With spring right around the corner, the planning for your backyard wedding should be in full gear. The idea of coordinating the entire event might seem daunting, but with some careful planning, a backyard wedding can be an enchanting (and budget-saving) option for your special day!
Weather Contingencies
The most obvious hurdle to overcome with a backyard wedding is weather – and having a rain contingency. Unless moving the entire affair indoors is a viable option, renting a tent will be a necessity. When deciding what size tent you’ll need, consider whether you need seating only or space to accommodate things like a bar, buffet, cake table, and dance floor. Generally speaking, a 40′ x 60′ tent could accommodate 120 people seated at round tables, along with space for the rest of your reception area. In addition to keeping guests dry, you’ll want to consider heating and cooling options. Keep in mind the time of day, as the temperature can change drastically when the sun goes down.
Seating
As a general rule of thumb, If your ceremony is expected to be more than 10 minutes long, you’ll want to provide seating for all guests. Ceremonies shorter than 10 minutes can have minimal seating, provided that there is still enough to give elderly or pregnant guests a place to sit. The longer the ceremony, the more important comfortable seating becomes – guests squirming uncomfortably can put a damper on the romance of the moment! And, when it comes to the reception, you’ll need to consider whether you want round tables with eight chairs for a full sit-down meal, or a smattering of cocktail tables to encourage mingling and dancing?
Lighting
Lighting can make or break the mood, so don’t be afraid to be creative when considering your options. There are a myriad of styles and types of stringed lights which create a lovely ambiance. Lighted cocktail tables, mason jar votives, or lanterns are all ideas to give the space a bit of flare. It’s your day, so don’t be afraid to step outside the norm and make it expressive of your style.
Foot Traffic
As you’re laying out your wedding and reception areas, don’t forget to take into account how guests will get from place to place. Be sure to clearly mark preferred paths to and from areas like parking and restrooms. If parking is further away from the event, you might want to consider renting a golf cart to have groomsmen shuttle guests from their cars. As for the event itself, do you need an aisle runner? What kind of flooring do you want in your tent? Consider putting in a dance floor to limit the likelihood of guests tripping on an uneven surface.
Communication
A wedding website is an inexpensive and fun way to communicate with your guests, relieving stress as everyone knows what to expect. Use this space to inform guests where to park and maybe offer tips like, “The grass is a bit soft this morning – consider wearing flats or wedges instead of heels!” You can also direct guests to the website to get weather updates and contingencies.
With a bit of careful planning, a backyard wedding can be a magical event you’ll always treasure, one that’s as unique as your love. Whatever the scale of your wedding, contact AV Party Rentals so our team of experts can help you bring your dream to life.
