluten free!
We added the day of coordinator which helped things go super smooth! As the bride, I didn’t worry about any details on my big day.
They have an amazing sound system, which works for a spotify playlist for the dancefloor and was easy set up for our family friends who sang our first dance songs.
Guests were able to book a night stay at the cottages and they thoroughly enjoyed the amenities.
Jamie, 11/2020
When I think about The Mill at Fine Creek the word that comes to my mind is AMAZING!!! What an incredibly beautiful venue with professional, caring and kind staff!! The chef and pastry chef were outstanding!!! We had SO MANY guests tell us how delicious EVERYTHING was!!! Lisa —- and Melissa —- were phenomenal to work with, from taking on our event just 3 weeks before the date to helping us figure out the ever-changing seating chart!!! Not only did they make us feel special they helped us every step of the way to make our daughter’s wedding day her dream day!!! I would recommend this venue for ANY occasion!!! I promise you will not regret that decision!!! The cottages are super convenient with contactless and stress less check-in.
Stan and Terri, 9/2020
Where to start with The Mill. We were blown away every step of the way, and they made us feel special, supported, and cared for the entire way through, even in the midst of a pandemic. The grounds and facilities are impeccable – everyone’s jaw dropped when they arrived for the ceremony and explored through cocktail hour and the reception. We also had our rehearsal dinner at the brewery up the road and it was AMAZING. We can’t wait to go back to the cottages for our anniversary next year. The food is so unique and we loved that we created our menu based on foods we like to eat and around Paris where we were engaged. The chefs are so creative and collaborative – our guests could not stop talking about the food. Make sure you opt-in to their day of coordinating; Colleen and Melissa were so amazing day of – they made sure we had plans A to Z (it was supposed to hurricane *right* during our ceremony, but ended up missing us) just in case we had to change plans. I love that they use a portal which keeps everything in one spot and they offer a variety of payment options. Use their preferred vendors – they are so in sync and work seamlessly, we honestly were able to relax and enjoy day of, and the organization process was so easy. I would recommend The Mill 1000 times over – don’t go anywhere else to get married!
Amanda, 8/2020
“The venue was an absolute dream. My wedding did get pushed back because of COVID, but the staff made sure that I had a back up date (and a backup date for that date) so I could have the wedding I wanted. They were completely on top of everything and made sure that we were 100% set for the big day. The wedding coordinators took my vision and made it a reality and the the food was AMAZING! I would highly recommend this venue to anyone getting married!“
Brynn, 8/2020
“My husband and I have now gotten married at the Mill twice! We decided to have our wedding on May 30, 2020 with our parents, the Mill went above and beyond that day setting up dinner on their patio and baking a small cake to celebrate our little wedding! When we pushed back our date to Aug 16, 2020 the Mill was so supportive and made rescheduling a breeze! As stressful as rescheduling a wedding is, the Mill took a lot of that burden off of us! The day of our “larger” ceremony and reception was so smooth. My vision came to life with the help and support of the Mills crew! Even with a smaller guest list than originally planned, they stayed up to date with what seemed to be constant changes to be the safest setting for our guest. All of our guest couldn’t get over how beautiful the venue was and how amazing the food was! Not to mention the next day the mill handle all clean up and put all of our belongs in one area so pick up was easy. Altogether We highly recommend the Mill at Fine Creek!”
Sarah, 8/2020
“My daughter had been planning for over a year and half for a large wedding at The Mill at Fine Creek. Due to COVID, that large wedding didn’t happen but we had a ‘mini-wedding and reception’ in the ruins. It was perfect in every way. The staff at The Mill were very accommodating to our requests. Many stayed in the cottages which were lovely. They helped to create just what the bride and groom were looking for within the COVID mandates. Thanks to all that helped!”
Karen, 7/2020
“My husband and I got married at the Mill [in an elopement ceremony with 10 people] during the COVID crisis. The venue was absolutely STUNNING, and the cottages were clean and pristine. The staff was available to us whenever we needed to talk to them, and the whole process was handled in a responsible contact-free manner. I highly recommend the wedding venue – you will NOT get better pictures anywhere else! I know they have a long wait list, but it is worth it!!!”
Chelsea, 5/2020
Erica, 11/2019
Nicole, 09/2019
Highly, Highly Recommend
Lee, 09/2019
Absolutely magical!
G.M., 08/2019
Wedding at the Mill
Caroline, 08/2019
The Mill Takes Care of Everyone!
Lee, 08/2019
Macrea, 06/2019
Dream Come True
Anne, 06/2019
Absolutely Perfect Venue
We knew we wanted a venue that had a very all-inclusive feel where we wouldn’t have to worry about booking a ton of other vendors (i.e. in house catering, in house alcohol (with a wide variety of local selections), tables/chairs/linens provided, on site lodging, and a place that wasn’t far outside the Richmond area.
We were extremely satisfied with the services provided, and loved working with Colleen and Lisa, and appreciate all of their help. Our wedding was absolutely perfect, and we got SO many compliments about the venue and the delicious food. We wouldn’t have changed a thing about it! ”
Anna, 05/2019
Like a Fairy Tale
B.G., 05/2019
McKenzie, 04/2019
Stephanie, 11/2018
Stop looking, have your wedding here.
Brittany, 11/2018
The perfect wedding experience!
The entire experience of preparing for our wedding with the Mill was seamless. Throughout the planning process the staff at the Mill was incredibly helpful, guiding us through the process and reminding us of things we hadn’t even thought of.
One of the biggest reasons we chose to have our wedding at the Mill initially was the flexibility we could have with our menu. Lisa is so easy to work with and is so creative in the kitchen. She made it so easy for us to choose our menu. The food was phenomenal! We loved every single dish, and Lisa even suggested a fun mid-dinner drink with champagne and sorbet that matched perfectly with our signature cocktail.
The word I would use to describe our wedding day is again “seamless.” You have access to the site pretty much all day, which gave us plenty of time to not feel rushed as we got everything set up. Throughout the morning and afternoon, the staff was available to help us with anything we needed. Special thanks to Hannah for being available and making us feel so welcome.
I would highly recommend spending the marginal extra amount to work with one of the Mill’s day-of-coordinators. Colleen was our day-of-coordinator and was nothing short of amazing. Every time I turned around, Colleen was ready for the next step of the night. From the start of the wedding on, I never stressed about what was coming next because Colleen was always organized and ready.
We loved having the beautiful cottages right next to the venue as well. Family and friends were able to stay there and simply walk back to their rooms after the wedding festivities. The brewery has some great food and we had a lot of fun with family and friends hanging out there the night before our wedding.
Our entire wedding experience was perfect. We couldn’t be happier and I am so glad we chose The Mill at Fine Creek!
P.S. We are a same-sex couple, and the Mill treated us with the utmost respect and made us feel completely comfortable. ”
W.P., 10/2018
The perfect wedding with a hurricane in the Carolinas!
Elizabeth, 09/2018
Fast forward 18 months to our big day…the weather was hot and the skies were becoming threatening, but Colleen and staff stood ready should we have to make a last minute switch from holding our ceremony in the pergola to inside. Fortunately, the weather held out until the reception where our guests enjoyed delicious food and drinks. Many commented it was some of the best food at a wedding they had ever had. We had a special family recipe we requested be made and served with the passed hors d’oeuvres. Lisa and her team executed upon this beautifully.
The Mill takes great care to make your wedding planning easy and pays attention to even the smallest detail. Following the wedding, my husband realized his cuff link had broken and one side lost. He was disappointed, as he had them made as a keepsake of our day, but knew we’d never find the lost piece. When we arrived home and began unpacking our things, there was an envelope containing the missing piece. It’s as though Colleen and staff were fairy godmothers quietly correcting anything that tried to go astray. If you’re on the fence about hiring their day-of coordinating services, we absolutely recommend them. Colleen and team not only made sure everything went off without a hitch, but she saw to it that my husband and I were taken care of, had time to eat, and even led us to portable air conditioning to cool down after the ceremony while she bustled my gown.
Rosalie at The Provisions Shop makes the cottage experience feel like you’re staying with a beloved family member. She’s so accommodating, genuinely kind, and a delightful presence who was adored by us and all of our guests.
The Mill is an enchanting venue with a top notch team! ”
Megan, 05/2018
This location is breath taking. So many places on site to be married. We got married by the water. My guest loved the view and the silent/loud enough sound of the water.
The staff, nothing but smiles and always helpful. They respond quickly to emails and always willing to help you make your best day the best!
They also have vendors they like working with but are willing to be outside the box. The food is a must from this location. Delicious! ”
Molly, 04/2018
You choose a venue because of the size and location of course, but you also need to feel comfortable with the people there that they can turn your vision into reality. The Mill’s team is first rate. The Mill offers a wedding coordinator service, which we highly recommend. We worked primarily with Stephanie and Lisa, the chef/owner. The other wedding coordinator Colleen was also involved in the planning. We found all of them to be friendly, helpful, flexible and accommodating throughout the planning process. When we had a DJ no-show crisis during the day of the wedding, they went way above and beyond to deal with it.
The food was excellent during the cocktail hour and dinner. Several guests commented that you don’t typically go to weddings expecting great food, but this food was exceptional. We agreed. We also had Pierre design and bake our wedding cake, and that was excellent too.
The Millers Cottage is a great place for the groomsmen to hang out during the day and also nice to stay for the night after the wedding so you don’t have to drive somewhere. It’s really a nice unexpected feature of the property. Try to reserve the guest cottages as well for key family members so they don’t have to travel after the wedding too.
Overall, we highly recommend the Mill because of the beautiful location, amazing team of people and great food! ”
Scott, 03/2018
Tara, 11/2017
Amy, 10/2017
Laura, 04/2017
Hannah, 04/2017
Rachel, 03/2017
David, 09/2015
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