When it comes to planning a wedding, the fact is, there is no place like home! It may be that you own a spectacular lakeside house, or you have grandparents who live in a certain country cottage, but the odds are that your home may not be able to accommodate over 150 guests. Although this could work, (but may be more expensive) than you anticipate, you will not regret saying your wedding vows in a place that means the most to you. It has to be all about being ready for what it takes to throw a wedding in your home’s backyard.
The fact remains that with wedding venues costing over 50% of your entire total wedding budget, the idea of hosting a backyard bash or an intimate ceremony indoors can be a tempting idea. However, you need to consider so much when you plan a party in a personal setting. We turned to Amy Nichols of let’s celebrate for some tips to throwing the best home-based “I do’s.”
1. Know the Pros
Although gathering your nearest and dearest at a meaningful place is an obvious benefit of throwing a grand wedding at your home, another notable bonus is that you get the chance to be flexible with picking your wedding date. In addition, it is necessary that before you seek the help of Atlanta wedding decor experts, you should work on some repairs on your home, such as repurposing the walls, floors, and you can enjoy the event. Amy also explains that if you have insurance, it may also cover any necessary fixes.
2. You Need Enough Room to Say “I Do”
Planning a home wedding means, you need to be sure that you have enough space for all your guests. If you do not, you will need to start trimming down the list. Do not mistake an overcrowded space for cozy. If you plan to use a combination of outdoor and indoor space, you also have to consider the weather. If the weather changes, you need to consider whether everyone would fit indoors or not. Is there going to be enough space in your living room, enough space to set up the chairs along the aisle? Keep in mind that the general rule is about six to ten square-feet of floor space per guest for easy row seating.
3. Have a Blueprint of Your Space
You need to decide on the number of rooms you wish to incorporate and the ones you wish to keep off limits before you dive right into the logistics. It could be that you wish to have your ceremony outside close to sunset, your wedding cocktail hour within your home and the reception of free flow between indoors and out. For outdoor ceremonies, you can have your event planners organize shaded seats.
4. Prepare for Rain
If your wedding is set for rainy days, you may want to consider investing in some tents; otherwise, your guests will have no choice but to soak when the rain pours. When planning a home wedding, you have to take this tip seriously and organize the best options to keep everyone inside.
5. Tend To Your Lawn
Your yard will also be on display, so you have to give it a neat and manicured look. Now, this could mean either that you drag out the lawnmower or consider hiring a landscaper to set your lawn in the best form. However, if you are planning a spring intimate memorable wedding, you have to begin the preparation process in the fall season. You should take your time to consult the options of your landscaper about replanting, reseeding and other available options.
6. You Have to Rent Items
The must-have items you have to invest on are the chairs, tables, dinnerware, table linens, napkins, portable bathrooms, and a tent. You have to hire event planners and take their services of chairs to keep everyone seated for the wedding ceremony. If you need some more room for the wedding reception, you can ask them to remove the chairs after the meal and maintain the space for guests to move freely.
In order to determine the extras your venue would need, your vendors should first come in to survey the space. You should have your caterers survey the kitchen to ensure it is well equipped with the right equipment to prepare the menu; otherwise, they could help you arrange an outdoor functional kitchen.
7. Bug-Proof the Wedding Venue
If you are predicting that bugs may be a problem, you should ensure that you exterminate your property at least 58 hours before your wedding, allow some time for the chemicals to dissipate without any compromise to the effectiveness of the spray. Alternatively, you can have natural pesticides and citronella candles such as lavender, springs of rosemary, thyme, and mint.
Hosting a home wedding does not have to be something difficult, you just have to make sure that you hire the right event planners, who could help you along each step of the way.