It’s like a scene from Father of the Bride (if you haven’t seen it – it’s a must). A beautifully intimate wedding at home, just a simple celebration in your backyard. That sounds lovely! But a wedding at home is anything but simple. I love producing events in clients’ homes – it really does make a large party feel intimate and personal. The residential style is already in place, the warm welcoming feeling you get coming home, you can share with your guests. A wedding at home is wonderful. But it’s not as easy as one might expect. If you’re considering planning a wedding in a home, congratulations! Consider these must-know tips before you book your own backyard.

1. There’s probably a noise curfew in your neighborhood.

Most residential neighborhoods have a 10pm curfew on music so check with your area and make sure to design the day to end at the proper time. You don’t want unexpected uniformed guests arriving to shut the celebration down early.

2. Valet parking companies still need space to park those cars.

If you live on a narrow street without parking or your neighborhood has its parking challenges, chances are you’ll need to rent an off-site parking lot for the day. A local school, church or business that’s closed during your event is usually a good option if street parking isn’t plentiful. Coordinate with your valet company so the logistics are in place ahead of time and encourage your guests to take uber or car service too.

3. Power, mobile kitchens and portable restrooms might be required.

Depending on the size of your event and the size of the home, you may need to bring in additional infrastructure in the form of generators, restrooms and kitchen setups under a tent. Work with your caterer and wedding planner to design a layout and flow that not only works for you and your guests but is functional for your team to execute an exceptional evening!

4. Your grass will see some wear and tear.

If you’re dropping down a dance floor, inviting hundreds of guests to your yard or placing a tent and rentals, expect some damage to your yard. It’s all part of the process and it’s all mendable, just be mentally prepared for it and save a little room in the budget to bring it all back to life when the day is done.

5. A Weather plan will cost you.

Typically a wedding in a home is outdoors (spare your carpets). What that means is if the weather doesn’t cooperate, you’ll likely need to tent the festivities. This is a last minute budget item that should be discussed well in advance. A tented wedding in the rain or wind can be magical. It can also be costly so plan ahead, hope for the best but be prepared for the budget worst!

xoxo,

Mindy

Image by Simone Photography.