Are you thinking of having a backyard wedding, but it seems like there are a million things to think about? We totally get it - and that is why we’re here! To help cover a few big backyard wedding questions, we decided to interview Rustic Elegance owner and lead planner, Kellie. She has been in the backyard and barn wedding business since 2012, so she knows her way around the craziness!

The Interview

What are the top three things you wish couples knew before going into planning a backyard wedding?
- Backyard weddings aren’t always the “cheaper” option.

- Try to always hire professional vendors that have experience working with outdoor weddings.

- Thoughtfully consider and plan out the space to create the best flow for rain or shine (we help with this)!

Is there a ratio for guest number to backyard size? How big of a backyard do you need to host a wedding?
The size, shape and levelness of the yard can definitely limit the options as far as the number of guests it can hold. When figuring out the tent size, we look at levelness, tree placement, and misc obstacles (fire pits) that might get in the way of a tent. As you would guess a flat open space will allow for the biggest tent which allows for a higher guest count, but with a smaller backyard, multiple tents could be used together to create an enjoyable party atmosphere as well.

Tell me about some of the elements couples often overlook that need to be figured out when hosting a backyard wedding:
There are definitely a lot of logistics to plan out when deciding to host a backyard wedding:

Layout and logistics: Is there enough room to host all the guests you would like, including room for parking, vendor set up, bathrooms, etc. Considering logistics needed for lighting and power.

Decor and rental items: To create the overall desired look and and feel of the day, every chair, table, plate, fork, table linen, etc. will need to be rented/brought in. This is a great way to truly customize the space to fit the desired look and needs, but it is also a bit more work to source and pull together from different vendors. Don’t forget about the clean-up part after the party comes to an end.
Weather: You can never predict Mother Nature - it could be too hot, too cold, too windy, too rainy, etc. But planning ahead can ensure a perfect day no matter what.
Vendors: Choose vendors that have experience working in this type of setting. Good vendors with experience will make all the difference!

Many people see a backyard wedding as a budget-friendly alternative to a venue wedding, what would you like couples to know about that? Is it typically the case?
Traditionally backyard weddings aren’t going to a much cheaper option than a venue, since all the items needed to create the space will have to be brought in (tents, tables, chairs, bathrooms), but money can be saved in different areas.. ie you can buy your own alcohol instead of paying a keg/tapping fee or service charge on wine. Same goes with dessert, you won’t be paying a cake cutting/plating fee. But that being said, you can definitely spend as much or even more on a backyard wedding, depending on what level of fancy you would like it to be.

What's your advice for simplifying a backyard wedding?
The easiest way to simplify a backyard wedding is to limit the guest count. Also hiring someone to be the main contact/host of the day will remove a lot of stress and keep things on track. Making sure the details of the day are well thought out and incorporating minimal decor will also help.

What elements do you recommend couples add to a backyard wedding and What elements should couples avoid?
We love when couples add elements to personalize the wedding to them as a couple-like doing a sailing knot for the unity symbol because they love sailing. Incorporating pizza as their main meal because that's what they ate on their first date.

Elements to stay away from would include tall centerpieces or ceremony decor that will easily tip over in the wind.

What are some good guest experience enhancements for a backyard wedding?
We have incorporated a few non-traditional activities for guests to partake in… ie Horse and hay rides, bounce houses, coffee carts, fireworks, caricaturist and my favorite.. Puppy petting!

As far as items that can add to the guest experience, we suggest letting guests know to wear grass friendly shoes and possibly even providing extra “dancing shoes/flip flops” for guests who forget. Having umbrellas, bug spray, sunscreen and plenty of water on hand is also a necessity! Providing signage of where to park and to guide them to the ceremony location is also helpful! And usually adding a last night snack is a good idea too, everyone loves pizza at the end of the night!

How can you fancy up a backyard to make it feel special?
There are plenty of ways to fancy up the backyard to give it a wedding vibe. Tent style is a starting point. We love the Sail Cloth and Clear Top tent options for a classy/elegant vibe. Pair the tent with classic draping, twinkle lights and chandeliers and you have the perfect comb for a rustic yet elegant vibe. Take it to the next level by adding hanging greenery, wood tables for the guests to sit at along with a vineyard style chair. Adding soft seating/furniture areas for mingling guests is also a great way to add to the elegant feeling.

Do you recommend couples use a coordinator for a backyard wedding? If so, why?

Yes!! We highly recommend hiring a professional wedding coordinator to help manage the details of a backyard wedding! Especially a coordinator that has experience with these types of weddings! Here are a few reasons why it is important to hire a coordinator to provide all the planning support needed to have a beautiful, stress-free wedding where the couple and family can be fully present to enjoy the entire day!

Planning Ahead: A professional coordinator will help turn a backyard into a wedding venue, which is no small task since this requires every last detail to be well thought out and every item will need to be brought in. First the yard will need to be assessed and a layout decided on to optimize the flow of vendors and guests. Taking into consideration details such as where will guests park, how will they walk up to the ceremony, what size tent will be needed to fit the amount of guests, will this size fit in the yard, where will the bar be placed, where will the bathrooms be located, does the caterer have good access to where the food will be? Also, all the rental items such as tents, tables, chairs, bars, bathrooms will need to be brought in and a coordinator can use their past experience to help advise what will and won’t work great. They will also look at power and lighting needs and be able to advise what will be required. A coordinator will help plan ahead to make a good back up rain plan, so in the case of not so great weather, the party will still be fabulous.
Be Fully Present: A coordinator will help couples and their families be fully present on their wedding day! They will act as the “host” and manage vendors, greet guests, set up decor and handle all logistics on the wedding day to remove this stress from the couple so they can concentrate on getting married.

No Wedding Nightmares: A wedding coordinator will help couples stay organized, know what to be working on and when, and also make sure no detail is forgotten. This helps eliminate the “wedding nightmares” and feeling anxious about what is being “forgotten”. Especially with a backyard wedding where there are so many moving parts!
Professional Advice: Especially with outdoor weddings, where a venue is being created from scratch, there are so many details to think about and hiring an experienced professional to advise on these details will ensure the day is well thought out. Professional wedding coordinators are also connected with a large vendor community and can advise on which vendors excel with outdoor weddings.

So much time [+ money] is spent planning the wedding day, it makes sense to have a point person on the day other than the couple and family. Backyard weddings can be amazing + extremely beautiful, but if not well thought out/planned and executed in a proper manner, it can leave guests remembering the bad instead of the good. Our goal as wedding coordinators is to thoughtfully plan ahead and to be fully prepared for anything that comes our way on the day!

We hope that this interview helped you in your decision to have a backyard wedding! There are definitely some components that we did not cover, so feel free to contact us HERE or check out our planning services HERE. We would love to help make your backyard wedding dreams become a seamless reality!

Creatively designed by: Hope Konkol

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