Backyard wedding vs Venue ?

I don't have a huge list for you, but one of the biggest cons I've heard of for backyard weddings are lack of restrooms leading to huge lines and frustrated guests.

View Quoted Comment To piggyback off of this, they can also be very expensive considering you have to rent everything. You also need to have ample parking for everyone.

Backyard weddings can also be more stressful since you have to plan every detail vs a wedding venue that will include at least furniture, tablecloths and flatware. I started looking into this when I first got engaged thinking it would save money but the cost of renting tables, chairs and a tent was a lot more than I anticipated.

I had my entire family over for a BBQ last summer (there were 14 people total) and I was exhausted the next day. I can’t imagine having a entire wedding. No way.

Our first thought was backyard wedding/reception and what really got me to say no was the clean up. I wanted to be the type of bride to show up and leave. With the backyard I would have been more inclined to cleanup everything.

Agreed with everyone here. I know alot of people want to do backyard weddings since they think that is saving them a cost on paying for an actual venue. However, like everyone said, you have to rent/buy everything so the "money saved" doesn't really end up equally out. Or you can luck out like us and actually find a venue that didn't charge a room fee. We literally got our venue for free cause they had a special going on (normal price is $1500) - the main thing we are paying for is the catering since it's in house.

Someone on the main road of my neighborhood did a backyard wedding this past Saturday.... it’s a two lane road, no real place to park other than on the side walks... there must have been over 50 cars lining the road on both sides. Countless near accidents, driveways were blocked... that isn’t safe. Neighbors complained about the loud music, and all the traffic. If there’s ample parking great,but to block a fairly busy road and driveways is ridiculous.

It doesn’t really save money, it can be even more expensive than a venue.

We decided to have a backyard ceremony this summer at our house. We’re planning a small ceremony with about thirty people, followed by dinner at a nice restaurant. We don’t have a back up plan for weather, so if the weather is bad that day we’ll either wait it out, within reason, or do it inside. I think an elaborate wedding and party could be hard and expensive to pull off in the average yard, but a backyard just seems like the perfect place to host a small, casual wedding!

We are just going to assemble a mix match of chairs from our home and my parents, and keep decorations to a minimum. Parking may be an issue depending on what type of street or driveway you have. Bathrooms are also another consideration if you’re having several people over. You don’t want people to wait and be uncomfortable, so depending on how many bathrooms you have you may want to supplement with rentals, especially if you are holding a larger affair.

I've heard of backyard weddings where the police were called because of noise violations. The city had a law that quiet time begins at 10 pm. The police shut the wedding down and stayed to make sure it happened.

I've done both (second time bride here) and while the backyard ceremony was nice it was a HASSLE. We rented everything and had to assemble it all the morning of, things were being delivered at different times, and a neighbor we hadn't talked to about the wedding started using a LOUD tree trimmer in his yard right before the ceremony. Then there was all the cleanup....

At the restaurant venue for my second wedding, the restaurant set up and tore down the space and it was SO MUCH EASIER.

At my last house they had a back yard wedding.....not only were there cars everywhere, people honking all hours of the day or night, noise was outrageous, and trash was everywhere in the neighborhood. This wedding went on all weekend and by Sunday night he entire neighborhood was ready to scream! Besides the obviously costs, please
give your neighbors a break and get a venue!

View Quoted Comment

This sounds like an absolute nightmare.

Both are absolutely fine

Backyards are often more expensive than a venue because you have to rent absolutely everything - generators, restrooms, lighting, everything. It’s also a LOT more work.