Back yard wedding. do's and don't s?

Question

A friend of ours has a 7 million dollar home- and said we're welcome to have it in her back yard! It's beautiful- But i'm not sure how they work. Is it kinda lame to have the ceramony and reception in the same place? What are some things you want to avoid and other things that work out really well?

Answer 1

what a great offer-blimey 7 milion dollar house, perfect for a wedding dont you think, who cares if the ceremoney and the reception is ion the same place we married in a backyard . as well we had both ceremony and reception in the same place, friends and family said it was the most fun relaxed event they had ever been to, we had people friendly food and people friendly music, noone felt they had to be something theyre not, and kids were able to be free of mucking it up.try out you wont forget it.as long as your happy and everyones enjoying themselves ,why not.

Answer 2

It really depends on a number of factors. There's no catch-all price for a backyard wedding. Plus, what happens if it rains or the weather's bad? Do you have an indoor location that you could switch to at the last minute? You'll need to rent bathrooms for 175+ people. What about waiters, set up and clean up staff, music, photography? Tables and chairs - contact a rental company, or see if a church or high school can rent them out. Catering - contact a wedding catering company, but a cheaper bet would be to contact local small restaurants, delis, or supermarkets that do catering. Flowers - depends on how many flowers you want and what kind. Ask a florist or a supermarket florist. Draping - no idea. Contact a florist or a rental company. "In mexican tradition there are padrinas and madrinas that i guess make a contribution and are part of the wedding. (Im mexican by the way). and i think every woman has a dream wedding where they wear a beautiful dress and are surrounded by proud family and marry their first love and bestfriend. The whole 9 yards." DON'T set up a bank account for donations. That's so freaking tacky. If people want to help you out, then that's fine, but don't solicit their help. Sit back and see what happens. If they offer you money, say thank you. That's all you need to do. Setting up a bank account makes you look like a beggar. If people want to help you then they'll give you a check. Really, though, you're SO young. And five years together doesn't mean a whole lot when that five years encompasses ages 14-19. Why not attend and graduate from college first, and get a job, and learn to live like an independent adult for a while, and save up some money, and THEN think about getting married? If he's really your True Love then he'll be around when you're 23 or 25. If not, then you'll have dodged a HUGE mistake. You'd be doing yourself a giant disservice to marry in 2014 while you're still a kid. If your heart is set on a large and classy wedding, then the best thing you can do is wait until you're old enough to have a college degree and a job, where you can earn enough money to pay for the kind of wedding that you think you deserve.

Answer 3

There's nothing wrong with having the ceremony and reception in the same place - actually, it's more convenient for your guests.

Some things to consider:
1. Parking - Put someone in charge of arranging the parking in the area, so people can get in and out when they need to.
2. Ushers - Have plenty of ushers who can show your guests around, especially where the bathrooms are, etc.
3. Bugs - Be mindful of bugs if you are having an outdoor wedding. You may want to put up some bug catchers or repellants, especially around the food.
4. Walkways/Paths - It may be a good idea to put down some sort of decoration to create walkways or paths in the grassy paths. You can rent a carpet or hang some tulle or fabric. You should outline safe areas to walk, especially for women in high heels and if the grass is muddy, etc. You don't want people to trip in the grass and fall and hurt themselves.
5. Wedding tent - Consider renting a tent, in case the weather is bad.
6. Cleaning Service - Make sure to hire a cleaning service to clean up the mess after the wedding, especially since you are using a friend's home.
7. Trellis - You can buy an inexpensive trellis and decorate it with flowers or fabric to create an area under which to have the actual ceremony.
8. Flowers - Consider what types of flowers would be best for an outdoor wedding. If it's super sunny outside, the flowers could wilt very quickly.

Answer 4

Not even! It's wonderful to have them in the same place! That way, no one has to go anywhere! I actually made a conscious decision to do this, because my wedding date was during the potentially rainy period, and I didn't want to have to worry about getting my dress muddy.

I had mine indoors, at a bed & breakfast, in front of the fireplace. After the ceremony, all of the guests filed out past the receiving line, into a secondary room that also had the bar in it. Once everyone had vacated the room, the staff rearranged the seating to accommodate the meal.

My daughter is getting married in about a year. She will have the ceremony outside, and as soon as the ceremony is done, the guests will proceed indoors to the reception room.

Answer 5

u can have the reception, there just get lots of booze and replace the alter with a DJ, where's a better place for a party then a 7 million dollar home? Just have the wedding at like 6 or 7 or 8 and that way the reception will start towards dark which will create a completley different atmoshpere than the wedding. where as if u have the wedding at noon and the reception at 2 it will just seem like everyones been at the same place for hours.

Answer 6

Two of the nicest weddings I went to where backyard weddings. It is a good idea to get a canopy in case of rain. The other thing that you need to think about is parking and either inviting the neighbors or keeping the noise down. Having the wedding and reception in the same place makes life easy er for the people who have to come in from out of town.

Answer 7

I don't think it's lame, IMO it would be great to have things set up for a ceremony and a reception in the same place if it's nice. It all depends on how YOU envision your wedding, tho. I did away with as many formalities as possible, and opted for simplicity. But a lot of people place great value on "tradition" and every formality is important. So it is really a personal decision.

Answer 8

My niece had a near perfect backyard wedding, and the house, land, and all the guests weren't worth a collective $7 mil. First, she lucked out with PERFECT weather. Nothing wrong with ceremony and reception at the same place ... no waiting around, no travelling to another place. Have a back-up plan if the weather goes sour - tents, etc. - and create some memories.

Answer 9

Why would it be lame to have both in the same place. What a wonderful idea! Have the ceremony in the garden and the reception in another part of the yard or indoors. It is your wedding. Do what ever you want to do.

Answer 10

Congrats to you! What an awesome back drop you will have in your photographs!

Consider your locale in its entirety-- look into making an alliance with a good rental company. There is absolutely no use in having that gorgeous house with cheap tents, tables, etc. You will want to rent a nice floor for your guests to dance on. Work with someone who will be able to accommodate your needs, should you decide to have your wedding ceremony and reception in the same place (which is totally doable, BTW).

So far we've got the floor-- next you want nice tents (if necessary). Really do it up, perhaps have your tent company to throw in a draped ceiling or windowed walls. (Negotiate your contracts!) Also don't forget your lighting. Basic lawn lighting will not be enough for your fete. Get great linens for your tables to match your chairs and the theme you want to go with.

Find a good caterer-- not just one who is proficient and creative with his/her recipes, but also one who is experienced in outdoor events. They may need to bring a portable kitchen, as well as hire enough staff to cover the grounds of your location. If you decide to do a bar, remember there can be NO cash bars as you will lack the appropriate licenses. Also remember to inquire into the county or municipal offices for noise permits should your wedding go over into the night.

Scout the location ahead of time with your wedding planner and/or other vendors. You will want to design your layout as well as have your photographer to look for optimum photo taking locations. Your musicians may need to scout as well for electrical hook ups and the best way for their equipment to be positioned to maximize the entertainment value of your guests. Additionally, you may have to rent portable bathrooms for your guests if the homeowners do not want hundreds of people wandering around their home. Don't worry, these are no longer the smelly port-a-potties from the county fair. They are very upscale and very well kept. Make sure the homeowners have the appropriate insurance (as I am sure they will) in the event that some one has an accident.

Most importantly, make sure that setup and break down is in your contract for your caterer. Also put in your contract with the rental company that they will come back and pick up their items from a designated location at the home. If you need to hire someone to clean up, do this as well.

I hope this helps!