Backyard weddings

One of the new trends for weddings happens to be my favorite. Backyard weddings are becoming ever popular and they can be so easy. They may not always be the cheapest option but they are certainly more personal and creative.

I do have a few things to keep in mind though when planning a backyard wedding. First, is tents. It is always a good idea to have a tent even if you know it won't rain or be too sunny. Most rental companies need to know about two weeks in advance your total order, so you can watch the weather forecast until then. If you know people will be under the tent, make sure you have enough coverage for 20 square feet a person.

You also need to think about other rentals. Chairs, tables, and linens are the big ones. If you decide you want to save some money and get chairs that will be used for the ceremony and the reception, make sure you hire help! I know so often you think it is worth it to save a couple bucks by just having a friend or dad move the chairs, but it is not worth them missing your special day! I would advise to hire a day of planner or people from the rental service to help with it. The best way is to finish the ceremony, move to a different area for a "cocktail hour" (or whatever kind of hour you wish) while the chairs are moved to the tables. You then can start the reception! Linens are also very important to rent when doing a backyard wedding. You can often get all these things from one rental service. Make sure you get them for each table size.

One last thing to remember is catering. It's your day, pick what you want to eat. Not what you think your guests would like best. And look for one that includes dishes. You don't want to worry about renting that as well.

Ok, so as you can tell, sometimes it is not the cheapest to do a backyard wedding. But think of how personal it is. If you have the space, and you love it, why not? To give the big day a rustic but classy look, think of a solid "style". This should be done for any wedding, but rather than a theme think of some colors and a style. For instance, have a country chic look. You can keep things country but make it chic with a light pink and tan color scheme. Use big bouquets of pink peonies and white hydrangeas in some mismatched antique vases or mason jars and keep linens a simple tan. You can keep a rustic and DIY look but getting some friends to help bake some cookies and use them as favors. Another great way to bring in a chic look to keep it classy is by getting some mismatched glass chandeliers from thrift stores. Hang them from trees or in the tent to give everything a chic country look. This way you aren't too "themey" but you have a nice pulled together look.

Here are some pictures for a great backyard day! Happy planning!