Backyard Wedded Bliss

backyard wedded bliss Planning an Intimate Wedding at Home Planning an Intimate Wedding at Home by: JuLie bArnes

Call it Plan B for “backyard.”

Angela Hodel from Imagine Events, a Saskatchewanbased event planner, had a full calendar of weddings booked in early 2020. By spring, 95 per cent of those weddings were postponed or cancelled due to COVID. The nuptials that went ahead became more intimate, al fresco affairs from the comfort of her clients’ backyards.

“We did a handful of backyard weddings because a lot of people were still holding out to see if they were going to be able to have the larger wedding they had originally envisioned,” says Angela. “I think we’ll see a lot more backyard weddings in 2021 because we are still going to be managing COVID for the foreseeable future.”

Hosting your wedding at home is a budget-friendly option, says Angela. “The other thing is, it’s really nice to have that intimate feel. You don’t necessarily have to go anywhere—you can literally just get ready in your house and then walk outside and you’re at the party.”

Shelter, Power and Sanitation

It might seem simpler than a wedding at a traditional venue with a 300+ guest list, but “there are a lot of logistical things behind the scenes that people don’t consider when they are hosting it in their own yard,” says Angela.

It’s not always a nice day for a white wedding in Saskatchewan, so having a tent or another form of shelter for inclement weather is one of the first items Angela discusses with her couples.

“Does the tent need to be staked to the ground and are there power lines below? If you are hiring a DJ to play music for your ceremony, do you have adequate power to run the DJ’s equipment? If you have a caterer bringing in food, does it need to be kept hot? Will they need power?” The backyard weddings Angela oversaw last summer ranged in size from 10 to 30 people, a figure that changed as SHA guidelines evolved. She says couples need to consider if they

Even with a small backyard wedding, many of Angela’s clients rent chairs for a polished, unified look.

This archway formed the backdrop to one couple’s ceremony. are comfortable with their guests entering their home to use the washroom, or if they’d rather rent a portable restroom they can park in their driveway.

Angela’s backyard weddings also included sanitation stations. “They’ve got hand sanitizer, masks and hand-washing stations for people to use as they are coming into the wedding,” she says. “Even with all close family and friends, it’s really important to follow all those safety measures.”

Clear Communication

Making your guests feel at ease about COVID safety measures starts with clear communication ahead of the big day, says Angela. It’s important to stay on top of the ever-evolving guidelines and ensure everyone understands them.

Last summer, that meant that Angela’s couples had to advise their guests in advance that everyone would have to wear a mask unless they were seated at their table, and that guests couldn’t mingle with people outside their household bubble. Tables and chairs for the ceremony and dinner were set up to ensure six-feet of distance between bubbles. Dances weren’t permitted, but some brides and grooms chose to include a first dance as a newly married couple.

Virtual Vows

Under normal circumstances, Emily Post would certainly not have approved of rescinding a wedding invitation. But today’s wedding guests are empathetic to the uncertainties of changing COVID protocol. Incorporating a virtual component to your wedding is a way to include family and friends who can’t be there in person to celebrate with you.

Angela recommends including a separate information card with your invitations, stating, “Due to COVID restrictions we may have to downsize. Should that happen, please join us and virtually celebrate our wedding on this date.” Couples can create the link to the virtual wedding in advance, and include it on the card.

“A lot of people use platforms like Zoom or Facebook Live,” says Angela. She recommends having one person who is dedicated to operating it, “so you are

Photo Credits: Girl Boss Photography Wedding ceremony seating is set up to ensure six feet of space between household bubbles.

Cupcakes are a popular option for wedding desserts. They are easily individually pre-packaged for guests. DIY Décor: The couple who hosted this early spring backyard wedding handled all the décor themselves.

not having to worry about it. It’s usually a family member or friend because the couple wants to make sure they’re not giving away a seat to a stranger.”

Facebook Live broadcasts your event, allowing your virtual guests to witness your wedding, but not interact. If you’d like these remote guests to participate, by offering a toast for example, interactive platforms like Zoom are a better fit, Angela says. “It’s definitely a great way to keep other people engaged.”

“I recommend, maybe a week before, just testing it out so people know what it looks like and they can effectively take part,” she adds. “If you are doing Zoom, send out a link a week ahead of time so people can sign in and you can show them how to use it so that you’re not having to mitigate those issues on the day of the wedding.”

Testing the software from your planned outdoor event space will also help you verify if you have a strong enough internet connection to use it efficiently.

eat, Drink and Be married

Food and drink guidelines are subject to change, but regardless of the rules, no one wants to see Uncle Steve speaking moistly over the sliders. In 2020, all food and drink had to be served to seated guests—self-serve buffets were a no-no.

Although most of Angela’s clients had a cake-cutting photo taken, those couples didn’t serve the cake to guests. “A lot of people ordered cupcakes, or had pre-packaged desserts,” she says. “It’s almost like wedding favours—you’re putting them at guests’ place settings and that is their wedding dessert. It’s been pre-packaged by the cake baker.”

Even with smaller weddings, it’s the reception that usually requires a few rentals. Most of Angela’s clients had to rent items like tables, chairs, linen tablecloths, dishes, glassware and cutlery.

making memories

Although Angela doesn’t envision the backyard wedding replacing larger

Photo Credit: Vanessa Lanktree Photoraphy

weddings at a rented venue, she says “we’ll definitely see a lot more micro weddings going forward.”

She thinks small, backyard weddings will be a continuing trend throughout 2021.

“When you have 300 guests, your attention is pulled in lots of different directions and you’re trying to get around to everybody and say hello,” she says. “It’s really quite difficult to do.”

Her clients who host smaller gatherings end up with a more memorable experience, “because they get to interact with those same 15 to 20 people for multiple hours. A lot of couples rave about it because it’s an experience that they typically wouldn’t have that allows them to celebrate one of the most special days of their lives with a very key group of people—their close family and friends.”

Julie Barnes