Hosting Your Own Wedding On A Budget
He popped the question, and you said ‘yes.’ Now all you have to do is plan the wedding, but funds are tight and you both want something really special. What can you do?
It’s time to host your own wedding.
Setting The Budget
Once you know your home can handle the affair, it’s time to set your budget, including cost per head for food and alcohol, attire and decorations. Read all the elements you need to consider in this article from The Spruce.
If you’re struggling to set a reasonable budget, these options might help lower costs, and some even help the environment:
- Use a local university or specialty school to find musical talent, DJs and bakers.
- BridalGuide.com recommends searching your network of friends and family for vendors such as florists and photographers. You can even recruit a family member such as a cousin to be your day of coordinator to make sure everything runs smoothly.
- If there is a nearby church, temple, community center, or other area with parking, ask to borrow the lot for your day in exchange for a donation.
- Print your own programs, place cards, and decorative items on plantable seed paper (available online).
- Instead of pricey snacks, opt for simple hor d’oeuvres such as fruit, raspberries, popcorn etc. served in biodegradable wooden cones (also available online).
- Rather than spending on wedding favors, opt for a donation to charity of your choice on their behalf.
Scoping Out Your Needs
If you or your family owns a nice home with a sizable yard, you can save a lot of money by using it for your wedding. Keep in mind that you are going to need to rent, make and prepare for everything.
First, get an idea of how many people your space can accommodate. You need to prepare for inclement weather, which either means having the space to accommodate everyone indoors or renting a weatherproof tent. This is a great option, especially when you combine it with renting a dance floor. You’ll also need guest accommodations nearby if your home is not big enough to host people traveling from afar.
One important tip from Better Homes & Gardens is to make sure your kitchen is big enough to accommodate all your cooking needs. They also recommend you plan for guest parking, accessible bathroom facilities, and neighbors if anyone lives nearby.
Finally, because you are responsible for every detail, create lists and organize them in a binder so you can go through each step to make sure you’re not missing anything.
How To Plan The Backyard Setting
Planning the layout of your backyard is next. Here is what you need to know:
- Landscaping: Make sure you not only clean the yard, but also keep the landscaping well-tended and lush in the months approaching your wedding.
- Staging Area: You’ll need this to set up the bridal party, photographer, and other staffing.
- Altar/Ceremony Area: Consider building an arbor or pergola. Professionally built trellises cost between $400-$900 for materials and labor. Prefab models are more affordable and range from $10-$100.
- Staging The Elements: Make sure your guests have room to move around and access everything they need.
- Fun Details: This is your chance to shine with an exciting theme and interesting decor. Check out these ingenious wedding ideas at BuzzFeed.
Don’t Miss These Items
Here are some items you may not have considered that you can’t do without:
- Rent a generator because your home electricity could get blown out.
- Insurance and permits to cover the event. You might have some homework to do if you are buying liquor for your event, like assessing state laws and your liability. Read what you need to know about stocking alcohol at A Practical Wedding.
- Bug treatment ahead of time.
- The Knot recommends having the vendors come by to check the space beforehand. You don’t want your DJ backing out on the day of your event.
- Do any important repairs that you need in your yard or home before you start planning.
For more inspiration, read how the owner of Simply Salvaged Restoration planned a backyard wedding in six months on a budget of $4,000-$5,000.
Having a home wedding is a lot of work, but it can be the most interesting event your guests have ever attended. Make sure you are well-prepared for every eventuality.
About the Author:
Alice Robertson began her career in the home organization industry as a professional house cleaner. After cleaning and organizing her clients’ homes for years, she decided to open her own home organization business. Over the years, she has built an impressive client list, helping to make spaces in homes and businesses more functional. She recently created tidyhome.info as a place to share the great cleaning and organizing advice she has developed over the years.
Zero Waste Ottawa 