The Keys to Your Backyard Wedding
A backyard wedding holds endless benefits for you, your fiancé, your guests, and most importantly…your budget!
From a wedding planner’s POV, we love bringing your backyard to life for your special day! Having a sentimental factor to your venue always elevates a wedding and there are plenty of great reasons why this can work for you! However, there are some curveballs that you’ll want to tackle before the date, so let’s go over them!
Your backyard wedding to-do list may include:
Landscaping should be handled well before the wedding day! Gorgeous gardens and green grass don’t grow overnight.
Knowing where people can go…if you catch our drift. Make sure to rent outhouses/washrooms so that your guests are not in your home the whole night or creating a line.
Conquering clean up; whether that is hiring a planner to help or delegating a clean up crew between your family and friends, HAVE A PLAN!
Potentially getting required permits and insurance
Guest parking… do you have enough? Are your neighbours cool to share driveway space or street parking?
Photos by Christie Graham Photography
Photos by Taryn Stare Photography
Every backyard wedding has an abundance of memories. Here’s why your wedding at a park or private property can be such a success:
You can set your own rules!
There are way more décor options (for example, real open candle flames, string lights, outdoor dance floor, use of nail guns, etc.)
Florals (wherever, however you want as well as the beauty of your backyard garden).
You can party till the sun comes up!
You can bring in whatever catering team you want.
Potential for photos being onsite.
You can start setting up whenever you want!
Photos by Taylor Reign Photography
Tips from a wedding planner to create the backyard wedding of your dreams:
Lighting is key - does your backyard have a lot of shade from trees? What way is the property or park facing for golden hour, etc?
Directions: make them clear! You don’t want your guests getting lost on your property. Also make sure to have proper lighting set up for nighttime so no guests fall, etc.
Rent a tent! You can get a clear top so you can still see the stars!!
Send your guests parking instructions a week before your wedding so that it is fresh in their minds.
We always recommend renting a washroom trailer and keep in mind that you will want to have 1 bathroom per 50 guests.
Backyard and park weddings are a category of their own and there are a lot of puzzle pieces to fit together, but it is so worth it in the end! If you’re thinking of an outside party or intimate wedding in the comfort of your family’s yard, send us an email! Lauren@elyseandco.ca.
Photos by Lilly Ann Photography
