The Mill at Fine Creek: Lisa Benusa and the full-service approach

Built around and encompassing the ruins of the old, well, mill at Fine Creek, this venue can accommodate more than 200 guests or a more intimate ceremony. The Mill is family-owned, steeped in historic charm, and able to provide much more than just a setting for your big day. Lisa Benusa tells us more.

May 14, 2015; 12:00 PM • by Susan Howson

We covered the Mill at Fine Creek’s monthly dinners (may you rest in peace) several years ago and never forgot how professional, talented, and helpful each member of the Benusa family was. The venue’s Powhatan location brings with it gorgeous rustic ruins (it’s an official historic landmark!), a stony and wide creek, beautiful views…and a full-service venue that handles its own catering with serious skill. Owner Lisa Benusa describes her experience with the wedding scene. All pictures were taken by her son, Mark Benusa.

Within the ruins.

Lisa’s Story

What attracted me to the industry was the idea of getting to be part of an entire family’s memories, helping to take all of the moving parts and ideas that a family has and streamline them into a flawless event. The fact we love planning a party and have fun each and every day doing it is also a perk!

What effect do you think sites like Pinterest and wedding blogs have had on the industry?

Pinterest and blogs have had a profound effect on the industry, for better or worse. There’s so much information out there at a bride’s fingertips that it can be overwhelming. It’s beneficial when it’s used simply as inspiration or to get the wheels turning, allowing for a direction to be found. It’s also helpful to brides by keeping them from making mistakes other couples have had to make.

However, Pinterest and blogs begin to do more harm than good when couple’s attempt to recreate something they’ve seen online to a T. Wedding days are unpredictable–the more you can go with the flow and let the experts handle it the happier you’ll be! This brings us to the next question…

What are some things you think that brides and grooms worry about that they really shouldn’t?

Outside the mill.

Too many small details! A couple’s wedding day will inevitably fly by, and if they’re worried too much about tiny insignificant details, no matter how great they looked on a Pinterest board, they will surely lose sight of what’s important. The stress a bride and groom feel on their wedding day is directly transferred to the enjoyment of their guests.

What we love more than anything is helping a bride to relax on her wedding day, focusing on what’s important, and enjoying her entire day from prep to getaway.

Guests can enjoy dinner indoors in the ballroom, which lies next to the dance floor (not pictured).

Who are some of your favorite local vendors? And why?

We especially love working with vendors that want to be a part of a team, who don’t let their egos get in the way and who help us to create the perfect day for a couple and their family, instead of putting their own self-interests first.

The couple of vendors that come to mind are Lou Stevens Glam Squad and Eric Cunningham with Choice Entertainment. They represent the perfect amount of professionalism while still loving what they do and it shows in their work and their effectiveness at making a couple happy.

Tell us your very favorite wedding story, whether it’s a horror story or a moment of beauty.

The mill’s bar area is hunt club chic, possibly the best kind of chic, and a cozy place to spend during your cocktail hour.

One wedding that comes to mind took place years ago but still sticks in my mind. It was a winter wedding, and the groom wanted so bad for it to snow on his wedding day.

Leading up to the wedding, there wasn’t the slightest bit of a chance at snow. it wasn’t until late in the evening, when it was nice and dark out, that we noticed a faint bit of a flurry beginning to fall. We went around and turned all the lights off inside the building, leaving all the candles lit and turned on all the outdoor floods so that from inside everyone could see what was now a full-on snow shower.

It’s hard not to remember the happy tears of a groom!