Five Tips For Planning An At-Home Wedding
Backyard and at-home weddings are becoming more popular, and while it may seem simple initially, there is a lot of work that goes into the planning process to make a perfect backyard wedding a reality. So today we are chatting with one of our wonderful MMW Preferred Vendors, Jen Strunk from Jen Strunk Events, who is sharing five tips for planning an at-home wedding. Jen is an event coordinator and has years of experience bringing at-home and backyard wedding dreams to life for her couples!
From Jen… Backyard weddings have always existed, but with so much uncertainty right now, more and more couples are electing to hold their celebrations at their homes, or even their parents’ houses where they grew up! I love that this trend is becoming more popular and I hope it sticks around for a long time. I’ve been fortunate to coordinate and help plan quite a few backyard events and I thoroughly know the ins and outs, but before deciding if an at-home wedding is the right choice for you, read my tips below.
1. Pinterest Makes it Look Easy
Bistro lights hung over patios, twinkle lights wrapped around trees, and cozy lounge areas spread under a beautiful sailcloth tent… it’s a dreamy setup, but real talk: it takes a LOT of work to look effortless. Backyard weddings can be amazing, but all of the things you may take for granted at a traditional wedding venue, such as ample parking, guest restrooms, and even a dance floor, need to be considered when planning your home wedding. It’s not enough to have a big backyard and lots of outdoor outlets (although that’s a great start)! Building a “venue” from the ground up means there’s a lot to manage, and it can be overwhelming for a newly engaged couple and their families. Consider hiring a coordinator or a planner to help with the logistics – this party is more complicated than your average backyard barbecue!
2. Where Will People Go?
One of the biggest benefits to an at-home wedding is that generally speaking, available space and your budget are the only two limitations to your guest list. Your yard and your finances may allow for 250 guests, but have you considered where they will park? Don’t forget that your vendors will be driving in, too. An off-site parking area with a shuttle is a good solution for your guests, but vendors may need to be able to quickly and easily access equipment in their cars (don’t forget, your planner is thinking “big picture” and needs to make sure that your vendors are able to do their best work). And since you probably don’t want 250… or even 75… people using your home’s bathrooms, you will also need to consider restrooms for your guests. Luckily, the humble porta potty has come a long way, and higher-end “luxury loos” with running water and air conditioning are common for at-home events.
3. A Permit to Party
Every town is different, and some have strict ordinances regarding noise past a set hour, alcohol consumption, or gatherings of a certain size. A quick call to Town Hall will give you all the information you need regarding any necessary permits or licenses. Don’t skip this step, or “accidentally” forget to do your research, because there’s nothing worse than having your party shut down only halfway through cocktail hour. If you are working with a coordinator or a planner, they will take care of this critical step for you.
4. It’s Not Necessarily Cheaper
The idea that a backyard wedding will save couples a significant amount of money is a common misconception. It certainly can be less expensive than the traditional wedding venue, especially if you choose a more economical menu and scale back the guest list. However, whatever money you may save on a venue’s site fee, you can expect to invest back into renting the necessary equipment for your backyard event. Along with a tent, tables, chairs, a dance floor, and restrooms, you will need to consider lighting, linens, staffing, and more, and much of it will come from different companies who specialize in one particular area. Having a coordinator to help recommend and keep track of the different service providers, and help you figure out exactly what items you need to bring in, will help immensely.
5. You’ll Never Regret It
There is nothing more special than walking down an aisle of grass that you played on as a child. You will feel peaceful and calmer getting ready in a home that already holds a lifetime of beautiful memories, and think of how fun it will be for future generations of your family to look back at photos of your wedding, and recognize the location! Most people don’t get unlimited visits to their wedding location once the event is over, but you’ll be there countless times after. Yes, there are a lot of variables to planning your at-home wedding, a lot of pieces and moving parts. But having the right coordinator or planner by your side, one experienced in backyard events and one who will watch over your home and treat it with respect, will ensure that it’s a seamless, joyful experience.
Jen Strunk is the owner of Jen Strunk Events, a My Mystic Wedding preferred event coordinator. She has been coordinating weddings since 2012 and has vast experience with at-home weddings and celebrations. Visit her website at www.jenstrunk.com.
V E N D O R S
MMW Event Coordinator: Jen Strunk Events
Photographer: Idlewild Photo
