Family or Marriage • Finances & Money

Backyard Weddings – To Do or Not To Do?

I got married in my mother’s house. At the time, I didn’t have any money. My fiancé wanted a big wedding, a rented venue, and at least a hundred people in attendance. It just wasn’t going to happen. We didn’t have the finances or resources. I felt bad at the time, but it was what it was. Not everyone gets to have their fairytale wedding, as much as they may want it.

It’s a day for the bride to get everything her way. I know that. Yet, the cost of a traditional, rented venue wedding can be comparable to a mortgage down payment. Or, the cost of a brand-new car. A wedding in the United States can cost as much as $33,000. For people who want more elaborate arrangements, it can easily cost tens of thousands more than that.

Keep in mind, these figures don’t even include the cost of the honeymoon! Still, ever-inflating nuptial costs seem not to matter much to people determined to get married. Almost 74% of couples are willing to go into debt to realize their dream wedding. Only about 50% of couples try to keep wedding costs under $20,000.

Also, getting married while dealing with stressful money issues is never a good way to start a marriage. Over 50% of all marriages in the United States end in divorce. One of the biggest stressors that can end a marriage is money. A couple who starts a marriage with no money, have a 70% chance of getting divorced within three years.

In this current economic climate, racking up a $33,000+ plus wedding debt may not be the best way to start a new journey in life. You might have a friend who wants to plan the wedding. Or, relatives pressuring you into having an extravagant gala. However, it’s your wedding. You can get married at City Hall. Or, control the nuptial festivities and costs by getting married at home.

Getting Married at Home

There are many pros for getting married at home in your backyard. For one thing, you can control costs. You will mostly spend money on decorations, minimal lighting, food, a local DJ or band, and drinks, photographer and the officiating. In this situation, you can easily keep costs between $5,000 to under $15,000. Also, you can control how many guests you have and plan ceremonies accordingly.

Booking a rented venue can take months of prescheduling. There is also the stress of dealing with staff, relatives, friends, and volunteers who all want to pretend like they are in charge of your wedding. With an intimate and smaller wedding at home, you control how big, small, intimate, or engaging the wedding will be for all.

Decoration can be pretty rustic, cute and handmade, such as guestbooks made from the barrel or wild grass decoration that your bridesmaids can help you manage for the reception? Your wedding can be an ecofriendly adventure, instead of huge debt to your wallet and nature too.”

The Cons

You may have to inquire about permits to hold a ceremony in your backyard. Also, talk to your neighbors so they can expect noise and frivolity after hours. It’s easy to make enemies of neighbors without half trying. It might be great to be in control of the festivities planning, but that means everything is on you, which can be stressful.

Also, while it might be great to have fewer guests, a backyard and home setting might feel constricting for a celebration. You might want to make sure your various insurance policies are up to date and paid up. If anyone falls down the stairs, gets bit by the family dog, injured in a fight, or hurt in any way, then you could be legally liable. Another thing to keep in mind is that, if you have one or two bathrooms and tons of guests coming, you might want to hire a cleaning person to keep on top of cleanliness.

Plan It Your Way

Just because you get married in the backyard doesn’t mean it’ll be an event to forget. Take the time to plan it out, consider contingencies, and go over every minute detail.

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