If you have the space and organisation to do it, then planning your wedding at home can make for an incredibly personal and unique wedding celebration! The 'backyard' wedding is a popular option over in the States (see the movie Father of the Bride, for example!), and it's finding its way over to the UK as more couples choose to wed at their childhood homes or in gardens. First off, let's talk about why a wedding party at home is an amazing idea, and then we'll get on to the complicated part - the planning!
The benefits of throwing your wedding party at your house
It's unique
Unlike a wedding venue that's seen hundreds or thousands of weddings before you, holding your wedding at your home or a relative's house means that your celebration will be almost totally unique to you (depending on whether you have siblings doing the same thing!).
You have complete flexibility
Well, perhaps not complete flexibility, but if your wedding venue is land owned by close friends or relatives, then you're going to have more freedom to plan your day than if you were planning at a standard venue. You'll be able to bring in all your own chosen suppliers to create the day you want, and may not have to worry about certain restrictions such as confetti, fireworks or noise limiters. You'll also have plenty of time to prepare and set up, and to clear up after the day, as you won't have to worry about other couples having their wedding before or after you.
It's meaningful
One of the biggest appeals of having your wedding day at home is that it adds a layer of meaning to your day that you're unlikely to be able to replicate with a typical wedding venue. Imagine
Wedding planning complications you might have to consider
It's not always cheaper Capacity?
Does your setup have enough space for all your guests? If not, you'll have to start trimming the list. Don't mistake overcrowded for cozy. If you plan to use a combination of indoor and outdoor space, know that if the weather takes a turn for the worst, everyone will need to fit indoors. Will there be enough space in, say, the living room, to set up white folding chairs with a wide enough aisle? The general rule is six to ten square-feet of floor space per guest for row-seating.
You'll want to account for three bathroom trips per guest. Most septic tanks can't handle that many flushes, so portable bathrooms are a must. A general rule of thumb is to have one bathroom for every 35 guests. Keep in mind that your guests will need a place to wash their hands and do a mirror check, so keep the area well lit. Upscale portable bathrooms are now available that have lighting, sinks, heated water, and even air-conditioning. Don't forget to make them even more home-like by including an amenity basket filled with hair spray, tampons, Band-Aids, and breath mints in the ladies' room.
Hiring a marquee
Chairs, tables, the dance floor—you don't want any of these items to be on uneven ground. Professional tent companies can ascertain whether or not they need to put down a foundation or if they'll be able to lay a dance floor directly on the ground. Your other vendors (caterers, florist, band) need to determine what is necessary to keep floral arrangements and the cake table from tipping over.
Set out some ground rules
Who's staying?
Parking
Make sure people arrive at the right time
The ultimate checklist for your wedding party at home
setting up, cooking, serving, parking cars, and cleaning up.
Your must-have items are tables, chairs, dinnerware, napkins, table linens, place settings, barware, portable bathrooms, and a tent. Rent enough chairs so everyone can be seated for the ceremony. If you need more room for the reception, remove most of the chairs after the meal, keeping just enough around so half the party can sit during the festivities.
Most homes can't accommodate the amount of power necessary to light a tent or provide power to a catering kitchen. You don't want to risk a power outage, or even worse, blowing out the whole neighborhood! Check with your caterer to see if you need to rent extra coolers, grills, or roasters. Don't wait on this; you'll want to start researching and reserving equipment six months before your wedding.
From the city permits to fire department inspections, make sure everything is in order. Bring in an electrician to inspect your area, find out if local noise ordinances require a permit or place restrictions on noise, and determine if you need to file for a permit to park cars along your street. The last thing you want is cops crashing your party.
Let them know of your wedding plans well in advance. They may be planning to host a party the same night. Also, make sure they know the ceremony time so nobody's mowing their lawn during your vows, and ask if they'd offer their driveways for extra parking space. But you can't rely on neighbors' generosity completely. Make sure there's enough street space for parking, or arrange for guests to park at a nearby lot like at a school or church, and provide round-trip shuttle service. If you want valet parking, hire a reputable company. You don't need a Father of the Bride scenario on your hands.