Idea #: Outdoor Picnic Style Wedding
If you want your backyard wedding to feel like a nature hike, consider serving up light and healthy picnic-style food like salads, fruit and yogurt, trail mix, and water bottles. This will give your guests the opportunity to take in the sights and sounds of your outdoor wedding while they enjoy their meal.
Hire A Roaming Acoustic Band
A roaming band is a fantastic addition to an outdoor wedding reception, creating an interactive atmosphere that your guests will love.
Bands For Hire can help you find the perfect roaming acoustic band to create a reception that’s upbeat, lively and memorable.
Hiring a live acoustic band where the members can entertain your guests and get everyone excited for your grand entrance is the perfect way to add a special touch to your celebration.
Backyard Wedding Layout Ideas
Assuming you want to host both your ceremony and reception in your backyard, heres how you should maximize your space without sacrificing safety or comfort.
Layout options: Some couples choose to host the ceremony indoors and the reception outdoors or vice versa. The main benefit of doing it this way is that your staff or volunteers will have time to prep each area separately so guests can immediately transition from one to the other. This method is great for small backyards, but if your space is big enough, you can definitely host the entire wedding outdoors.
First, choose your altar location. Next, determine where guests will stand or sit to watch. From there, designate your main reception area which will be anchored by your dance floor or buffet tables. After that, fill in your tables and chairs.
Pay special attention to walkways and how your party will flow. If you need more space for tables, consider setting up an altar that can quickly be taken down or stowed after the ceremony to make way for more fold-up furniture.
Layout examples:
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Place your altar on the back porch or entranceway. Then place folding chairs in rows facing your natural stage. Put your square dance floor towards the other side of the property and arrange round tables outside of your dance floor wherever they fit in.
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Or, if youd prefer a more communal, family-style feel, surround your altar space with half-circle tables where guests can watch the ceremony first and eat their dinners later.
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Determine Your Budget First
Hashing out the financial details for a budget-friendly wedding doesnt have to be scary or overwhelming. One of the best ways to avoid number-crunching stress is to determine your budget, then break down the total into smaller categories. For example:
- Ceremony: 25% or X amount
- Reception: 25% or X amount
- Food: 15% or X amount
Continue for each category we featured in the above section, including attire, flowers, decor, invitations, etc. This system will help you allocate costs and give you a roadmap to stay on track.
Backyard Wedding Ideas To Make Your Summer Wedding As Instagrammable As Possible
Even three years ago it wasnt necessarily the ~thing~ to say I do at home, but during the early days of the pandemic, when we had to limit indoor guests to 50 people everything changed. Backyard weddings are finally getting the attention they deserve, and tbh, were here for the trend. A backyard bash can be super chic when done right, and, thanks to so many couples and vendors posting their outdoor wedding creations on the main grid, its clear that theyre hotter than ever this wedding szn.
Not only can you personalize just about every detail with a backyard weddinglike framed photos hanging from tree branches or having your pup stand in as the ring bearerbut you wont be held down by strict venue rules on everything from lighting and decor to catering and booze, which meansFREEDOM! Pick any date, have any number of guests, hand select your vendors, whatever. you. want. Depending on the size of your backyardor your neighbors yard, parents yard, or even your neighbors parents yardyou could have an intimate wedding with an elaborate tablescape or host the grand garden fête of your Bridgerton-obsessed dreams.
Scroll through these IG images for some backyard wedding ideasyoull def find all the inspo for your own amazing outdoor wedding, from creative couples who have managed to transform their simple backyard ceremonies into the dreamiest affairs.
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Find The Perfect Outdoor Venue
Before making concrete plans for your wedding day, you’ll need to find the perfect outdoor venue to make your day magical. Luckily, there’s no shortage of options when deciding on the right venue for your big day. Below are some popular venue ideas to make your outdoor wedding intimate and beautiful.
- Throw a backyard wedding celebration
- Get classy with a vineyard wedding
- Celebrate nature with a botanical garden ceremony
- Have an intimate, picturesque beach wedding
- Throw a rustic wedding bash with a forest venue
- Put up a tent in a stunning open field
- Look into estates or manors
- Have fun with a rustic barn wedding
Frame Friends And Family
Credit: rusticweddingchic.com
Guest books are so passe. Instead of signing a guest book, so you remember who was at your wedding, get a giant frame with a large white mat.
In the center goes a photo of the newlyweds. Guests can use a permanent marker to write their names on the mat around the photo.
This is not only cute and creative, but its a memento the newlyweds will love looking at later!
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Use A Microphone For The Ceremony
No matter how much you plan for an outdoor ceremony, you can never fully predict the noise level. Whether there are high winds on your wedding day or loud external sounds that make it challenging to hear your vows, noise is a big concern for many people considering an outdoor wedding.
Using a microphone for your wedding ceremony and reception is an ideal way to ensure that, no matter how noisy your day in nature is, your guests can hear every beautiful vow and expression of love shared between you and your spouse.
Summer Wedding Ideas Too Good To Miss
Make the most of longer days, warmer temperatures and the season of outdoor fun!
So you have a opted for a summer wedding. The great thing about a summer wedding is you can bank on the weather and you can make the most of the outdoor venues. So, we thought wed help with some inspiration with our summer wedding ideas below.
Here are 30 summer wedding ideas to make yours a sizzling show-stopper, whatever the weather. You can do all of this with a summer wedding.
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Fairy Light Mason Jars
Set the mood of your wedding by using creative lighting ideas. Outdoor lights transform any space into a cozy setting. Fill personalized mason jars with fairy lights, and place these mason jars on your tables. As the sun goes down, these lights will glow beautifully. Use battery-powered string lights inside oversized jars for some extra table lighting outdoors or indoors.
Backyard Wedding Ideas That Are Anything But Casual
Photo by Jennings King Event Planning by Fox Events Floral Design by Poppy Custom Floral Rentals by Snyder Event Rentals & Ooh Events
Whats not to love about a backyard wedding? Theyre intimate, convenient, andperhaps best of alloften a budget-friendly venue. But before you write off a backyard wedding as an overly casual affair that welcomes a rustic vibe only, know that there are endless backyard wedding ideas to transform it into anything you want it to be. After all, there is no place like home.
“For us, it was all about sharing our home with our family and friends, and inviting them into this day with us,” says wedding planner Alicia Fritz of her own wedding. “Our guest list was very diverse. We wanted to bring the level of comfort and familiarity to a group that was unfamiliar with each other, and we thought there is nothing better to break down barriers or ingratiate our guests than inviting them to our home.”
Meet the Expert
Alicia Fritz is the founder of A Day in May, a luxury event planning company. She has been planning, designing, and producing weddings for over a decade, including her very own at-home backyard nuptials.
From a wild organic feel to a classy tented reception, these 40 fresh backyard wedding ideas prove that an at-home wedding doesnt have to be laid-back.
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Menu Item #: Bbq Baby Back Ribs With Garlic Cornbread
If youre looking for something a little more daring, why not try BBQ baby back ribs with garlic cornbread as your backyard wedding menu option? This mouth-watering dish is sure to wow your guests with its unique flavor profile. Plus, its a meal that will stick with them long after your wedding day is over.
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Summer Wedding Favor And More Ideas
- Put a variety of flip flops in a basket so that guests in uncomfortable shoes have something into which they can change by the time dancing starts.
- Hang up your flip flop offerings on a string between two trees.
- Give out sunglasses at the outdoor ceremony as a wedding favor.
- Personalize the sunglasses with your names on one side and the wedding date on the other.
- Provide a basket of bug spray, especially if your reception will take place near a pond or lake.
- Keep a basket of sunscreen for guests to use during your ceremony and reception so they dont get too much sun.
- Include small bags on your sweets or candy table so that guests can fill a bag to take with them before leaving at the end of the night.
- Provide a bottle of water on each wedding ceremony chair so that guests can stay cool during the outdoor ceremony.
- Give personalized Koozies to your guests as wedding favors, which would be a great and useful idea if you have canned or bottled beer at your wedding bar.
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Bring Lawn Games To Your Small Backyard Wedding
Our personal favorite part of having a small backyard wedding? Lawn games! Not everyone wants to dance all night long so lawn games give guests a really great alternative to get up out of their seats.
Bring some games like cornhole, ladder golf, and giant Jenga for great options to get your guests to socialize during your wedding.
Summer Outdoor Wedding Menu Ideas
- Welcome guests to your reception with a signature summer cocktail for them to enjoy as the evening begins.
- Provide a lemonade, tea or juice stand with the option to add your own fruits and garnishes to keep your outdoor summer wedding guests feeling refreshed.
- Put plenty of greens and fruits in your salad, because nothing says beautiful summer day like a light, fruity green salad.
- Serve up some fresh fish with bold, summery flavors that will please your guests palates as well as you own.
- Bring out the kid in your guests and hire an ice cream cart to provide frozen treats that are sure to delight.
- Incorporate fun foods at your reception, such as cotton candy, popcorn and Super Ropes.
- Offer a refreshing sorbet palate cleanser in between each of your served courses.
- Offer a smores bar once evening hits at your reception.
- TIP: No matter how beautiful the cake it, make sure you keep it inside before and after you and your significant other cut it. Otherwise the hot weather might make it droop!
- Hire wait staff to served passed appetizers during your summer wedding cocktail hour such as Mini Tinga Tacos or Mini Maryland Crab Cakes.
- Serve guests a variety of your favorite local beers or wine at the reception.
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Incorporate A Family Wall With Pictures
One of the most interesting outdoor wedding reception decorations weve encountered is the construction of an outdoor family photo wall. This could also be an interesting conversation starter for your guests if you plan to have a lot of people attend your wedding.
Create a wall of wedding photos of the family or show your new family tree with your spouse so that its easier for your guests to know who is who.
It will also be a fun opportunity to share your favorite memories with not just your future spouse, but also the families that are joining as one on your special day.
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Backyard Wedding Ideas For Fall
Love pumpkin spice almost as much as your future spouse? Whether the summer heat is still holding on or winters chill is already in the air, these ideas will be perfect for your theme.
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Do some pumpkin painting. They double as your wedding favors too! Use mini pumpkins, washable paint, an assortment of brushes in various sizes, some water-filled mason jars, paper towels, and kraft table paper.
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Host a hayride. This is most ideal if you live on or near a farm or have access to a local park that allows this activity. You will need a tractor, a wagon that can properly hitch on to it, and some cushy seating like hay bales or blankets. Do a test run a day or two before the wedding and make sure you buy liability insurance just in case. If getting or driving a tractor just isnt an option, you may be able to hire a hayride service or a local farm business to do it for you.
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Set up a hot apple cider bar. Use slow cookers to keep your base ciders nice and toasty. Then, provide mix-ins like whole cinnamon sticks, cayenne pepper powder, caramel sauce, pomegranate seeds, lemon slices, and honey. And dont forget to add some adult beverage mix-ins to your selection ! If apples arent your thing, try a hot cocoa bar.
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How Do You Have A Backyard Wedding In The Summer
Summer is one of the most popular seasons for weddings, and backyard weddings are becoming increasingly popular because they are more affordable and intimate. If you are planning a backyard wedding, there are a few things to keep in mind.
The first step is to determine how many guests you want to invite. A backyard wedding is more intimate than a traditional wedding, so you will want to limit the number of guests to around 150 or less.
Once you have determined the guest list, you will need to choose a date. Summer is a popular time for weddings, so be sure to book your date early.
The next step is to choose a location. If you have a large backyard, you can hold the wedding there, but if you dont, you can also hold the wedding in a park or other public location.
Once you have chosen a location, you will need to decide on the type of wedding you want to have. There are many options, such as a formal sit-down dinner, a buffet, or a cocktail party.
The next step is to choose a caterer. If you are having a formal sit-down dinner, you will need to choose a caterer who can provide the food and service for your wedding. If you are having a buffet or cocktail party, you can choose a caterer or you can provide the food yourself.
The next step is to choose a photographer. A good photographer will capture the memories of your wedding day.
The final step is to relax and enjoy your special day!
Cheap Backyard Wedding Venues
Dont forget to grab our printable backyard wedding checklist at the bottom of this post.
If you have always wanted a small wedding at home, then this backyard wedding to-do list is exactly what you need.
After finalizing your backyard wedding budget, the fun part can start.
The next step is finding a location to host your fabulous backyard wedding.
Your wedding venue, especially the reception location, is where you will spend the majority of your time as well as a big chunk of your wedding budget.
Choose a great venue to compliment your intimate backyard wedding theme.
We have plenty of DIY backyard wedding ideas for you today, but you will need to conduct extensive research around your area to find a location that works best for you, your guests and your budget.
If everyone can fit in your backyard, then thats awesome.
If not, then you need to start looking.
Since outdoor weddings have a more limited flight time , demand for the best locations will be extremely high.
Does your backyard have enough area to hold your guests and have separate zones for the ceremony and reception?
Will the backyard space allow for a sit-down dinner, or is it better to have a cocktail wedding?
Think of the flooring .
Check out this post, where I share a great list of unconventional wedding venue ideas.
Before choosing your wedding venue or booking any wedding vendor, you should grab our vendor payment tracker today!
More often than not, wedding ceremonies and receptions are held separately.
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An Intimate Backyard Wedding Guest List
Planning a backyard wedding on a budget will require making some hard decisions.
The first step in planning any wedding should be budgeting.
You can plan a fantastic wedding on paper, but its just an idea if you do not have the money to pay for it.
The more guest you have, the more food you need, the more decorations and so on.
Keeping the guest list small is the best and fastest way to minimize your wedding cost.
In this case, I would suggest you host an elegant and intimate backyard wedding to save money.
Doing this will have the most significant impact on your wedding budget.
Without an estimate of what your numbers are, it will be hard to create a budget.
So start by creating a list based on your closest relatives and those you feel should be there to share that day with you.
Many family members who only speak to each other once a year or almost never can be left off the list!
Thats why its crucial to create a detailed wedding guest list with all the names of people that come to mind and eliminate those who arent close to you.
This wedding task can be fun as you and your partner can create lovely memories and make decisions together.
Grab your FREE wedding planning checklist here if you want a list of other wedding tasks!
After creating your family list, moving on to your friend list is essential.
I suggest using the same process you did with creating your first list!
Go ahead and eliminate those you havent spoken to in a long time.
