Rhiannon Hendricks
Hosting a wedding at home is a great way to save money and create a personalised, intimate setting. However, it can also be challenging. From lighting and decor to catering and parking, there are many factors to consider when planning a home wedding reception. It's important to be realistic about capacity and to plan ahead to ensure the day runs smoothly. Whether you're dreaming of a backyard wedding or an indoor celebration, here are some tips to help you create a memorable event in the comfort of your own home.
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What You'll Learn
- Choose a theme, such as vintage or rustic, to guide your decorations
- Plan for enough parking and accessible spaces for older guests
- Consider the costs of renting equipment, such as tables and chairs
- Make sure there are enough bathrooms and bins for your guests
- Create a unique, memorable send-off at the end of the night
Choose a theme, such as vintage or rustic, to guide your decorations
Choosing a theme for your home wedding reception is a great way to guide your decorations and create a cohesive look. If you love the idea of a vintage theme, there are many ways to incorporate this into your decor. Think about the colours you want to use—vintage weddings often feature soft, muted colours or classic hues depending on the era. For example, pastel shades were popular in the 1950s, while the '80s and '90s saw pairings of silver and gold with ivory and black.
For table decor, consider formal place settings with lace tablecloths or classic white linens, and a charger-and-dinner-plate combo. Vintage serveware is a great addition—look for vintage dishes, cutlery, and glasses to add to your tablescape. You can also dress up the chairs with sweet ribbons or sashes in pastel or floral hues. Fresh flower wreaths tied to the backs of chairs with satin ribbon can also be a lovely touch.
For a vintage feel, opt for elegant and understated centrepieces. Tall candelabras or pillar candles in a silver compote vase surrounded by white blooms and greenery sprigs are perfect examples. You can also use vintage stamps to complement your wedding stationery, and display your vows in your home as a reminder of your pledges.
If you're leaning towards a rustic theme, this style typically centres around neutral tones, but you can add pops of colour as you see fit. Bring the outdoors in with warm and muted colours that reflect nature, and use greenery and flowers as table decorations to add a natural touch. You can even create a whimsical swing wrapped in vines to greet your guests.
For a rustic feel, let the surrounding natural environment be your decor. You can create a visual focal point by building a bar out of wine barrels, or use wooden chairs and elaborate carpets as table decorations. A rustic wedding cake can also tie into your theme, creating a cohesive look.
Whether you choose a vintage or rustic theme, there are endless ways to get creative and make your home wedding reception unique and personalised.
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Plan for enough parking and accessible spaces for older guests
When planning a wedding reception at home, one of the key considerations is parking. This is especially important when it comes to older guests, who may have specific accessibility requirements. Here are some tips to ensure you provide enough parking and accessible spaces for older guests:
Firstly, assess how much parking space you have available on-site. If you have a large property with ample parking, you can consider offering on-site self-parking for your guests. Designate specific areas for guest parking and ensure these areas are well-lit, especially if your reception continues into the evening. If you expect a large number of guests, it may be necessary to direct them to park in a field on your property. In this case, ensure the field is well-lit and dry, and consider providing a shuttle service to transport guests to and from the reception area.
If on-site parking is limited, consider offering valet parking services. A reputable valet company will survey your home beforehand to ensure the parking plan is feasible and manage the parking process on the day of your wedding. Alternatively, you can direct guests to park at a nearby off-site location, such as a church or school parking lot, with a short walking distance to your home. Always do a test walk to ensure the route is safe and well-lit, especially if you anticipate guests leaving late at night.
If there is very limited parking available in your neighborhood, consider renting a parking lot a short distance away and providing a shuttle service for your guests. This can ensure that your guests, especially older ones, do not have to walk long distances to get to your reception. Provide clear information about the parking arrangements and shuttle timings to your guests in advance, either on detail cards or via your wedding website.
In addition to parking, consider other transportation options for your guests, especially older ones. Encourage them to book accommodations nearby so they can easily access your reception. Provide local contacts for cabs and recommend they book in advance. This will ensure they have a safe way to get to and from your reception, especially if they plan to consume alcohol.
By carefully considering parking and accessibility, you can ensure that all your guests, including older ones, have a positive and enjoyable experience at your wedding reception.
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Consider the costs of renting equipment, such as tables and chairs
When planning a wedding at home, it's important to consider the costs of renting equipment, such as tables and chairs. While hosting a wedding at home can be a great way to reduce costs, it's important to remember that certain rentals may be necessary. The cost of renting tables and chairs can vary depending on several factors, such as the quality, material, style, and duration of the rental.
On average, couples in the US spend between $425 to $1,000 on wedding rentals, which typically include tables, chairs, and dinnerware. The cost of renting tables can range from $6 to $14 per table, while chair rentals typically range from $1.50 to $6 per chair. However, some specialty chairs, such as elegant Chiavari chairs or modern ghost chairs, can cost up to $10 per chair. To save costs, consider using the same chairs for both the ceremony and reception if they are held in the same venue.
In addition to the rental costs, there may be additional fees for delivery, setup, and pickup. These fees can add up, so it's important to get quotes from multiple rental companies and include all potential costs in the initial quote to avoid unexpected expenses. One couple shared their experience of renting tables, chairs, and tablecloths for 60 guests for $400-$500, with an additional fee for delivery and pickup.
When planning a home wedding reception, it's also important to consider other equipment rentals, such as a portable restroom facility, especially if you have a large number of guests or plan to have the festivities outdoors. Other rentals to consider include fans or heating equipment to ensure your guests' comfort, as well as lighting and decor to create the desired ambiance. By renting equipment from a professional company, you can ensure that your reception will be constructed and deconstructed with ease, allowing you to focus on enjoying your special day.
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Make sure there are enough bathrooms and bins for your guests
When hosting a wedding reception at home, it is important to ensure that there are enough bathrooms and bins for your guests. Here are some tips to help you plan:
Bathrooms
First, consider the number of guests you will be inviting and the number of bathrooms in your home. If you have a large house with several bathrooms, your guests may be able to use the indoor facilities without any issues. However, if you only have one or two bathrooms, it might be a good idea to rent portable facilities, especially if you plan to have an outdoor reception. Portable bathroom trailers can provide additional comfort and convenience for your guests and can be a worthwhile investment.
When deciding on the number of portable bathrooms needed, consider the size of your guest list. For example, if you have 75 guests, one bathroom may not be sufficient, and it would be advisable to provide an additional option. Similarly, for 150 guests, two portable bathrooms may result in long lines, so providing more options or opting for a trailer with multiple bathrooms might be preferable. Ensure that the portable bathrooms are easily accessible, especially for elderly guests with limited mobility.
Bins
To ensure your guests have a pleasant experience and to make post-wedding clean-up easier, provide plenty of bins and clearly communicate where guests should dispose of their rubbish, especially dirty plates and cutlery. You can also encourage guests to help with the clean-up, especially if they are staying overnight, or consider hiring external help.
Additionally, you can enhance your guests' experience by providing bathroom baskets filled with essentials and amenities. These can include items such as travel-sized toiletries, sunscreen, bug spray, blotting papers, cough drops, lip balms, hand lotion, baby wipes, and age-appropriate supplies for children. These thoughtful touches will ensure your guests feel taken care of and can address any last-minute needs or minor emergencies.
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Create a unique, memorable send-off at the end of the night
A wedding send-off doesn't have to be complex to be beautiful and memorable. Here are some ideas for a unique send-off at the end of your wedding night:
- If you're leaving in a getaway car, have your friends and family cheer you on and decorate your car with a "just married" sign and a trail of tin cans. Flowers and custom banners will also enhance your setup.
- Throw flower petals or, if you're getting married in the fall, have your loved ones throw colorful foliage.
- Attach playful ribbons to the end of dowel rods to create a fun celebratory exit tunnel.
- Walk through a sea of glitter. Buy large-size glitter so that it shows up better in photos and creates an easier cleanup process.
- Equip your guests with handheld smoke bombs and dash through clouds of colour, or time it so that your getaway car drives through the haze.
- Ring in this new period of life with antique wedding bells. Attach custom wedding place cards to the bells so that every family gets one, and encourage your guests to ring their bells for a unique wedding exit.
- Make it rain gold confetti. Your guests can shoot shimmery star-shaped paper into the sky with artistic slingshots.
- If your wedding is in a snowy location or has a winter theme, create a snowy scene with fake snow that your guests can toss in the air.
- Release paper lanterns into the night sky. Traditionally, people attach notes of prayers, blessings or requests to the lanterns, and the purpose of this ritual is for the lanterns to float up to the heavens so that wishes come true.
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Frequently asked questions
Scoping out Pinterest is a great way to find inspiration for your wedding theme. Whether you're going for a sophisticated country, vintage, rustic, or whimsical feel, each theme has its own flowers, photo backdrops, centrepieces, chairs, linens, and catering choices.
Hiring a professional photographer and videographer is a great way to remember your wedding day. You can also set up a photo booth or backdrop for portraits and group photos, and have guests sign a stone or fill out a card with wedding advice.
Residences are rarely suited for large gatherings, so it's important to plan logistics like lighting, parking, and rentals. You should also consider catering, landscape design, ceremony setup, and decor. If you're hosting an outdoor reception, you may need to rent portable restrooms.
Greet guests with signature drinks and non-alcoholic cocktails before the ceremony. If your guest list is small, you can even have a butler take each guest's drink request.
