 | |
| A backyard wedding in a beautiful setting with a personal touch. |
 |
| Guest book table and food area with tent. |
Some of the logistics you will need to consider when planning a successful backyard wedding or special event include:
Rentals--A large portion of the expense of a backyard wedding will be for the rentals required to set up an event that offers your guests both comfort and style. Items to include on a rental list: arbor or gazebo, chairs, tables, linens, dishes, glassware, silverware, dance floor, tents, restroom facilities and lighting. The cost of rentals can also include additional charges for delivery, setup and take down.
 |
| An arbor adds a focal point for the ceremony. |
Parking-- Parking is an important logistic for your backyard wedding or special event. For a wedding with a guest list of 200 people you can expect 80-100 cars. Depending on the type of neighborhood, you may need to arrange with neighbors permission for street parking and the excess flow of cars. Arranging for parking in a field is a great option, but include a couple of parking attendants to help organize the parking and make sure the parking area has light for when the guests are leaving. Consider asking a church with a large parking lot to rent parking space for the day and use a shuttle to transport guests to and from the wedding location.
Weather--In Oregon, it is important to have a backup plan for both sun and rain, as summer temperatures can range from hot and sunny mid-90's to low 70's rain and thunderstorms. The best advice is to be prepared and reserve a tent to cover the food, cake and reception area in case the weather is not agreeable. Tenting your food and reception area for outdoor weddings is always a good idea as most people appreciate an event site that offers guests an opportunity to be in a covered area and out of the sun. If you reserve a tent and don't need it for your event, then you have a period of time for cancellation, but you will not get back your deposit.
 | |
| Plan to have cake under cover, cake by Helen Bernhard Bakery |
Restrooms--Depending on the number of guests, rental costs for restroom facilities, port-a-potties, should be included in your planning. It is difficult for a large group to use restroom facilities inside your home and you may not want large numbers of people going in and out of your personal property. Restroom facilities should be away from the main wedding/reception activities, but easily accessible by guests. Include in your restroom plan lighting for the restroom area and other comfort amenities that guests might appreciate like mirrors, and hand washing and sanitizing facilities.
Lighting--An important planning topic when turning your backyard into a wedding venue is lighting. A backyard wedding has more lighting requirements than you would normally have for a family BBQ or picnic. Areas that will need special lighting considerations include: pathways to and from parking, to the restroom facilities, to the bar area or anywhere the wedding traffic may flow. Take time at night to walk "as a guest" to fully understand what the lighting needs will be. Rental companies can rent additional lighting; companies such as Hollywood Lights in Portland can help with many specific lighting needs, or there are many solar lighting options at home improvement stores that can be very effective for lighting your event. Also, take in consideration the electrical and power needs required for the DJ and lighting and make sure electrical outlets, power strips and extension cords are included in your planning where needed.
Insurance--All homeowners who sponsor weddings or special events in their backyard should include an increase to the homeowner's liability insurance for the day or days surrounding the event. This will offer extra protection in the chance that an accident happens on the property. A simple phone call to your insurance agent can take care of this matter without too much additional cost.
Alcohol--Always use a licensed bartender to serve alcohol to your guests. This will limit your liability with potential alcohol related issues. A licensed bartender is responsible for making the decision on how much alcohol a guest can consume and the bartender will be well versed in the rules and regulations of serving alcohol.
 |
| Tented reception area. Flowers by Tommy Luke. |
Other Considerations--
- Preparation of Grounds--consider in your planning the season or month of the wedding and any planting of bulbs, shrubs, and flowering plants that may enhance the backyard wedding venue. Take time several months ahead to consider where the ceremony will be, the reception site, dance floor, restroom facilities and decide if the ground is level, or if any walking paths need to be added. Simple stepping stones or pathways made from pea gravel can make a huge difference in the success of your event without much expense.
- Dance Floor--Think about where the dance floor and DJ will be located. A patio can serve as a dance floor, or dance floors can be rented from a rental company
- Catering--The caterers will need a staging area which can be a garage or an area on the property that is close to the reception food site, but does not detract from the flow of the wedding activities. Include a plan for the excess trash and refuse and recycling that accumulates from a big event. Most caterers will take care of the food trash, but you may want to plan with your garbage and recycling company an extra pickup.
No comments:
Post a Comment