How to throw a backyard wedding

Backyard weddings. The phrase has such appeal, alluding to couples exchanging their vows in a comfortable space with a familiar feel. I’ve been fortunate to photograph several amazing weddings in a backyard, and without a doubt there is a relaxed vibe that naturally comes along with being in a space that feels like home.

Though traditionally a backyard wedding referred to a couple exchanging vows in a yard that belonged to them or a family member, the good news is thanks to AirBNB and other home rental sites, you can pick the backyard of your dreams in any location you can think of to hold your wedding.

So, if you find yourself needing to find a backyard, here are a few pointers to get you started:

As mentioned, AirBNB is a great tool for finding a venue that offers a wedding space you can personalize anywhere in the world.

To search for homes that offer event usage as part of their rental fee, simply make sure to set your search results to 16+ guests, choose that you’d like to rent the entire home, and select “suitable for events” under the additional filter of house rules.

Home Away is another wonderful site for finding a wedding venue, though I was unable to find a filter that included homes that could be used as event spaces when doing the initial search for rentals. So going through this site could require more time contacting owners. (As a side note, this backyard wedding took place in a gorgeous home found via Home Away, and I’d highly recommend it if you’re hoping for a Virginia country estate backyard feel).

Alrighty. The backyard has been secured. Now what?

Well, besides hiring a *ahem* photographer to document all the awesomeness your day will bring , there are certain vendors who will be the key players in turning a yard into a wedding celebration – whether it be on a simple level or over the top.

Naturally, a wedding planner would be someone to hire first, as they will help you execute the vision – or help you create one if you’re at a loss. However, if you’re opting to plan it yourself, these are people you’ll want to contact first:

A caterer: Not only will they bring the food, but often they can provide tables/chairs/linens – and an ABC license if you’re intending to serve alcohol (note: if you don’t have a caterer, you’ll need apply for a banquet license so you’re wedding won’t be shut down in a horribly awkward fashion…)

A floral designer: Nothing takes a space from plain to exquisite quicker than beautiful flowers. Besides bouquets and centerpieces, floral designers have the creative vision and skills to produce larger installations such as floral archways, making your space unique and memorable.

A tent company and/or furniture rental company: Tents aren’t always necessary, but they’re a great thing to have if weather if a concern, and tent companies also provide lighting installations for dark outdoor spaces. Also, furniture rental companies such as Paisly and Jade offer lots of unique pieces that can be used to personalize your space!

DJ or musician: Music always helps make for a great party, but note that you’ll need to check in about noise ordinances before deciding on the type of entertainment you’ll have.

Transportation: It may be that your wedding guest list is small enough that parking space doesn’t need to be considered. However, if that is a concern, hiring a transportation company to alleviate parking problems (or fees from ruining a yard) is highly recommended.

Additionally, here are two things your photographer will thank you for considering:

Lighting: String lights and candles are the best way to add ambience to a space after sunset – and ensure that your photographer isn’t literally shooting in the dark (and guests aren’t tripping all night).

Ceremony arrangement: When you have complete control over where you’ll hold your ceremony, it’s best to have your photographer guide your placement choice so as to ensure the best lighting. Unless you’re getting married at sunset or in a completely shaded space, the direction of the sun in regards to where you and your guests are facing has a huge impact on the lighting of images. Therefore, asking your photographer to do a site visit prior to the ceremony is strongly suggested – and much appreciated by those of us hoping to give you the best quality images for the day.

So there you have it, a small guide to getting started planning your wedding. But before I go, here are two caveats:

1- It may be that your whole purpose of getting married in a backyard was to make things simple and avoid paying for extras. If that’s the case, then by all means ditch the detailed planning list, get dressed up and have a low key celebration around a bon fire if that’s what you want to do. At the end of the day, what makes a backyard wedding special is that there are almost no restrictions, expectations, or budget minimums. So do what makes the day memorable to you.

2- It may be that you want a backyard feel but prefer to go through an established venue, as ultimately they are the experts on executing weddings and taking care of all your needs. If that’s you and you’re looking to get married in Virginia, three venues that offer a beautiful home and backyard setting that I’d highly recommend are The Clifton Inn, The Farmhouse at Veritas, and Boxwood Villa.

Hope you found this helpful, and if you have any other tips I’ve left off that should be added, please feel free to share!

Cheers,

Lindsey