If you are planning a wedding (or are in the pre wedding planning stages) and you are doing some research into your options, you know that weddings can cost a pretty penny. While there are so many gorgeous wedding venues all around Ireland, some of these venues cost a fortune because of their great views and scenery. If you are looking to plan a beautiful wedding of your dreams, but can’t afford an expensive wedding venue, then I have the answer for you.

Backyard or home marquee weddings are fast becoming a popular trend, and I know why. Besides the fact that a home wedding is more affordable than a fancy wedding venue, there is something special about having an intimate gathering of epic proportions on a property that you love and visit often. A home wedding doesn’t necessarily have to be in your own home, but perhaps a family member or friend’s home that meets the requirements for your big day. We are blessed to live in a country where you can find beautiful scenery and gardens in your own backyard. 

I have put together a list of things to help you plan your backyard wedding in order to make it the most special day in our gorgeous country of Ireland. 

When choosing a place to host your wedding ceremony, you need to be 100% sure that there is enough space to have both your wedding ceremony and reception. The last thing you want is for everything to be cramped. Ideally you want a location where your ceremony is apart from the reception to allow final touches to be made to the reception area while your ceremony is taking place. 

Is there enough space for your guests to park their cars and are there enough facilities, such as bathrooms and toilets, for your guests to be comfortable with? You may need to consider hiring portable toilets, which may be a better option than your guests having to go into your house every time they need the loo. As a general rule of thumb you need one toilet for every 35 guests. 

I suggest using a combination of indoor and outdoor areas to make the most of your wedding being at home. That way your guests will fully enjoy every aspect of your backyard wedding, especially if this home is your home and not a friend or family member’s home. 

You will need a lot of help preparing for your wedding. Most wedding venues come with coordinators who help you pull the entire day together. By having your wedding at home you need to ensure that you have enough people to help you execute everything. The last thing you want is to be totally stressed out on your wedding day, trying to sort last minute arrangements out. If you have the budget to hire a wedding planner or a team to help you set everything up, I would recommend doing so in order to take the pressure off of yourself.

Hire a cleaning team for before the wedding to make sure that the house is spotless before the wedding, you don’t want to be doing a massive scrub down days before your special day. 

If you are having a backyard wedding you are more than likely using the outdoor garden space. Ireland has some of the most gorgeous landscapes and greenery and it’s the perfect backdrop for any wedding. If you need to plant more flowers or trees and shrubs, make sure it’s done with enough time for them to grow and bloom. You may need to take some care to manicure your flower beds and lawn to make sure they are neat and looked after for your wedding. Your backyard will be on display for everyone to see, as well as be the backdrop for many of your photos.

If you aren’t in a remote country area, some cities and suburbs require you to have a party permit with your local council. Make sure that you have the required permits because the last thing you would want is for your wedding night to be stopped half way by local authorities. 

If you are serving alcohol to a large crowd you may need to research if you need any permits for that.

Have a chat with your neighbors and notify them in advance of your wedding. Let them know that there will be music until late at night and ask if there are any objections to this. Most neighbors have no problem with a party as long as you speak to them about it. 

You may also have to clear the space with your wedding officiant, as there are some regulations as to where religious ceremonies may take place. Give yourself enough time to plan around this if your space isn’t suitable for a wedding ceremony. 

Light sets the atmosphere for your wedding. If you aren’t able to have candles in the outdoor areas, opt for fairy lights and battery operated tea lights. Imagine the gardens filled with the soft glow of fairy lights hanging from the trees and jars of lights lighting the pathway. Ensure the eating area and the bathrooms have sufficient lighting for your guests to see what they are doing.

You have to make sure you have something planned in case of really bad weather. As beautiful as Irish sunny days can be is as cold and rainy as the stormy days can be. If you are planning an outdoor reception I would recommend hiring a marquee. You get gorgeous marquee tents that you can add lights and draping to without compromising the romance of an outdoor wedding. Always plan for the worst in order to avoid the worst from ruining your day. 

From the overuse of your toilets to guests dancing on your lawn and vendors walking in and out with a variety of supplies, your home may take a little bit of a beating. Check with your homeowners insurance to see what they cover in order for you to have peace of mind on your wedding day. 

Instead of big fancy floral displays, choose simple classic floral displays and let nature be the true centerpiece.

Keep your flower arrangements loose and wild to look natural and fit in well with the natural surroundings.

Instead of having only flowers, choose greenery too. Greenery is wild and beautiful and costs less too. Greenery down your pew chairs will look rustic and pretty for an outdoor ceremony.

The entrance where your guests come through and where the bride will walk through to walk down the aisle is a focal point, use ribbons to decorate this entrance.

If you are on a tight budget try thinking outside of the box. Use nature to your advantage, have DIY décor and keep things rustic and simple. You can use a lot of upcycled items and create your own décor pieces.

Have a beautiful rustic sign to welcome your guests that you can hang in your home after the wedding. 

Candles are a must for all weddings. If candles may be a hazard, have short candles in large jars placed together in a safe place where they won’t be knocked over. 

After all the hard work and planning, running around and admin, the memories that you will have in the home of your backyard wedding will be priceless. There is something special about enjoying a special event with people you love in a space that is sentimental to you. A backyard wedding will provide stories to be told to your grandchildren one day.