Hosting A Backyard Wedding? 4 Tips To Prepare Your Patio And Yard
Are you planning a backyard wedding this summer? It can be a convenient and inexpensive way to say, "I do." But, you'll need to get your backyard ready for its big day first. Here are a few tips to spruce things up for your nuptials.
Cover the Patio. The patio is an ideal place to hold the ceremony or base the reception events (such as food stations). But, you'll likely want to give it some protection first. Patio covers should match the architecture of the house and its color scheme. If you live in a hot climate and just need shade from the sun, consider a light patio cover such as a sail shade or pergola. If you may get afternoon monsoons or a surprise wind event, you may want a sturdier cover like a glass cover that still allows light to enter.
Spruce Up the Greenery. Add lushness to your yard décor by greening up the lawn with extra water and fertilizer. Plant flowers or bring in some containers in which to plant some colorful buds for the big day. Add hanging pots for a color boost right at guests' eye lines. Prune your bushes back and add a fresh layer of mulch to any garden or tree beds.
Light it Up. Unless you're planning a morning or early afternoon reception, you'll probably want to light up the venue. Plus, soft lighting in the yard adds to the wedding's romantic flavor. It's often easiest to add lighting to the patio since you can simply hang string lights underneath the patio cover and wrap them around columns. Wrap nearby tree trunks, add uplighting, or hang lights along the fence too. To help guests navigate safely, you may want to install solar stake lights along pathways or use lanterns hung on shepherd's hooks to light up more distant areas.
Make a House Plan. If you host a backyard wedding, you usually intend it to stay in the yard...which can be hard when there are many guests. Make a plan for closing off rooms you aren't going to use and directing people to the available facilities or kitchen. If you cover the patio and add lots of comfortable outdoor seating, guests will usually be more encouraged to stay outdoors.
Your backyard wedding can be the wedding of your dreams with a little planning and some outdoor preparation. And then you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your wedding day.
