How to host the perfect home wedding
2020 has been a weird year for weddings. Unfortunately, for many couples, their wedding plans had to be put on hold and, in worst-case scenarios, cancelled. However, now that Australia is slowly reopening, wedding bells are once again ringing and ringing right in our backyards. If you’re someone who is planning on hosting a beautiful backyard wedding this summer you might want to follow this helpful guide.
Weatherproofing the home
As gorgeous as the Australian summer is, it can be unpredictable. There would absolutely be nothing worse than the stifling heat impeding on the day’s excitement or, worse, a raucous summer storm blowing through to literally rain on the happy couple’s parade. The best thing to do, long before taking care of other wedding aspects, is to ensure your garden is weather-proofed. There are two easy ways to do this:
A: Build a charming outdoor entertainment zone attached to the home. B: Extend this space by hiring a marquee for the wedding proceedings to take place under.
Envision your garden on the wedding day: a brand new entertainment zone with a gorgeous marquee hosting the nuptials – what a perfect way to create an intimate, welcoming space for your loved ones on this most special of occasions?
Setting up the outdoor space
The thing about hosting a home wedding is this: you are in charge of all the setting-up and packing down once the party is over and the bride and groom are off on their honeymoon.
However, for many people this is part of the fun. Just ensure you have everything you need long before the special day, as you don’t want to be caught out on the morning of the wedding without the right amount of glassware or, say, a whole outdoor section missing.
If this sounds like something you don’t really want to take care of yourself, consider hiring a wedding coordinator to take care of all the logistics on your behalf.
Cooking
If you are not planning on cooking yourself then you will need to hire a catering company. However, this catering company will need space to prepare all the delicious wedding food. Ensure your catering company is well-aware of the cooking facilities you have available at your home.
Furthermore, talk to your caterer about what kind of connections they need for their appliances as well as any extra space they may need to get the job done delectably.
Dining decor
This is largely dependent on the type of reception you’re hosting: is it one that serves finger foods? Or, will it be a sit down dining affair? You might even want to create a lounge-style seating arrangement to allow for guests to mingle with more than just those sitting next to them.
Of course, the most important thing is ensuring your guests have plenty of space to sit, keeping older relatives, the inebriated and the dance-weary close at mind. If you are planning on moving the ceremony seats inside for the reception, remember to have some coordinate exactly where they are placed to save time.
Tableware
A home wedding host is responsible for sourcing every teaspoon, champagne glass, salt shaker and flower vase. Once your guests have RSPVd, ensure you have the exact numbers (and then some) of tableware – otherwise, you might end up pulling out old plastic cups and oddly-assorted cutlery for your guests – not a good look, really.
Garden accessibility
You want to ensure all guests can easily access your garden. Do any of your guests use a wheelchair, walker or other mobility aid? If so, check with them prior to the wedding if there is anything they need to make their entry to your garden as smooth as possible.
Furthermore, what is going to be your garden’s setup? Will it be easy for guests to come to come back and forth from your garden? Do you have some sort of catering/entertainment setup that might restrict easy access to your home? These are the things you need to consider when designing the layout of the big day.
Contact Slidetrack to design your outdoor entertainment space
If a stylish, welcoming entertainment space is perfect for your special day – feel free to contact the outdoor blinds specialists at Slidetrack.
Our designs create charming, weather-proof entertainment zones that are simply perfect for hosting these most special of days.
If you would like to chat with us about our outdoor blind solutions, please feel free to contact our friendly experts on 1800 OZROLL (697 655) or submit an enquiry form via our contact page and we will get back to you with all the information you require for building a stunning outdoor area in time for the special day.