How to Plan the Perfect Home Wedding

According to the Better Business Bureau, the average cost of a wedding is now over $35,000. The venue makes up a large part of this chunk of money, with an average venue costing around $16,000. 

By having your wedding reception at home, you’ll be able to avoid paying much of the wedding costs. You’ll also get to enjoy a space that’s meaningful to you and your partner. But how can you make it as memorable as possible?

Keep reading for a guide that’ll help you have a home wedding that you’ll never forget.

Have a Dressing Room

One of the best parts of a home wedding is that you get to avoid paying steep prices. To prevent you from having to pay for additional transportation costs, make sure you set up dressing rooms at your house for the wedding party.

Make sure that the rooms you choose have good lighting (if possible, natural light). They should also have large mirrors, chairs, and enough space for people to be able to do makeup and hair. If you have professional stylists coming, coordinate with them beforehand to ensure they have everything they need. 

Having dressing rooms at your home can be a fun way to simulate the different parts of the wedding for a fraction of the cost.

Make Use of the Entire Property

The best at-home weddings make use of all the different parts of the house and property. This includes indoor and outdoor elements. 

Consider having a night that flows from one location and event into the next. For example, cocktails in the garden or next to the pool can then transition into dinner in a tent or the house. Afterward, guests can move to the back deck for dancing and more drinks.

Creating a flow will give your wedding a more natural feel and prevent things from ever feeling too stagnant.

Be Prepared for Weather 

The weather is something you have to take into account with any type of wedding. Depending on the season and where you live, make sure to have a backup plan in case of any unforeseen weather patterns. 

If you’re planning on having your wedding outdoors, tents are essential. They’ll keep guests dry from any rain, and can also keep them cool from the sun. 

If you’re having your wedding in the spring or fall when the temperature may be a bit lower, you can look into adding space heaters around different places. This will ensure that your guests stay warm and comfortable throughout the night. 

Find Those Special Spots

If you’ve lived in your home for a while, odds are that you and your partner have a number of different, special spots across the property. Make sure to highlight these areas throughout the night.

An at-home wedding should tell the story of the home, as well as the couple. Is there a dock in the back where you and your partner fell in love? Make sure to have the photographer take pictures of the two of you there, and consider centering some of the wedding activities around there. 

Years later when the two of you look back at your wedding photos, they’ll be extra meaningful to the two of you.

Get Some Professional Help

Whether you’re having a small and intimate wedding or a huge and elaborate one, you’ll realize that things can get messy in no time. Consider hiring different services to help you keep everything in order.

Party guests, vendors, and other people can bring clutter and messes to your house. Hiring a cleanup crew can help keep things in order, and prevent you from having to do the work yourself.

Cleaning services also help ensure that clutter and messes don’t show up in any of your wedding photos. 

Prepare the Space

Remember that you’re not paying for a wedding venue, which means that you need to spend time turning your home into one. 

Be prepared to adapt the space to your needs. For example, if you have a big wedding party, the table on the porch won’t be enough. Make sure to get extra seating, as well as lights, decorations, and anything else you may need. It might also be a good idea to get power generators, and to look into portable bathroom rentals.

Having the space prepared beforehand means that you won’t have to worry about it on your special day. That means less stress for you and a more memorable wedding!

Have a Plan for Catering

Aside from preparing your home, you’ll also need to make sure that you have a plan for catering and food. Hunger pangs are an easy way to ruin an otherwise magical night.

If you’re working with a catering company, make sure that they have everything they need beforehand. Having them check the space out can also be a good idea. Check for a power source, a water source, and adequate lighting. You should also ensure that they have the utensils and dishware they need.

Although it may seem tedious to get everything set up for the catering company and the meal, the wedding dinner is one of the most important moments of the night. You don’t want a logistical problem to cast a shadow on it.

Have an Unforgettable Home Wedding With These Tips

Having a home wedding can be a great way to avoid paying for a venue and have an amazing, memorable day. By following this guide, you can be certain that your home wedding will be everything you want it to be.

Do you have any other home wedding ideas? Make sure to let us know in a comment down below!

If you enjoyed reading this blog post, check out some of our other articles to find more helpful guides and tips.