Plan A Successful At-home Wedding

Having an at-home wedding can be very beautiful and unique. Follow these tips to make it a success!


If it is outdoors, have a back-up


Most at-home weddings are in the yard, therefore you submit yourself and your guests to unpredictable weather. Make sure you have a back-up location in case of severe weather. Either way, make sure to rent a tent to protect your guests from sun or rain.


Find a few people to coordinate


Since you won’t have the luxury of reception hall staff, make sure you enlist a few friends to set-up, decorate, and greet vendors. Be sure to make these people a list and spend some time going over how you envision things to look. Most likely you will be busy getting yourself ready for the wedding. You will have to count on these people to put together the setting for you.


Be sure that your home can handle the guests


· Make sure your location will accommodate your guest list. Keep in mind the size of the area and that you need to allow people to move around comfortably.


· Check the septic, and consider renting portable restrooms to provide accommodation the guests. Be sure to provide anti-bacterial wipes and hand lotion.


· Consider renting a generator if you plan on using extra electricity for outdoor lighting or a D.J.


· If it is mosquito season, have someone spray the property the morning of your wedding. A few citronella candles around the yard wouldn’t hurt either.


· Homes can be hard to find, so be sure to post directional signs around the town.


· Be sure there is adequate room to park. Perhaps there is a parking lot nearby, or room at some neighbors’ houses for your guests to park.


Personalize it


The best thing about an at-home wedding is that it is personal and “homey”. No other wedding can be like it! There are MANY ways to make it even more personal, but try these:


· See if your caterer will serve a “home-cooked” meal for dinner consisting of chicken, corn on the cob, potatoes, veggies, and homemade bread.


· Carve your initials and the date in a tree in the yard. Or, better yet, plant one of your own the day of the wedding.


· Instead of buying favors and centerpieces, get creative and make them yourself.


· Set out unique items for your guests to see, such as, photos of your parents’ or grandparents’ wedding, or important items from your childhood.


Be prepared


Planning an at-home wedding can add a little extra headache onto your already-stressful planning. Be as organized as possible and try to enlist help. Also, keep in mind whose home you are using. They will likely want a say in how things go—count on it if you are using your parents’ or his parents’ home!