Everything to Consider Before Having a Backyard Wedding
There are plenty of benefits to having a backyard wedding, just know all that it takes to pull it off successfully.
The location is close and personal
Choosing a wedding venue can be a hard task—determining a location that’s sentimental, has the capacity, and is also available for your date. It’s not hard to see why hosting it in your own (or a family member’s) backyard is tempting. And in 2020, with COVID in the mix, almost all weddings became super small and/or backyard affairs. We don’t think the trend is necessarily going anywhere, and for good reason.
Your backyard is yours. It means something to you and to your partner. Whether it’s one of your family homes—or maybe the first home you two bought together—the fact that it’s yours already gives it a leg up on any competition. (Not to mention any pets you have will be a part of your day!) And the familiarity aspect is also beneficial because everyone you know and love already knows how to get there. It cuts out some of the confusion of having a wedding in an unfamiliar location. But while it’s easy to assume that having it at your own place would make everything easier and cheaper, that’s not always the case.
Backyard Weddings are not necessarily less expensive
It’s easy to think that since you’re cutting a venue cost, all of that money is saved. But hosting a backyard wedding takes a lot more work. And if you don’t hire any vendors to help, you have to pay a lot more for every odd and end that you’ll need. Vendors get better deals on florals, foods, rentals, etc. Without them, you have more work to put into budgeting those costs. And if you don’t have vendors, you don’t have staff. You’ll either have to hire them yourself or ask people to work at your wedding. We don’t know about you, but we think weddings should be fun, not work!
Additionally, we’ve all heard “time is money,” and that’s maybe truest in this case. When you DIY your backyard wedding, you and your squad will be spending hours arranging flowers, stringing lights, perfecting centerpieces, and running to the store for things you forgot (like flatware or ice). We do this professionally because it is a job. It’s hard work! And even if you have amazing friends and family to divide and conquer, you’re still going to be on call to answer any question about virtually anything that they do. But that leads to the next upside of backyard weddings…
You have total control
One of the best things about backyard weddings is how much control you have over the venue. You get to do whatever you want to the space! We once had an event in a venue where we couldn’t have any flames, so no candles of any kind. We of course pivoted and problem-solved, but the point is—in your space, you don’t have to adhere to restrictions that might alter your vision. You can put holes in walls, set up as early as you want, and have candles galore!
But you also have total responsibility
Having total control of your space does mean that all choices fall to you, especially if you don’t hire a team. And should anything go wrong, you won’t have a crisis-management team like you would if you hired professionals. If the wind knocks over your party favors, you’ll have to put them all back together. If your string lights don’t have enough outlets, you’ll have to problem-solve. And while we have no doubt that you’re capable, it’s important to know that virtually any problem or question will find its way to you. Your squad may not be totally versed in your vision and will have to come to you to check-in. That’s why it’s nice to have a team that does understand your vision and can achieve it for you.
A planner or day-of coordinator gives you the best of both worlds
In our experience, hiring a planner is even more necessary for a backyard wedding. Planners know what is needed to make sure the wedding runs smoothly and that no detail is forgotten. They make sure there are enough garbages, ice for drinks, a big enough dance floor, enough lighting for guests to get places safely, (ie. the bathroom after a few drinks), electricity for all the vendors, toilets, bug spray, etc… And with them on the job, you get to simply enjoy your wedding day, instead of being on call to answer any questions that pop up.
We do understand that hiring a planner or planning team may seem like a large expense. In our experience, however, the upfront cost usually saves couples money when all is said and done. And even if that isn’t true, the cost and stress savings are what make it worth it to most. But should you decide to go it your own, make sure to do your research and know that it’s a lot of work. But if you’re prepared to take that on, we have no doubt it’ll be an incredible affair.
If you do decide to DIY, here are some things to keep in mind
Have food catered or put someone else in charge of it
We cannot recommend this enough. It’s easy to think that you can cook for a group and save some money. It’s harder than it looks, and it takes more time than is ever worth it for your big day.
Ask a friend to be an usher/host
Since it’s your house, you’re the host. We recommend asking someone to help direct people and make sure everyone is taken care of so that you can go about the day. You have plenty else to be doing!
Provide plenty of sunscreen and bug spray
Either give them out as favors or set out some baskets so that everyone can stay comfortable.
Talk to your neighbors
This one is huge. Make sure you let your neighbors know. Not only is it considerate, but it will prevent any calls to the police for late-night noise or parking overflow.
Consider parking
Speaking of parking… Make sure you consider where all of your guests will park.
Don’t forget to get any proper permits you may need
Like an Amplified Sound permit, Tent, Canopy and Membrane Structure permit, Lake Use permit, or Fireworks permit.
Do you have enough restrooms to accommodate all of your guests?
You may have a restroom or two, but you may need more to accommodate your number of guests. The normal recommendation is one toilet per 25 guests.
Make sure your squad knows your vision beforehand
To mitigate how many times you’ll be called on the day of, we recommend having a meeting prior to the big day to get everyone on the same page. Let your helpers know what you’re trying to achieve and what the plan is. This takes the stress and confusion off of you and them.