Forget About Booking a Wedding Venue: 6 Tips on Hosting Your Backyard for Your Wedding Ceremony
A wedding is a big event worth celebrating, but it also comes with big expenses, and one of them can be the wedding venue. The good news? You don’t necessarily need to book a wedding venue, your home’s backyard is the ultimate sanctuary where the marriage celebration can take place.
Not only will it eliminate the hefty venue cost, but it also gives you the freedom to decorate just the way you want and curate everything as you see fit. While planning properly is essential if you want the event to be beautiful and memorable, you don’t need to be an architect for that to happen. Below, you will find our best 6 tips on hosting the perfect wedding in your backyard, so check them out.
1. Start with The Budget
Obviously, you can’t start planning your backyard wedding before you’ve taken the time to establish a budget. So, sit down with your significant other and ensure you agree on how much money you both are willing to splurge on your wedding day. While eliminating the hefty venue fee will save you a lot of cash, the costs that go into everything else will add up, so it’s important to set a clear budget right from the beginning.
Ultimately, the wedding will cost however much you want it to, as it all depends on your style. You can host a wedding for $10,000 with the price including everything from the rentals to the food and drinks and the photographer, the wedding clothes, and the DJ and equipment.
But you can also pay only $2,000 for it, but that will obviously involve giving up on some things ( for instance, a sit down meal and a photographer). But don’t worry, even if you can’t pay a photographer, that doesn’t mean your wedding won’t still be memorable. If you have a friend who has some photography skills, perhaps getting them to take up the role might be a viable option. Don’t forget to also incorporate the usage of hashtags so that everyone can relook those beautiful memories on a social platform.
2. Divide up The Space
It’s a good idea to designate separate locations for the ceremony, arrivals, reception, and after-party, as this will help streamline traffic flow during the event. Obviously, this will depend a lot on the space available to you, but if possible, do your best to avoid having a flip space between the areas and make the guest transition easier between the events. As for the ceremony, you should choose the most atmospheric space for it.
To do that, consider all the options available and test them out to see where the lighting is right to ensure the sun won’t hit you right in the eye. When it comes to hosting after-reception festivities, it’s recommended to choose the coziest part of your backyard for that ( this is especially true if you anticipate a smaller group to ensure there won’t be 30 guests in a space that’s made for 300 people, as that won’t really be pleasant).
3. Make Décor Personal
Just like any wedding venue, your backyard doesn’t require a specific aesthetic for the big event. You can opt for whatever works with the outdoor space and fits your vision. What matters is to make it meaningful. After all, décor should be personal to you, so use silverware, or whatever elements you think would create aesthetics you would love. There’s no need to keep things uniform, mixing different vintage glasses and goblets is a great way to achieve a bohemian effect.
But remember that décor isn’t just about florals and linens, you should also consider the bar facades, the treatments to tent ceilings and poles, specialty napkins, and stage facades. Finally, the small details matter most, and they should reflect the aesthetic of the couple and the location.
4. Choose a Dress Code
Another significant aspect of a backyard wedding is that you can pick any dress code you want. There are no rules for it! If you’re planning a casual nuptial, formal attire would be the best suggestion for guests. However, suppose your event is more upscale, opting for a black-tie dress code makes sense. Obviously, you can come up with your own dress code, like colorful summertime attire, garden party chic, or whatever you like most. You just have to remember to offer them a detailed description so they can come prepared.
The good news is that there’s wedding attire available in all kinds of styles, but guests need to know in advance what they should look for. After all, it can take a while to find a unique bridesmaid dress, and you don’t want the bridesmaids to feel stressed out while preparing for the big day, right? Make sure to also offer information about weather-appropriate accessories, like sun hats (if the weather is bright) and sensible footwear on grassy terrains.
5. Consider a Dance Floor
Suppose you have a paved courtyard area. In this case, setting up a temporary floor is quite a large scale task and usually optional. But keep in mind that it’s hard to pull off a grass party, especially if there’s an after party for everyone to dance and drink, a smooth floor might be necessary.
Generally, the architectural hardscape of the property is incorporated, aiming to give it a natural look by using bluestone, limestone, or mosaic tile. If flooring isn’t in your budget, make sure to tell your guests to wear the right type of shoes, or give them alternate shoes for dancing like flats or flip flops ( if you do that, however, remember to have a tucked away station where they can leave their shoes, as this will help ensure there won’t be a sea of colorful shoes in the photos from the wedding!)
6. Tell Your Neighbors
While this isn’t necessary, telling your neighbors that you will host your wedding in your backyard is considerate. There will be ordinances to follow out of respect for residents anyway, but informing them about the event will allow them to prepare mentally and plan accordingly.
It may be awkward to do a door-to-door visit, but trust us: it’s for the best, as it will decrease the likelihood of complaints.
The Bottom Line
So, now you know how to host your wedding in your backyard! If you plan things in advance, you will enjoy a wedding experience connected to nature, with your new chapter as newlyweds reflected in the surrounding beauty. This is your big day, so make it special and think out of the box whenever possible!
