With the rise of social isolation and the advent of the "micro wedding," backyard nuptials are enjoying a renaissance. Why leave the comfort of your own home if after extensive venue scouting you still haven't located "the one?"
Having a wedding in your own backyard is a wonderful idea, and it will be something your loved ones will always remember, even if it is at your new home as a married couple.
The nicest part about a home wedding is the ability to make it uniquely your own. Getting dressed in your old bedroom and walking down the stairs in your wedding attire is like nothing else in the world.
We are not suggesting that you forego the wedding celebration altogether, but rather that you do it in your own backyard, if you have one. We adore backyard nuptials for a variety of reasons, including the fact that they tend to be more relaxed and sentimental.
Simply put, there is no location on earth like your own. Planning a backyard wedding is a wonderful idea, but keep in mind that it is not the same as holding the ceremony in a banquet hall or other designated wedding location. This includes using your own backyard, the backyard of your partner's parents, or even your grandparents' country cottage.
You won't regret making the effort to exchange your vows in a special spot, even if it takes more time and effort than you had imagined.
Whether you're planning your own wedding or helping a friend or family member throw one, it's important to know what's involved. This is a complete guide to organising a wedding in your own home.
Looking for the ultimate Wedding Reception Venue in Melbourne? Look no further, Vines of the Yarra Valley is here.
Table of Contents
The Benefits of Having a Backyard Wedding
It's a Money Saver.
Renting a hall is one of the most costly aspects of wedding preparations. Their bundled offerings are practical, but they come at a hefty price. The good news is that you can save money on the cost of renting an event place by having your wedding in your own lawn.
Although the venue itself may be free of charge, other expenses, such as a wedding tent, tableware, and furniture rentals, may not be, so it is still wise to create a spending plan and stick to it.
The decision to have a wedding at home is typically prompted by financial considerations. Traditional wedding venues may seem pricey at first, but it's worth considering how much it would cost to have the ceremony and reception in your own backyard.
Since you have such a deep familiarity with your home, a wedding planner can help you see the property and your options in a new light.
The Wedding Date Is Up to You.
Booking a wedding location on the specified date is a common challenge for engaged couples. Dates don't always work out, so they wind up having to reschedule or go with a different provider.
Well, if you're having an outdoor wedding, you won't have to stress over that. There will be no need to worry about sharing your dream venue with another couple, but you will need to coordinate the majority of your vendor team.
You won't have to coordinate with the event planner at your location if you need to postpone your wedding. It's not uncommon for the best traditional wedding venues to be booked a year or more in advance, leaving couples with few date possibilities.
Since a backyard wedding doesn't have to be announced to guests, you and your soon-to-be spouse's family can pick any day that is convenient for everyone.
Complete Possession of the Area
The norms and restrictions of the location where you choose to hold your wedding must be followed.
Having a wedding in a backyard gives you a great deal of creative freedom in terms of decorations and venue arrangement. Because of this flexibility, you can plan your wedding day as you see fit.
You Can Easily Keep It Modest.
For a smaller, more personal ceremony, a backyard setting is ideal. Your coworkers, second cousins, and random online acquaintances won't be able to make it to your wedding because of the limited seating.
In addition, if anyone questions why they weren't included in the final cut, you might say that seating is extremely restricted and that you've reserved it for special guests such as your closest friends, grandparents, siblings, and parents.
There Will Be Deeper Meaning to Your Celebration
"Home" is supposedly where one's heart should be. That's certainly true a lot of the time. Weddings that take place in the bride and groom's homes tend to be more personal and heartfelt because the guests are invited into the couple's personal space.
You're Free to Be as Relaxed as You Like
A wedding in the backyard is the perfect solution if you don't have to spend a lot of money on a big, fancy event.
Relaxed and low-key, like a barbeque instead of a formal ball, is OK. For those who value one other's companionship more than elaborate centrepieces and pricey performances, this is the perfect option.
However, if you have the room, you may add some flair to the event by decorating with throws, Chiavari chairs, and high-end linens and inviting in some fire-eaters and jugglers from the circus.
Saying “I do” at Vines of the Yarra Valley is an elegant and luxurious affair.
Less Decorations Needed.
If you're concerned about the cost of renting or buying decorations, know that you won't need nearly as much for a small location as you would for a larger one.
Smaller backyards imply fewer places to set up tables and flowers for the centerpiece and less room for string lights. It's a win-win: both your pocketbook and your time will benefit from this arrangement.
You can easily relax at home.
Suites designated for honeymoons are, without a question, fantastic. Luxury amenities such as minibars, jacuzzi tubs, room service, and cloud-like terrycloth bathrobes are standard.
However, if you value sleep above all else, returning to your own bed after the wedding is undoubtedly your first priority. You'll be able to relax on your own sheets, use your own bathroom, and help yourself to whatever you like from the fully stocked fridge. Additionally, you'll be able to save more cash for your actual honeymoon.
You Can Set Your Own Rule
You may very much design your own rules after you've checked with the town regarding sound restrictions, parking rules, and a few other things. Before the ceremony, you can host a supper if you like, and then the ceremony can take place under the moonlight if that's your preference.
This happy couple did that, and the results were stunning. When hosting a wedding in a backyard, most couples like to write their own regulations.
Gives You the Option to Use Local, Smaller Businesses
It might be challenging to work with smaller, local, or organic-style vendors because many venues only let you to work with a select list of vendors.
Hosting your wedding could save you from having to hire "conventional" vendors like caterers, florists, and bakers. When you hold your event in a backyard, you can invite anybody you choose to collaborate with.
You won't be able to hire your friend's newly launched catering company because most venues need all vendors to be licensed. The use of a food truck is a popular option, especially for informal outdoor ceremonies.
You Can DIY
Fantastic ideas such as vintage plates for dinner, ,pom-poms hanging from the trees and burlap wedding banners may not be practical in a conventional wedding setting.
The outside setting gives you plenty of room for creative mixing and matching, as well as all of the essential do-it-yourself wedding tasks. Let your imagination go wild and design your ideal day.
Vines of the Yarra Valley is your perfect wedding venue in Melbourne delivering fairytale weddings for the bride and groom.
Challenges of a Backyard Wedding
Picking the Right Vendors
Researching, interviewing, and vetting potential providers is a time-consuming process. Since this is your first time organising an event, you probably don't have a list of potential vendors handy.
If you hire a professional venue, you may make use of all of the amenities they provide. That's why it's crucial to locate suppliers who share your goals and can accommodate your financial constraints.
First, you should ask yourself if you really want to spend the time emailing potential vendors only to find out that they either won't work with your budget or won't be a good match.
Creative Control
Complete creative direction requires careful coordination of all factors. You'll also need to transport all of the rental items, tables, flatware, glassware, tent, china, and chairs for the outdoor wedding.
Time and planning are required for this. Due in large part to the fact that you have never held this type of event in your garden before, you may find that bringing everything with you increases the overall budget.
This will add extra effort for you and your vendor team. Furniture like chairs and tables are often provided by the venue as part of the rental fee.
Your Area
This outdoor event space will require more of your attention to maintain. You should draw out a layout and floor plan. The restrooms should not be overlooked.
Do you have enough, or will you have to buy more? Find a way to make the confetti presentable again. Establish a loading and unloading procedure. Fix the location of the food preparation area. Heat/rain. Deliveries. Decorations for a wedding in the yard. Accent and task lighting.
The amount of effort, time, and organization required for this is enormous. You are also exposing your home to potential legal trouble, a mess to clean up, and repair costs.
Pandemic Hospitality
You can be jeopardising the security of everyone in the room. As professional, insured facilities, venues are required to follow all applicable local, state, and federal laws.
They care about you and your health and want what is best for you. Being responsible for the safety and well-being of your guests is a massive obligation under normal circumstances, much less during a pandemic.
Funding the Wedding
If you want to hold your event outside but don't want to pay for a hall, renting a tent could be a good compromise.
In order to get a tent that is watertight, windproof, weatherproof, temperature regulated, has lighting and a dance floor, you may expect to pay upwards of $15,000.
It's possible that you don't have the necessary facilities or infrastructure in your garden to hold a large gathering. It's possible, for instance, that you lack an alternate rain strategy or an indoor venue that can accommodate the anticipated number of guests.
Professional event spaces have likely planned and carried out these details hundreds of times. A rain plan is not something you need to think about when you hire a platform.
A Go-Ahead is Required.
Be careful to get the necessary permissions and pass any fire inspections with the city.
An electrician should check to see if a permit is needed to park cars on the street, if there are any limitations on noise, and if any permits are required for installation of electrical equipment.
Police interference at your wedding is the last thing you need. Your wedding minister may also want to check out the site to ensure everything is in order. Verify that you have their approval before planning a garden or house wedding.
However, some people are unable to execute the ceremony outside of their church because their faith does not approve of it. Allow ample of time to track out a legal minister who can preside over the ceremony.
Talking to your neighbours about the upcoming event is also recommended. If you're planning a wedding at home, make sure to tell everyone involved in advance.
Inquire if they would be willing to provide their driveways for additional parking and inform them of the ceremony time so that nobody is trimming their lawn during your outdoor vows.
Unfortunately, you can't count on the kindness of strangers. Provide ample parking on the street or a shuttle service to and from a nearby parking lot (like a school or church) for your guests. Get the services of a reliable firm if valet parking is required.
Get in touch with your home insurance provider and let them know what you have planned. Your home could take a battering from all the vendors coming in and out and the people dancing on the lawn.
Check with your insurance provider to see what your policy covers. You should think about purchasing additional coverage. Verify with your home country's insurance provider and with your suppliers that they, too, are covered by third-party liability insurance.
Weddings in the backyard require a lot of room.
It's important to have a place to actually say "I do." Have you checked to see whether your setup can accommodate everyone who has RSVP'd? If not, you should begin eliminating items from the list.
In a crowded space, you won't feel at all at ease. Know that if the climate takes a turn for the worse, everyone may need to squeeze inside if you are using a mixture of indoor and outside space and don't have a tent.
Asking if a living room, for example, has enough area for a table and a set of white foldable chairs with a comfortable aisle between them. With row seating, you should allot between 6 and 10 square feet of room per person.
Before planning a large event on your property, it's important to get advice from experts. They will help you see what's possible. The terrain, for instance, could be uneven. You wouldn't want the chairs, the tables, or the dance floor to be on a patch of uneven grass.
Tent installation services can evaluate the site to determine if a foundation is necessary or if a dance floor can be set up immediately on the ground. The florist, caterer, band, etc., will need to figure out what precautions need to be taken to prevent the cake table and flower arrangements from toppling over.
Your team of experts must inspect the premises. Then, merchants should pay a visit to find out what additional materials they need to provide. Get a kitchen inspection from your caterer to guarantee adequate space and equipment.
A fully equipped mobile kitchen may be required otherwise.
Guests May Crash
While sleepovers are entertaining, inviting visitors to your home for your wedding will simply add stress to the already hectic planning process.
It would be best if you could talk them out of this. Unless the wedding is being held in a 25-bedroom mansion, only the couple and their closest family should be staying at the venue.
The morning of your wedding is hardly the time to be vying with your cousin for the shower. You should suggest a hotel that is conveniently located near the wedding venue. Location is crucial, and there are likely vacation rentals in the area, making it easy for guests to get to your house wedding.
It may be preferable for some couples to spend the night before the wedding away from family and friends, in which case a hotel would be ideal. Before suggesting a remedy to your guests, make sure you've exhausted all avenues.
Take Rentals Into Account
To host a wedding reception in a backyard, it is necessary to bring in enough party rentals to accommodate everyone expected to attend.
You will need tents, table linens, portable sinks, portable showers, place settings, tables, tableware, napkins, portable toilets, chairs, and barware. Get enough chairs for the guests to sit comfortably during the ceremony.
After the meal, only keep enough chairs out so that half of the guests can sit so that you have adequate space for the reception. You may also require a generator. Most houses do not have enough electrical outlets to power enough lights for a tent or appliances for a catering kitchen.
Don't do anything that could cause a blackout or, worse, blow up your entire street. If you need to hire extra refrigeration, ovens for your event, or cooking equipment, be sure to ask the caterer about it.
Don't hold your breath. It's recommended that you start planning for your wedding's equipment six months in advance. Additionally, you should probably take stock of your guest restroom facilities.
The typical household lacks sufficient sanitary facilities to meet the demands of a wedding. Fortunately, modern portable toilets are quite plush.
This isn't the typical portable toilet. Three bathroom visits per guest is a good rule of thumb, and since most septic tanks can't handle that many flushes, portable toilets are a need.
One bathroom per every 35 guests is a good rule of thumb. Your guests will appreciate having a well-lit space to wash their hands and check themselves in the mirror.
Preparation for outside maintenance may take several months.
Due to the increased visibility of your entire backyard, you will likely want to give it a more manicured look. You'll want your grass to look its best, so get out the mower or consult an expert gardener.
Get started in the fall if you want a stress-free wedding in the springtime. Have a conversation with a professional landscaper about reseeding, replanting, and sodding.
You should start planning the flowers as soon as feasible. Most perennials require a hard winter to establish themselves, and annuals need time to mature. Be sure to research when the flowers you want to use in your wedding can be planted so that they will be in full bloom on your big day.
Tulips, daffodils, and lilies of the valley are just few of the cool-season flowers that will be in full bloom for a spring wedding.
The weather can cause havoc on the best-laid plans.
Even more so for an outdoor wedding celebration, inclement weather can provide its own set of difficulties. Make sure your guests are protected from the elements in case of an unexpected downpour.
If there is no place to set up a tent for the ceremony, consider having it in a nearby place of worship instead. Include an insert in each invitation with the new location and a phone number guests can use to confirm the event's status, and also publish updates on your wedding website.
In the event that you must resort to a tent as a backup, be sure it has sturdy sides to keep the rain out. It's just as important to plan for the possibility of extreme heat as it is for the possibility of rain, so keep the ceremony chairs out of the sun and provide plenty of shade, refreshments, and fans for guests.
The temperature can be controlled with the help of portable air conditioners and electric fans on hot days, or with the help of gas heaters on cold days.
Conclusion
For many reasons, including their casual atmosphere and opportunity for emotive reflection, outdoor weddings have our heart. Though having a wedding in the backyard can be a beautiful and memorable experience, it is important to remember that it is different from having a wedding in a banquet hall or other traditional wedding venue.
Having your wedding outside means you won't have to worry about competing with other couples for your ideal location. A outdoor wedding allows us a lot of flexibility in terms of decor and layout. A backyard is perfect for a modest, intimate ceremony.
Honeymoon suites are, without a doubt, the best. Minibars, jacuzzi spas, and fluffy terrycloth bathrobes are just some of the posh extras that come with a stay here. You can have dinner before the ceremony if you prefer, and then have the ceremony outside in the moonlight.
All of the tables, chairs, glasses, tent, dishes, and more that were rented for the outside wedding will also need to be transported. It is important to give everyone plenty of notice if you intend to have a wedding in your house.
Take special care to comply with city regulations and pass any fire inspections that may be required. It's likely that your garden lacks the amenities required to host a large party. Outdoor weddings call for a lot of space. Have you made sure that the venue can host everyone who has signed up for the event? If it doesn't, start crossing things off the list.
All the in and out traffic from your home's vendors could be rough on your property. Because of its convenient location, the region probably has several rental homes for tourists. Most homes do not have enough plugs to run the lights for a tent or the catering kitchen's appliances.
A backup power source might be necessary as well. Equipment for a wedding should be planned for at least six months in advance. Wedding flower preparations in the spring require early planning.
Annuals need time to mature and most perennials need a harsh winter to get started. Be prepared to keep your guests dry in the event of rain. Electrical fans and small, portable air conditioners can help keep things cool.
Content Summary
- Planning a backyard wedding is a wonderful idea, but keep in mind that it is not the same as holding the ceremony in a banquet hall or other designated wedding location.
- This is a complete guide to organizing a wedding in your own home.
- The good news is that you can save money on the cost of renting an event place by having your wedding in your own lawn.
- Since you have such a deep familiarity with your home, a wedding planner can help you see the property and your options in a new light.
- Booking a wedding location on the specified date is a common challenge for engaged couples.
- You won't have to coordinate with the event planner at your location if you need to postpone your wedding.
- Having a wedding in a backyard gives you a great deal of creative freedom in terms of decorations and venue arrangement.
- Because of this flexibility, you can plan your wedding day as you see fit.
- For a smaller, more personal ceremony, a backyard setting is ideal.
- You can easily relax at home.
- However, if you value sleep above all else, returning to your own bed after the wedding is undoubtedly your first priority.
- Before the ceremony, you can host a supper if you like, and then the ceremony can take place under the moonlight if that's your preference.
- When hosting a wedding in a backyard, most couples like to write their own regulations.
- Since this is your first time organizing an event, you probably don't have a list of potential vendors handy.
- You'll also need to transport all of the rental items, tables, flatware, glassware, tent, china, and chairs for the outdoor wedding.
- Fix the location of the food preparation area.
- If you want to hold your event outside but don't want to pay for a hall, renting a tent could be a good compromise.
- Be careful to get the necessary permissions and pass any fire inspections with the city.
- Allow ample time to track out a legal minister who can preside over the ceremony.
- Check with your insurance provider to see what your policy covers.
- Weddings in the backyard require a lot of room.
- Know that if the climate takes a turn for the worse, everyone may need to squeeze inside if you are using a mixture of indoor and outside space and don't have a tent.
- Before planning a large event on your property, it's important to get advice from experts.
- Your team of experts must inspect the premises.
- Get a kitchen inspection from your caterer to guarantee adequate space and equipment.
- You should suggest a hotel that is conveniently located near the wedding venue.
- Get enough chairs for the guests to sit comfortably during the ceremony.
- It's recommended that you start planning for your wedding's equipment six months in advance.
- Additionally, you should probably take stock of your guest restroom facilities.
- Get started in the fall if you want a stress-free wedding in the springtime.
- You should start planning the flowers as soon as feasible.
- Be sure to research when the flowers you want to use in your wedding can be planted so that they will be in full bloom on your big day.
- Tulips, daffodils, and lilies of the valley are just a few of the cool-season flowers that will be in full bloom for a spring wedding.
- The weather can cause havoc on the best-laid plans.
- Even more so for an outdoor wedding celebration, inclement weather can provide its own set of difficulties.
- Make sure your guests are protected from the elements in case of an unexpected downpour.
- If there is no place to set up a tent for the ceremony, consider having it in a nearby place of worship instead.
