Have you always dreamed of having a backyard wedding? At your Uncle’s horse farm? Or your parent’s immaculately landscaped estate grounds? Then you make a list of all the extra things you would need to order, organize and pay for and end up looking into venues instead?

Surprisingly to some, the cost is going to be almost the same. That being said, there are many benefits to hosting your backyard wedding on a private residence that many people over look. Here are some tips to help you get started!

Choose ANY vendors you want for your backyard wedding

Choose ANY vendors you want. There are no limitations to your vendors when you are on private property. You won’t be required to select from a list of preferred or exclusive caterers, DJs, Photographers or Decorators.

No Landmark fee charged for your backyard wedding

Most wedding venues charge something called a landmark or levy fee on top of the rental fee. This payment is for many things. It allows the catering service to have use of water, hydro, staging space etc. Some goes towards marketing and some towards preservation of the property itself. This can be anywhere from 5% - 25% of the catering cost. This can come as a real surprise to most couples when they are budgeting. With a private residence this charge is non-existent, saving you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

More cost effective Bar

The AGCO will not issue SOPs for private residences. So there is no permit cost or levy charged on top of the alcohol you purchase. You won’t be able to charge anything for the drinks you serve, but you’ll be spending a lot less. Since you won’t be paying any bar premiums or venue “bar package” prices. This also means you’ll have a lot more freedom with your bar varieties. We still highly recommend you still get PAL insurance, even though you wouldn’t be required to, it’s a smart move.

Make your own timeline

Some venues will tell you, when you book your wedding with them, what time your ceremony and dinner will be at. This can leave some couple’s feeling frustrated with the lack of say or control on their own wedding day. In your own backyard or family property, you’ll have a couple of days before and after to get things in line and cleared up afterwards. This relaxes the whole process.

Get the “Look” you truly want for your backyard wedding

Barn, Tent, drive shed, garden, wheat field, airplane hangar, whatever it is you imagine, you can have it on the right property. Looking at pictures of banquet halls or wedding venues, you can see the different centre pieces or chair covers that past couples have done, but in the end, it’s all the same room, similar floor plan etc. When you plan your wedding on a private property you can make it really your own and have things your way.

"Backyard weddings aren’t for every couple. There are a lot of decisions to be made and you should have a clear vision going into your planning process. For those couples who want to make a statement with their wedding and have their friends and family talk about it for years, a private residence wedding can give you the freedom to do some pretty incredible things. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the idea of planning a backyard wedding, meet up with a wedding coordinator, as they can really help you to stay on budget and get tasks completed in time.

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