To guide you in the right direction, we’ve put together what we feel is an elaborate list that will assist you with planning your backyard wedding.  We will cover both large and smaller details to help you get through your planning process.

Advantages Planning of a Backyard Wedding

Fur Babies Get Invites Too

It may sound weird to have this as a first thing to consider, but we are big dog lovers and try to include our greyhound Trixie in just about everything we do. We have been to many weddings that included the family dog. It was easy to see the added value they brought to our couples. A clear advantage of this is that you do not have to obtain permission for your Bestie to attend. But best of all, your fur baby doesn’t need to stress over travel or accommodations for the night as they can head back into your home once they are tapped out and exhausted.

Venues can get very pricey! If you are on a limited budget, planning a backyard wedding at your home or the home of a friend can reduce costs dramatically. Since there are no deposits or other hidden fees associated with your venue, significant savings opportunities are attainable.

With the natural elements adding visual interest in this type of setting, you will also have the opportunity to save on decor. Renting can sometimes add up, so be wary of what is required and ask yourself if items are an absolute must that will contribute to the visual appeal. These rental costs will in no way come close to eclipsing a venue rental. But they can certainly add up in a hurry. One decor company we enjoy working with that has a ton of options is Wedecor.

Dates Are Flexible

One great thing about planning a backyard wedding is that you have the liberty of choosing a date that is convenient for you and your partner. There is no such thing as peak season when you’re in charge. You have the option of picking any date you want to accommodate your life. There’s also no need to waste any time or aggravation when settling on a date. Just keep in mind that some people are sensitive about giving up a long weekend to travel, so consider sending save the dates to gauge attendance. On the flip side, if you have large extended families, a long weekend might be seen as a fantastic opportunity to enjoy your time together just a tad longer. Something to consider!

You Can Have Intimate Guests Lists

People who choose to plan a wedding in their backyard likely do so because they appreciate the intimacy this can bring.  With traditional venues, there is a risk of being strong-armed into having a minimum guest count to retain that venue, leading to much higher costs than you might have considered.

By having your wedding in your backyard, you can be more selective when inviting guests as there will be a limiting factor as far as space is concerned.  This can be the difference between being stressed out or just enjoying the fact that you can be more present with your limited guests.  Those that you choose are selected because they are important to you, eliminating the need for pity invites simply to fill a quota.

Time and time again, we see couples have huge weddings only to later complain that they never had a chance to speak to everyone.   Invite your closest friends and relatives and allow yourself to be ok with having to leave some folks out.  We can say with 100% certainty that small and intimate weddings are often the most memorable to us.  The vibe is generally more laid back and connected.   There is no shame in having a smaller guest list!

Sentimental Elements

How sentimental would it be to express your vows in the family backyard or to get ready in the exact room you grew up in as a child?  These meaningful elements can’t be recreated at any other venue and naturally brings more comfort to you as a couple, extending to your guests.  Knowing everyone is in a space that holds a special place in your hearts will no doubt amplify the general vibe and feel of your day.

Logistics of Backyard Weddings

Portable Restrooms

If you have more than 20 guests in attendance, you should consider additional restrooms. There’s a variety of portable options available and although the typical port-o-potty comes to mind initially, consider giving your guests something a little more upscale that provides a bit more comfort and added amenities such as lighting, mirrors, and a sink.

The last thing you want is a revolving door of guests heading in and out of your house to use the facilities. This rings more true if your home runs on a septic system as it can put a significant strain on it.

Maintenance And Yard Setup

Yard maintenance should be planned well in advance. You want to make sure your flowers are planted in time to bloom and allow also allow any plants you have to fill out adequately. If there are any spaces in your yard that require clearing, it might also be a great idea to get a head start on this as well as it can be extremely time-consuming.
It’s worth mentioning that if you don’t want to be drained, you could consider hiring a landscaper to look after beautifying your backyard so that the only thing left to do is simply trim your grass several days before the wedding.

Another thing you might not have considered is finding a spot to set up where the ground is level. Keep in mind that chairs, tables, and even your dance floor need level ground. Most tent rental companies will be able to let you know if you have to level things out. If there won’t be a tent, you can always ask your landscaper to assist.

Electrical & Power

One of the most underrated aspects of planning a backyard wedding is power and electrical needs. When you consider everything that will draw power, from your DJ to any food preparation equipment, to lighting, it adds up in a hurry, and preparing for the added electrical strain is a must. We’ve been to several weddings where couples did not consider this and had to deal with outages all evening. You don’t want to blow a fuse or risk putting your neighborhood at risk of an outage. Consider renting generators or other means to draw power from.

Your wedding planner can assist in getting all the power requirements needed from each vendor. Once you have this information, you can decide on the best method to provide power. Whether it’s generators or drawing power from a close neighbor, there are always options to get the job done.

Permits

At this point, you’re probably chomping at the bit to start booking your vendors.  Before you start this process, it’s important to double-check with city officials to see what permits might be required to have your wedding at home.  There are a number of things to consider such as noise bylaws, health regulations, or even zoning.  In most cases, this isn’t typically an issue, but better to cross everything off and be safe.

Your wedding planner can help you with this process to lighten up your load.

Neighbors

It’s probably a good idea to reach out to any neighbors within your proximity about a month or two before your wedding to let them know about your backyard wedding plans.  If you are somewhat close to them, it might be worthwhile inviting them to the reception later in the evening.  Making them feel included is always a good way to smooth things over even if they don’t attend.  If anything, the fact that you sent an invite is likely enough to make them a tad bit more accepting of the excessive noise.  Providing as much info as possible is also a great idea.  They might be happy to know what time your wedding will take place, where you plan on having guests park, and so on.

Insurance

No one likes to entertain a worst-case scenario on a wedding day, but consider checking in with your insurance company to see if you require additional coverage to ensure you are covered in the event someone gets injured or damages your property.

Parking

Some areas have pretty strict bylaws governing parking on city streets.  In many cases, street parking is limited to 3hrs with hefty fines if not adhered to.   Consider speaking to city officials for possible exemptions or permits for your guests.

The Dreaded Clean-Up

People generate a lot of garbage over the course of a day!  Like….a lot!  With this in mind, it’s critical to figure out how you plan on addressing this issue.  You’ll likely have to rent garbage and recycling bins to gather it all.  This is something your caterer might be able to tackle over the course of the day so it’s worth asking if it’s a service they provide.  If they don’t, it would be wise to delegate this task to a willing guest or maybe even hire someone to keep the grounds tidy for you.  The last thing you want is overflowing and stinky bins.

Have a Plan B

Planning a backyard wedding does come with risk but it can be mitigated.  Unfortunately, you have no control over the weather, so it’s important to have a plan B in place.  Don’t let yourself be fooled into thinking a secondary option will ruin your day either.  If you put as much effort into an alternative, you can have a killer wedding just the same.  If your house can accommodate a large group of people, consider having plan B in your home.   If you don’t have enough room indoors, consider putting a deposit on a tent so the show can still go on outdoors if it rains or gets chilly.  There are a variety of tents available but it might be wise to consider one with covered sides.  It might also be a good idea to secure small fans or space heaters depending on what time of year it is.  Whatever it takes to keep your guests comfortable and not scrambling to get home.  Remember that you can’t redo this day, so taking everything into consideration may sound like overkill to some, but it’s not something you want to leave to chance.

Planning Your Timeline

When planning a backyard wedding, you have the luxury to choose when things happen.  With traditional weddings, it’s common to have an early ceremony followed by a few hours break until dinner is served.  Unfortunately, that isn’t the most convenient approach in this case.  With a backyard wedding, you want to plan for a 4 pm ceremony so your cocktail hour immediately follows, leading up to the dinner.  You’ll reduce downtime for your guests this way too.  It will just be one party that flows from the time people get there, until the last call.  With your ceremony a bit later, you’ll also be able to take advantage of better lighting conditions as the sun won’t be as harsh.

Don’t worry about your photos either as there will be plenty of time throughout the day to get them all done.  The advantage here is that you will have a variety of lighting situations so it’s important to speak to your wedding photographer to see how they can work with how your day is planned out.  From experience, since things will be a bit more flexible, ask your photographer to scrap the typical hour-long photo session and opt for 10-15min blocks here and there.  This not only allows you to be more present with your guests but serves as small breaks for the two of you to get away for some alone time.  You’ll appreciate these small breaks as it’s going to be a busy day!

Backyard Wedding Space Planning Tips

The Ceremony

Regardless of the size of your wedding, you’ll want to pay close attention to your ceremony location.  Harsh sunlight is a strong possibility so keeping your guests out of direct sunlight would be wise.  Especially if your wedding is during a warmer time of year.  If you have large trees, think of setting them up in a shaded area.  On the flip side, if it’s during a cooler period, it might be a good idea to set up in the open so guests have the warmth from the sun.  In this case, you could offer blankets or small knick-knacks to keep people warm.

All this being said, you do have to take your background into consideration.  Just remember to keep the comfort of your guests in mind when picking your ceremony location.

The Reception Area

Tents are a great way to dedicate space for your reception and help make your planning much easier.  If you are thinking of having tables or serving stations set up, talk to your planner to determine how many you’ll need.  You’ll also require a dance floor so speak to them about size requirements too.  The last thing you want to do is have a congested space where your guests can’t move freely.

Food and beverages must also be accounted for when planning your space.  You might want to provide your caterer with a layout of your planned space so they can decide how much equipment to bring based on the space provided.  It also might be easier to have them do a site visit as they can also offer recommendations on how to lay things out or whether they have to bring additional food prep areas.

Design And Decor Inspiration for Your Backyard Wedding

Setting the Scene for Your Ceremony

The highlight of the day will be your ceremony.  Once you’ve decided on where it will be held in your backyard, it’s time to jazz it up with some framing like an arch or a fancy backdrop. Arches add dimension and are a natural focal point that can be the perfect backdrop for your wedding photos.

The Cocktail Hour

Even though your guests won’t be leaving the backyard, you should consider doing a cocktail hour.  This allows guests to mingle and get acquainted while everyone prepares to shift to the dinner.   It’s also the perfect time for you to slip away for your portraits and family photos while everyone is being entertained

Light Up the Night

Lighting is an easy way to add drama and enhance the mood when you have little existing lighting.  String out some Edison bulbs, lanterns, or twinkle lights in your trees and watch the ambiance bump up tenfold.  The romantic impact they can have on this type of space is remarkable.

Preparing for Nature And Weather

We’re all powerless to mother nature, but there are ways to keep everyone cozy in any situation.  Whether it’s insects or blazing sun, consider providing repellant or sunscreen.  Insects can be particularly bad at times so incorporating citronella candles into the mix will help keep them away and provide some comfort for your guests.  Additionally, take the temperature into consideration and plan for either warm blankets or some cooling fans.   You could even go as far as having extra sunglasses on hand or umbrellas too.  The added bonus is that these can end up being a wedding favor.

Rentals Checklist

This shouldn’t come as a shock, but your rental list will be quite lengthy when planning a backyard wedding.  If you can repurpose old decor and furniture to complement your theme, you’ll save a few dollars along the way.  Every bit counts!  DIY’s can be time-consuming but with a few hands to help out, you can make your rental list a tad shorter.

Although this isn’t a full list, it’s comprehensive enough to get you on the right track.  You may not need all of these, so modify as you see fit.

Rentals you will need when planning a backyard wedding:

• Tent
• Dinner Tables
• Cocktail Tables
• Serving Tables
• Gifts Table
• Guest Book Table
• Dessert Table
• Table Decor
• Centerpiece Vases
• Ceremony/Reception Chairs
• Ceremony Decor
• Ceremony Backdrop
• Bar
• Place Settings
• Linens
• Dance Floor
• Lighting
• Overhead Decor
• Food Prep/Storage Equipment
• Photo Booth
• Additional power / Generators
• Portable Restrooms
• Trash and recycling bins

That’s pretty much it!  You now have enough to start planning a backyard wedding that’s unique with all the cozy elements that define you as a couple!  Remember not to get too caught up in the details.  Although they matter to some extent, the show will go on regardless.  What matters most is that your wedding happens without a hitch, your guests are well fed and the evening entertainment is killer.  That’s our recipe for a fantastic wedding!