Backyard Weddings A Guide for Brides

Southern California is one of few states where a bride and groom can host an outdoor wedding, all year long. And in this economy, you are seeing more and more couples tying the knot at outdoor wedding venues, especially in the backyards of friends and family where the cost for the use of the venue is practically free.

However, to pull off a backyard wedding takes a little more time and planning on the couple’s part. They won’t have a dedicated staff on hand at their friends or family’s home to coordinate the wedding and manage the set-up and take down of the wedding ceremony area as well as managing the parking and flow of guests.

If you plan on hosting your wedding in a backyard, the planning and logistics is completely up to you; or anyone you can talk into helping. That’s why we at Southern California Wedding Photography have come up with a list of things, in no particular order of importance, which we think will help you in preparing and planning your backyard wedding.

Liability/Homeowners Insurance: Does the hosts homeowners insurance cover events like a wedding? Do they have liability insurance? If not, you may want to consider getting coverage for a single event through an insurance carrier. Check with your insurance broker first or you can search the Internet for wedding insurance. The last thing you want is to have a guest injure themselves and the wedding cost you more than you anticipated in medical bills and possibly legal fees.

 

City Permits: It’s important to check with the city to see if there are any special permits you may need. Your city may require a special permit if you plan on having a very large gathering. While in most cases, you will not need a permit; it’s up to the individual hosting the wedding to make certain there are no required permits or fees. It’s also a good idea to determine the noise curfew. Most cities have a 10pm noise curfew, which means the DJ needs to turn down the music.

Pathways and Exits: It’s important to know where guests can enter and exit from, especially in an emergency. Make certain that there are clear pathways in the backyard and that they are free form any obstructions, such as sprinklers, rocks, and tree stumps. It’s a good idea to have an emergency evacuation plan posted as well.

Notify Neighbors: If you’re backyard wedding will be taking place in a neighborhood close to other residences, then it’s a good idea to inform the surrounding neighborhood of your event. You can pass out a flier, go door to door, or even send a letter. It’s common courtesy to inform the neighbors so that they can prepare for the evening as well as deal with the parking and traffic issues that may arise on your wedding day.

Parking Availability: Check for parking. Will your guest have easy access to the home from where they park? Is parking available along the street where the wedding will be taking place? If you plan on having a large gathering of guests, then you may want to consider hiring or appointing parking attendants and/or contacting a local business or church nearby where guests can park their cars and be shuttled over to the venue. The last thing you want is disorganized parking and a traffic situation, which can cause delays and headaches for area residents.

Adequate Restroom Facility: If you plan on having any size crowed where food and beverages are going to be served, then you want to make certain that the host home has enough restrooms to accommodate your guests. If there are not enough restrooms to comfortably accommodate your guests, then you may want to invest a little in to portable toilets. Again, make sure that there is room to set them up and that they are in a location that will not disturb your guests as they attend your ceremony and reception

Electrical Consideration: Chances are that you will have a DJ for your wedding as well as the need for a microphone for the ceremony. You will need electrical outlets to connect to the equipment. Check with the home to make sure that there is enough outlets and map out their locations. You may want to consider extra extension cords and outlet strips as well or even a generator if you plan on drawing a lot of electricity. But remember, if you are using electrical cords in the backyard, make sure they are hidden or taped down with gaffers tape to keep guests from tripping on them.

Adequate Seating Space: Backyards can be cramped spaces. Will you have guests seated? If so, then you will need to consider renting folding chairs for the event. In some cases, the ceremony may be quick and short and your guests can stand for the duration. But be considerate to the elderly who will need to sit.

Catering and Eating Area: Often times a backyard wedding reception is hosted indoors or at least the buffet and serving occur indoors. However, there are times where the couple may opt to have their food outdoors. In this case, you will need to determine a serving spot as well as a dining area for guests. One possible solution would be to use the chairs for the wedding ceremony for the reception as well. It’s a common practice to turn the ceremony area in a backyard into a dining area by just adding the tables since the chairs are already present.

Wedding Cake Location: It’s best to keep the cake indoors until you are ready to cut the cake. Some couples that have outdoor weddings prefer to go indoors to cut their wedding cake. However, if you are hosting a large wedding, then designate a spot outdoors for the cake, so that your guests can participate and watch the two of you cut a slice.

Pets: If your host has pets, make sure that they are placed in a safe location; away form your guests. Pets, can both be a hazard as well as an annoyance. If your host does not have a designated area to safely house their pets during your wedding ceremony and reception, you may want to suggest a kennel for the day. The last thing you want is to have a guest bitten or non-stop barking during your wedding ceremony.

Swimming Pool: If there is a pool and it’s not part of the ceremony or reception party, then make sure that it is closed off and not easily accessible. Kids tend to wonder off and, well, inebriated, guests can easily find themselves in the swimming pool as well. If you do plan on using the pool as part of your reception party, then consider hiring a professional lifeguard to keep watch of the guests swimming.

Photo Opportunities: Scout the backyard you will be having your wedding ceremony at. Check for any obstacles that may interfere with your wedding day photos. It’s also a good idea to have your professional wedding photograph do a walk-through with you so they can get an idea on how they will photograph the wedding on your wedding day. If your photographer cannot be present for a walk-through or rehearsal, then take digital images of the backyard so they can get an idea of where they would like to photograph. The more pictures you take, the better the chances your photographer will have in creating a shot plan for your day.

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