The Wedding Year

Mara Baylor, a photographer in Los Angeles, goes out for drinks with her best friend Alex. During their outing, she decides to use a dating app to score a free dinner, leading her to match with Jake Harrison, a chef.

On their dinner date, Jake, who pretends to be a celebrity chef, reveals that he is actually a cook at a local diner. As they talk over pancakes, they share personal details, and Mara makes a bold suggestion that they sleep together.

Mara and Jake begin dating, which is a new experience for Mara. Despite her cynicism about relationships, she feels a strong connection to Jake, who hails from Virginia.

Mara receives a call from her sister Jessica announcing her engagement, which adds to her skepticism about marriage. Meanwhile, Jake’s brother Robbie also shares news of his engagement to Violet, presenting more wedding invites.

Overwhelmed by the number of weddings they’ve been invited to, Mara and Jake play a drinking game to decide which ones to attend. At the first wedding, Mara meets Nicole, Jake's intimidating ex, and makes a drunken scene.

During the second wedding, Mara notices that Alex is interested in Zak, prompting Jake to facilitate an introduction. This marks a growing sense of community among their friends and highlights their social life.

At her boss Ellie's wedding, Mara is unexpectedly asked to be the maid of honor. This moment signifies her increasing involvement in both her personal and professional life as she navigates her relationship with Jake.

As they attend their fifth wedding, Mara and Jake discuss the possibility of moving in together. This intimate conversation leads Mara to confess her love, and Jake suggests they contemplate marriage, deepening their emotional connection.

At Jessica's wedding, Mara discusses the uncomfortable dynamics of their parents meeting each other. This revelation underscores Mara's internal conflict about love and commitment stemming from her own childhood experiences.

During Robbie's wedding, conversations about family and having children by Jake's family unsettle Mara. After a concerning encounter with Violet, who is binge-eating, Mara realizes how overwhelming the expectations around her relationship have become.

After returning to LA, Mara and Jake discover that her car is malfunctioning. As they wait for assistance, Mara reflects on where she sees their future, revealing her reservations about marriage and family commitments.

Feeling pressured by Jake's expectations about marriage and family, Mara makes the difficult decision to return the engagement ring. She emphasizes her passion for photography and desire for independence, leading to their breakup.

Following their breakup, Jake moves back east and gets a promising job as a chef, earning accolades from a food critic. However, his interactions with Nicole complicate his emotional landscape.

As Mara continues to pursue her photography career, she engages in a few casual hookups, indicating her struggle with moving on. A phone call from Alex announcing his own engagement adds to her sense of loss.

At Alex and Zak's wedding, Mara delivers a heartfelt speech that rekindles her connection with Jake. They both apologize and express their lingering love for each other, culminating in Jake placing the engagement ring back on her finger as they decide to adopt a rescue dog.