The Valentine

ew decorations, plus there is a nice indoor space if you need it. Your guests are allowed to tour the museum which was a fun addition to our wedding. They thought of everything and the planning process was stress-free. There are rooms for getting ready and lots of fun places for photos. The venue is a great value, especially if you're looking to be in the city. They handle set-up and offer a good list of preferred caterers who know the space and the staff which helps with planning and coordinating. There was onsight parking, too.

it the perfect combination of urban & bohemian. It was also super convenient to out of town guests staying at the Hilton & Linden Row Inn. We were even able to provide our guests with guided tours of the museum during cocktail hour. Peggy, the events coordinator, was very nice and pleasant to work with - though I do recommend having your own day-of coordinator to partner with her on last minute logistics - especially if you need a rain plan. The only down-side/surprise of choosing The Valentine was that the rental fee seemed really reasonable upfront, but when you add in tent rentals and catering (you can only choose from a list of three approved caterers) it ended up being more expensive than we originally anticipated. Other than that, I highly recommend an event at the Valentine!

ize for both the indoor and outdoor spaces. I'm thrilled with how everything turned out and our guests loved being there, too. We had a 6-person band and they fit perfectly in front of the sculpture room outside. The staff was attentive and accommodating! I can't say enough good things about the wedding coordinator, Peggy. She was so kind, competent, and very responsive throughout the entire process. Peggy is a calm presence and I was stress-free on the wedding day knowing she had everything under control! One thing to note with this location is you are limited to their preferred catering list of three caterers-- which actually helped me not drown in the sea of caterers around Richmond. For those on a budget, we found A Sharper Palate to be the best option. Also, there is a parking attendant who will park your guests' cars in two lots--- one out front and one across the street. The Hilton Garden Inn is close enough that you can use their free shuttle if your guests don't want to drive. Tents are available to rent to put your fear of weather out of your mind. We had two tents, but the weather ended up being beautiful. There are lights inside the tent, which added a nice touch to our nighttime reception. If you're looking for an unconventional, beautiful venue for your special day, be sure to check out the Valentine Museum!

t these expectations and then some! It has a beautiful boxwood garden nestled in front of the gorgeous Wickham House and makes for a gorgeous, intimate setting. Additionally, the museum had just finished its interior renovations and the results were superb!! It was classy, fun, unique, and hip all at the same time. The price was reasonable, especially considering it included all tables and chairs, setup/cleanup, and guest parking with a parking attendant! Also, I was able to get my remaining rentals through them (tents, extra lights, etc.) which helped make everything easier. Finally, Peggy (the wedding site coordinator) is phenomenal and such a sweet woman! She was incredibly helpful along the way, and I could tell she really wanted to help in any way she could to make sure my big day was a success.