Planning a Successful Backyard Wedding
Published under Wedding Planning
, Wedding Themes
The size of the backyard is probably the most important factor to consider in having a backyard wedding. Unless the backyard is the size of a football field, there likely will not be enough space to accommodate a large number of people. If planning to have a large backyard wedding hiring a wedding planner to work out an elaborate outdoor setting would be more feasible, due to the amount of planning and details that must be covered in having a large group of people attend a wedding.
Planning any backyard wedding can be tough. There are a lot of issues that arise when planning that may not be dealt with if the wedding was taking place at a commercial facility. These are seating, food and drink, parking, weather, maintenance, attire, electricity, and basic ceremony issues.
Seating
Not many people are comfortable standing for long periods of time, therefore it would be a wise idea to rent chairs that can be using during the ceremony and the reception.
Food and Drink
Backyard weddings are often casual events, which calls for causal foods and food preparation. This means a self-prepared buffet would do just fine as long as a few volunteers replenished low supplies when needed. Hiring a catering company that can manage a buffet setting would be ideal, however is more costly.
Parking
To avoid any neighbor feuds, and to control any parking issues with wedding guest it would be a wise idea to make a parking plan. Find a local church, school, or business lot that will allow guest to park. If the parking area is further away then guest can comfortably walk or for older guest that cannot walk the distance, get a few people to pool or hire a company to shuttle a large amount of guest in a bus or trolley.
Weather
Even the weather channel can be wrong about the weather, so have a back up plan in case of rain. If there is not enough room indoors to accommodate the guest and still perform a ceremony and reception, then rent a tent. (A tent can even be used to shade guest from the sun.)
Attire
Since, backyard weddings are most often causal events only simple attire is needed. The bride and bridesmaids should avoid dresses with trains, and even gowns that require them to wear heels. Simple hairstyles with a hat or flowers for bride and bridesmaids would make an elegant statement, or straight for a more causal one. Guest should be notified in the invitations that they may wear causal attire.
Electricity
Whether having an evening wedding that requires lighting, hiring a DJ that needs an outlet, or serving foods that need to remain hot or cold in portable serving trays, rent a generator. This will prevent any outlet overloads, and extension cord mix-ups.
Basic Ceremony
During a wedding ceremony the bride and groom come down the aisle at different times and often from different locations. When having a backyard wedding this can be difficult, especially if they do not want to see each other before the ceremony. To successfully execute this have the dressed groom greet guest outside, while the bride gets ready inside with her bridesmaids. By the time of the ceremony, the groom can take his place with his groomsmen and the bridesmaids and bride can walk outside in succession. After the ceremony is performed the bridesmaids walk with the groomsmen and bride with groom to the reception area.
Preparation and Clean up
Before the wedding, grass should be cut and unsightly objects removed or covered. After the wedding, clean up should not fall onto the bride and groom, so make sure that a few of the guest can handle it.
Once these issues have been addressed, it’s important to remember to have fun and enjoy the day you put so much effort into.
