In today's economy, selecting a lavish venue for your wedding is not always within the budget. Even though you cannot host your wedding at the grand ballroom of your city, you can still have an elegant and classic wedding by using a backyard. The backyard wedding is certainly limited by the amount of space there is to use, but the amount of money you can save by hosting your wedding in your backyard or that of a friend or family member can go towards your honeymoon or even a down payment on your house.
Space
Space is the most important factor for that backyard wedding. Consider the amount of space you have to work with first as part of the planning. There should be enough space for people to maneuver between chairs, tables and other people. Utilize deck and patio spaces if you can as well.
Weather
Let's face it - the weather man is notorious for being wrong when it comes to determining the weather. When planning a backyard wedding the weather will certainly be a factor in the success (or failure) of the event's outcome. Though you should research the weather and the almanac, you should also have a back up plan in the event the weather does act up. Remember that if planning a wedding in the summer you need to plan for hot weather as well. Have cold drinks and covered areas where your guests can sit without being exposed to too much heat or sunlight. You will need to have covered areas for food and especially for your wedding cake to ensure that everything is safe to eat throughout the ceremony and reception.
Use a Theme
Backyard weddings do not have to be considered "casual". A backyard wedding can still be planned out to be elegant and very romantic. Try introducing a theme such as garden party, tea party or rose garden romance for themes to make your wedding feel a little less casual. Of course, you can still have a casual wedding and even do a fun picnic theme or summer party theme.
Planning is Key
When you are hosting a backyard wedding you are usually doing all of the planning that a wedding planner will normally do for a venue. Purchase wedding planning books and look up online for wedding planning checklists so that you ensure you cover every aspect of the planning and in a timely manner.
Budget for Improvements
Not everyone's backyard is ready to be a host of a wedding. Set aside some money for your backyard wedding planning to improve your backyard and even hire a professional landscape artists to come in and update the area if needed. Not only does this improve the overall look of your backyard, but will increase your property value as well.
Plants and Flowers
The entire point of a backyard wedding is to be engulfed in nature. Order plants and flowers that you can actually plant in your backyard so that you can keep them forever, but try to keep everything in theme with the wedding.
Music and Lighting
Unlike a normal venue, music and lighting are something you will have to plan out. From a wedding supply store you can order paper lamps and electrical kits so that you can light up your backyard just like a professional venue. Hire a professional DJ or artist to come in and explain to them that the wedding will be in an open backyard so that they can plan. Most musicians will need some hard and clear surface for their equipment as well as some form of covering. You can order a tent from a party supply store or try to put your musicians on a covered porch.
Be Cost Effective
Many brides that use a backyard for a wedding assume that they are saving so much they go crazy with the decor. You can actually save more money by borrowing vases and decorations from family and friends and at the end of the wedding donate decorations or food to local charities as part of a tax write-off at the end of the year. The more you save, the more effective your backyard wedding will be.
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