How to Plan a Backyard Wedding (That Still Feels Upscale)
As a California wedding photographer, one of my favorite things about weddings will always be that you get to make yours feel like you. No matter how elegant or how simple (or somewhere in between), how colorful or how minimal, or how big or how small you want it, you get to curate it perfectly in a way that really tells your story as a couple! And Sara and Caleb? They did this SO freakin’ well. A backyard wedding that felt elevated and upscale was their dream, and every detail was intentionally planned to achieve that. If you want to find out how to make that dream your reality too, I’m giving all my top tips and tons of inspo from Sara and Caleb’s day below!
Why a Backyard Wedding?
Honestly, why not a backyard wedding? But seriously, here are the top reasons that people will opt to hold their special day at home:
To save some moolah
Trust me, I get it. Weddings often feel like invoice after invoice, draining your life’s savings and wondering, “Can’t I just DIY this?!” And venues, especially in Northern California, can be one of your biggest expenses. For that reason, lots of couples are choosing to host their weddings at home instead. And I’m all for it!
Having a backyard wedding also gives you some wiggle room in your budget, so if there are specific things that are extra important to you: photos (my kinda person), decor, etc., you can invest more in those things with all the money you’re saving, without having to push your wedding budget. Girl math!!
To say “I do” in a space that feels personal and special
Aside from the money-saving aspect, sometimes people just want a space that feels personal to them or that the couple has a personal connection to! And that’s something that shows on a wedding day because it feels so romantic and meaningful. Ugh, it literally brings a tear to my eye.
To have a more relaxed experience
It’s no surprise: Wedding venues come with rules. Obviously, they have to protect their property! But, if you’re dreaming of partying all night, decorating with no limits, or replicating your exact perfect vision, a wedding venue might not give you everything you want! This could be a great scenario to opt for a backyard wedding, as you’ll have more flexibility, fewer rules, and maybe just a tad bit more fun (if you want the things mentioned before!).
13 Backyard Wedding Ideas
Possibilities for a backyard wedding? Basically endless. But of course, I’m going to show you some of my absolute favorite ideas!
Plan An Intimate Backyard Wedding
Something about a backyard wedding feels homey and intimate, and I think it’s the perfect opportunity for a small wedding! Picture this: a small guest list with just your favorite people, at your childhood home, celebrating you starting forever with your person. I’m sick!
Elevate the Party With a Dance Floor and String Lights
Speaking of celebrating, renting a dance floor and stringing some lights over it? Beautiful, perfect, amazing, 10/10. It looks elevated AND it’s fun (for both you and your guests). Win-win!
Have a Family Style Dinner Party
If dancing isn’t your thing and you’d rather have a soft, slow, candlelit dinner with wine flowing and laughs all around, you might opt for a dinner party instead. I can picture it now: jazz music, good drinks, emotional toasts… So cinematic!
Spread Out and Have Different Stations
This might be my favorite backyard wedding idea: Having stations set up around the space. If you have the room on your land to do it, having things like food stations, ice cream bars, regular bars, and even sitting areas with rented couches makes for such a cozy and intentional vibe. Your guests could go around grabbing treats and chatting with people they haven’t seen in forever. Adorable!
If you do stations, just make sure you have clear signage, especially if it’s super spread out. It can get confusing, and you don’t want anyone to end up in the wrong spot!
Include Your Pets
Some venues aren’t pet-friendly (so sad, I wish they all were!), but at a backyard wedding, you don’t have to worry about that! You can include all your furry friends in whatever way you want. A dog ring bearer? Adorable. Photos with your horse? I’m obsessed.
Get Ready in Your Childhood Bedroom
This one brings a tear to my eye, because getting ready for your literal wedding that you dreamt of when you were a little girl growing up in that room?? So emotional, so cinematic. I’m fully in love with this idea!
Get Creative With Decorating
Obviously, houses were not built with the idea of them being a wedding venue. So you have to get creative with decorating in different areas. Think about how you can do up things like driveways, trees, and open spaces that make your day feel like yours!
Find Upscale Rentals
With that being said, upscale rentals will add a feel of luxury to your day. As mentioned earlier, rent couches for a conversation setup in an open space, hang string lights in the trees! Small, but elevated, details like that can add so much to your wedding.
End the Night By Jumping in the Pool
Wedding send-off idea! Have everyone jump into the pool (if you have one). It’s fun, unique, and unforgettable, and a great way to let loose and end the party!
Plan Everything With Intention
This is a special place for you, let it show! Bring pieces of furniture from inside! Include intentional details that call back to your life! Make everything feel homey!
Capture Photos on Film
Honestly, film wedding photos just feel SO nostalgic, and I think a backyard wedding is the ideal time to capture that vibe. We did this at Sara and Caleb’s wedding, and looking at them seriously feels like watching an old romance movie. I’m OBSESSED.
Create a Relaxed Timeline
Planning your timeline with intention, backyard wedding or not, is key to a smooth day. A backyard wedding is most likely going to feel cozier, so giving yourself extra time and a slower-paced day is going to feel so nice and relaxed.
Make it YOURS
The backyard wedding idea of backyard wedding ideas: make it yours. Today is all about you and the love of your life, and everything should feel true to you guys!
Tips for Planning a Backyard Wedding that Feels Upscale
Make sure you have a rain plan
My #1 backyard wedding tip: Rent a tent, just in case! Even if you don’t end up using it, if it DOES rain, you’ll be so glad you did!
Invest in a GOOD wedding planner
Again, the timeline creation and planning are going to be the key to how your day turns out. Plus, a good wedding planner will see visions of things that the normal eye just may not! They’ll bring some hella good ideas to the table, and make sure everything runs perfectly on the day of.
Check to see if you’ll need any permits or insurance
The laws for backyard weddings are going to be different everywhere. Some places may require permitting for things like alcohol and noise, or insurance for hosting an event. Check with your local City Hall before you start planning away!
Design is everything
Design is what’s going to create the whole vibe of your day, so make sure you’re investing in design that tells your story! I’m not saying that you have to spend a ton of money on the design, I’m just saying that those intentional details are the things that will set your day apart.
Sara + Caleb’s Backyard Wedding
Sara and Caleb at Sara’s family home was a dream. They were surrounded by love, romance, and design that seriously took my breath away. It was one of those days where everything just flowed so naturally. Sara got ready with her family and bridesmaids, her mom made her veil, her backyard looked like a literal luxury wedding venue, and the two of them started their forever together in the most romantic way.
Everything felt upscale and elevated, thanks to the wonderful planner, My Beautiful Occasions, and the crazy talented florist, Oat & Petal. They created a Pinterest-perfect wedding that felt perfect for Sara and Caleb, who share the kind of love you wait your whole life for. I’m in love with this whole day!
Lani’s Vision | California Wedding Photographer
Backyard wedding or not, if you want your wedding to feel authentic, cinematic, and nostalgic, count me in. I’d be honored to be on your team, there with you every step of the way to help your day feel like you! If you want your day captured in a way that feels candid and storytelling, I’m your girl. You can inquire about booking me here!
While you’re here, check out even more wedding inspo:
Grand Island Mansion: A European-Style Wedding Venue in California
A Perfect California Wedding Venue for a Wedding Weekend: At The Bluff Wedding Venue
