Although a backyard wedding has the potential to be a stunning and personal event, it's important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks before making any final decisions. Choosing between a backyard wedding and a more traditional church ceremony can be challenging if you've been envisioning your perfect wedding day since you were a youngster.
You can tell if a destination wedding is good for you and your partner by asking yourselves if it is in your best interests. There are a lot of options to weigh before settling on the venue, guest list, and menu for the wedding reception.
It's common knowledge that weddings can break the bank. However, some people underestimate the true cost. In that case, having a backyard wedding could be a great way to cut costs while still having the relaxed, informal wedding you want.
DIY decorations, catering, and entertainment will help you save money. Planning a wedding on a budget can be more challenging than you think, but the results are well worth the effort! Still, before diving headfirst into this endeavour and getting too far ahead of yourself, it's wise to take a step back and weigh the benefits and drawbacks. Need help planning your wedding? Check out our list of Wedding Event Planners here.
The Pros and Cons
Any couple would be thrilled to host a wedding in their own backyard. The wedding day is the couple's chance to do whatever makes them happy. Having a wedding in the backyard has numerous benefits, including saving money on venue and decoration costs, but it also has some drawbacks.
If it looks like it might rain, for instance, your guests can have a hard time navigating your home and yard. If you want a small, private ceremony with just immediate family and friends, a garden wedding may be the perfect choice. There are, however, some drawbacks to your big day that you could overlook.
You should know that most backyards do not have the same amenities as an indoor site, so you will need to make your own arrangements for things like lighting and heating if you plan on holding an event there. The fact that you need a permission from the local government if you want to offer alcohol at your reception (which many couples do) is another drawback.
Asking your neighbours for their input on when to conduct your backyard wedding is a good idea because many communities have laws forbidding making excessive noise after a particular time.
Pros
- Location, no cost!
- When it works best for you and your wedding schedule, set up can begin.
- Intensely private and heartfelt.
- There's no need to worry about forgetting anything, because it'll all be there.
- Your travel to and from the event location is completely covered.
- The majority of your guests will have the nuptial location memorised, so there won't be any lost guests.
- There is no need to get permission before drilling holes or hanging pictures; you can do whatever you want with the space's decor.
- Motivating factor for doing some remodelling at home.
Cons
- You're basically giving out your address to your guests.
- Taking care of the cleanup is entirely your responsibility.
- Where can I find out if there are sufficient loos? One is required for every fifty guests.
- Everything rests on your shoulders, and that might be a lot to handle.
- Each individual is responsible for bringing their own equipment (including tables, chairs, toilet paper, etc.) to the event.
- It's possible that the guests won't realise they're at a ceremony and not a backyard barbeque. That's why people will be knocking on your door, begging to sleep on your couch or even in your tub.
- However, it may be challenging to find ways to make common backyard features (such as a basketball hoop or sandbox) look nice and be secure for kids and adults alike.
Important things to think about
A garden ceremony has a certain warmth. Some people feel that having their friends and family over for such a momentous event is enhanced by having it in their own home. Invaluable are the recollections made in one's own house or the home of a loved one.
There is, nevertheless, a widespread belief that outdoor weddings are less difficult to organise than those held in rented venues. Sought the advice of wedding experts to learn the advantages and disadvantages of backyard ceremonies, as well as some tips for preparation that are typically disregarded.
The Independence
The convenience of having the ceremony and reception in the same location means that you can make every detail unique and special. It's a blank slate upon which the beauty of nature might be painted. You may easily get ready at home without having to travel anywhere.
The ability to customise every aspect of the ceremony and reception is a major selling point for hosting the nuptials at home. You have complete freedom to do whatever you like in your "venue," including making whatever you like and bringing in whatever you like. That being the case, take as much time as you need to get it just right.
This is a great opportunity to give your backyard the makeover you've always dreamed of.
Its Price
It's a frequent misunderstanding that you'll save money if you don't have to cover the cost of a venue or a set amount of food and drink.
It's important to remember that even off-site caterers have food and beverage minimums, and that a tent will add at least that much to the overall cost of the event if it rains on the big day. The price increases considerably when you factor in the requirement for additional amenities like as restrooms, electrical outlets, lighting, etc.
The Location Space
Never forget to tally up your guest list. Each chair needs a minimum of two feet in length for each user. Humans are starting to feel squished here. Six to eight feet is recommended between tables.
If you're having trouble seeing your backyard, pull up a Google Earth image of the area and sketch in your ideas. Instead of a sit-down meal, you can serve numerous appetisers and have a more intimate ceremony if you have a huge guest list.
A backyard wedding for 100 guests will likely necessitate parking for at least 50 vehicles. Is there room for that? Can you contract a parking lot that's conveniently located? Where exactly do your visitors have to park?
Cosmopolitan events has proven itself to be an iconic wedding venue and function centre in Melbourne. Book today so you don’t miss out.
Planning Involved
Couples sometimes miss the mark while organising a backyard wedding. Finding out if a licence is required is important research. Since you are in a residential area, you should also give some thought to issues of noise and management.
Another issue is whether or not a generator is required to accommodate the power load. Because you are the owner of the "venue," you are responsible for ensuring that the area is left in good condition after the event has concluded.
Find out if the home uses municipal water or a well and septic system. If the house is connected to city water, it will be able to accommodate the flushing needs of a large party.
However, you need to think about whether or not you want a hundred people coming and going all night. The carpets and floors were ruined, and there was a lot of broken stuff, spillage, and some theft that I witnessed. In addition, if the house uses septic, it won't be able to cope with the sudden increase in population.
More time spent tending to the grass will be required prior to and following the event in order to recover from any damage incurred.
Minor yet big deal
It's important to keep table service in mind. Guests' filthy plates have no place in their wedding photos. Is there going to be enough trash cans for the expected number of guests, and will the rubbish be picked up promptly by the garbage service?
Garbage cans are expensive, but the cost will be justified if you use a regular garbage service. As an alternative, you can rent a dumpster just for the wedding's trash. Prepare for an extra load of green waste to be delivered the week before the event if you intend to go green.
In order to guarantee that everything — the right equipment, personnel, etc. — is delivered, you must get down to the nitty-gritty of what is required. There are a lot of moving parts, far more than most people are used to dealing with when hosting an event at home.
There are many of people who believe that having a wedding in their own garden is well worth the extra work involved, but all of our wedding experts agree on one thing: don't plan it alone! Though a backyard wedding can be planned, having the help of a planner is essential to making sure everything goes smoothly.
After all your hard work planning the wedding, they will take care of every last detail and make sure you don't have to lift a finger on the big day.
Backyard Wedding Ideas: Some Suggestions
Plan it
If you're looking to cut costs, a backyard wedding could be the way to go. However, there are a lot of factors to think about before making that final decision. The initial query: Is there a possibility that you or your family's backyard could host the wedding?
One way to decide is to make a list of all the people you want to invite and then decide what kind of reception you want. What sort of meal do you have in mind, a buffet or a plated course? Grilled picnic fare or a cocktail bar with passed appetisers?
All receptions differ in their capacity. If you're having a backyard wedding reception, for instance, does that mean you'll also be having the ceremony there? Having both will, of course, necessitate additional room.
They will have an idea of how much room you'll need for things like tables, booths, and a dance floor, and they can probably recommend several food alternatives that will work best with your ideas and the available space.
Prepare it
Preparing the backyard should be doable if you have eight weeks to spare. A summertime outdoor wedding is a lovely idea. To a large extent, you can save money on home decor by relying on nature, but you will need to assist it.
This year, when planning your garden's layout and plantings, keep your event's aesthetic in mind. If you don't have a plan for your garden, it will be difficult to get things in order. Before you begin planning, discuss the event layout with the wedding coordinator, rental provider, or caterer.
Consider a Theme for It
The rest of the aesthetic choices you make will be guided by your chosen theme, whether you want a low-key outdoor ceremony or a formal ballroom affair.
Developed nation? Vintage? Rustic? Whimsical? You may expect to see a wide variety of floral arrangements, picture frames, centrepieces, chairs, table settings, food options, and more in relation to the various themes.
Pitch a tent
Our highest advise for you to do is this. Tent rental is highly recommended. This will serve multiple purposes on your wedding day: it will provide shelter in the event of rain, it will provide shade from the sun or a light breeze, it will provide privacy, and it will provide additional chances for decorating. Backyard weddings, whether big and small, benefit from tents.
Make a dance floor
Without a dance floor, a backyard wedding celebration just isn't complete. There are a lot of holes in the grass. Instead of having visitors dance on the grass or a patio/deck, rent a dance floor to protect the grass from the high heels of your female guests. You'll need a smooth, flat surface.
Taking this suggestion seriously is as important as renting a tent.
Spark it up
The fact that no one else will be using your garden means you may decorate it with as many or as few stunning lights as you like, and start setting them up whenever you like.
Tent lighting consisted of lights strung across the top and around the trees. To further enhance the festive atmosphere, you may like to hang or place more lights, Chinese lanterns, and candles on tables, chairs, trees, and other natural shrubbery.
Improvements to the lighting at a wedding are almost always a good investment. Check out these pictures. How different would things appear if the lights weren't so incredibly refined?
Rent it
You can purchase tables and chairs from a rentals, or your catering staff can help you find the best options within your budget. You won't have to bother about setting up or breaking down the equipment you rent. If you prefer, we can build your entire reception if you just show up, sign our contract, and come up late.
You should take advantage of this assistance on your big day. Temperature should be taken into account as well. Do you really want to get married on the hottest day of the year? To ensure that your guests are comfortable and not overheated, you may want to think about renting some cooling equipment.
It's possible to rent a variety of stylish heaters from your venue if you're having a fall wedding in the backyard when temperatures tend to drop at night. Major additional hint: temperature-regulating appliances are always a smart idea.
Add your own spin on it
Say it loud and clear: this is your backyard! Add the kind of special touches to your outdoor wedding that would be out of place at a formal venue. Display Polaroid photos of the two of you on the tent walls or the chair backs.
Post pictures of your new baby and your ring. Photographs of your parents' and grandparents' weddings might look lovely scattered over the backyard or framed and placed on a table. Put in extra touches by decorating the tent, trees, and tables with items that mean something to the two of you.
The interior is just as important. Leave a framed photo of you and your fiance or wedding-related items in the bathroom, along with a unique gift like perfume, cologne, mouthwash, floss, or other necessities.
Make a point of decorating the home, especially the kitchen and living room, as a shrine to your love. The spotlight is on you today.
Separate it
Depending on the size of your backyard, you may want to divide it up into several distinct "areas" or zones. Include, for instance, tables that allow for more private conversations away from the main dance floor.
Plan a fun
When you have your wedding outside, especially in your own backyard, you may customise the activities and entertainment to your tastes. Play a few games of lawn bag toss or cricket. You can have a cocktail while your guests play as they wait for you to finish taking photos. Your guests will be looking for activities to partake in so long as the sun is still shining and the music is not danceable.
Check out your guest list and make a mental note of how many kids will be there. Think of a kid-sized tent or playhouse. Without a fence, children in the neighbourhood may stray into danger, but if they are having a good time playing, they are less likely to wander off and get into mischief.
Don't forget it
Try to think of unique ways to honour the occasion. Hiring a photographer may seem like a no-brainer, and it's easy to see why. Write down as much as you can remember about that day. Think about getting a photographer, renting a photo booth, making a video guestbook, etc.
Check out our extensive list of Wedding Photographers in Melbourne to help capture your special moments.
Conclusion
Having an outdoor wedding is a wonderful way to save money without sacrificing the casual, fun atmosphere you've always imagined. As a result, if you want to host an event in a backyard, you'll need to make your own arrangements for things like lighting and heating.
Having both the ceremony and the reception at the same venue allows you more freedom to personalise the experience. Common backyard additions (such a basketball hoop or sandbox) can be difficult to make seem pleasant and secure for kids and adults alike. Your wedding in the backyard is the perfect excuse to finally transform your outside space.
The minimum distance between tables should be six to eight feet, and each chair should be at least two feet in length. Determine if a licence is needed. In order to save money, a backyard ceremony may be the best option. Having the assistance of a planner is crucial for a successful event. There are far more variables than the average person would expect when throwing a party at their house.
Ideally, what would you like your backyard reception to be like? Will it be an intimate gathering, or will guests be expected to dress to the nines? Just how much space is required for the bar, the booths, and the dancing floor?
Lights were strung across the top of the tent and all the way around the trees to create an atmospheric glow. Lighting up the room with lights, Chinese lanterns, and candles on tables, chairs, trees, and other natural flora is a great way to set the mood for a party.
Temperature is another factor that needs to be considered. Having a wedding outside, and especially in your own backyard, allows you to tailor the festivities to your specific interests and preferences. Provide a quieter area away from the dancing floor where guests can sit down and talk. It's understandable if the thought of hiring a photographer seems like a given.
Content Summary
- Although a backyard wedding has the potential to be a stunning and personal event, it's important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks before making any final decisions.
- You can tell if a destination wedding is good for you and your partner by asking yourselves if it is in your best interests.
- There are a lot of options to weigh before settling on the venue, guest list, and menu for the wedding reception.
- Having a wedding in the backyard has numerous benefits, including saving money on venue and decoration costs, but it also has some drawbacks.
- Asking your neighbours for their input on when to conduct your backyard wedding is a good idea because many communities have laws forbidding making excessive noise after a particular time.
- When it works best for you and your wedding schedule, set up can begin.
- Your travel to and from the event location is completely covered.
- to the event.
- The convenience of having the ceremony and reception in the same location means that you can make every detail unique and special.
- It's a frequent misunderstanding that you'll save money if you don't have to cover the cost of a venue or a set amount of food and drink.
- It's important to remember that even off-site caterers have food and beverage minimums, and that a tent will add at least that much to the overall cost of the event if it rains on the big day.
- Finding out if a licence is required is important research.
- Because you are the owner of the "venue," you are responsible for ensuring that the area is left in good condition after the event has concluded.
- As an alternative, you can rent a dumpster just for the wedding's trash.
- Prepare for an extra load of green waste to be delivered the week before the event if you intend to go green.
- One way to decide is to make a list of all the people you want to invite and then decide what kind of reception you want.
- This year, when planning your garden's layout and plantings, keep your event's aesthetic in mind.
- If you don't have a plan for your garden, it will be difficult to get things in order.
- Before you begin planning, discuss the event layout with the wedding coordinator, rental provider, or caterer.
- The rest of the aesthetic choices you make will be guided by your chosen theme, whether you want a low-key outdoor ceremony or a formal ballroom affair.
- The fact that no one else will be using your garden means you may decorate it with as many or as few stunning lights as you like, and start setting them up whenever you like.
- Improvements to the lighting at a wedding are almost always a good investment.
- You won't have to bother about setting up or breaking down the equipment you rent.
- Do you really want to get married on the hottest day of the year?
- Add the kind of special touches to your outdoor wedding that would be out of place at a formal venue.
- Put in extra touches by decorating the tent, trees, and tables with items that mean something to the two of you.
- Make a point of decorating the home, especially the kitchen and living room, as a shrine to your love.
- When you have your wedding outside, especially in your own backyard, you may customise the activities and entertainment to your tastes.
- Try to think of unique ways to honour the occasion.
- Write down as much as you can remember about that day.
- Think about getting a photographer, renting a photo booth, making a video guestbook, etc.