4 Ways to Visually Elevate Your Backyard Wedding
Table of Contents:
- FAQ’s About Backyard & Private Estate Weddings
- How to Visually Elevate Your Backyard Wedding
- Hiring the Right Photographer for Your Elevated Backyard Wedding
In this guide, I discuss what to expect from a backyard or private estate wedding, as well as how to visually elevate your day from a photographer’s perspective.
As an editorial wedding photographer with a love for history, design, and storytelling through atmosphere, there is nothing I adore more than a venue that holds deep meaning to a couple. One that both holds memories and creates new ones; that simultaneously celebrates past, present, and future. And what better way to do this than to welcome your wedding guests into your home, or onto a private property that is significant to your unique story?
However, there are a few key elements worth considering before you pull the trigger on the backyard route. Factors such as cost, location, aesthetic, & more will play an important role in the success of your celebration—so let’s dive into what you can do to make your backyard or private estate wedding unforgettable.
FAQ’s About Backyard & Private Estate Weddings
I’ll start by answering a few questions I often hear from couples considering a backyard celebration, and addressing the most common misconceptions I see floating around the wedding world.
What makes a backyard wedding so special?
Let me begin by saying that I love a backyard or private property wedding. It is single-handedly the best way to make your wedding as unique as possible, because no one else can have their wedding in your parents’ backyard, on your grandparents’ property, etc. You will automatically set your day apart and make it completely one-of-a-kind, just by way of having it in a place that’s extremely special and specific to your story.
That is why I am a HUGE fan of couples leaning into how special the property is to you and your family’s legacy: the more you do this, the more you can truly elevate the storytelling of your backyard wedding.
Instead of trying to force the property to look like a regular wedding venue, or attempting to make every space look “photogenic,” highlight the little pieces of history that make each space meaningful to you. Maybe that’s the bedroom you grew up in; the backyard you played in as a child; the grassy lawn where you and your siblings held lemonade stands in the summer. Center your storytelling around these little pieces of history, and your images will immediately become more visually impactful.
Charlotte & Quinn’s PNW-inspired backyard wedding a few years back will always be a favorite of mine. Take a peek at their dreamy celebration for inspiration—nearly every element of which was DIY.
Is a backyard wedding cheaper?
Another mistake I see couples make when considering a backyard wedding is assuming it’s going to be less expensive just because it’s on your parents’ property (or wherever you are hosting it). This is more of a wedding planner’s playground, but I like giving this caveat because I’ve seen SO many couples end up shocked that their backyard wedding cost nearly as much as hosting at a regular venue!
Often, the cost of bringing everything you’d need at a regular venue—lighting, rentals, equipment, furniture, etc.—can make hosting your wedding in a backyard not much different budget-wise. So if you are considering a backyard wedding for economic reasons, I would really think through whether it would actually save you money—or whether there’s a more budget-friendly way to do it at a regular venue nearby that has the vibe you’re going for.
How many guests can you have at a backyard wedding?
There is no correct answer for this; it will simply depend on how much space the property has available. When deciding how many guests you’ll invite to your backyard wedding, consider factors such as:
- parking & transportation to the property
- where the wedding party will be getting ready
- where folks can mingle before the ceremony begins
- how you’ll transition between ceremony → cocktail hour → reception
- ceremony setup & how you’ll arrange chairs, decor, etc.
Can you have a backyard wedding at an Airbnb?
Short answer: Technically yes, as long as the Airbnb allows guests to host weddings and gives you express permission to do so.
Long answer: You can, but I’d recommend opting for a location that is special and unique to you, instead. More on this a few sections below.
Can you get married at a private estate?
Absolutely! If you or your family own a private estate that would make for a fabulous wedding venue, there is nothing stopping you from legally getting married there.
What are the legal requirements for hosting a wedding on private property?
Typically, the only legal requirement for a backyard or private estate wedding is that you obtain your marriage license through your county. You may also want to consider getting special event liability insurance if your regular home insurance does not cover things like gatherings, serving alcohol, vendors, equipment, etc. Consult your planner about this, since this is not my area of expertise!
How to Visually Elevate Your Backyard Wedding
Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of what excites me most about private property weddings as a photographer. Here are 4 things that will visually elevate your backyard wedding and set you up for a beautiful, successful day!
1. Choose a venue that holds meaning to you
From a storytelling perspective, your backyard wedding will be a million times more special if you choose a location that is deeply special to you. If you host it at, say, random cousin’s house, or a property owned by a friend of a friend, it will be their house that is photographed; their trinkets, design, and decor that end up in your wedding gallery. And as a photographer whose job is to document the narrative of your day—and all that makes it yours—that absolutely changes the storytelling aspect for me. I won’t be as focused on the home, the backyard; all of the elements that have been curated over time.
On the other hand, when it’s a place you’ve grown up in that’s important to you, or somewhere that holds a special place in your heart, the story of your wedding automatically becomes more impactful. Yes—even if you are envisioning a luxurious, elevated day, you can absolutely have a backyard wedding! In fact, there’s such a beautiful juxtaposition in it all: celebrating your most important day where years of your family’s history and legacy come together.
I picture an image of you standing in a couture wedding gown inside of your parents’ home, even if it isn’t a gorgeous dining room or a space that’s “meant” to be photographed… stunning. Or the two of you standing in the living room, in your gorgeous wedding attire, surrounded by family photos framed on the walls—every photo is impactful in its own right. And when you have your wedding somewhere like your parents’ property, or your grandma’s house, those meaningful moments are plentiful all day long.
2. Scout the spaces you’ll use
When you’re deciding between a backyard wedding and a traditional venue, start by scouting the spaces you’d use. For example: it’s crucial to have a house with multiple rooms in it, where everyone can mingle comfortably and naturally flow between spaces throughout the day. Spatial variety is key; ideally, we’d have plenty of different rooms, spaces, nooks, and crannies to explore and make use of when shooting. This creates a more diverse, immersive experience for your guests and adds perspective to your final wedding album.
Additionally, many couples often forget to create backup plans for their backyard wedding. Of course everybody wants to imagine the best-case scenario: beautiful weather, clear skies, and perfectly executed plans. But what happens if it rains? What if the wind picks up unexpectedly and blows over your ceremony arch? The absolute last thing we want is for a spontaneous rainstorm to force us into the living room, where the lighting might be unflattering, or the flooring is a color of carpet that you cannot stand the vibe of.
As a photographer, I’m used to working around things like this—but we don’t want to be forced to work around the whole inside of the house. That is why it’s SO important to have location options, so you can feel confident in your venue no matter what happens.And if the location you’re considering for your backyard wedding doesn’t have great indoor options or backup spaces, you might want to think about booking a venue that offers a more reliable setting for your day.
Learn more about what to look for in a wedding venue here, from a luxury photographer’s perspective.
3. Lean into history, design, & space storytelling
One of the first things I do as a photographer when I walk into a backyard wedding is highlight the actual house. Because what I LOVE about documenting someone’s home on a wedding day is that homes have been curated over time; they are like history books in and of themselves. Everywhere you look, there are little trinkets, artifacts, and pictures that may seem so mundane to you—but as an artist walking into the space, I am enamored by the history that went into curating it. It’s easier for me to romanticize everything as a viewer, as someone experiencing the location for the first time, and that fresh perspective makes way for a gorgeous gallery!
Design-wise, I always encourage couples to lean into the marriage of old and new; elements that are equal parts vintage and modern. If I were designing a backyard wedding at my parents’ house, I’d be curating a collection of gorgeous family artifacts that fit my vision aesthetically and can be used in flat lays, etc., with the rest of my wedding details. Overall, it’s about thinking of your wedding day as a whole; imagining the bigger picture of the day and layering in your personal style, individuality, and preferences.
Elevate your wedding details even further using this guide.
4. Work with the natural atmosphere—not against it
When you’re working with a private home or property, it can be tempting to force the space to fit your vision. To imagine it as a regular venue that you are changing, molding, reshaping to look and feel a specific way. This is especially common in the luxury wedding space, where the standard is to take an empty warehouse and transform it into something completely different.
But rather than working against a property’s natural feel, I encourage couples to really lean in and enhance the natural beauty and atmosphere that comes with it. Choose a place that can speak for itself without requiring tons of extra decor or setup; a place that is harmonious with the design you have in mind and aligns with your inspiration for the day. Trying to overcompensate and force the space to match your vision is an uphill battle, and your day will be far more visually impactful when you lean in—instead of trying to make the location something it’s not.
Hiring the Right Photographer for Your Elevated Backyard Wedding
Equally as important as picking the right venue for your backyard or private property wedding is selecting the right photographer to document it. Private weddings inherently carry deep meaning and narrative potential, and it’s essential to work with an artist you trust to capture your day as it deserves.
I specialize in intentional weddings like these, with an approach that blends luxury, loose editorial, and true-to-life storytelling. If we feel like a seamless fit, explore my work to get a feel for my style, and then inquire for availability here; I cannot wait to connect and create magic with you.
If you enjoyed this guide to elevating your backyard wedding, I have a feeling you’ll love the resources I’ve curated for you below.
