Your looking at all the money and time you have spent this past year planning that perfect day but COVID had other plans. As a planner I know this is absolutely heartbreaking for you, and believe me my heart hurts for you. But what and how can you move forward? How can you pivot your wedding ?
What if you do not want to wait ANOTHER year to marry your person? The answer, private venue weddings.
A backyard wedding is perfect for couples who love to be outdoors and want a sentimental feel for their big day. Backyard weddings do not have to look DIY either. With the help of a professional event planner, they will secure the proper permits and vendors, as well as ensure the proper safety precautions are met.
Benefits of a Backyard Wedding
You can invite your furry friends
Want your pet to be your ring bearer? No problem, with a private venue you don’t need to clear it with a venue or pay a deposit. Your fur baby will not need to stress over travel, and they can head back inside during the reception.
You will save some money
When you decide to have a backyard wedding at a family member’s or friend’s home, your wedding budget dramatically shifts because you aren’t paying for a venue, security deposits, per-person fees. Yes, you’ll need to rent almost everything else, but in the long run those rentals will not totally outweigh the cost of a venue.
You can choose any date
Having complete freedom to choose a date that works best for you and your fiance is actually a huge benefit of a backyard wedding, especially if you postponed due to COVID.
You can keep the guest list small
Because a backyard wedding tends to be more intimate than a wedding at a traditional venue, this is the perfect reason to keep your guest list small. This is also makes it easier to ensure protection and safety for your guests in the current climate.
What a planner will help with
Permits
Before you get too far into booking vendors, you must check with your city officials to find out if you need permits to host a large part at your home. There might be noise ordinances, fire codes, health department regulations, and zoning issues that you don’t want to violate. In some cases, your vendors might need to file additional paperwork, so be sure to include your wedding planner on any meetings with or emails from the city clerk’s office. Your planner will be able to coordinate with the vendors to file the paperwork.
Power
Between the extra lighting, the sound system, and the food prep equipment, you’re going to be using a lot more power than most homes can handle. To ensure you don’t blow a fuse or put the entire neighborhood at risk of an outage you will need to rent generators to accommodate the extra power. Your planner will work to secure the power sources that will fit your vendors needs.
Restrooms
If your guest list is larger than 20 people, you will need to provide additional toilet facilities. There are so many options for upscale portable toilet trailers that provide a comfortable experience, including lighting, mirrors, sinks, and — most importantly — a more space than traditional port-o-potties! This will save a lot of headaches on the day-of because you won’t have everyone walking through the house and the day after because you won’t have to fix an over-used bathroom system.
Insurance
As much as you don’t want to think about anything bad happening on your special day, it’s best to be safe than to be sorry if an accident does happen. Contact your homeowner’s insurance to see what is covered; such property damage outside or inside the house. Your planner will contact your vendors to find out what insurance they carry to ensure you are protected.
Parking
When you’re checking on permits, also check the rules for street parking in your neighborhood. Some communities have times that street parking is not allowed or even prohibit overnight parking. If that’s the case — or you don’t have enough street parking near your home you will need to consider hiring a valet service to park the cars at a nearby open lot.
Clean-Up
This is one of the most important details to keep in mind when planning your space and your rentals. A group of 20+ people will produce a lot of trash over an entire day, so you’ll need to rent plenty of trash and recycling bins to collect it all. You will also need staff to maintain the area during the event.
Plan B
Weather happens. It’s best to have a Plan B just in case it rains or even if it’s unseasonably hot or cold. If your house is large enough, move the party inside. Put a hold on a tent so that it’s ready in case you need it. Ensure that the sides are completely covered to protect against the rain and bring in small fans or rent propane heaters to keep your guests comfortable. The hope always is that you don’t have to go to Plan B, but it’s best to have a plan in place ahead of time so you’re not scrambling at the last minute.
Next Steps
Planning an event can be a lot of work but with the help of the professionals you can have a seamless wedding. If you are postpoing due to covid, reach out to your vendors to see what dates are still avaliable. If you did not previously have a planner, book one now! Set up a consultation and ask how they can make this process fun and seamless. Remember your day is about celebrating the fact that you found your forever. There is still joy and love to be celebrated!
