Cozy Fall Wedding at a Richmond Estate

The perfect mix of warmth, personal touches, and seasonal charm, Kat and Sam’s wedding is a feast for the eyes.

Their love story began at a mutual friend’s bachelorette party in New Orleans. As the couple shares, “We met at our mutual best friend, Riley’s, bachelorette party. Despite both being friends with Riley for many years, and having gone to the same university, we had never met before.” After that weekend, they grew closer, with Sam eventually moving to Austin to be with Kat followed by a double-proposal engagment weekend in Vermont during the fall foliage.

Their wedding at Mankin Mansion perfectly reflected their vision of cozy elegance. “We wanted the overall theme of the wedding to be intimate and cozy,” says the pair. The red brick venue, set against a backdrop of autumnal trees, paired beautifully with their fall color palette of orange, peach, green, and red. Flowers, tablescapes, and even specialty cocktails (named after their cats Bella and Cleo) brought warmth and personal touches throughout the day.

The ceremony was full of meaningful moments, including a ring warming where guests shared prayers and well-wishes over the couple’s rings. In a beautiful twist on tradition, Kat and Sam walked each other down the aisle, celebrating their partnership in a deeply personal way. They share, “Both being women, we didn’t like the idea of one person waiting at the end of the aisle for the other, so we walked each other down.” Inside the reception tent, the intimate vibe was enhanced with electric tapered candles and tealights, creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere.

For their bridal looks, Kat modernized her mother’s 1992 wedding dress, while Sam wore an elegant white jumpsuit from France, complete with lace boots and a pearl belt.

Unique details made their celebration unforgettable: a non-traditional guest book. “We collect playing cards from places we travel, so we opted for a non-traditional guest book of blank playing cards where guests could write their name and a message for us.” A Pittsburgh cookie table honored Kat’s family tradition. “Kat is from Pittsburgh and loves to bake, so we had to do a traditional Pittsburgh cookie table! It was so special having members of our family travel down and bring their signature cookies to add to the table and be enjoyed by guests.”

From thoughtful details to joyful celebration, every element of Kat and Sam’s wedding reflected their love, personalities, and the season they adore.