Tips and Tricks for Planning a Backyard Wedding

Vintage Vibes, Sweet Tunes, and Camping Under the Stars: Your Guide to an Amazing Backyard Wedding.

If you’re considering having your wedding in your backyard, a family member’s backyard, or even a friend’s backyard, this post is for you. While the convenience of an established wedding venue is undeniable, a backyard wedding can offer something uniquely personal and meaningful. If you know someone with a great property and they’re willing to host, it’s worth considering.

Last year, Amalia and Wolfram threw an amazing wedding on their family friend’s property in Clovis, CA. The event spanned several days. There was live music, contra dancing, kids, family, friends, great food, a photo station, and a whole lot of fun. I was there to capture the big day and later asked them for advice they’d share with other couples considering a similar setup. While I only saw the final results, it was clear that a lot of thought and effort had gone into the weeks and months leading up to the celebration.

The Setting

Amalia and Wolfram’s wedding hosted about 140 guests and included a 20-person wedding party. The property they used was expansive, with multiple structures, trailers, and a main house. Planning for a large-scale event like this meant thinking through everything: toilets, parking, shade, tables, chairs, cooking spaces, dance floors, flatware, glasses—every detail needed to host over 100 people.

Their community is both creative and musical, which played a big role in the overall vibe of the day. This wasn’t just a wedding; it was a collaborative celebration of love and connection.

Why a Backyard Wedding?

Amalia and Wolfram chose the backyard setting for deeply personal reasons. They wanted to maximize the time they could spend with friends and family and didn’t want to feel constrained by noise curfews or strict timelines often imposed by traditional venues. For them, the property felt like a special place to bring their communities together in a meaningful way.

One important takeaway from their experience: saving money should not be the primary reason for choosing a backyard wedding. While you might save on certain venue fees, the costs of rentals and preparations can add up quickly. What makes it worthwhile is the personal connection to the place and the freedom to create a celebration that reflects your values and style.

Building Community Through Preparation

In the months leading up to the wedding, Amalia and Wolfram organized several work weekends to get the property ready. Friends came out to help with infrastructure projects like building the dance floor and cleaning up the grounds. These workdays were not only productive but also a great way to build community and bring people together.

To show their appreciation, Amalia and Wolfram hosted potluck meals during the prep weekends. They also encouraged friends to let them know if they planned to come early during the wedding week to help with setup. This advance preparation made the wedding weekend itself less stressful and more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Planning for the Cleanup

One thing to keep in mind is that teardown can be more challenging than setup. Guests are often eager to help before the event but less likely to stick around afterward. Amalia and Wolfram strongly recommend hiring people to help with the cleanup.

The couple had a plan for trash and recycling but were still relieved when Wolfram’s dad volunteered to do a dump run with his trailer. Leaving the property in good condition is key to showing gratitude to your hosts, so make sure to plan for this well in advance.

Rentals and Decor Choices

Rentals played a significant role in making the wedding run smoothly. Amalia and Wolfram rented a walk-in fridge, which they said was one of the best decisions they made. It allowed them to store large quantities of food and drinks safely. For the wedding meal, a friend prepared paella, which reduced the strain on the host’s kitchen and made meal prep easier.

Their decor was a mix of rented items and personal touches. They found mismatched china and jam jars for drinks from various sources. They scored vintage linens from the White Elephant Sale in Oakland. (Pro tip: shop on the last day for big discounts!). Cutlery, linens, coffee maker, champagne flutes, tables, and chairs were rented from a larger event company, and they splurged on specialty glassware from a boutique rental service. Bistro lights purchased on Amazon added a cozy ambiance.

Shade and Seating

Finding level, easy to navigate space at a wedding venue can be harder than one thinks. Bumpy ground and sloppy surfaces abound. Amalia and Wolfram originally planned to use benches for the ceremony, but found that the ground was too uneven to support them and opted for chairs instead. They set up shade over the ceremony site which was so nice. Having a shaded ceremony space makes a big difference. After the ceremony, they moved the chairs over to the dining area. There was no assigned seating for dinner.

One note about sweetheart tables. Amalia said that while darling, she felt that the sweetheart table took her and Wolfram away from their guests. In retrospect, she would have rather sat at a table dedicated to the wedding party.

Food and Drinks

Amalia and Wolfram’s approach to food was practical and creative. They assembled charcuterie trays (thank you Costco) ahead of time and stored them in the walk-in fridge. The paella served as both the wedding meal and a breakfast option on Sunday morning.

I am a big fan of premixed signature drinks. Keep things simple. You can add a selection of beer and wine to that and will be good to go. There are plenty of alcohol calculators online. Judging by the left over booze at weddings, I think people usually over buy on alcohol.

Amalia and Wolfram rented a keg from Bevmo and had some homebrewed beer as well. They got wine from Trader Joes and one of the guests gifted sparkling wine for toasts. They said that ended the weekend with a lot of leftover alcohol.

Logistical Considerations

Parking can be tricky for backyard weddings, especially on rural or uneven terrain. Amalia and Wolfram’s hosts leveled areas of the property and mowed the grass to reduce fire risk. They also created plenty of signage to guide guests to the designated parking areas. As a backup, they coordinated with a nearby church for additional parking, though it wasn’t ultimately needed.

For accommodations, they encouraged guests to camp on-site. About 60 people stayed on the property, setting up tents or sleeping in vehicles. They provided shade, communal spaces, and an outdoor shower with a garden hose and privacy screens. A few bedrooms and trailers were reserved for high-priority guests, and portable toilets helped keep the property’s infrastructure from being overwhelmed.

Final Thoughts on Planning a Backyard Wedding

Amalia and Wolfram’s wedding was a true labor of love. By involving their community, they created a celebration that was both personal and unforgettable. Their advice to other couples? Don’t underestimate the time and effort required to pull off a backyard wedding, but know that the payoff is worth it. Make sure to hire folks to help setup, clean up, run the bar, and coordinate the day. Don’t skimp on the coordination and support staff! Bonus if you can find an event coordinator who feels comfortable working a non traditional wedding on private property that is not usually used for events. With careful planning and the help of friends and family, you can create a wedding that is special and unique.

More Photos

Thanks for reading. Here are some more pictures from this awesome wedding. Some posed pics of family and wedding party, ceremony, reception, photo station, couple portraits, and a few images from Sunday morning.