Mara Villa 101

A detailed guide to event planning with Mara Villa

After Reserving Your Date at Mara Villa…

Keep a record of your paperwork

Once your agreements have been processed with our main office, you will receive fully executed digital copies via email. Keep these handy throughout your planning to remember what’s included in your package.

Plan your visits to the venue in advance

You are welcome to come back and see us as often as you’d like throughout your planning. Just give us a call to schedule a time. We are typically available Tuesdays – Saturdays.

Check in with your in-package vendors

In the box below, you will find contact information for our in-package vendors, along with notes on when to expect contact from each one. You are welcome to begin the conversation first by reaching out to one of your vendors directly. Just be sure to remind them you have already booked them through Mara Villa!

Not going with Mara Villa’s In-House Vendors? Start shopping around for…

Music

If not using Mara Villa’s in-house DJ Service, you will need music for the party. You are welcome to use any DJ, band, musician, or performer that you would like. If you are hiring a musician that has not performed at Mara Villa, we recommend that you schedule a site visit with your Mara Villa Coordinator and the musician to ensure day-of arrival and setup go smoothly. Please note, outside musicians must use their own sound equipment.

Cake or Dessert

You are welcome to use any bakery with liability insurance for your cake or dessert. We strongly recommend that you request a copy of the bakery’s Liability Insurance before paying your deposit, as you will be required to submit it to your Mara Villa Representative or Coordinator prior to the day of delivery.

Officiant (if applicable)

You are welcome to use any licensed or ordained officiant to perform your ceremony. Some couples choose to use a close friend of family member who has already become licensed or ordained, while other couples choose to forego a legal ceremony on our property and use a non-licensed friend or family member.

Floral

You are welcome to use an offsite florist or DIY your own floral if you and/or your florist can comply with our Outside Floral Guidelines. We require that offsite florists sign and return our Outside Floral Agreement prior to delivery & setup. To receive a copy of the Outside Floral Agreement, contact your Mara Villa Representative or Coordinator.

Photography & Videography

You are welcome to use any photo & video team that you’d like. We do not require anything in terms of paperwork or certification from outside photographers. While videography is always optional, our couples love the highlight reels and documentary style edited videos done by Tomas Ramos’s team.

General Guidelines for Outside Vendors

  • Outside vendors may arrive up to 2 hours prior to your event to begin setup. Additional setup time may be purchased at $150/hour. DIY setup may begin as early as your suite opening time, but the venue will be accessible to the public up until 2 hours prior to your event.
  • While on property at Mara Villa, vendors must abide by all venue policies. As the person hiring and bringing in these vendors, you are responsible for their actions, so make sure you hire reputable and professional vendors.
  • Give yourself a few months to research, meet with, and book these vendors. Just remember, vendor calendars fill up just like venue calendars do, so if you have your heart set on one pro now, book them! You can always come back to one (or all) of our in-house pros as well.

Guidelines for Outside Food & Beverage Vendors

  • Any outside Food & Beverage not provided by Mara Villa’s in-package vendors must be approved in writing by a member of Mara Villa’s management team and requires that the client signs off on the Outside Catering Addendum.
  • A Certificate of Liability Insurance with “Mara Villa” listed as a Certificate Holder is required from either the Client or the Vendor providing the Food & Beverage service.
  • Kitchen prep space is very limited at Mara Villa. Outside vendors must prepare and serve food outside or in the area they are set for service and are responsible for all set up and cleanup of their areas.
  • Plates, utensils, and napkins should be provided by the client or vendor for any outside food & beverage.
The Week of Your Event

The Week of Your Event

  Vendor Check-In: Your Mara Villa Coordinator will call each of your vendors a few days before the event to confirm...

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The Big Day is Here!

The Big Day is Here!

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