Your wedding day should be one of the happiest days of your life, and making the choice to commemorate the occasion at home or the home of a close family member or friend can make the day even more personal and special for everyone involved.
Having a backyard wedding not only saves you money but also means getting to choose any date you want to celebrate your big day. Still, there are some important things to take into consideration. Follow these five backyard wedding ceremony and reception tips and you’ll be well prepared to face whatever the day might throw at you.
1.Take Control of Your Space
When hosting your wedding in your backyard, you have a lot more control over things like decorations and which vendors you want to work with. Conversely, when a wedding is held at a certain venue, typically you’ll only be able to choose from an approved list of vendors, preventing you from working with certain florists, decorators, DJs, and more.
But having a backyard wedding opens up more possibilities. So, if you wanted to hang lanterns in the trees or have your food catered by a specialty chef, you can do it without a hitch. Take control of your space and give yourself the freedom to decorate and plan your menu as you see fit.
2.Let Your Guests Know What to Expect
Once you have an idea of your wedding style and motif, let your guests know what to expect explicitly on your wedding invitations. Wedding invitations are also an ideal way to let your guests know that the wedding will take place outdoors so that they can dress according to the season.
For example, if you plan to hold your wedding in the fall, let your guests know whether they should bring a sweater if typical weather conditions during this time of year calls for cool evenings. Additionally, make sure to include response cards, postage, a reception card, an inner envelope, and the wedding itinerary with your invitations, allowing guests to know what to expect and so they can RSVP quickly and easily.
3.Give Your Neighbors a Heads Up
Being considerate enough to let your neighbors in close proximity know about your outdoor wedding in advance is advised. To that end, think about calling or sending out a notice to let them know the date and time of your wedding so they can make plans or be prepared for any potential disruption or noise. You could also provide them with a phone number to call if they have any questions or concerns.
4.Think About Flooring and Tenting
When planning a backyard wedding, brides are bound to forget that grass and heels really do not mix. So, before you have your female guests sinking into the ground with every step they take, consider what kind of flooring you could rent to ensure they can move about comfortably from ceremony to reception to dance floor effortlessly.
Tenting is another option you might want to consider, especially in the case of inclement weather. Even if it doe not rain, a nice tent can add ambiance to your backyard reception and separate the dining area and dance floor from where the ceremony took place. Tents can run expensive, so make sure you leave enough room for one in the budget and get quotes well in advance to ensure you can get one for your big day.
Preparing for Your Big Day
Planning a backyard wedding ceremony and reception can be an exciting experience and make your big day truly unique. But without the proper planning, your dream wedding could turn into a nightmare. That’s why it is important to plan accordingly and be prepared for anything that might come your way.
As such, make sure to get the proper permits and insurance to host your wedding, inform the neighbors about any potential noise or disruption, find the right flooring and tents, give your guests a feel for the style, and take control of your outdoor space. By taking these and other important measures, your wedding should go off without a hitch.
