Thinking of having your wedding in a home...a few things to think about=
Having a wedding at Home ??????POINTERS>
Reception Sites: A Wedding at Home We can’t resist saying it: There’s no place like home. For your wedding, that is. Picture saying your vows under the beloved oak tree you climbed as a kid, sipping cocktails among the roses of your mother’s garden, and dancing with Dad near the grove where he caught you locking lips with your eighth-grade boyfriend. Home (yours, your parents’, or a friend’s) is about the most meaningful wedding setting possible. Instead of trying to give a hotel ballroom or banquet that personal touch, look no further than your own backyard, and, as a bonus, there’s no location fee!
REALITY CHECK
Home weddings come with a special set of issues all their own. Unless you’re planning a very intimate wedding where guests will be dining off the family dishes and sitting on your dining room chairs, a home-style affair won’t necessarily save you money. Considering everything you’ll need to bring in for a smooth event, you might spend as much as you would renting a traditional site.
Ask yourself these questions before planning your home-sweet-home soiree:
IS THE SPACE SUITABLE?
How many people are on your guest list? Will there be enough room for a dining space, a bar, and a dance floor? Is there a large, open outdoor space to erect a tent? If you’d like to hold your ceremony and the reception at home, double-check that your officiant is willing to bestow his blessing outside your place of worship (some won’t; as an alternative, you may need to find a licensed wedding officiator). Is there a quiet, picturesque backdrop where you can say your vows far from the neighbor’s dog and hissing air conditioner?
WHAT DO I NEED TO RENT?
Think about everything you need to make guests comfortable. Where will they put their coats? (You may want to hire a coat check person.) Where will guests sit, and what will they eat on? Chances are, you don’t have a stadium-size stash of seating and dinnerware at home to accommodate the multitudes on your guest list, so you’ll have to import these items. Rental basics include tables, chairs, china (your caterer may bring this stuff along), napkins and other table linens, place settings, and barware. If you’re holding the majority of your event outdoors, you’ll need shelter, such as a tent, gazebo, or canopy (see below). Add a dance floor (to protect the grass and ladies’ high heels), and maybe some fun treats such as a disco ball, smoke machine, and candelabras. Got an in-ground pool? Make it the centerpiece of the party by renting a clear-top dance floor to cover it. Check with your caterer to see if you’ll need to rent coolers, roasters, or grills for cooking. Begin the search for rental companies early -- you’ll want to reserve equipment as early as six months before your event.
WHO’S IN CHARGE?
On home turf, you and your parents have the last word, but why bother Mom and Dad with a thousand wedding day details? Consider giving your parents the day off and hiring a professional wedding planner, or maybe your caterer (yes, you’ll need one of those; see below), to act as your ringleader. Don’t even think about doing it yourself -- you’ll want to savor every second of your special day unencumbered.
HOW WILL WE SERVE?
You may fancy yourself a young Julia Child, but trust us: Leave the planning and preparation of your wedding day feast to a caterer who specializes in off-site events. The idea is no distractions! Discuss how much of the food will actually be prepared at your home, what the kitchen and electricity requirements are, and how soon before the event he or she will require access to the site. Will there be staff to set up and run a bar, or do you need to book a separate bartender to serve drinks? If you insist on taking a do-it-yourself approach to food and drinks, choose a menu -- or decide on a theme -- and ask family and friends to contribute a dish to a potluck buffet. (Afterward, they can stay and help clean up!)
WHAT ABOUT DECORATIONS?
What features make your home special? Is it the huge house? An expansive lawn? A spectacular lake view? Don’t overdecorate: strut your home’s stuff and add special accents. Think about setting up displays of personal objects or photographs. Dress beloved pets in bows and let them have their normal run of the grounds (provided they’re people-friendly). Fill the house with flowers. For an evening event, lighting is crucial, both for safety and atmosphere, so you may want to hire a professional lighting designer. Otherwise, garden lamps, paper lanterns, and tiny white lights strung along tree branches conjure a warm and festive ambience.
HOW MUCH NOISE CAN WE MAKE?
What’s a wedding without dancing and unbridled whooping? Whether you select a DJ or band for the entertainment, check first whether local noise ordinances require a permit or place restrictions on noise. Be nice to your neighbors and alert them about your party plan (heck, maybe even invite them to join in), and commit to a time when the band will unplug (though neighbors probably share in your joy, no doubt they’ll want to catch some Zs at some point). Find out from the DJ or band what their electricity needs are; you may have to rent portable generators to keep on rocking.
WHERE WILL EVERYONE PARK?
One of the lesser benefits to having a home wedding is that most of your guests will know how to get there, but you’ll still need some place to stow their wheels while you celebrate. Check civic ordinances to see if it’s okay to have a convoy of cars parked along your street (day and night rules may differ), and ask neighbors if they would be kind enough to loan their driveways as additional parking spaces. For large numbers of parkers, you may wish to consider hiring a valet service to handle all the autos or have guests park at a large nearby lot (school, mall, park-’n’-ride) and provide round-trip shuttle service to your home.
HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR BAD WEATHER?
The skies could be crystal blue one minute, dark and stormy the next. Because of Mother Nature’s unpredictability, it’s a smart idea to pitch a tent or some other form of shelter for your outdoor affair. Party tents are available to rent in all shapes, sizes, and materials (not all are waterproof; be sure to check) that can be chic or casual. In addition to coverage, you’ll also want to take temperature control into consideration. Tents and outdoor spaces can be cooled during the blaze of summer by using fans and portable air-conditioning units and kept warm in chillier months with tall patio or floor propane heaters. And don’t forget Mother Nature’s other foil-bugs. To help keep uninvited skeeters from attending your event, have the location sprayed two days before or surround the area with citronella candles.
WHICH WAY TO THE LOO?
Bathrooms. Not a pretty topic, but to avoid guests traipsing through the house, lines in the halls, and overworking the septic tank, renting Port-o-Sans is the, um, only way to go. One toilet usually serves 70 alcohol-swilling people for four hours (with flushers, they rent for about $225 apiece; without flushers, $150). Most popular at weddings today are the more upscale "restroom trailers," which have anywhere from two to ten toilets. These toilet trailers generally have lighting, sinks, heated water, even air-conditioning -- and can cost anywhere from $700 to $3,000 to rent. Be sure to beautify the bathroom with flowers and amenity baskets as you would at a standard reception site, and have enough toilet paper on hand for restocking.
WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS?
No plan is foolproof, which is why there’s insurance. If you’re having the wedding at someone else’s home, be sure to find out what their homeowner’s insurance covers -- you may want to purchase a supplemental policy that will defend you against any damages. If you’re having your wedding at your house, it’s a good idea to review what is covered in your own homeowner’s policy (usually, this covers any property that’s yours -- if your house is struck by lightening, for example). Let’s say your gown is damaged (Aunt Vera starts a kitchen fire and ignites your Italian lace). It’s considered personal property, and any damage would be covered. If your rented tent tears, however, it would not be covered, since it’s not your personal property. Gifts get stolen by party crashers? Depending on whose property they are at the time, they may or not be covered. In addition, liability insurance protects against claims against you (for a guest’s martini-fueled fall, for instance). When hiring vendors, it’s a good idea to make sure they also have their own insurance.
Reception Sites: A Wedding at Home We can’t resist saying it: There’s no place like home. For your wedding, that is. Picture saying your vows under the beloved oak tree you climbed as a kid, sipping cocktails among the roses of your mother’s garden, and dancing with Dad near the grove where he caught you locking lips with your eighth-grade boyfriend. Home (yours, your parents’, or a friend’s) is about the most meaningful wedding setting possible. Instead of trying to give a hotel ballroom or banquet that personal touch, look no further than your own backyard, and, as a bonus, there’s no location fee!
REALITY CHECK
Home weddings come with a special set of issues all their own. Unless you’re planning a very intimate wedding where guests will be dining off the family dishes and sitting on your dining room chairs, a home-style affair won’t necessarily save you money. Considering everything you’ll need to bring in for a smooth event, you might spend as much as you would renting a traditional site.
Ask yourself these questions before planning your home-sweet-home soiree:
IS THE SPACE SUITABLE?
How many people are on your guest list? Will there be enough room for a dining space, a bar, and a dance floor? Is there a large, open outdoor space to erect a tent? If you’d like to hold your ceremony and the reception at home, double-check that your officiant is willing to bestow his blessing outside your place of worship (some won’t; as an alternative, you may need to find a licensed wedding officiator). Is there a quiet, picturesque backdrop where you can say your vows far from the neighbor’s dog and hissing air conditioner?
WHAT DO I NEED TO RENT?
Think about everything you need to make guests comfortable. Where will they put their coats? (You may want to hire a coat check person.) Where will guests sit, and what will they eat on? Chances are, you don’t have a stadium-size stash of seating and dinnerware at home to accommodate the multitudes on your guest list, so you’ll have to import these items. Rental basics include tables, chairs, china (your caterer may bring this stuff along), napkins and other table linens, place settings, and barware. If you’re holding the majority of your event outdoors, you’ll need shelter, such as a tent, gazebo, or canopy (see below). Add a dance floor (to protect the grass and ladies’ high heels), and maybe some fun treats such as a disco ball, smoke machine, and candelabras. Got an in-ground pool? Make it the centerpiece of the party by renting a clear-top dance floor to cover it. Check with your caterer to see if you’ll need to rent coolers, roasters, or grills for cooking. Begin the search for rental companies early -- you’ll want to reserve equipment as early as six months before your event.
WHO’S IN CHARGE?
On home turf, you and your parents have the last word, but why bother Mom and Dad with a thousand wedding day details? Consider giving your parents the day off and hiring a professional wedding planner, or maybe your caterer (yes, you’ll need one of those; see below), to act as your ringleader. Don’t even think about doing it yourself -- you’ll want to savor every second of your special day unencumbered.
HOW WILL WE SERVE?
You may fancy yourself a young Julia Child, but trust us: Leave the planning and preparation of your wedding day feast to a caterer who specializes in off-site events. The idea is no distractions! Discuss how much of the food will actually be prepared at your home, what the kitchen and electricity requirements are, and how soon before the event he or she will require access to the site. Will there be staff to set up and run a bar, or do you need to book a separate bartender to serve drinks? If you insist on taking a do-it-yourself approach to food and drinks, choose a menu -- or decide on a theme -- and ask family and friends to contribute a dish to a potluck buffet. (Afterward, they can stay and help clean up!)
WHAT ABOUT DECORATIONS?
What features make your home special? Is it the huge house? An expansive lawn? A spectacular lake view? Don’t overdecorate: strut your home’s stuff and add special accents. Think about setting up displays of personal objects or photographs. Dress beloved pets in bows and let them have their normal run of the grounds (provided they’re people-friendly). Fill the house with flowers. For an evening event, lighting is crucial, both for safety and atmosphere, so you may want to hire a professional lighting designer. Otherwise, garden lamps, paper lanterns, and tiny white lights strung along tree branches conjure a warm and festive ambience.
HOW MUCH NOISE CAN WE MAKE?
What’s a wedding without dancing and unbridled whooping? Whether you select a DJ or band for the entertainment, check first whether local noise ordinances require a permit or place restrictions on noise. Be nice to your neighbors and alert them about your party plan (heck, maybe even invite them to join in), and commit to a time when the band will unplug (though neighbors probably share in your joy, no doubt they’ll want to catch some Zs at some point). Find out from the DJ or band what their electricity needs are; you may have to rent portable generators to keep on rocking.
WHERE WILL EVERYONE PARK?
One of the lesser benefits to having a home wedding is that most of your guests will know how to get there, but you’ll still need some place to stow their wheels while you celebrate. Check civic ordinances to see if it’s okay to have a convoy of cars parked along your street (day and night rules may differ), and ask neighbors if they would be kind enough to loan their driveways as additional parking spaces. For large numbers of parkers, you may wish to consider hiring a valet service to handle all the autos or have guests park at a large nearby lot (school, mall, park-’n’-ride) and provide round-trip shuttle service to your home.
HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR BAD WEATHER?
The skies could be crystal blue one minute, dark and stormy the next. Because of Mother Nature’s unpredictability, it’s a smart idea to pitch a tent or some other form of shelter for your outdoor affair. Party tents are available to rent in all shapes, sizes, and materials (not all are waterproof; be sure to check) that can be chic or casual. In addition to coverage, you’ll also want to take temperature control into consideration. Tents and outdoor spaces can be cooled during the blaze of summer by using fans and portable air-conditioning units and kept warm in chillier months with tall patio or floor propane heaters. And don’t forget Mother Nature’s other foil-bugs. To help keep uninvited skeeters from attending your event, have the location sprayed two days before or surround the area with citronella candles.
WHICH WAY TO THE LOO?
Bathrooms. Not a pretty topic, but to avoid guests traipsing through the house, lines in the halls, and overworking the septic tank, renting Port-o-Sans is the, um, only way to go. One toilet usually serves 70 alcohol-swilling people for four hours (with flushers, they rent for about $225 apiece; without flushers, $150). Most popular at weddings today are the more upscale "restroom trailers," which have anywhere from two to ten toilets. These toilet trailers generally have lighting, sinks, heated water, even air-conditioning -- and can cost anywhere from $700 to $3,000 to rent. Be sure to beautify the bathroom with flowers and amenity baskets as you would at a standard reception site, and have enough toilet paper on hand for restocking.
WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS?
No plan is foolproof, which is why there’s insurance. If you’re having the wedding at someone else’s home, be sure to find out what their homeowner’s insurance covers -- you may want to purchase a supplemental policy that will defend you against any damages. If you’re having your wedding at your house, it’s a good idea to review what is covered in your own homeowner’s policy (usually, this covers any property that’s yours -- if your house is struck by lightening, for example). Let’s say your gown is damaged (Aunt Vera starts a kitchen fire and ignites your Italian lace). It’s considered personal property, and any damage would be covered. If your rented tent tears, however, it would not be covered, since it’s not your personal property. Gifts get stolen by party crashers? Depending on whose property they are at the time, they may or not be covered. In addition, liability insurance protects against claims against you (for a guest’s martini-fueled fall, for instance). When hiring vendors, it’s a good idea to make sure they also have their own insurance.