Reasons to have a backyard wedding or elopement
Updated: 2 days ago
Thinking about having your wedding or elopement ceremony in your backyard? This blog post will help you decide whether to choose your backyard as your marriage ceremony location.
Here are some reasons why having your elopement or wedding in your backyard might work for you;
your backyard is yours to enjoy for longer than the wedding day
your backyard is a private space
it's usually easy to move inside if the weather is bad
zero travel time for the couple on the day
feeling at home in familiar territory can calm nerves
including kids and pets becomes easier if it's their own space
And some reasons why a backyard ceremony might NOT be for you:
you're not into DYI
you know already you don't want to
you don't have the space available
Putting the money you'd spend hiring a venue into your backyard - it's yours to enjoy for longer than the wedding day
Many of my couples tell me they were so happy with their decision to invest the money they would have spent on hiring a venue on improving their own place.
Whether it's landscaping the garden, putting in some new plants, investing in outdoor furniture, a paint job or finally cleaning out the shed, you'll be the ones to benefit from any effort and expense for years to come.
Privacy for your marriage ceremony in your backyard
Like eloping in an Airbnb, a backyard ceremony location gives you guaranteed privacy which you can't ensure if your ceremony is in a public space like a park.
Backyard weddings can usually be moved to indoor weddings easily
You'll definitely need a Plan B location, in case of bad weather, for any outdoor ceremony. If your backyard doesn't have an undercover area eg a patio or verandah, you could hire a marquee, or we can usually find a way to fit everyone inside the house.
Backyard wedding or elopement = zero travel time
Would you rather spend your wedding day sitting in traffic getting to a venue or hanging out enjoying the day?
Most backyard weddings and elopements combine both the ceremony and the reception/party - meaning any guests won't have to travel from the ceremony to the reception either.
Some couples marry at home and go briefly to another nearby location with the photographer for some couple portraits before any celebrations begin. This can work really well if you're eloping and having a party later.
Feel at home in your own backyard
It might be easier to feel relaxed on your wedding day if you feel totally at home in the space - which you will, because you are!
Your kids feel at home at a backyard wedding
Because they are! They have all their familiar things around them. At a backyard ceremony, children can easily be put to bed or let to play in another room - something that's not so easy at a traditional wedding venue.
See my blog post about including children in wedding and elopement ceremonies
Your pets can be part of your backyard wedding
Having a backyard wedding or elopement lets you have your pets with or near you as you get married. Most pets will be comfortable in the space because it's their home, and so can easily be included in the ceremony and/or included in wedding photos.
Why a backyard wedding might not be a good choice for you
If even the thought of hosting a wedding ceremony, at your place is stressing you out, then a backyard wedding probably isn't for you.
There can be a lot of DYI work involved preparing the venue and setup. It's possible to outsource these things but you'd still need to oversee it.
If your backyard is simply too small, you may be able to marry in a different backyard - eg a family member's - but be prepared that their vision may differ from yours.
This post discusses some of the pros and cons of getting married in your backyard, whether it's an elopement or wedding ceremony. I hope it's helped with your decision making!
All photos on this post by Kat at Red Eclectic.
