Backyard Wedding Planning

If you and your significant other have decided that the best venue for your wedding is either your backyard, a family’s or friends property, then it’s time to let a professional help you! Many people believe backyard weddings can be more cost effective but tackling a project like this can as a whole can be time consuming and expensive. We’re offering a list of tips and tricks to remember when planning your backyard wedding so you can start your planning off on the right foot.

Things to Consider

Acreage/Seating: Something to consider when planning your backyard wedding is; do you have enough room for a ceremony set up? Do you have a large enough area for the reception? For backyard weddings you will need to source one vendor or multiple vendors to bring in all your  chairs, tables, bars, dance floor, lighting, rentals, etc. for both the ceremony and reception portion of event.

Parking: Make sure you have accommodations for parking, either on your street or possibly renting a lot and shuttling. Asking neighbors if they can move their cars or offer spots up can help aid in the headache that parking may cause. It is also important to communicate with your neighbors that an influx of people and cars will be around on your wedding day.

Bathrooms: Something that might go forgotten is bathrooms. If you plan on having more than 15 guest you will need to bring in portable toilets. It would be ideal to have enough space that these portable toilets can be far from the guest but close enough that they do not have to trek. This can also help keep guest out of the house so you can minimize foot traffic. 

Back Up Plan: With any outdoor wedding it is essential to have a backup plan. Weather is something that cannot be controlled no matter how much planning and precision goes into planning your wedding day. Consider looking into a tent that allows for the wedding to still take placeoutside, many places recommend having a tent as a back up which means you will need to pay for it whether you use it or not. If you plan on having a wedding in the fall, you will need to consider the temperature at night and if you will need heaters. All rentals will need to be thought of and planned as early as possible to ensure staying on track with your budget!

Pricing: Many people assume a backyard wedding will be less expensive than having your wedding at a venue, but that is not always the case. Essential items that aren’t thought of when planning your backyard event is that you’ll need to find a vendor for everything a venue would provide. These items include have dinnerware, glasses, alcohol, food, tables, chairs, linens, lighting, staffing, etc. These things can vastly increase the cost of your wedding and may cause you to go over budget quickly. Another key piece is having to provide the alcohol and knowing how much to provide. We offer tools to help calculate how much is needed based on your guest count, alcohol you’d like to service, signature drinks, etc. Additionally, you will need to buy many of these drinks in bulk and any mixers that will go in.

Hiring a Planner: Since you will need to hire multiple vendors to bring your backyard wedding to life, having a planner is crucial to help relieve some of the inevitable stress that comes with planning such a production. The week of your wedding, you do not want to worry coordinating with vendors about drop off and pick up of the items they need to bring in. Additionally, hiring a planner can ensure that you do not miss any aspect of the planning process, that you’ve thought of all items needed, and are able to relax on the wedding day. Planners can ensure everything is running smoothly leading up to the wedding, during the wedding, and after. You should be able to enjoy your big day without the stress!

Benefits

Date Availability: Having a backyard wedding means you can pick any date you want for your wedding. It also means you can have it for as short or long as you want. This gives you the freedom to plan around your work schedules and family if you desire to. It also prevents you from having to possibly change your date or wait for venue availability.

Guest List: If you always desired to have a more intimate wedding then this is your chance. Your backyard will put a limit on how many guests you want. On the flip side it may open your guest list to more people since many venues have a capacity. Anytime guests are added, the price will go up.

Creative Freedom: Many venues may have restrictions on certain vendors or decor that you want to have at your wedding. Well no need to worry about that because at your house you have creative freedom for all aspects. You can also use the outdoors as decor which can help cut costs in the decoration department. Additionally, you can use whatever vendors you want since venues usually have prepicked or preferred vendors! Before getting to far into the planning process you will want to check if your city has any restrictions on noise ordinances.

Outdoor Activities: If your family is anything like ours, then outdoor activities are always a must when we get together. Using your backyard as your venue allows you to have different outdoor games for your guests to play. This gets people off their feet and even a good tournament going. Guest will definitely remember the night especially if they walk away with a  win.

Less Rules: It is no secret that many venues have many rules in place, usually for good reason, but it can definitely impact your planning desires. When planning in your backyard, you’re able to choose the rules that are put in place. It is important to set boundaries for your guests and the overall wedding day, but it can leave things open to interpretation. An example is being able to have your furry friends involved in your wedding day!

Highlighted in this blog are just a few things to consider and think about when planning a backyard wedding. It’s easy to get overwhelmed quickly, which is what we are here for. We know what it takes, the best vendors for all pieces, and most importantly, the level of detail involved to execute such an important and extensive event. Schedule a consultation today to learn more on how we can help! We will be there every step of the way to ensure your wedding day can run smoothly and that your vision comes to life.

Planning + Design: @lavishhausco
Tent, Rentals, Lighting: @omniventinc
Catering Rentals: @partyrentalltd
Florals: @kraftandcompany
Catering: @sagecatering_philly
Signage: @lavishhausco
Photo/Video: @ellestudios
Cake: @crumbcakestudios
Entertainment: @thecliffsband
Hair and Makeup: @makeupbyroxy
Lounge: @foxandfinchvintagerentals
Bridesmaids: @bellabridesmaidsallwntown
Attire: @silkbridaleaston @josabank
Transportation: @jjluxurytransportation
Rings: @bixlers