Will having a home wedding save money?

This is a question that we hear fairly often. Many people unfamiliar with the ins and outs of the wedding industry believe that you will save money on venue costs. Is this true? Well…it might be if you plan to have a micro wedding. Something small and intimate. Often times, couples are quite surprised to find that having a wedding at home, however, has costs that add up quite quickly.

Why does at home wedding cost so much?

One thing to keep in mind when deciding to forego the venue is that venues are very purposefully set up specifically to host large scale events. The venue staff has thought through all of the items that you might need. They know what kind of power that your 500 feet of Italian string lights, 12 piece band and catering food warmers will require. Venues are equipped with air conditioning and heaters for that fickle late fall or early spring weather. They also have fully stocked bathrooms with running water and someone to tend to them during the event.

When you choose to have a wedding at home, you are essentially building your venue from the ground up. You’ll want to be sure you hire a professional wedding planner to ensure that everything has been fully thought through. That every single item you might need in addition to the regular wedding items is accounted for. Your typical wedding items that you might need to bring into any venue may include basic rentals such as tables, chairs, china, flatware, glassware, linens. Items like additional lighting, draping and flowers are aesthetic pieces that are wonderful, but not always 100% necessary to the event. However, when you are starting from scratch, there are several other essential pieces that you need to consider and add to your budget.

What additional items do I need for my home wedding?

Tents

You’ll want to have a reception tent for all of your guests who will be eating dinner, dancing and celebrating your love. If an evening under the stars is your dream, we still highly recommend at least having a tent on reserve as a rain back up just in case. Or consider renting a clear topped tent for that added bit of luxury. Just keep in mind, you will always need a rain plan. Unless your house has lots of extra space and you don’t mind catering staff coming in and out then you will need an additional tent for the caterer. They will use the space to prep food, possibly plate and then scrape plates after dinner. This tent is often three sided to hide all the mess from view of guests.

Bathrooms

If you have the space and don’t mind 150 or more of your closest friends coming in and out of your house then you don’t need additional bathrooms. If not, you’ll will need to rent a restroom trailer. These have come a long way from the icky, claustrophobic, not to mention smelly port o potties of the past. Some restroom trailers have granite countertops, air conditioning and crystal chandeliers. They’re nicer than my bathroom at home!

Lighting

You’ll definitely need lighting for your tent. String lighting works best for this, It gives the tent a nice glow without being overly bright. These can usually be dimmed for dancing later in the evening. If you have a catering tent, that will also need lights. More functional, simple can lights are fine for this space. You will also need a spotlight on the restroom trailer. It’s best to make it easy for guests to find it. Also, don’t forget to light the parking area. This is especially important if the property is out of the city in a dark field.

Power

This is a HUGE. You’ll need to provide power adequate for the entire event. Renting a large generator is the way to go. If you have a band you will need two as professional bands often require their own power source. You’ll need to power all the lights, musicians or a DJ, as well as power any onsite catering equipment.

Miscellaneous Items

Trash cans and bags are a detail that are so easily forgotten. But when you are building an event from the ground up you need to provide every single thing. You definitely want to make sure you have ample trash cans and bags. A four hour reception can produce quite a bit of trash by the end of the night. You can also talk to your caterer to see if they might be able to transport the trash offsite with them and dispose of it for you. If not, you may want to consider assigning someone’s truck as the drop off point to be taken to the dump the following day or rent a small dumpster.

Bugs, ugh.

Most venues with outdoor spaces will spray often for bugs so they are not a problem during events. All that food, booze and cake sitting out for prolonged periods can attract quite a few unwanted critters. Having an event on your property? Consider hiring a service to come in and spray for bugs a few days prior.

Fans/Heaters.

It is always a good idea to have fans or heaters from your rental company. Anyone who has ever been to Tennessee knows how unpredictable the weather can be here. Having your wedding at home can add a level of intimacy and comfort to your wedding day. You also won’t have to be worry about strict decor rules. Your rentals don’t have to be out of the space at a certain time. Just make sure that you are well prepared for everything you need to turn your own space into your personal wedding venue!