Whether you have committed to hosting your dream backyard wedding or considering the possibility of exploring the magic of this experience for your special day, there are many factors that you need to consider before you say, “I do”.

The benefits of backyard weddings include:

You may completely customize the landscape to your liking
You won’t be competing other couples for a prime wedding date
You can choose your own wedding vendors based on your style, as opposed to a venue’s requirements
Having a backyard wedding allows more time to set up than a traditional wedding venue would.

Some of considerations you need to factor in include:

Planning a backyard wedding is not for the faint of heart:While it is worth the time investment, it does take an emotional toll, especially if your have a deep rooted connection to the home. In addition, as you are building a venue from the ground up,
Consider unforeseen costs: Building a venue from the ground up can come with unforeseen costs. It is important to have a “contingency fund in your budget to account for such things and to ensure that your are keeping on track. Allocate 5% of your total wedding costs
Invest in wedding insurance: While the home and most vendors have some form of insurance, it may not necessarily cover certain wedding related damages. An average policy ranges anywhere between $150-$550 and is a small price to pay for peace of mind. Check with your homeowner’s insurance broker, or you may also wish to consider brokerage sites such as Eventsured
Bathroom Facilities: As a rule of thumb, provide 1 bathroom per every 35 guests. If you have allocated just one bathroom for your guests and you are hosting over 35 guests, we recommend investing in portable restrooms. Now before your cringe over the thought of your guests being cramped inside a smelly blue stall, portable restrooms really have come a long way within the past few years. Companies such as Luxury Loo provide an excellent selection for your perusal.
Kitchen Facilities: If your kitchen is not large enough for the caterer to operate in order to prepare a meal for your wedding guests he or she may suggest building a “satellite kitchen” to ensure proper flow. As soon as you book your caterer, scheduling a site visit with him or her should be top priority to ensure that you are clear and on the same page.
Hire a wedding coordinator: creating a backyard wedding can take up to 20+ vendors to execute the vision. That’s a lot of cooks in the kitchen! Hiring a wedding planner can help you to not only troubleshoot possible pitfalls, but also help you to communicate your vision clearly and concisely with timelines, floor plans, vendor referrals and other production documents
Avoid the police: Hosting your wedding in a residential neighborhood means that there are several noise and logistical guidelines that you must abide by. It is best to call your local police department beforehand to find out these ordinances and plan accordingly.
Parking: Does your neighborhood have enough parking spaces to accommodate the amount of guests that will be coming to you event? As a rule of thumb, expect 1 car per 2 guests. A valet service can handle all logistics and give you a piece of mind. In addition, be sure that you relay your plans to your guests through invitations or a on your wedding website.
Electricity: There can’t ever be enough power! Assess which vendors require enough power (such as your caterer, DJ, and lighting) and provide up to 3 times the amount of power that they will need. Tent companies can usually provide generators for electricity, as homes are usually not equipped to handle so much power.
Create a floorplan ahead of time: The last thing that you want to be doing on your wedding day is figuring out what’s the best place to put your rentals. Creating a proper floorplan can also help to streamline communication with your vendors. Allseated is a perfect tool to help you create professional floor-plans.

The Best Tips for Backyard Weddings