AT-HOME WEDDINGS
The pros and cons of getting hitched at home
Looking to put a truly personal stamp on your big day? As more brides say “I do” in their own backyards, here’s what you need to know about the highs and lows of getting wed at home.
Traditionally weddings take place at hotels, fancy restaurants, vineyards or venues used to hosting a lot of people. But many couples today are shying away from traditional wedding venues, choosing instead to get married at home.
Yes, backyard weddings are officially a trend. But while ‘backyard’ might sound casual, most aren’t a simple BBQ in the garden. No, these weddings have all the same components and grandeur of a traditional venue with one difference: location. So why are brides suddenly opting to say ‘I do’ in their backyard?
“I think it’s a really special and intimate thing to do,” says Monique Larsen, who was recently married at her in-laws' home. “It allowed us to share our special place with our friends and family. Nobody can replicate our wedding – we made it our own, it was just so us.”
A BLANK CANVAS
Putting your own personal stamp on a wedding is important to many brides, and sometimes hard to do when you’re given four white walls to work with. One thing to remember is that even though it may initially seem like a cheaper option, this isn't always the case as essentially you’re starting from scratch. All the components that a traditional wedding venue would supply – think tables, chairs, cutlery, glasses – have to be brought in by you. And the costs can rise rapidly.
“I had an idea of what venues would cost so we thought this would be a costeffective way to do it. And I couldn’t have been more wrong,” says Larsen.
Much like your ever growing to- do list, the number of things you need to bring in for your big day grows rapidly. Often these are pricier items you never imagined you needed and include items like portaloos, a generator for the marquee lights, and a chiller trailer to keep the drinks cool. These are essentials because depending on the size of your wedding, the household fridge and one loo will simply not suffice.
While many picture an idyllic wedding reception under the stars, even if it’s the height of summer you need to prepare for rain. This means providing some sort of shelter for your guests. Marquees or teepee-style tents are a popular choice, but they’re expensive. Typically, a teepee- style tent to fit 120 people will cost upwards of $4000. And you’re not finished there – you need to decide if you want a dance floor, chandeliers and a bar. The options for add- ons are endless and don’t forget, everything you get delivered comes with a delivery fee.
FIND YOUR THEME
The appeal of a bespoke wedding held at home can be the fact that you have total creative license. And while that will be music to some brides’ ears, others may freak out at the ever- growing number of things to organise. Thankfully if you’re not creatively minded, or maybe have too many other things going on in your life to make wedding planning a priority, there are styling companies that can help turn your dreams into reality.
“We had a bar installation, hanging botanicals and chandeliers,” says Larsen. “I loved bringing our own vision to life and working with colour palettes. And it was great having a stylist to put those things together so I didn’t have to worry about that on the day.”
NOT-SO- CHEAP EATS
Assuming the household kitchen won’t be able to knock out 100-plus meals in quick succession, you’ll have to think of alternatives for feeding your guests. If you have your heart set on a full, sit- down, threecourse meal, then you may need to look at hiring an actual kitchen where your caterers can work. Alternatively, planning something more like a cocktail wedding with canapés can usually be done within the household space provided. Food trucks are a fun and fast choice, and options aren't limited to tacos or burgers anymore.
“It’s a really special and intimate thing to do. It allowed us to share our special place with our friends and family. Nobody can replicate our wedding – we made it our own, it was just so us.”
GET HELP
Even if you’ve planned everything meticulously, there will still be a huge amount to do on the day. And that’s the time when you’re supposed to be popping open a bottle of bubbles while being pampered and primed. Naturally, you would have brought in waiters and bar staff but in retrospect, Larsen wishes she had also hired a planner to be in charge on the day.
“You need someone to take care of things like when the music is going to come on, and someone to take care of the cake delivery. All that stuff fell on different people but it needed to be overseen by one person, and I didn’t have that, so it created a lot of extra stress on the day.”
Ultimately, having your wedding at home gives you creative flexibility – but you need to keep in mind that prices and stress levels can skyrocket. With this in mind, if you’re still keen you can create an utterly unique and unforgettable experience for you and your guests.