Backyard wedding

I was considering having a small reception in my grandmothers backyard. She leaves on almost 2 acres of land so room is not a problem. However I was wondering if anyone has planned a backyard wedding and any suggestions of vendors good or bad would be a big help. I am a very picky bride have seen many places and have come to the conclusion that I do not want to be one of three or four weddings going on at one time and if I wanted a evening wedding in the summer I should not have to blow $100pp and up for a five hour affair.Thanks for any advice.

Backyard wedding

Just some advise, backyard weddings are beautiful but not will probably still cost you a lot. Sometimes at home weddings can be more expensive. If you just a 15-20 person sit down dinner than that is different. You can hire two waitresses and have the affair catered. Also, if it rains you can probably fit the people inside the house. But if you want 75 people that is a lot more work.You will need to rent the tent, tables, chairs, lines, dishes, etc.. Depending on how many people you will also need to worry about parking cars. You need to hire wait staffs and bartenters too. Also if it rains, some DJ and bands cannot set up their equipment because of the electricity problems. Some resturants cater. I know the Irish Coffee Pub (great food) caters outside affairs. They could probably help you with other vendors too. I am getting married at the Hamlet Golf Club (Hauppauge, there is also one in Commack). It is a one wedding at a time place. It is very elegant. You might want to take a look. You can also post a thread 'one wedding at a time places' I am sure there are lots of places out there. Good Luck.

Backyard wedding - What I found

Tweety - I went down that round and found that for me it would have been more expensive. We had 150 guests so we had to bring in everything. The two things that helped make my final decisions: - port-o-sans and parking. There was no way around the port-o-san issue. For 150 guests plus serving staff and other vendors a 3 bathroom house was not going to work. Parking was going to require a few valets a and town permit. That I could have lived with but there was not way I was going with the Port-o-sans for my wedding. We had our reception at Watermill, which I believe you looked at. We were in the room upstairs, there was a wedding going on downstairs but you would never know it. Watermill timed everyting perfectly so our guests and wedding parties never ran into each other. Good Luck in your search.

Backyard wedding - Why I chose not to

I also played with the idea of a backyard wedding but with a guest list starting at 75 ppl and all the detail that I would have had to worry about, I chose not to do it. If you are having far less ppl it may be a great idea for you. My family threw an August 'after Wedding party' for my brother who ran away to get married and there was close to 40 ppl there. They got the tent and everything little detail. It was beautiful - this is WHY I WANTED the backyard wedding. Just keep in mind there is a LOT involved especially if your guest list is large. Bathrooms...parking...plates...down to every little detail. And if you are on a budget it may not be so much cheaper. Let us know what you decide to do!!!

Backyard wedding

My girlfriend had a backyard wedding a few years ago, and although it was wonderful, it was almost as expensive as having a wedding at a catering hall. She had over 100 people there, and had to rent the portable bathroom as well. Parking was easy because of her location, but that definitely is a consideration. Like someone mentioned, you have to rent everything - from forks, plates, knives and linens. You would have to decorate the entire tent as well. This all really adds up. You may want to check out where I'm getting married. It's the Stewart Manor Country Club in Garden City. We're paying less than $100/person with tax and gratuity. And we are the only wedding there - and they include the centerpieces (which saves a lot). The best of luck and keep us posted!

Backyard wedding

I've been to a backyard wedding as well and it was very lovely, but another problem to contend with is weather. This wedding lucked out but it poured for a bit before the actual reception started -- then you have the problem of bugs as well. Like mosquitos. So if you do have the wedding in the backyard make sure to have an exterminator spray the grounds before your wedding to make sure those little pests stay away. I do agree that it can wind up costing more than having it at a hall. But if you didn't have a sit down dinner and had a cocktail type wedding you may be able to save that way. There are ways to do it but you just have to be careful about what you are spending, as well as pitfalls like weather.

Wedding Planner

I would also suggest that if you DO decide to go ahead with a backyard wedding, that you consider a wedding planner. Now, most brides (including myself) were dying to plan their own weddings, and loved planning it every minute, as I did. But, I can only imagine that dealing with so many variables, and so many different vendors and details, that you'd need a wedding coordinator to coordinate it all beforehand, and especially on that day, when you will NOT want to deal with such details. Good luck!