How Much Does a Backyard Wedding Cost? How to Save Money

Whether you're an engaged couple preparing for your wedding or want to celebrate your decade together with a backyard wedding anniversary party, a backyard wedding can be a great idea. It is widely appreciated because it is less expensive and has a flexible schedule compared to weddings in typical venues.

So you must be wondering about the backyard wedding cost. Well, you have come to the right place. This blog will cover the average cost of backyard weddings and factors that affect them, helping you have a memorable backyard wedding within your budget.

Average Cost of Backyard Wedding

We're thrilled to tell you that the average cost of a backyard wedding is usually between $8,000 and $16,000, which is a great price for such a special day.

Backyard weddings do not require a rented venue, so they save some money, but they also require expenses for an officiant, wedding make-up and styling, and more.

Typical Expense for a Backyard Wedding

Read on to learn what factors affect backyard wedding prices and backyard wedding cost breakdowns. This will help you understand the cost components and ensure that you don't go over budget.

Backyard Wedding Tent

Even if it's in your back garden, you'll still need something to protect your wedding from the elements and keep things running smoothly. The clever one should immediately come to mind - a backyard wedding tent!

With outdoor wedding trends, it's no coincidence that clear top wedding tents are always to be found in wedding venues.

The clear top tent stands out from the crowd with its transparent canopy. Unlike enclosed indoor spaces, the transparent canopy allows couples and guests to be fully immersed in their surroundings and enjoy the beauty of natural light or the starry sky. It creates an elegant and romantic atmosphere for the wedding.

Not only does the clear top wedding tent add a chic visual effect to the wedding, but it can also be decorated and furnished according to the couple's preferences and theme.

There are lots of things that affect the price of a wedding tent. We can give you the price of the clear top tent as a rough guide. The 20x20 square foot clear top tent costs $3829.99, while the 20x30 square foot is $5023.99.

If you want more info about how much a tent costs, contact us for a free consultation.

Rentals

When hosting a backyard wedding, you may need to rent the following items. Costs are for reference only and vary on a case-by-case basis:

• Tables and Chairs

The table and chairs in your home may be adequate, but they are less refined. A set of wedding tables and chairs (including a table, ten chairs, beautiful tablecloths and chair covers) costs about $85 to $250.

• Tableware

Fine cutlery will enhance the look of the wedding.

Types: plates, knives, forks, wine glasses.

Cost: about $4-10 per set.

The above two items need to be prepared according to the number of guests.

• Sound Equipment

Type: Microphone, Speakers

Cost: Approximately $100-$500.

• Tent

Renting a wedding tent may be more appropriate for a wedding and less expensive than purchasing one, typically between $300-$1,500, depending on size.

Celebrant

Getting married requires someone who can legally officiate your wedding and file the paperwork. The going rate for hiring a wedding celebrant is usually somewhere between $250 and $500.

It's fair to say that the more well-known or experienced officiants usually charge more. The market price varies from region to region. If you expect the officiant to offer other services (like planning or music), the fee may be higher.

When you're looking for an officiant, it's a good idea to compare in advance to make sure you find someone reliable who fits your budget.

Decor

Tent decorations like Flowers, balloons, and lights are an integral part of a wedding. Wedding flower decorations include things like bouquets and boutonnieres, which cost about $50-$200 per set; and backdrop decorations and other decorations, which cost about $500-$1,000 overall.

These prices can vary depending on the type of flowers and style of decorations chosen.

Balloons are a more time-consuming yet less expensive decoration that can be made for as little as $50. As the wedding is in the backyard, there's plenty of time to get some balloons to decorate the space. You could even ask some kids to help you.

The cost of backyard wedding lighting includes basic lighting (such as string lights) for around $100 - $500; whereas professional lighting such as spotlights and stage lights costs more, around $300 - $1,500, so we would suggest that this can be included in the rental checklist.

Alternatively, if you've chosen a clear top wedding tent that lets in natural light, it will cut down on some of your lighting costs.

Catering

Food and drink for guests are a big expense for most weddings. A formal dinner can cost $80-$150 per guest, including food, drink service, and other costs. It's a good idea to get a professional bartender to serve drinks, as in some places, it might not be allowed to have your DIY bar at a wedding.

The average cost of wedding cupcakes is around $630 for 100 cupcakes. So, you can save money by making wedding cupcakes by yourselves.

Make up

We think it's worth spending $260 to hire a professional stylist for your wedding. She can tailor make-up and hair solutions to suit your style, and wedding theme to ensure you look your best on this special day.

You can also spend a little extra to ask her to help family members with their styling, so they can enjoy the big moment, too.

Attire

The most anticipated part of the wedding is the bride's dress, and that means a lot of money. The average price of a wedding dress is $2,000 with a pair of sparkling wedding shoes. The groom also needs to prepare a proper suit and shoes, which can cost up to $1,000 or more, but they can also be worn for formal occasions later.

Since bridesmaids' dresses are used sparingly, they can be rented or the bridesmaids can wear their own dresses in colors that match your wedding dress.

Important Additional Cost of Backyard Wedding

In addition to the eight typical backyard wedding expenses listed above, there are some important extras:

• Planner: $500 - $2,000

A dedicated planner is essential for an enjoyable and relaxed backyard wedding experience.

• Photographer: $2,000 - $3,000

With a backyard wedding, it's natural to need a professional photographer to document your wedding and create memories.

• Entertainment: $500 - $2,000

Weddings need some entertainment to get everyone in the mood. For example, the average cost for a DJ is $1,500.

• Stationery: $200 - $350

You can design and print your own invitations, menus, and table name tags.

• Bathroom: $100 - $500

Instead of having guests walking back and forth across your house to use the bathroom, rent a portable toilet.

• Air conditioner: $200 - $600

Rent an air conditioner to keep your guests warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

• Power supply: $100 - $300

You will need to hire an extra generator to ensure you have enough power.

• Party favors: $2 - $10 per person

Small gifts such as sweets, and sachets to thank guests for attending.

Sample of Budget-friendly Backyard Wedding Cost Breakdown

The prices we've given you for backyard weddings are just average, so they might not be the cheapest option. We'll show you a sample cost breakdown for an affordable backyard wedding with 50 guests as an example.

According to the table's plan, the total cost of a backyard wedding would be only $9,600, not even more than $10,000. The exact implementation may increase, but not too much.

Is Backyard Wedding Really Cheaper Than Venue Wedding?

Backyard weddings are cheaper than venue weddings because you don't have to pay for a venue, most traditional venues charge a thousand dollars.  And you can usually avoid some venue restrictions.

However, these savings often depend on individual resources and preparations, such as adequate backyard space, available furniture and decorations, and your crafting abilities.

And, backyard weddings aren't always cheap. Even if you don't pay for a venue, you may still need to consider renting a tent, bathrooms, etc. The necessary expenses of a backyard wedding can be about the same as the traditional wedding, so it's important to consider your overall budget when planning a backyard wedding.

If you want a backyard wedding on a limited budget, here are some money-saving tips:

• You can save the cost of a professional photographer by asking a friend who is good at photography to take photos.

• Ask a friend to be a wedding celebrant to save on the cost of hiring one. They can legally officiate the wedding through an ecumenical appointment.

• Use Canva to design your e-invitations and avoid printing costs.

Conclusion

Backyard weddings can save you money on renting a venue, but the cost of a backyard wedding depends on several factors. There are ways you can cut costs, though, so it's worth looking into.

We hope your backyard wedding will be a great experience and that you'll have some wonderful memories to look back on. If you're on the hunt for the perfect tent for your backyard wedding, please contact us!