LESLIE-ALFORD MIMS HOUSE HOLLY SPRINGS WEDDING VENUE
Yay!! It’s Tuesday and I have another FABULOUS wedding venue to share with y’all this week! I headed over to meet with Brooke at The Leslie-Alford Mims House (affectionately known as the Mims House) in Holly Springs and ask her all about the venue and how they get started. I learned so much about this historic home and absolutely loved my time with Brooke! If you’re in Holly Springs, you definitely must go check it out!! The venue is great for large weddings and events, or smaller gatherings like workshops and small photoshoots. The house has so much character and charm with 24 rooms and over 7,000 square feet! Whoa!!
Read along to see what Brooke had to say about the Mims House! 
How did you get started?
Priscilla and I, my business partner, decided to pursue the space after working together in the wedding industry for years. We both have our own companies, Belle’s Catering and Orangerie Events, but we wanted to branch out and have a venue of our own. Originally, my husband found the space, and to say it simply, the house needed a lot of love! We’ve had a lot of challenges finding people to work on the house because it was built in the 1800’s and is on the National Register of Historic places. But with lots and lots of labor and love we were able to turn this deconditioned home into an beautiful wedding venue.
What’s one interesting fact about the Mims House?
All of the glass in the house is the original glass, minus the broken glass we had to replace. However, because the house is on the NHR, the glass we purchased had to be approved by capital preservation. The glass had to be original glass from the 1800’s, so we basically had to do online bidding to find the glass and get it approved for use in the home!
What is included when a couple books your venue for their wedding?
We provide 60″ round tables, cake table, ceremony chairs, reception chairs and of course the venue for the day. We want our clients to feel like they are at home when they rent the venue so we open up the space all day for weddings. That way brides and grooms can get ready here, vendors have ample time for set ups and preparation, and we just want the entire experience to feel relaxed and comfortable and our wedding clients not to feel like they are on a hourly time constraint.
Tell me about your favorite wedding last season.
My favorite wedding from this past year was so well thought out and planned, with custom graphic design elements and a flat bread pizza bar, tons of amazing decor and the entire day was just fun! It poured down raining the entire wedding but it didn’t even matter. They were so in love, so happy and so thankful. Even despite the less than ideal weather, the couple and family radiated with love. It was perfect!
How far out should a bride pay a deposit to secure your venue for her wedding day?
If a bride wants the space, we recommend booking as soon as possible. Especially during May and October, where we book up very quickly. We will book out as far as needed and require a 50% deposit to reserve the space.
How do you help couples customize their wedding?
After our clients book, we help them with layouts and options, and we also have a look book with designs and examples. We help with suggestions on the flow of the event, help them utilize all of the space and give vendor recommendations based on what the couple is looking for.
How many guests can you accommodate?
Outside on our patio we can accommodate around 200 for a seated dinner. Inside we can do about 125 for a seated dinner, and for cocktail style, we can do about 225 inside the home flowing in an out of the rooms downstairs.
What makes Mims House unique?
My favorite fact about the home is that it was built as a wedding gift! Archibald Leslie came over from Scotland, fell in love and built the home in the 1840s as a wedding gift for his bride! Her initials are still above the fireplace!
Do you have any plans for the future at the Mims House?
So, nobody knows this because there is a secret staircase behind a bookshelf, but there is actually a 3rd floor apartment in the house. The space is huge, its two bedrooms with a full bath, and we would love to turn the space into a dedicated area for boudoir shoots. We want to really vamp it up and make it ultra romantic and private for our boudoir clients – which we have a lot of!
Ahh, SO beautiful! Brooke and Pricsilla, y’all did such an incredible job with the transformation and I love the value you put into all of your clients experiences at your venue! You can learn more about Mims House on their website here or contact them here to set up a tour! Happy planning brides and brides-to-be!!Xoxo, Ashley
View more of our Featured Venue posts:
The Stockroom at 230
Highgrove Estate
The Oaks at Salem
Merrimon-Wynne House
The Mims House
