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So you've decided to get married at home. Often couples will choose to have the ceremony and reception at home. This atmosphere is meant to keep the wedding personal and "easy". It's easy to assume that the decision to have the wedding at home will eliminate a lot of stress. There are however several things that the wedding planner needs to think about ahead of time. Most of these depend greatly on the number of guest expected to attend

1. WEATHER is the number one issue when planning a wedding outside. You always need to rent a large tent when planning an outdoor event of this importance! If the weather is hot and sunny, you will need shade. If the weather is rainy, you will need to keep everyone dry. The number and size of tent (s) depends on how many guest are coming and if you want the wedding party to have their own. Unless, you have a very nice area where guest can be protected, always plan on renting a tent.

2. The issue of PARKING is the first obstacle to address. A parking plan should be arranged so neighbors are not bothered. If the wedding will occur in an area where there is a nearby parking lot, it would be wise to get permission for use of the lot. If using the street, make sure that guest with disabilities have space reserved. It's a good idea to have someone be in charge of parking and helping guest comfortable walk to the ceremony. If distance is inevitable, let guest know ahead of time that someone will shuttle them to the wedding from a predetermined location.

3. SEATING is usually not too hard to address. More often than not, you can ask your local fire department or church to borrow folding chairs. You should not expect guest to stand.

4. FOOD is an important part of celebrating a wedding at home. It really depends on how casual the event will be on how you will plan the food. Remember that it is however a lot of work that usually needs constant attention to. It's not a good idea to leave the homeowner in charge of food because they will miss out on the festivities. Hiring a catering company or individual would be a better idea.

5. CLOTHING. The bride and groom should not dress too formal since you have to think about things like heat, walking on uneven terrain, and dirt. The wedding invitations should state casual attire so guests know how to dress. You should not expect children to stay in long sleeves and tights for very long either if it is a warm day.

6. Another item that should not be overlooked is the MUSIC. Make sure that you have a separated covered area for the DJ where there are adequate outputs.

7. Know where the BRIDE and GROOM PREPARATION AREAS will be ahead of time. This is especially important if they do not want to see each other prior to the ceremony.

8. CLEAN UP. If you've rented a caterer, it should be in their contract to clean as much as possible especially the kitchen area. A family member should be assigned for the clean up tasks so the bride, groom or parents are not burdened with it.

If these steps are planned and carried out, the backyard family wedding should be an enjoyable and joyous day.

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Source by Julie Shoemaker