There’s something undeniably magical about hosting a wedding in your own backyard. The intimacy, the privacy, the exclusivity—it’s no wonder celebrity couples and luxury brides alike are drawn to the idea of saying “I do” just steps away from home. But before you decide on a backyard wedding, it’s important to know the reality: these celebrations often require more planning, higher budgets, and greater logistics than traditional venues.
If you’ve been dreaming of a luxury backyard wedding in New Jersey, Philadelphia, New York, or beyond, here are seven things to consider to help you decide if it’s the right fit for you.
1. Guest Count & Space
Backyard weddings aren’t just for intimate gatherings anymore. With the right setup, you can host 150–200+ guests—but it requires a tented wedding, restroom trailers, parking solutions, and professional planning. If your vision is a large-scale event, your backyard needs the space to accommodate not only the guests, but also everything a full venue typically provides.
The first thing I always ask anytime a potential couple asks me to plan their backyard wedding is how much room do they have. Tents take up far more space that most people realize and not every space can handle a tent in the first place. In fact, it’s not safe to commit to a backyard wedding without a full site visit with your wedding planner and their tent vendor. During this appointment, the appropriate measurements are taken and other details are gathered and without this appointment, it’s just a guessing game that ends up in disaster.
One other important tip I want to mention is that it should be your home or a trust member of your friends or family. This is not the time to go renting out a house on VRBO or hit up your real estate agent for possibilities. There are too many things that can go wrong and you will need access to this property throughout the entire planning process. On average there will be 7-10 site visits and if you are renting a property just for the week of the wedding, you won’t be able to complete those.
Basically, if you don’t own the space and it’s not mom and dad’s or your best friend’s location, then a backyard wedding is not advisable.
2. The Budget Reality
Here’s the truth most couples don’t expect: a high-end backyard wedding often costs more than a traditional venue. You’re essentially building a venue from scratch—tenting, flooring, lighting, rentals, restrooms, catering kitchen, power, and more. For couples investing six figures into their dream wedding, this blank canvas can be worth every penny, but it’s not a shortcut to saving money.
I cannot tell you how many times people have commented on my TikTok or Instagram about how it is possible to have a backyard wedding for cheaper than a venue wedding. Here’s the thing…what they are describing is not the Father of the Bride backyard wedding.
First and foremost, you absolutely need a tent and those are never cheap. A tent is one hundred percent necessary, at the very minimum, for the reception. Your music vendor is going to require they are covered in the event of any type of bad weather, and those tables and chairs that are being set up in advance will also need to be covered. Of course, the reasons for having the tent on the day of the wedding are pretty obvious.
The excessive cost for a backyard wedding doesn’t end with the reception tent either. We’ll talk more about the extras that come with the tent in the next section, but there are plenty of other details that become more expensive when you have a backyard wedding.
You’ll need a professional caterer to handle everything and one that comes with all the staffing necessary. This cost will easily be double what it would be at a venue because you’ll have to create a cooking space for that caterer and they will need to bring in a lot of rentals that would already be available at a wedding venue.
A few other things to consider? Lighting…and not just design lighting that can elevate the look of the tent, but lighting that allows your wedding guests to see. Walkways will need lighting so guests, catering staff, and all vendors can see where they are going (safely) even after the sun goes down.
Restroom trailers will also be totally necessary unless you want your septic system to explode. Having everyone use the restrooms inside the home is simply the worst idea ever. That said, you’ll need room for these restroom trailers, along with a generator, and they’ll need to be in a good location for guests to use but not so close to the tent that you can hear the generator running them.
3. Logistics & Permits
From town permits and noise ordinances to restroom rentals, parking, and power generators, there are countless logistics that most couples don’t even think about until the planning begins. This is where having a wedding planner who specializes in backyard weddings becomes essential.
If you saw “Father of the Bride” then you already know what happens when there are too many cars parked on the street…the police show up. You will already need room on your street for every single vendor to be parked there. Most vendors will need access to their vehicles during set-up and throughout the duration of the wedding so placing them off-site won’t work.
Having wedding guests park on site, even if valet is offered, just isn’t feasible in most situations…so unless you have the private property to allow for this, an off-site location must be used for all parking. This means factoring in more money into the wedding budget to allow for transportation to shuttle guests from the parking location to the wedding and back at the end of the celebration.
Generators will be needed for catering, music vendors, restroom trailers and specialty vendors like photobooths. There will also be a need to access water for catering and restroom trailers. It’s really important to know exact power and water needs and this is something only an experienced backyard wedding planner will know to ask about.
In addition to a reception tent and one for the ceremony if being held on site, you’ll need whatever tents your catering company will be requesting. If you have longer walk-ways for guests and wedding vendors to use, you might have to also consider tents to cover those areas in case of inclement weather.
Before any of this planning starts, however, there are rules to consider and permits you will need. What is your town’s noise ordinance? Will the fire marshall show up to inspect the tent? If you don’t play by the rules, your best day ever could be shut down the same day.
4. Unlimited Design Potential
The beauty of a backyard wedding is that you’re not limited by a ballroom’s four walls. Want a clear-top tent with chandeliers? Custom flooring? A floral ceiling installation? A lounge space under the stars? With the right team, your property can be transformed into a luxury wedding venue that feels completely bespoke to you.
If you are truly looking for a unique wedding, it begins and ends with the wedding venue. Odds are, your friends and family have been to a handful of weddings and know what the local wedding venues look like. They may have been to your backyard, but they’ve never been to a backyard wedding there. Hosting at your home is the easiest way to make your wedding truly unique.
When you’re at a wedding venue, they offer the tables, chairs, and all the basic necessities you might not be considering (but will need to pay extra for at a backyard wedding). While you certainly can rent different options, many couples will choose to keep what the venue is already offering. A backyard wedding is a blank slate so you can bring in gorgeous white farmhouse tables, matching chairs, and any style glassware you want. It’s a truly curated wedding experience and perfect for the unique couple searching for a one of a kind wedding day.
5. A Weather Backup Plan
Rain, heat, and even wind must all be considered in advance. A true luxury backyard wedding requires multiple tents, professional flooring, air conditioning or heating, and a well-thought-out contingency plan. This is not the place to “wing it”—your planner will ensure your day feels seamless, no matter the forecast.
But that’s not all…what about the wedding ceremony or cocktail hour? If you’re having the ceremony on site, that are could potentially need a tent as well. Cocktail hour, if not held under a tent, should be offered both inside and outside and, if the weather doesn’t cooperate, there should be enough room indoors to hold this part of the day inside.
6. Privacy & Exclusivity
One of the biggest draws of a backyard wedding is the privacy and exclusivity it offers. There are no strangers wandering by, no competing events, no limitations on décor. It’s your property, your timeline, your vision—and that’s exactly why so many high-profile couples choose to celebrate this way.
That said, what is your neighbor situation? This is also another major reason to not rent a home for your wedding day. Are the homes surrounding you also rentals? If so, those guests are entitled to their expectations and they don’t typically expect to have to listen to set up happening every day the week of the wedding, let alone the music into the end of the reception. Not knowing the people around you is a risk you do not want to take.
What if you do know the neighbors? How far away is their property? Will they care seeing trucks coming down the street all week and on the day of the wedding for set-up and breakdown? There are tips and tricks for handling your neighbors but it’s important to be realistic because sometimes tricks won’t work.
7. Professional Planning Support
If all of this sounds overwhelming, that’s because it is. A backyard wedding is an enormous undertaking, even for smaller guest counts. Having a planner who understands the logistics, design, and execution is what elevates the event from stressful to spectacular. If your dream is a wedding that feels effortless, glamorous, and unforgettable, then investing in an expert planner is the very first step.
And I truly mean the first step. I have been called over the past 14 years to come in and fix backyard wedding plans by couples that were 6 months or more into planning. There were mistakes made that couldn’t be undone and, in many cases, had they been working with me from the beginning, I would have advised them not to have a backyard wedding.
As an experienced wedding planner, I know the best possible vendors to bring on for a seamless and upscale backyard wedding…more importantly though, I know which ones to avoid as well. The best thing you can do when you want to have a backyard wedding is to a call and hire an experienced wedding planner before doing anything else. I personally offer site consultations which is a great way to find out if the backyard wedding is right for you or not.
Final Thoughts
A backyard wedding can be one of the most breathtaking and memorable ways to celebrate your marriage—but it isn’t the right fit for everyone. If you have the space, the budget, and the desire for something deeply personal and completely one-of-a-kind, then this may be the perfect path for you.
Backyard Wedding FAQ
How much does a luxury backyard wedding cost?
On average, a luxury backyard wedding can range anywhere from $100,000–$250,000+, depending on guest count, tenting, rentals, catering, and custom design. Unlike traditional venues, you’re building everything from scratch, which is why costs are higher—but the experience is truly one-of-a-kind.
Do I need a tent for a backyard wedding?
Almost always, yes. Even if the forecast is perfect, a tent provides structure, climate control, and protection for your investment. Luxury backyard weddings often use multiple tents—for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception—to ensure comfort and style.
Is a backyard wedding cheaper than a venue wedding?
Not typically. While many assume hosting at home saves money, the reality is that creating a luxury wedding venue in your backyard often costs more than booking a ballroom or estate. Couples who value exclusivity and custom design find it’s worth the investment.
Do I need a wedding planner for a backyard wedding?
Absolutely. A backyard wedding involves logistics that go far beyond what most couples anticipate—power, flooring, permits, restroom trailers, tenting, and more. A planner ensures nothing is overlooked and transforms your property into a seamless, stunning event space.
