There are many ideas on how to host your wedding at your home. A sense of familiarity, undeniable charm, and personal sentiments make for a day that’s original. Invite your guests into a space that holds some of your most cherished memories as a child, an adult, or both. Nothing says love like a wedding with a home sweet home welcome mat. Since residences are rarely suited for events and large gatherings, private homes need considerable attention when it comes to finalizing logistics like lighting, parking, and additional rentals.
Depending on the size of your home and your guest list it’s important to consider factors like catering, landscape design, ceremony setup, and décor. For larger homes built with a significant number of hosting rooms, the need for an outdoor tent might not be as necessary. But for a more intimate setting, the use of a backyard tent might be a good idea for added space. The balance between wanting to highlight the unique features of your home and adapting the space to your unique personal preferences is important. That is something that needs to be planned out with all you vendors. Here are some tips from brides.com for hosting your own successful private wedding at home.
Reserve Dressing Rooms
Eliminate the need for transportation. Organize all of your wedding prep as well as your wedding party’s within rooms of your home. Just like any other location, it is so important that the getting ready area has ample lighting (natural is always best). With a good space for the hair and makeup team to set up, mirrors, and access to outlets.
Utilize the Entire Property
Make sure to embrace all indoor and outdoor space and elements of your home. Create a flow throughout your home by hosting different events in a variety of different areas. A ceremony in the garden followed by cocktails poolside is a great way to keep the flow of movement. Then transition guests to a tented space or inside your home into large room or rooms for dinner.
Have a Weather Plan
Be flexible and ready for a plan B in case of rain or inclement weather. Depending on the formality of your reception, choose a tent or tents that are as casual or refined as your day-of style and décor.
Get Creative With the Uniqueness of Your Surroundings
Embracing the uniqueness of your home’s surroundings is a great way to make sure your wedding day vision is unique & comes to life. Envision a ceremony backdrop in the back or front yard. Next to a custom groomed tree or vine filled wall or fence or possibly a side wall of your home made of brick with a fireplace, to name a few ideas.
Have a Strategy for the Catering
Continuing these tips on how to host your wedding at your home includes catering. Caterers will stress the importance of bringing in the right equipment. This will put on a top notch celebration in such an intimate setting. From their perspective, working in someone’s home requires a few extra steps. Checking for a water source, power source, and other lighting needs. It also means bringing in all of the required equipment for cooking and serving your guests high quality, fresh, and delicious cuisine.
Don’t Skimp on Entertainment Space
You want your guests to have a great time! So keep in mind the importance of a dance floor area when allocating space in your home for your reception. Setting up a dance floor in a spacious outdoor tent is a great consideration. This will ensure there’s plenty of space for dancing as well as your DJ or bad entertainment and their equipment. This area can also be a focal point for all your guests to witness your formalities. These include your introduction, first dance, toast, cake cutting, etc.
Adapt the Space to Your Needs
Make it easy for your guests, and yourself, by adapting your space to fit all of your event’s hosting needs. Bring in power generators, restroom trailers, additional lounge seating, additional tenting, tables & chairs etc. The last thing you want to worry about is adding additional stress on your home. That includes not being able to properly accommodate all your guests with seating, restrooms, and coverage for inclement weather.
Emphasize the Intimacy of Your at Home Wedding
A perk of having a wedding in your own home is the intimacy that comes with it. Your entertainment should most definitely highlight the intimacy and coordinate all other elements throughout your event to keep guests informed & engaged on formalities & special moments. From the table layout of your reception to the personalization of your rehearsal dinner menu, each event is an opportunity to reflect the familiarity of your home venue choice.
Surprise your Guests a Grand Exit
Ending the night with a spectacular send-off. This is one of the best ways to cap-off your celebration. Just because you found a way on how to host your wedding at your home doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice this special moment. Keep in mind to leave space open either in the front, or the back of your home with no parked cars, etc to guarantee a seamless & special send-off experience.
