What You Need To Know When Planning A Backyard Wedding

Create Enough Seating

Every wedding, no matter the location, needs enough seating for guests and a backyard event is no different. One of the best, easiest things to do id make sure you are working with a good rental company. A backyard wedding also allows for you to get really creative with your seating plan including using hay bales as a lounge area. Always double check and make sure everyone in attendance will have a proper seat when it comes to meal time. Want to really be inspired with creative seating? Check out our post on 10 Ways To Use Hay Bales At Your Wedding.

Invest In Home Improvements

If you are planning a backyard wedding one of the best pieces of advice I can give is to invest in some home upgrades – patio work, lawn care, fencing, a pergola, greenery, awnings, etc – that will make your backyard the perfect venue for a wedding but also last much, much longer than the big day itself. Make sure you read our post on 10 Reason to Have A Backyard Wedding.

Keep Your Guests Cool

Most backyard weddings occur during the summer and that means things can get hot! Keeping your guests cool is a critical aspect for pulling off a perfect outdoor event so it might be a good idea to invest in some larger fans or air conditioning. One easy way to make sure you guests are happy is to make water available at several different locations throughout the wedding venue.

Offer Bug Spray

It might not be the most romantic of wedding details but if your summer wedding is outside then you will most definitely need to offer bug spray to your guests. Bug spray bands and towelettes are a nice alternative as well.

Make Sunscreen Available 

Offering your guests sunscreen is easy now that you have lots of different options like mini sunscreen bottles and towelettes. Make sure you also check out our 4 Tips For Having An Outdoor Wedding for more ideas.

Throw Some Shade

Everyone at your wedding will be very grateful if you can create some shaded areas where guests can catch a break from the intense summer sun. And it’s not as hard as you may think. One of the easiest and most decorative ways to create a shaded spot is to work with a rental company and setup large market umbrellas. Teaming a market umbrella with seating –  or with tables and chairs – allows you guests to sit and be social while cooling off in the shade.

Have A Weather Backup

Nothing can rain on your parade – literally – like inclement weather. When you plan a backyard wedding you are taking a chance on Mother Nature which is why it’s wise to have a good backup plan. Because you will basically have an idea about the weather a few days in advance, it’s smart to place a hold on a tent with a rental company.  If it looks like it might just be a passing shower stock up on some cute umbrellas that guests can use to coverup. Make sure you read our advice on Rainy Day Wedding Must Haves!

Plan For The Parking 

Remember that scene from Father Of The Bride where Steve Martin needs to move 200 cars off his street? You can’t have a large backyard wedding and not plan for parking. The best option is to work with your town and see where large parking areas are available then direct your guests there and offer a shuttle to and from the event.

Consider Your Catering

Big backyard weddings mean lots of hungry guests. If you are having your wedding catered – something I highly recommend – one of the first questions you should ask the catering manager is how much space and what sort of cooking equipment they need. Most catering companies are hip to the idea of backyard events so they come with almost everything included but you should ask about things like electricity and space requirements just so that you can plan accordingly. Perhaps the best options for food at your backyard wedding is a food truck. Food trucks at weddings have been popular for some years and it is easy to understand why. Because food Trucks are use to cooking on the go they know exactly how to feed your guests and keep everyone happy. Check out our post on Food Trucks At Your Wedding Tips.

Manager Your Music & Noise

What is a wedding without some good music and dancing? But while your guests dance the night away under the stars your neighbors might not be as enthusiastic. To avoid any unnecessary interactions with the authorities – yes it can happen –  you should first check with your town about any existing noise ordinances. Next you should always go out of your way to make your neighbors happy by dropping off a bottle of wine or champagne and a note letting them know when you are celebrating. This small, personal touch might just be enough to keep you in their good graces as “Shout” blasts for the third time of the evening.

Rent-A-Restroom

You can not expect to host a large event and get away with just the restrooms in your house. In many cases people who are hosting a backyard wedding actually just use the outside and close off the house entirely. Recently there has a been a boom in the “fancy” restroom rental business since so many venues are outdoors or in rustic locations. Do a little research and find the perfect upscale restroom for your backyard wedding. Some even have great lighting, running water and most importantly, will help you avoid having your guests wait in a long line.

Tres Chic Trash 

It might not be the wedding detail you want to spend all your time thinking about but you will need to figure out a good trash situation for all the unfortunate waste that builds up over the course of the event. Ideally you don’t want to be on the hook for having to purchase large garbage cans to spread out around your wedding so talk with a rental or event design company about renting nicer – dare I say classier – trash containers that won’t stick out like a sore thumb and dampen your wedding decor.

Light It Up

A few strings of lights and a lantern might be sufficient for a regular evening on the patio but when it comes to a wedding you need to make sure there is more than enough light for your guests to navigate the proceedings. Budget permitting, a lighting professional is a great resource because they will be able to asses your needs and ensure that everyone is kept happy and safe. If meeting with a lighting designer is not in your wedding budget then you should head out to a hardware store and do it yourself including an array of options like solar and hanging lights. Our post on Beautiful Ways To Light Your Wedding is filled with good advice.