While the average cost of a wedding in the US tipped the scales at over $31,000 this year, location and style certainly have a lot to do with the final price tag. Many couples, however, have chosen to go with a smaller, more intimate affair. 

 

There are plenty of reasons to think smaller and lower-cost: the money you save can be spent on purchasing or furnishing a new home. The intimacy of celebrating with a few special friends and family members is lost when the guest list climbs into the hundreds. Logistically, planning and coordinating a smaller wedding brings fewer headaches. This guide from Tucked and Folded offers tips on how to pull it off.

 

Benefits to backyard weddings

Backyard weddings have grown in popularity, especially within the last three or four years. There’s no cost for the venue, and you can have your pick of any date you want. Since you’re in control, you’ve got the option of adding fun features, such as lawn games, places for kids to play and more casual seating than at a formal wedding venue. You decide whether to create a fancy or laid-back celebration. There’s complete decoration freedom—and the freedom to work with whichever vendors you prefer.

 

Prepping your yard

You need about eight weeks to prepare your yard. With careful planning, you should let Mother Nature take care of most of the decorating. Plan your plantings carefully in the spring to create a brilliant burst of color that complements your wedding colors. Reseed bare or patchy lawns. Train your dog to use a different part of the yard for toileting, too. 

 

Worried about weather? Rent a tent to protect your guests from surprise storms or the sun’s rays. Bugs can ruin fun, too, so spray your yard a few days before the event, or try one of these other repellents to keep mosquitoes and other pests away.

 

Think about the type of lighting you need for that perfect romantic twinkle. Here are a few ideas. Will you have dancing? Recycle wood pallets to build the perfect dance floor. 

 

Preparing your home for the wedding day

Get organized: If your home is cluttered, disheveled, and in general, a bit of a mess, now is the time to bring in an expert to tidy things up. The work that Mahta, founder of Tucked and Folded, has done speaks for itself, and she has dozens of happy clients whose homes are now more harmonious living spaces. If you want to get organized once and for all just in time for your big day, set up your consultation with Mahta!

 

A squeaky clean, decorated home: Unless you have the time to DIY, hire a professional service to deep clean your home. Create a festive atmosphere with battery-operated tea or fairy lights throughout the house. Decorate early to reduce stress on the big day. 

 

Out-of-towners: If you’ve got guests coming from out of town, where will they stay? You could book a block of rooms at a nearby hotel, include a list of local bed and breakfasts with the wedding invitation, or offer space in your home to close friends and family members. Be sure your guest room has any necessary updates made, including a mattress upgrade if it’s needed so your guests are comfortable.

 

If you’re not so impressed with your walls, then your guest won’t be either. So, take a look at different options to turn things around. Although you could paint the walls, that would take quite a bit of time—which you don’t have! Instead, consider self-adhesive (or peel-and-stick) wallpaper to liven up the guest room. The best part of this wallpaper: it’s removable, so you don’t have to worry about making a serious mistake when applying it. And don’t worry about matching your current decor; modern wallpaper comes in many exciting and colorful designs, which means you can find something that fits alongside everything nicely.

 

Home base for the caterers: Create staging areas for the caterers and bar staff. Is your kitchen large enough to accommodate everyone? Some caterers prefer to prepare the food off-site and bring everything ready to go. Clean out your freezer and fridge to make more room. Store whatever’s on your countertops to maximize efficiency. Consider using your garage as a staging area, too.

 

Bathroom breaks: Experts recommend one bathroom for every 20 to 30 people. You can rent a portable toilet that’s a single unit or a nicer-looking trailer with multiple stalls. 

 

Guest parking: Create a parking plan. If you have 50 people on your guest list, expect between 25 and 35 cars. Does your block have room to accommodate a crowd, or would it make more logistical sense to shuttle guests from a central location?

 

Wedding liability insurance: No one wants to think about potential issues on your big day. But what if a parent falls ill and you have to postpone, the wedding cake topples, or you’re serving alcohol? Here are 2021’s best—and most reasonably priced—plans.

 

I do

Getting married at home is personal, sentimental and the best way to begin a new life in a place that means the world to you. There really is no place like home.

 

Guest author: Sarah Velasquez

Photo Credit: pexels.com