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Using your own backyard as a wedding venue is a personal and charming way to celebrate your marriage with family and friends. While backyard weddings allow freedom to decorate as you please, remember that using your yard as a wedding venue also requires careful, extra planning. The following backyard wedding ideas can help you make your Day happen the way you want it to!
Be Creative…There are certain things you can do with a backyard wedding that you can't do at other venues where you have limited time to set up, take down and are restricted by rules and regulations.
- …with flowers. With a backyard wedding you have much more freedom to be liberal with your flowers. Plant seasonal flowers that go with the color scheme of your wedding in your yard in time for them to bloom during the wedding. Hang flower pots from trees, windowsills, gates, fences, gutters, railings and garden hooks. Your wedding can be in a garden paradise of your own design.
- …with the layout. Place a wedding arch, gazebo, or canopy at the ceremony site with beautiful backdrop scenery. Decorate the isle with a runner, and use pretty garden accents around the yard such as fountains, statues, gazing balls and candles.
- …with the lighting. A backyard wedding allows you to be creative with your lighting choices. Utilize candles throughout the yard and at the edge of every isle of chairs. You can use torches, hang candle lanterns, luminaries, twinkle lights, patio lights, Christmas lights and any other kind of light you can think of. Avoid bright spot lights and instead use ambient, soft lighting throughout the yard to give a romantic feel.
Be Realistic... While getting married in your yard could possibly be one of the most romantic, beautiful venue choices , you are going to have to be realistic about the restrictions and additional planning involved.
- ...about the size of your guest list. Consider the size of space you have available, how much food your kitchen can stock and how many bathrooms are available for guests. If your space is limited, a backyard wedding might mean a smaller guest list.
- …about the additional expenses. While you don't have to spent money to rent your own backyard, consider the extra cost in renting the equipment you need to have a backyard wedding. Your backyard doesn't come equipped with tables, chairs, lights, linens, a dance floor or a sound system. Not to mention a generator to provide the extra electricity needed to power your wedding.
Be prepared… The best way to make a backyard wedding happen is to plan and prepare ahead of time for all that may come your way on the Big Day. It is a commercial venue's job to prepare for the worst, but when you get married in your own backyard planning for the worst is completely your responsibility.
- …for the weather. You should always plan for rain just in case when planning an outdoor wedding. Rent a tent or reserve an alternate indoor location incase mother natures decides to water her vegetation on the day of your wedding.
- …for the neighbors. You should always check with the local city hall for noise, alcohol and additional parking permit requirements well before the wedding date. It doesn't hurt to speak with your neighbors before hand and let them know a wedding will be taking place. Nothing can sour the mood of a festive wedding more than police breaking up the wedding toasts due to a neighbor's noise complaint!
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