Cute Backyard Wedding Ideas
Cute Backyard Wedding Ideas – Are you + your love tossed around the idea of throwing a backyard wedding? Maybe you’re looking for the sentimental element of spending your big day in a place where you grew up, or somewhere that means a lot to both of you. Maybe you want to gather your family and close friends for an intimate day that feels like a formal dinner party. Or maybe you want to keep it in-house to reduce the cost of a traditional venue… and pick any date you want (and wait until a spot opens up on the calendar in three years). Whatever the reason, we all love the customization that can go into a backyard wedding.
At GWS, we’ve seen many backyard wedding receptions and received lots of advice from vendors and couples about the experience. A backyard bash may seem like the epitome of laid-back vibes and casual fun, but it actually takes a lot of planning to make the day as dreamy as possible. So we thought it would be useful to make a list of our top tips for hosting an event. Whether you’re already in the planning process, or still discovering what your backyard is all about
Cute Backyard Wedding Ideas
Photo above by Ellie Collen as seen here at GWS: Daughters of Simon Co-Owner’s Backyard Bohemian Bon Voyage Party!}
Breathtaking Diy Vintage Ideas For An Outdoor Wedding
You want to feel comfortable at your wedding…that’s why you chose the backyard, right? So be sure to set the mood you want! Do you want it to be fun and playful with lots of lawn games, intimate and cozy with string lights, or do you want more of a daytime garden party? Consider the mood and theme you’re going for, and then you can start looking for ways to tie it together.
What time of year are you getting married? Does this rental require heaters or misters? We’re guessing those pesky mosquitoes didn’t make it onto your invite list. Citronella candles can come in handy! You may consider providing hand fans, blankets or umbrellas.
But no matter the time of year, always plan for rain. A large white curtain to cover the space can save the day.
Decide where the ceremony will take place and whether guests will sit or stand. Perhaps there is a large tree that can serve as a focal point – or are you working in an open grassy area? To set the ‘stage’, you can frame the space with everything from floors to DIY installations. We’ve seen couples use very minimal spaces with old barn doors, lots of foliage, and cute potted plants. Figure out where you want to act and then work from there.
Budget Friendly Gardern Wedding Ideas For Your Reception
Next, consider your guests. Do you want visitors surrounded by you or just in front? What is the scenario? What about the reception – do you want tables scattered around the garden or a long family table? Also, do you want a dance floor? Is there room for it or do I have to bring the floor?
Do a whiteboard project. It’s a misnomer that a backyard wedding dinner will be more relaxed and fun if everyone can choose their seats. But this undoubtedly leaves your most important family members (even your elders) without a comfortable seat. Or they’re made to sit in the back corner because they didn’t find a seat as quickly as your younger friends. You want your closest family and friends to surround you in the heart of the action, not stuck on the sidelines or inconvenienced.
A traditional venue has all the essentials you would normally think of: chairs, plates, tables, flatware and glasses for the number of guests you have. While some couples choose to scour vintage stores and thrift stores to create mismatched eclectic designs, others choose to rent. You can rent lounge pieces, elegant glassware or essentials to get the tablescape just right.
You don’t want to scramble the day before to prepare the garden. We recommend starting to shape the garden months in advance. Whether it means more weeding, laying grass or planting rows of flowers, all these little preparations will only add to the magic and you can embrace the natural decor.
Summer Wedding Ideas You’ll Want To Steal
Be sure to check that all timers set for sprinklers or lights are off for the entire wedding weekend, including set-up or tear-down days.
For a small wedding, one bathroom is probably fine. But if you are expecting 20+ people, rent portable bathrooms. Although it may not seem like the coolest thing…you can actually rent cool toilet trailers! This will cut down on the queue for the bathroom and stop people from constantly asking where the bathroom is.
Service and parking! It is huge. Consider where people plan to park — does your block have enough space for 20+ cars? See if you can find a parking lot near a place where visitors can leave their cars (perhaps a school that’s closed on the weekend or a public park). You can encourage guests to Uber if they’re not too far away…or hire a valet or shuttle service to help make things run really smoothly.
Let your neighbors know in advance that you are hosting a unique special event. Give the name and phone number of a person to contact if there are any problems during the day. If you fill in, your neighbors are more likely to let things slide (and possibly offer to help). You don’t want to worry about noise complaints.
Rachel & Ben And Their Perfect New England Diy Backyard Wedding
A few more things to check: fire codes, noise ordinances, zoning and permits. For smaller gatherings this is usually not a problem, but if you are expecting 50+ guests we recommend looking at these items. Some places are tighter than others, so it’s better to be prepared than to risk closing your event.
With sound systems and lighting comes the need for increased energy sources. We recommend getting a real generator so you don’t lose power right away when things start heating up. The last thing you want to deal with is a power outage in the middle of your wedding! In general, your home’s existing electricity won’t cut it for rental and commercial-grade appliances.
Do you want a one-of-a-kind feeding table or different feeding stations throughout the backyard? Having a favorite restaurant with a food truck can be a lot of fun. If you are going with a caterer to prepare your kitchen, cooking facilities need to be explained in advance. For a backyard wedding, your first choices might be a barbecue, ordering bulk food for delivery, or food trucks.
For drinks – are you going to hire a bartender or let guests make their own cocktails? Another option is to serve yourself from a selection of wine, beer or soda.
Casual Wedding Ideas For Your Low Key Big Day
One of the NUMBER ONE things we hear from GWS couples after the big day is, “Hire a coordinator! Supervisors make everything run smoothly. They direct people when and where, they make sure everything is on time, and when and where the cake is.” Also known as cutting.
When many couples choose a backyard wedding, it’s because they want a relaxing day. It can be done! Sarah of OneLove Photography shared with us:
The thing is, you have to plan for “Zen”. Many couples make the mistake of not hiring a professional wedding planner for their backyard wedding. They are obsessed with how “Zen” and how comfortable their wedding will be, so they avoid hiring a planner to facilitate the process between the house and the vendors. The reality is this: You don’t want to be the one to set up the caterer or advise the DJ on where to place the speakers. Hire a professional – and let them take that responsibility away from you so you can truly be zen + relaxed.
Liability insurance is also something to look into. And finally, hiring a cleaning crew and/or a large dumpster can be helpful.
Tent Wedding Ideas
Organize your photos sooner than you think. Most backyard weddings are limited in space for photography. If your guests have arrived and you’re still taking pictures, it’s going to be tight! There will be less available space for your photo backdrop if guests or vendors are setting up in that space. The backyard wedding setup process (for your rental and vendors) will be more involved than at the wedding venue. Since the sellers have never worked there before, they are probably all meeting at that property for the first time. This can cause unexpected delays as they navigate that process together and can get a bit hectic! Plan to finish your photos at least an hour before your ceremony to avoid stress in this area. By clicking “Accept all cookies” you agree to the storage
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