Are you and your partner planning a backyard wedding? First of all, congratulations! Second, props to you for your thoughtful venue choice.
A home wedding is budget-friendly, personal, meaningful, and can be customized to fit your vision. You can make your nearing nuptials as grand or as casual as you wish.
Since you chose a backyard over a traditional wedding venue, there are a few extra things to take care of. To ease any stress you may be feeling, we’ve created a list of 20 backyard wedding ideas you can use to make your day seamless and memorable.
Jump to Section
Outdoor Wedding Planning Tips
Backyard Wedding Decor Ideas
FAQs
Rain on your wedding day is a sign of good luck, but not for your hair, makeup, and dress. This is where tents are handy barriers to keep inclement weather away from you and your guests. Many rental companies offer tents that come with amenities you’ll appreciate, such as:
Perhaps you want a private area where your bridal party can get ready, or maybe you have babies that need a quiet space to nap during the wedding reception. Whatever your reasons are, take a preemptive approach to keep guests from wandering around your house. Block off areas you don’t want anyone entering by hanging signs and locking doors. Let your friends and family know the off-limits areas so everyone is on the same page.
Allowing loved ones to be part of your special day takes tasks off your plate and adds an extra level of sentimentality. Here are a few duties you can delegate:
Ask your family and friends to help you clean up your landscaping a few days beforehand so you can get the job done faster. Weeding, trimming hedges, edging, and mowing the grass will make the yard a beautiful backdrop for your big day.
This is a courteous thing to do if you have neighbors nearby. Parking and noise will be the main reasons for giving them a heads-up if you have a long guest list. A few months beforehand, print out flyers and stick them in your neighbors’ mailboxes. If your neighborhood has a Facebook page, post the update there too.
Before booking vendors, contact your town administrators to learn about local laws, regulations, and ordinances you’ll need to follow and what permits you need. If permits are required, let your vendors know because they might have to complete and file extra paperwork.
Having a solid idea of what you want gives your photographer a great foundation to build on and ensures photos and videos go off without a hitch. We recommend doing these things early on:
If it’s in your budget, consider hiring someone to assist you in planning your backyard wedding. There are different types of wedding professionals that will help you based on your needs:
Insurance for weddings isn’t required, but having it and not needing it is better than the alternative. We suggest finding out what your homeowner’s insurance covers and checking with your vendors to see what insurance they carry. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and read insurance policies to learn what you’re responsible for.
You’ll need a lot of energy to power the lighting, sound, heating and cooling elements, food equipment, and other electronics on your wedding day. It might be more than your house can handle, so rent a generator to prevent blown fuses and outages.
Search antique stores and thrift shops to find pre-loved treasures you can transform into wedding day decorations. A unique idea is a bouquet made using vintage costume jewelry. You can add extra meaning by incorporating pieces that belonged to your mother or grandmother, keeping them close to your heart as you walk down the aisle.
Style an arbor as a tasteful backdrop for your wedding ceremony. Build one from a pre-made kit, or create your own to make it unique. After the wedding, don’t take your arbor down. Instead, leave it up so you can have a visual reminder of your special day.
Reach out to your family and your soon-to-be family to ask permission to borrow photos of loved ones who have passed on or are not able to be there with you. Reserve a special row of seats to display the pictures; that way, they’ll be there with you in spirit on your special day. It’s a touching tribute that everyone will appreciate.
Continuing with the theme, the last thing a bride needs is something blue. Traditionally, the blue item is worn—think jewelry, shoes, or a headpiece. However, if you want to put your own twist on the tradition, incorporate the color into the decor or backyard setting. Try bachelor buttons in your floral arrangements or light blue lounge furniture where guests can relax during the cocktail hour.
If you or your partner have a green thumb, put it to good use by creating natural decorations through landscaping. It’s a thoughtful, budget-friendly way to make your backyard wedding unique. Here are a few recommendations to make your landscaping extra special:
Dancing and an open bar are great, but make the most of your backyard by offering other forms of entertainment during the cocktail hour and reception with fun lawn games such as cornhole, giant Jenga, and beer pong.
Don’t forget activities for the little ones. Give children their own play space, complete with sturdy kid-sized furniture, snacks, outdoor games, and craft supplies.
If you have enough space, style a secluded area away from the lights and dance floor where guests can kick back with a refreshing beverage. Style the setting with comfortable outdoor furniture and low lighting to set a relaxing mood.
One of the most memorable parts of any wedding is the food—and an unforgettable way to feed your guests is by serving your favorite foods in out-of-the-box ways. Rent a food truck, opt for donuts instead of a wedding cake, or light a fire and set out ingredients for s’mores.
It’s your wedding and your backyard, so have complete freedom to invite whomever you want—including your four-legged bestie. Add them to your wedding party as the “dog of honor” for extra-memorable photos.
Here is a list of things to do to plan a backyard wedding on a budget:
You should plan for at least six square feet of floor space for every guest you invite. It might be time to trim the guest list if you have a small backyard and a large headcount.
Backyard weddings are at the mercy of the elements, so choose a time of year when the weather in your area is mild and pleasant. This makes traveling easier for out-of-town guests, and no one will be ducking inside your house to get out of the cold or heat. Thinking aesthetically, spring and fall are preferred wedding seasons because of the natural beauty of blooming flowers and changing leaves.
Outdoor furniture is built to resist harsh weather conditions, including fading and degradation caused by…
The hustle and bustle of the holidays keeps us all busy, and by the end,…
Balconies are small enclosed exterior areas on the upper floor of a home or apartment…
If you take your entertaining indoors during the winter months, set a few hours aside…
Nothing crashes a party—or rains on a parade—quite like a hurricane. Several regions across the…
Hey, y’all–Eva here! It’s no secret that I’m POLYWOOD’s biggest fan. My family spends a…