50 Backyard Wedding Ideas That Prove At-Home Celebrations Can Be Elevated

After you get engaged, one of the first planning to-dos on your list is choosing a wedding venue. For some couples, this process is as simple as taking a look around their own backyard (or their parents') and deciding that they've found "the one." Backyard weddings are meaningful, personalized events from the jump: What could be more special than tying the knot on a property where you (or your parent) romped around from childhood? And while they often get pegged as budget-friendly alternatives to more formal celebrations, we're here to tell you that a backyard wedding can be just as stunning and formal as one held in a traditional venue—if you want it to be, that is!

While there's no venue fee associated with tying the knot at home, it's important to note that backyard weddings generally do not cost less than a celebration in any other space. After all, you need to bring in rentals, catering, and staff, will likely need some sort of tenting as an inclement weather backup, and might even need to source additional power or water supplies to make the day run smoothly. These line items all come with their own price tags, so understanding the costs from the outset is key.

There are a number of reasons why you might want to tie the knot at home. For one, you might love the property you grew up on or live at now and want to share it with everyone you love most. That was wedding planner Alicia Fritz's thought as she dreamed up her own big day. "For us, it was all about sharing our home with our family and friends, and inviting them into this day with us. Our guest list was very diverse. We wanted to bring the level of comfort and familiarity to a group that was unfamiliar with each other, and we thought there is nothing better to break down barriers or ingratiate our guests than inviting them to our home."

For others, the creative freedom (and lack of limitations) that come with a backyard wedding is most appealing. You (or your family members) are the ones calling the shots, so barring anything like local noise ordinances (you'll likely want to cut amplified sound by 10 PM to avoid any police incidents), you'll be able to do just about anything you can dream of. Fritz says this freedom is one of the greatest advantages of a backyard wedding. "Aside from our own wedding, A Day in May Events is often working with blank canvases, like an empty and sprawling lawn or landscape, to transform into a wedding venue," she says. "The ability to build the venue the way you want it, or envision it, is a gift." So let your creativity run wild with inspiration.

So, if you agree that there really is no place like home, a backyard wedding might be the right choice for you. To inspire your own event—and prove that at-home celebrations can be just as chic and elevated as any other wedding—we're sharing 50 of our favorite ideas to copy for your own big day.