Beautiful Backyard Weddings on a Budget

Backyard weddings are an intimate and playful setting for your wedding. If you plan it right, it can be a great budget-friendly option for couples trying to save on cost. You can get married at your home, one of your parent's homes, or you can look into renting a home with a nice backyard. Best of all you can invite everyone - including pets!

If you choose the rental option, make sure to let them know it's a wedding. Some homes and hosts don't want to accommodate a wedding, and it's better to know in advance if you'll have any issues. 

Once you've got the space locked down, you need to pick the ceremony location! Any corner of your private outdoor space can be perfect for a wedding: a backyard gazebo, under a tall tree, next to the lush garden, or in front of a hand-carved wooden arch. The possibilities are endless and incredibly sentimental. 

Because you're dealing with a natural canvas, you can transform the space to fit your desired wedding atmosphere with a few easy steps. Here are some of our favorites. 

Rustic
Bring on the greenery! Nothing feels more rustic than gorgeous greens atop family-style tables. Don't worry about the glasses and dishes matching. It adds to the rustic charm! Guests can be entertained by playing lawn games, and it doesn't hurt that the games look great in wedding photos. 

Use hand-lettered signage to enhance your rustic decor and keep guests informed about the schedule of the day, available beverages, and where to find the bathrooms. 

We love the eclectic touch that marquee lights and some balloons can add to this special fête. 

Formal
It's not eating outside. It's dining al fresco. If you want to add a touch of the finer things to your backyard wedding, we suggest tented dining spaces, chic linens, chandeliers, and gauzy curtains. You can even rent furniture now for a loungey vibe. Top it off with the elegant romance of string lighting. 

One thing to keep in mind about a formal backyard wedding is that because the venue (your backyard) doesn't come with anything, you'll have to rent everything. That gives you a lot of freedom, but prices can mount if you don't keep an eye on it. Pick your one non-negotiable (a tent? string lights?) and give in other places if you need to. 

Boho
A flower child should have flowers everywhere. Edge on the side of going overboard (spoiler, you can't). Wear a crown of flowers in your hair. Maybe even spend the ceremony actually barefoot. Nothing like feeling the grass between your toes as you say "I do." 

Looking for more wedding inspiration? Check out the rest of the blog!