How to Transform Your Backyard Into a Dream Wedding Venue (2024)

As the times have shown, home can be the ultimate sanctuary. These days, it’s the place where we spend most of our time—spring turned to summer and will likely transition to the New Year before we’re fully out and about again. So for sentimental as well as practical reasons, home—and its related outdoor space—seems to be the best location for a wedding. After all, it was the pre-pandemic venue of choice for some of the most celebrated nuptials; Jackie wed Jack Kennedy at her family’s estate in Newport, Rhode Island, Beyoncé and Jay-Z tied the knot at their Tribeca penthouse, and after her 1959 wedding to Jacques Charrier, Brigitte Bardot retreated to her parent’s house in Louveciennes, France. Bardot’s marriage celebration was an incredibly casual one—she said “I Do” wearing a cotton day dress of pink gingham.

Should you be considering your own at-home wedding, there are a few things to consider. “Remember, when you are hosting an outdoor event you are building a venue,” says Michelle Norwood, a wedding planner based in New Orleans who is responsible for this jazz-filled celebration previously featured in Vogue. But that doesn’t mean you need an architect to ready the space. Here, Norwood, along with event producers Stefanie Cove and Jung Lee, share their most valuable tips on hosting the perfect backyard wedding.

Save the date

Pick a day thoughtfully, as you have more flexibility than ever before. With more people working from home, guests may be more lenient with their schedules. Lee advises couples take advantage of this and not feel pressured to stick to holiday weekends in the summer. “You should get married in the season that you love, whether that be late summer or fall. Each season has so much to offer in look and feel. Do you prefer lighter/ airier colors or rich, dark richer hues? Figure out which speaks to you as a couple, and go deep into it.”

If your alfresco wedding is set for 2020, Cove suggests experiencing the space beforehand. “Ideally, look at the landscaping a year prior so you have an idea of what the property will look like in bloom for your wedding date. This will prevent any surprises.”

Divide Up Your Space

If possible, designate individual locations for arrivals, the ceremony, the reception, and the after-party. Depending on how much space you have to work with, try to spread out the festivities as it will keep the flow of traffic steady and streamlined throughout the event, which is something to consider in a socially-distanced wedding. “I highly recommend having separate spaces for the ceremony and reception. It avoids having to flip the space between the ceremony and reception and plus your guest transition is much easier between events,” says Norwood.

The most atmospheric space should host the ceremony—but test it out first. Per Jung, “Consider all your options, then simply take a photo with you standing in front to gain perspective—ideally at the time you want to be getting married so you can be sure the lighting is right and the sun isn’t hitting you directly in the eye.”

As your event winds down, move into smaller spaces. Cove recommends hosting after-reception festivities in the coziest part of your backyard. “If you anticipate a much smaller group for the late-night dancing and party” she explains, “I would move to yet another smaller space so it doesn’t feel like 30 guests are in a space big enough for 300.”

Consider a Dance Floor

If you have a paved courtyard area then there’s no need to bring in flooring, but grass parties are difficult to pull off. Not only will a dance floor provide a smooth surface for the first dance, but it will also designate an area for people to congregate while the band is playing.

“We often incorporate the architectural hardscape of the property and mimic it so it looks natural. Whether that be limestone, bluestone, or mosaic tile,” says Lee.

If flooring is out of your budget, Norwood suggests communicating to your guests to wear appropriate shoes. “Lawns and stilettos don't mix. You can gift your guests with lawn heel protectors, so they are not digging their heels in the lawn all night, or advise them beforehand to wear wedges.” You can also provide your guests with alternate shoes for dancing—flip flops or flats (Norwood recommends Rescue Flats)—but have a tucked away station where guests can ditch their shoes to ensure you “don't have a sea of colorful mismatched shoes in your wedding photos.”

Enhance Existing Flora

Work with the existing landscaping when bringing in more florals. Be mindful of what flowers are in season and the local vegetation for an authentic feel. “Bringing in complementary neutral florals to simply elevate the space is how I like to design,” says Norwood. “No matter the season, neutral hues are classic and elegant.”

You can also artificially enhance existing plantings. For roses and hydrangea bushes that have “seen better days” Lee will bring in tubed blooms of the flower and nestle them into the bush. For other floral arrangements, be mindful of the weather. If it’s particularly hot out, keep your flowers in a cool air-conditioned space as long as possible before setting them into place.

Keep Decor Personal

No matter what you’re going for, make it meaningful. “[Decor] is so important and should be incredibly personal. We often use the couples' china, silverware, and crystal from their wedding registry and use it as their place setting. To use your personal wedding china and stemware as you have your first dinner as a married couple is so special.”

Don’t feel the need to keep everything uniform. You can mix an assortment of vintage goblets and glasses for a bohemian effect or rent vintage crockery in an array of patterns.

But think beyond the dinner table. As Cove explains, “It is easy to assume that decor just refers to florals and linens. I also like to consider the bar facades, treatments to tent poles, treatments to tent ceilings (fabric or greenery), stage façades, and specialty napkins (embroidered, etc.). The small details will matter the most, and it’s important to reflect the couple’s aesthetic as well as the surrounding location in these design elements.”

Time the Sunset

“Make sure you look at the sunset time for your wedding date when deciding the guest arrival and ceremony start times. And ensure that all necessary areas are lit based on that timeline,” says Cove.

After dark, string lights, candles, and chandeliers can illuminate the spaces. “Always consider the weather,” says Norwood. “If the winds are high or if it rains you will want to use LED candles in lieu of traditional flame candles.” Be mindful of the fact that additional lighting might also require the use of a generator.

Plan for the Worst Weather

You always need a backup plan. If feasible, have a tent at the ready if the forecast calls for rain. Tent posts can be festooned with greenery and florals so as not to take away from the ambiance. Rain in the preceding days or morning might require flooring (if the ground gets too wet) so also have a floor-option available to you.

Also check for the day’s wind speed as the wind can often be worse than rain and make it impossible to set up your event. Norwood advises to “be prepared with EZ Clips to secure linens in place and LED candles. If you're hosting a seated dinner, have a backup plan to place menus under wine bottles, cards in forks, napkins under plates, or use napkin rings. The more you prepare, the better off you are on the wedding day.”

Having parasols, umbrellas, and shawls on hand will ensure your guests are comfortable no matter the forecast (and make for good gifts).