There’s no getting away from the fact that weddings can be an expensive affair: the dress, the food, the flowers – it all adds up.
Hosting the celebration in your own home is a brilliant way to save money and still enjoy the day with your loved ones.
A backyard wedding is perfect for anyone who wants a more intimate celebration in a relaxed setting. You can get ready in your own home and simply step outside when the ceremony begins!
The best part of a backyard wedding is that you have a lot of freedom when it comes to planning and decorating. As long as you consider your neighbours or any housing association restrictions, you can do what you like!
This means you’ll be able to have a unique wedding ceremony and tailor everything to suit your needs.
We’ve found backyard wedding ideas to suit every budget. Read on to find out how to plan and style your own DIY backyard wedding.
What to consider when planning your backyard wedding
There’s a lot to think about when you’re organising your own backyard wedding. Here are some important tips to help your day run smoothly.
Is it legal to get married in your backyard?
Before you get stuck into the planning, the first thing you need to check is whether you can legally get married there.
In the US, you’ll need to consider whether there are any local restrictions that might prevent you from getting married. If you live in a homeowners association neighbourhood, there may be rules that you need to follow, such as noise restrictions that prevent you from holding your celebration in the evenings.
If you live in the UK, it’s illegal to get married in your garden as you can only get married in a licensed venue. However, you could arrange to have your wedding blessed in your backyard and head to a registry office for the legal part.
Alternatively, you could marry elsewhere and host your wedding reception in your garden after the ceremony.
Have a backup plan
You can’t always count on perfect weather for your wedding! Don’t let an unexpected shower spoil your day.
It’s a good idea to have a backup plan in case the weather turns bad, whether that’s setting up a marquee in your backyard or making room in your house for guests to come inside.
Think of the neighbours
It’s considerate to let your neighbours know if you’re planning to get married in your backyard, as they may be affected by disruption.
You could invite them to the wedding if there’s room, but it’s polite to let them know what’s happening so they’re not surprised by any additional noise or lots of cars parked nearby.
Don’t play music late into the evening, or you’re likely to upset them, especially if they have young children. You might also break local laws if you have live music in your backyard, so make sure you check whether you need any permits in advance.
One way to keep your neighbours onside is to send them a little thank you gift to repay them for their patience, such as some nice chocolates or a bunch of flowers.
Consider how to use your space
Think about how you’d like to use your space – and if you have enough room for everyone you’d like to invite.
No one wants to stand for hours, so consider how you can provide seating. You can rent chairs or rally friends and family to bring over chairs from their homes.
Will you need a separate area for guests to wait before the ceremony begins? Will you need to move the seating once the ceremony is over? Will your backyard be too crowded? These are all things to consider before you send out the invitations.
15 DIY backyard wedding ideas for a memorable day
1. Mood lighting
Celebrate long into the evening by adding strings of lights across your yard. The lights will come into their own as the sun sets, creating a magical atmosphere after dark!
You can buy solar-powered lights or rely on batteries to illuminate your garden without having cables lying around everywhere. Take a look at our outdoor lighting ideas to find the right option for your yard.
2. Statement floral arch
Add a theatrical look by setting up a floral arch at the end of your garden. It’ll look spectacular in your wedding photos and it’ll provide a wonderful focal point for the ceremony.
If you want to make your own arch, you can buy the circular frames online and cover them in real or artificial flowers.
3. Hay bale seating
If you’re planning a wedding in the country or want a rustic celebration, hay bales are a great way to create the right atmosphere while providing practical seating for your guests. Bales can be spiky to sit on, so cover them with blankets to make them more comfortable.
After the ceremony, the bales can be moved to make room for food and dancing!
4. Simple DIY chair decorations
Sometimes simple touches are the easiest way to make your garden wedding feel more elegant.
Tying a small bunch of flowers to the chairs at the end of each row is a simple way to elevate your seating.
5. Altar arrangements
An altar area can create space for the vows and create the right atmosphere for your wedding. You can make your own stable arch using scaffolding or similar materials, and drape it with fabric to soften the look.
6. Table setting ideas
Decorating your wedding tables is all about the finishing touches! Give your wedding a relaxed, hippie vibe by adding a lace runner to your tables and adorning them with green foliage (eucalyptus leaves are great for this!).
7. Casual dining
Backyard weddings tend to be more easygoing and informal. Keep the laid-back mood going by providing food that guests can serve themselves.
A buffet-style dining experience means that you can order catering or prepare food in advance to save money. You can even ask family and friends to bring dishes for everyone to enjoy, especially if you’re hosting a smaller gathering.
8. Easy floral arrangements
Don’t overthink your flower arrangements! Simple styling techniques like placing bunches of wildflowers in jars can make your wedding feel magical.
It’s an affordable way to decorate and doesn’t take long to prepare.
Beautiful wedding decoration ideas
Style your ceremony to perfection with Gathered's wedding decoration ideas. Make your own decorations, pick up tips and tricks and make your venue shine!
9. Flower petal confetti
If you don’t want to be raking confetti out of your lawn for weeks on end, flower petal confetti is a fabulous eco-friendly alternative. It’s biodegradable and will look so pretty in all of your photos.
10. Mason jar tea lights
Light up the night by setting up some mason jar tea lights. If you choose to use real candles, make sure they’re on a hard surface away from anything flammable and in a spot where they’re unlikely to get knocked over.
If you live in an area where there’s a risk of wildfires, it’s safer to use LED tealights or fill your jars with strings of fairy lights.
DIY wedding centerpieces to make your tables shine
Wedding centerpieces are the quickest way to elevate your table decor. Get crafty with Gathered’s DIY wedding centerpieces.
11. Sweet photo areas
When you’re planning a backyard wedding, it’s a good idea to think about where photos could be taken. We love this beautiful outdoor sofa area – it will look stunning in your wedding photos while also providing a comfortable place to rest and chat.
12. Outdoor games
Make the day fun by setting up outdoor games for your guests to enjoy! This is particularly useful if you’re hosting a wedding with lots of children present – they can entertain themselves and stay out of mischief.
Even grown-up guests will want to get in on the fun, so make sure you have a few different games set up so everyone can join in.
13. Hang up bunting
Set the tone for a handmade celebration by hanging up your own handmade bunting! This is great for small weddings – you can tie it to your fence or even between trees in your backyard.
You can save the bunting and keep it for other occasions – like your wedding anniversary!
Learn how to make bunting with Gathered.
14. Macrame wedding backdrop
Make the day memorable with this show-stopping macrame wedding backdrop. Everyone will want to have their photo taken in front of it!
After the wedding, you can display it proudly in your home as a reminder of your happiest day.
15. Seasonal styling
Dreaming of a fall wedding? There are so many enchanting ways to style an autumn ceremony. This dreamy look is easy to achieve with fresh fruit, candles and a few glass lanterns.
Keep fall colours in mind when planning your table decor: rich oranges, reds and plums will shine like jewels at this time of year.
For spring weddings, opt for soft pastel shades and lots of greenery. In the summer, you can pick richer colours that will look bright in the sunshine or keep everything looking pristine with white and blue tones.
How to plan DIY backyard weddings without a hitch
Create treasured memories by hosting a wedding in your own backyard. It’s a great option if you want a home wedding on a budget, or you can make it a grander affair – the choice is yours!
There’s lots to think about when planning a backyard wedding, from getting the right permits to keeping the neighbours happy, but it gives you the freedom to organise a wedding that’s uniquely yours.
Style your venue with DIY wedding reception decoration ideas
Set the scene for a celebration by preparing your reception venue with handmade decor.
Find craft projects to personalise your big day with Gathered’s DIY wedding reception decoration ideas.
