Backyard wedding reception

What it is

A wedding reception held in a family garden or a friend’s large lawn. It’s more personal and often much cheaper than a venue, but it takes careful planning: a marquee for shelter, toilets, power, catering and lighting.

Plan ahead

• Six months before: check the garden can fit your guests (allow about 1.2 square metres per seated guest). Book a marquee or sailcloth tent, catering, a bar service, and portable toilets (1 per 50 guests).
• Three months before: organise a hire company for tables, chairs, linen and crockery. Plan power (a generator if needed) and lighting.
• One month before: tell neighbours and check local rules about noise and amplified music.
• One week before: mow the lawn, finalise a wet-weather plan and do a lighting test at dusk.

Set the scene

Long trestle tables with linen runners, candles in glass hurricanes, and flowers in jam jars. Festoon lights strung overhead. A lounge area with rugs, cushions and hay bales. A dance floor (hire wooden panels, or lay one on the patio). A welcome sign and seating plan on an easel.

Activities

Lawn games

Giant Jenga, croquet, cornhole and quoits, set up for after the ceremony while photos happen.

Wedding breakfast

Family-style sharing platters work well in a garden and feel generous: roast meats, salads and breads passed along the tables.

Speeches and dancing

Use a small PA system with a mic. A DJ or a playlist with a friend in charge. Agree a time for the music to stop.

Sparkler send-off

Hand out long wedding sparklers (they burn for 2-3 minutes), light them with a few lighters down the line, and the couple walk through.

Food and drink

• Canapés on arrival
• Sharing-style main course or a hog roast
• Wedding cake and a dessert table
• Late-night food truck
• A bar with beer, wine, a signature cocktail and soft drinks

Tips

• Have a “day-of coordinator” (a friend or professional) so the couple don’t have to manage suppliers.
• Rent extra blankets for when evening gets cool.
• Provide clear lighting on paths to toilets and car parking.