Will Having a Wedding at Home Cost Less Money?

Kissing in the backyard.

Whether you are considering a certain venue or your own home, it is important to keep in mind the costs associated with either choice.

Depending on your specific wedding plans and your venue options, you may find that one situation bears a higher price tag than the other.

While there is the obvious benefit of saving cash on the price of your venue with a home wedding, there are some costs of conducting the wedding ceremony and reception that you may not have anticipated.

In many cases, for example, it will be necessary to hold home wedding ceremonies in the backyard area, as the inside of the house is typically too small and ill-structured to accommodate all of your guests.

Backyard Wedding Costs

Because of the likelihood that you will need to conduct the ceremony outdoors, it will be necessary to take on the cost of manicuring the yard, which can often be a hefty sum of money. This cost includes clearing any weeds or brush, making sure that the annual plants are receiving proper care (so that they won’t be wilted come wedding time), and arranging seating for your guests.

Additionally, you will need to be ready to take on planning for various outdoor conditions. Essentially you will have to create your own venue. Lighting arrangements may be especially tricky. You will want to check to make sure there are electrical outlets on the outside of the house, or that electricity can be rigged from inside. Lights can cause a huge drain on your power, so make sure you aren’t pushing the amount of voltage you can run out of one outlet.

Other conditions you will want to plan for include insects (mosquitos or flies), adverse weather conditions, and possible impact on your older relatives. Depending on the number of guests you have, one or two bathrooms may not cut it. You will want to be sure there is easy access to a restroom for both older and younger friends and family members. Also, temperature control may be an issue for the same age groups. Having fans or warm clothing available for either condition is a must. Tiki torches are also a great idea for bothersome insects, but if you live in an area that is heavily populated with pests you may want to consider a mosquito net.

In some cases, however, a home wedding may not be the way to go. If you can’t invest the time or money in handling lighting, weather, and polishing of the home you were considering getting married in, it may be a good idea to stick with your venue. In general, you can typically save money on any venue by getting married on a day other than Saturday. Since most weddings and events are planned for Saturday afternoon or evening, venue owners feel they can charge more for this coveted time slot. Try asking for other days or non-traditional times of day to see what the venue charge is.

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