Congratulations! You’re now within a year of your wedding date, and the countdown has begun! This is an exciting time, and we know how eager you and your loved ones are to celebrate your love.
With less than a year to go, it’s time to focus on big-picture decisions. Most planning happens within this timeframe, so having key details locked in—or close to finalized—will set you up for success.
Before booking vendors, start with these key conversations:
✅ Set Your Budget – Decide on your total spending and what areas matter most.
✅ Choose a Date & Venue – Your venue sets the foundation for all other details, so book this first!
Once these are in place, it’s time to move on to vendors.
These vendors play the biggest roles in your wedding day and should be secured early:
✨ Venue – Everything else depends on this!
✨ Catering – Check bar options. Can you bring your own alcohol? What’s your preferred meal style?
✨ Rentals – If your venue or caterer do not provide tables, chairs, or dishware, secure a rental company.
✨ Photographer & Videographer – Your wedding photos and videos will last a lifetime—invest wisely!
✨ DJ or Band – Music makes the party!
✨ Hair & Makeup – Secure your beauty team to ensure availability.
✨ Officiant – Whether a friend, family member, or professional, make sure they’re booked. If your officiant isn’t ordained, check local laws to ensure they can legally perform the ceremony.
✨ Florist & Decor – Bring your wedding vision to life with a spectacular installation of greenery, lanterns and disco balls!
✨ Wedding Planner or Coordinator – Even if you don’t need full planning, a day-of coordinator is a must to keep things stress-free. The mansion has an in house wedding planning team to best assist you throughout the entire planning process!
Once the essentials are booked, focus on these:
🎂 Bakery – Whether you prefer a tiered cake or dessert bar, secure your sweets.
🚗 Transportation – How will guests arrive and depart?
🏨 Hotel Blocks – Reserve rooms for out-of-town guests.
🎻 Live Musicians – Whether for the ceremony or cocktail hour, live music adds elegance!
💎 Jeweler – Purchase wedding bands early for resizing or customizations.
Make your day even more unique with these fun extras:
📸 Photo Booth – A great way to capture extra memories and entertain guests. Check out our photo lounge!
🎨 Live Painter – Have your ceremony or first dance turned into a one-of-a-kind painting.
🎶 Specialty Musicians & Performers – Mariachi bands, cultural dancers, or a jazz trio—live entertainment is always a hit!
🌟 Neon Signs & Backdrops – A trendy addition to any photo station.
🚚 Food Trucks – Late-night snacks like sliders, tacos, or an ice cream truck? Yes, please!
🎲 Games – Lawn games or interactive stations can keep guests entertained.
🍸 Mobile Bar – A stylish way to serve signature cocktails.
📍 Create Your Wedding Website & Registry – Include hotel details, travel info, and your favorite local spots!
💌 Send Save the Dates – Pair this with an engagement session for personalized touches.
👗 Plan Wedding Attire – Finalize your color scheme and coordinate what your wedding party will wear.
🎉 Propose to Your Wedding Party – Make it official with a fun invitation!
🚗 Plan Your Honeymoon – Start researching and booking travel, especially for international trips requiring passports or visas.
👰 Wedding Dress – Start shopping around the one-year mark to allow time for shipping and alterations. If going custom, order even earlier. Also, make sure your bustle is secure!
💍 Wedding Bands – Purchase early to allow time for resizing and insurance.
In our next blog, we’ll cover what to focus on 6-9 months out from your big day!
💡 Planning Tip: If things start to feel overwhelming, take a break. Step away for a week, plan a date night, and return refreshed. You’ve got this—and we’re here to help every step of the way!