Newly Engaged Survival Guide: Your Wedding Planning To-Do List

If you’re newly engaged and starting to plan your wedding in the Texas Hill Country, welcome—we’re so glad you’re here. From selecting the perfect Dripping Springs wedding venue to booking top-tier vendors, our Camp Lucy team has curated this simple, stress-free wedding planning checklist to guide you every step of the way.

Months 0-2: Dream and Define Your Wedding Vision

• Celebrate first! Seriously, enjoy being engaged for a minute before diving into planning
• Talk budget and vision with your partner (and whoever’s contributing financially)
• Choose your season – Our best advice: Spring and Fall are peak in the Hill Country
• Create a preliminary guest list – even a rough count helps you choose the right venue
• Tour venues – and when you visit Camp Lucy, explore all our ceremony and reception spaces to envision your day

Months 2-4: Book Your Wedding Venue & Key Vendors

• Secure your venue and date – prime dates book 12-18 months out, so don’t wait
• Hire your photographer – they’re often the first vendor to get booked (plan that engagement photo shoot
• Choose your planner – they’ll make everything else easier, trust us especially on this one
• Reserve room blocks – especially important if you’re hosting a weekend celebration

Months 4-6: Build Your Wedding Dream Team

• Book your caterer – or if your venue has in-house catering like we do, start menu planning
• Secure entertainment – DJ, band, or both
• Find your florist – someone who understands Hill Country blooms and our aesthetic
• Order your dress – custom gowns can take 8-10 months

Months 6-8: Finalize Wedding Details & Guest Experience

• Send save-the-dates – especially for destination or weekend weddings
• Plan your rehearsal dinner – The Vineyard, anyone
• Book hair and makeup artists
• Reserve spa services for you and your wedding party at Folklore Spa
• Start thinking about rentals with Whim – our team can connect with you

Months 8-12: Add Personal Touches to Your Hill Country Wedding

• Create your wedding website – The Knot is very popular
• Register for gifts
• Plan welcome bags or activities for out-of-town guests
• Book any weekend-of activities – wine tours, group dinners, spa days
• Order invitations – mail 8-10 weeks before the wedding
• Finalize your menu with tastings

Final Months: Finalize Your Texas Hill Country Celebration

• Confirm final guest count and seating arrangements
• Have final meetings with all vendors – when you pass all communication to your planner
• Create a detailed timeline for the day with your planner
• Get your marriage license obviously!
• Break in your shoes on those winding paths (underrated)
• Write your vows (if doing personal vows)
• Pack for your first night as a married couple in one of our luxury accommodations

Why Camp Lucy?

Here’s what we know: your wedding should feel like you. Whether that’s an intimate ceremony in Ian’s Chapel, a sunset reception under Sacred Oaks, or a weekend-long celebration that lets your favorite people truly unplug and connect—we’ve got you covered.

With 282 acres to explore, multiple venues to pick from, world-class hospitality, and views that genuinely make you stop and say “ah,” Camp Lucy isn’t just a wedding venue. It’s where your wedding becomes an experience, where Austin feels close, but the world feels far away, where every detail is thoughtfully designed, and where your love story gets the setting it deserves.

Ready to start planning? Reach out to our events team to schedule a tour. We can’t wait to show you around and help you imagine your perfect day in the heart of Texas Wine Country.

There’s Texas, and then there’s this Texas. Let’s make your wedding unforgettable.