Planning the ultimate DIY wedding on a budget – having your wedding in a backyard!
Pin Now, Read Later!
DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, WHICH MEANS I GET A SMALL COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. THIS IS AT NO COST TO YOU. PLEASE READ MYDISCLOSURETO LEARN MORE.
If you are planning a small wedding or you are simply on a tight budget for your wedding, the backyard wedding is for you.
Picture this: you are able to set up your decorations whenever you want, you can plan your rehearsal dinner on the date and time you wish, and you can clean up at your leisure after the wedding!
There are so many perks to having a backyard wedding! You would not have to worry about other receptions or events taking place that would force you to conform to the venue’s date restrictions on setting up, cleaning up, etc.
You would also have a lot of freedom when it comes to your wedding. You would not have to follow the rules of a traditional wedding venue; for example, some venues do not allow sparklers for your wedding exit.
Having some home-cooked food or baked items can also save you a ton of money, which would not typically be allowed at a traditional wedding venue.
Backyard weddings allow for a very personal touch and can be super intimate and relaxing. If you are considering saving a ton of money on your wedding, this guide is here to help you execute a classy affair that you and your guests will forever remember.
Plan a Classy Outdoor Wedding by Following these Steps:
Choose the Backyard Wedding Venue
Step one in planning your backyard wedding is to select your ideal backyard. It would be perfect if you have your own backyard and have the space and amenities to have your wedding at home.
However, this is not the reality of most.
If you are considering hosting your backyard wedding at a friend or family member’s home, you’ll have to make sure it is spacious enough to accommodate your guests.
You’ll also want to think about bathrooms – are there one or two bathrooms available on the first floor of the property? If not, you may want to consider renting travel bathrooms.
Consider the landscape and the time of year. Does the venue you are thinking about hosting your backyard wedding have a beautiful landscape with plenty of photo opportunities?
Gorgeous gardens or scenery in the distance can create a magical setting for your backyard wedding.
Decorations For Your Backyard Wedding
Create a wedding venue-esque ambiance with beautiful decorations. Decorating with elegance and class will make your guests feel like they are not in a backyard.
Select your backyard wedding theme. Popular backyard wedding themes are rustic, vintage, or boho. You could also choose to go simple modern with all black and white decorations.
An enchanted garden theme would also be very beautiful for your backyard wedding, although this could get pricey if you are incorporating real flowers to create the fairytale scene.
String Lights
String lights are the perfect addition to your backyard wedding reception. Hanging these around the reception area will create a very romantic atmosphere.
This huge pack of string lights from Amazon should be more than enough
Tables and Chairs
Consider spending the money to rent your tables and chairs. You will not want to be borrowing picnic tables and chairs from all of your friends, neighbors, or family members. This will be chaotic in determining the delivery and set up, and nothing will be cohesive.
Spend the money on the more upscale tables and chairs.
Floral Arrangements
Floral arrangements are a must for a backyard wedding. Decide whether you want to purchase real floral arrangements from a florist and have them delivered, whether you want to go to a grocery store or a bulk warehouse store to purchase flowers and arrange them yourself, or if you want to utilize fake flowers in your arrangements.
Tip: if you find the right fake or silk flowers, you won’t be able to tell in your wedding photos that they are fake.
You’ll be able to set the arrangements up months ahead of time, it will save you a ton of money, and you’ll get to keep them forever!
Aisle Runners & Ceremony Arch for Your Backyard Wedding
Find an aisle runner that fits your theme. An aisle runner will allow your entrance to be even more special and your guests will feel like they are at a wedding venue.
This burlap runner is perfect for a backyard wedding
Find a decorative arch to stand at the top of the altar where your ceremony will take place. This will create gorgeous photographs.
This decorative arch is very modern and unique
Tablecloths and Napkins
Purchase nice linens for your outdoor reception. They don’t need to be weatherproof if you are having a tent for your reception.
Make sure your tablecloths and napkins match the theme of your wedding. I recommend getting plain white; it will match everything and you’ll also be able to bleach them if they get stained!
You can also look into renting the tablecloths and napkins from your table and chair rental company.
Personal Photos For Your Reception
Make your reception area special by adding photos of you and your partner! Have a variety of photos and a variety of sizes.
I bought this 8x10in pack of frames for my wedding. I printed out engagement photos for these frames.
I also purchased 4x6in frames for other photos to display. I included pictures of us throughout the years on different trips and various occasions.
Backyard Wedding Welcome Sign
If you are creative, you can totally DIY your wedding signs. You’ll need a welcome sign to start. One of the cheapest ways to do this is to order an acrylic sign from Amazon. This is the pack I ordered for my welcome sign.
I ended up using the extras for other signs – one for my rehearsal dinner, and one I made into a crossword puzzle to be displayed at co*cktail hour.
I cut all of the words for my sign on my Cricut machine and just adhered the vinyl to the sign and painted the back of it with cheap acrylic paint.
You can definitely do this without a Cricut if you have a steady hand!
My suggestion is to type out your words using an elegant font – use Canva. Print out your words and place the paper behind your clear acrylic sign. From there, you’ll trace the letters on your acrylic sign with paint or paint markers.
Then, paint the back of your sign! Grab an easel to display your welcome sign.
Pin Now, Read Later!
DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, WHICH MEANS I GET A SMALL COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. THIS IS AT NO COST TO YOU. PLEASE READ MYDISCLOSURETO LEARN MORE.
Smaller Personal Signs For Your Backyard Wedding
Think about everything your guests will have questions about – label it with a sign.
This is especially important for your food items!
Create beautiful text images on Canva, print them out in color, and stick them in a frame to display at your reception. For most of your signs, 5x7in frames will do.
Sign suggestions:
- Cards & Gifts
- Favors
- Signature co*cktail
- Drink List
- Appetizer Menu
- Food Menu
- Dessert Menu
- *Add smaller signs for food items that contain common allergens.
Food and Drink For Your Backyard Wedding
One of the biggest pros to having a backyard wedding is that you do not have to pay over-the-top prices for venue food.
You have the ability to be flexible with your dining options. This could mean that you select catering from a few different places, or perhaps you’ll have a mix of catering and home-cooked options.
This allows for variety in your menu and flexibility in your spending!
One thing to remember is that you will be extremely busy on wedding day, so you do not want to be the person in charge of cooking something.
To complete your backyard wedding, you’ll need a well-stocked bar. You could hire a bartender to make the process run smoothly, or you could just have a full selection of drinks in coolers or fridges that guests can grab as they please.
Entertainment at a Backyard Wedding
Build a dance floor! Have a designated space to have your first dance with your partner and your parents.
Hire a DJ or a live band. DJs provide more than just the background music, they also help to keep the entire wedding on track by announcing when certain things are taking place.
Create your playlist of “must-play songs” and allow the DJ to take control so that you can relax and have fun.
Be Prepared for Non-Ideal Backyard Wedding Situations
You can never assume that the weather will be absolutely perfect for your wedding day. It is best to plan for the worst weather.
Rent tents for your ceremony. Even if it doesn’t rain, it will still be nice to have them to create a reception vibe or to shield your guests from the sun. Plus, you can hang your string lights from them!
In addition to rain, be prepared for wind as well. Make sure that the decorations you are using are sturdy enough to withstand wind, and also make sure you have clips to attach to tablecloths to prevent them from blowing.
Planning and Coordination for the Backyard Wedding
Opt to hire a day-of-coordinator for your special day. Although this can add to the cost of your wedding, you want to make sure everything from the ceremony to the reception runs smoothly.
You could also consider hiring a friend who is not in the wedding to be your day-of-coordinator. This could cut costs significantly, but you will still want to reward them with a gift or small payment.
By hiring someone to take control on wedding day, this will allow you to unwind and enjoy your day without having to worry about logistics.
You will also need to hire an officiant to perform the wedding ceremony.
You could look into hiring a professional officiant or any religious figure to officiate your ceremony.
To cut costs on an officiant, hire a friend! I asked my brother to officiate our wedding. He had no experience, but I knew he was a great public speaker and I wanted him to be involved in the wedding somehow.
It was super easy for him to become a wedding officiant – he did the process online for a small fee.
He did an excellent job at the ceremony and made it truly special. As a gift, I paid for his hotel room on the night of the wedding.
Be sure to read my posts on crafting your wedding vows and choosing a unity ceremony for tips on making your backyard wedding ceremony unique!
8 Simple Wedding Vow Steps 2024
Photographing Your Backyard Wedding
Don’t skip the photographer!
Make sure you have a skilled professional photographer to capture your special day. If you have a friend who is a professional, hire them! It will likely save you some money and they will be happy to have the business.
Do not rely on people’s cell phone pictures for your wedding day.
This is a once in a lifetime event. Pay for the photographer. You won’t regret the stunning photos.
In conclusion, a backyard wedding, if done correctly with careful planning, can be just as classy and elegant as a venue wedding! By finding the perfect backyard, focusing on entertainment and catering, preparing for unexpected events, and carefully selecting your decorations, your backyard wedding will be very charming and one to remember.
Remember, this is your wedding day. Make it special by adding personal touches to make it truly unique, and don’t forget to hire help when you need it.
I hope your backyard wedding is truly the day of your dreams!
Related: 7 Essential Steps to Choosing a Wedding Theme
Related: The Best Kept Secret To Free Wedding Invitations
Related: 8 Simple Wedding Vow Steps
DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, WHICH MEANS I GET A SMALL COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS. THIS IS AT NO COST TO YOU. PLEASE READ MYDISCLOSURETO LEARN MORE.
Don’t Forget To Pin For Later!
