There are many advantages of hosting a wedding at your own home, where you feel happiest and most comfortable. It can be charming, intimate, sentimental, and absolutely original. Furthermore, you can reduce your costs, keep everything customizable and make unforgettable memories in a space that you already love. However, private homes are rarely suited for events and bigger gatherings, so there are some logistics worth considering. You need to think about catering, decorations, lighting, landscape design, ceremony setup, additional rentals, etc. The whole organization largely depends on the size of your home and your guest list. You need to find a balance between highlighting the unique features of your property and adapting the space to special celebration aesthetics. That's why hiring an experienced wedding planner, florists, photographer, caterers, and other vendors may be a good solution. Here is some advice on how to host a wedding at home.
Obtain necessary permits
Before hiring wedding vendors and sending your invitations, be sure to check with your city officials all about possible limitations for hosting a large event at your home. There might be some fire codes, health regulations, zoning, and noise ordinances that you need to be aware of. You may have to fill out some paperwork and get the official stamp of approval. That's certainly not the reason to give up on your wedding at home; it's only one step that you shouldn't overlook.
Prepare your yard
When your wedding day starts to approach (approximately two months before), you need to get your yard ready. Trim the trees, replant the flowers, etc. Also, you need to think about mosquito control strategies. Do whatever is necessary to make a beautiful and easy day for you, your family, and friends. Don't leave this task until the last minute, as you want your yard to look charming but also natural.
Get your yard ready on time, and make it comfortable and beautiful for your guests.
Photo by Sergio Souza via Pexels
Think about extra power
Planning is the key to every successful event. One of the first things you need to think about is the power, and you'll need a lot of it - for the DJ's equipment, food preparation, additional AC units, etc. So, the best thing you can do is rent a generator. You certainly don't want to think about possible power outages on your big day.
Choose from various catering options
Like with many other organization details, catering also depends on your guest count. If your caterer needs to prep the food for a large group of people, your kitchen might not provide enough room, and you might need to pay for additional space. If you want to avoid that, you can simply call up your favorite restaurant and organize delivery. Some restaurants offer a service where their servers replenish food as your guests are walking up to the buffet line. You can also hire a bartending service, think about a mobile bar, signature cocktails, etc. There are a lot of options, so it all depends on your budget and your preferences.
A dessert table is very popular among those who decide to host a wedding at home.
Photo by Fu Zhichao via Pexels
Inform your neighbors that you'll host a wedding at home
To avoid any possible problems on your wedding day, you need to inform your neighbors in advance about your plan. Ask if they have any concerns and share the important details with them, like the schedule of events. If your neighbors have dogs that are scared of loud noises or small children that won't be able to sleep, they may decide to spend a night away or make other arrangements under those circumstances.
Choose the rentals
Many rental companies specialize in a creative mix of vintage, modern and colorful supplies for wedding celebrations, such as:
Tables
Chairs
Flatware
Glassware, etc.
Event professionals usually come to your home and set everything up so you can be stress-free.
Airflow is important
As you make arrangements for extra power and extra facilities, you also need to think about the airflow, especially if your wedding is on a hot summer day. Partying all day in the outdoors is great, but you must bring in some extra fans or A/C units to keep everyone comfortable.
Be prepared for a rainy day
You must account for the possibility of a rainy day and have a plan and strategy for it in advance. You may order a tent and have it on standby, provide lots of tarps for keeping things covered, or even heaters if it becomes chilly. A rainy day shouldn’t get you discouraged, but be sure to talk to your wedding planner about how to prepare for every possible scenario.
As weather is unpredictable in all seasons, you should have a plan in case of rain.
Have a clear vision of the space
The best possible scenario is that you already have a clear vision of your big day. Then, the only thing you need is to explain it to your vendors and turn your ideas into reality. If you dreamed about a backyard wedding, be realistic about how many people you can accommodate. On the other hand, if you'll host a wedding in your home, you certainly need to make some arrangements with your furniture. Maybe you'll even have to rent a storage unit and move big pieces of your furniture to provide more space for your guest. So, you need to think in advance about hiring movers who will handle the transfer of the bulky piano and anything else that needs to be moved away. Keep in mind that people need to sit, stand, dance, and interact comfortably in the given space. Always think about your guests' comfort and the overall functionality of the setup.
Organize a clean-up
You’re probably aware that a large group of people can make large amounts of trash in one day. So, you need to be prepared for it and procure lots of trash cans and recycle bins or even rent a large bin for loading everything into at the end of the event. Also, you need to know who will be the responsible clean-up crew.
Final thoughts
When you decide to host a wedding at home, you know it will be exciting but also very challenging. The options are endless, and you'll certainly have some help, so don't worry too much and be enthusiastic about planning the best day of your life.
This is a guest blog post. Risa James Events has no financial relationship with any companies linked within this post.