A backyard wedding can be a gorgeous, intimate celebration. With the right planning, you can host a beautiful event in your own outdoor space. But how much does it really cost to host a backyard wedding? Depending on location, number of guests, décor, catering, and other factors, prices can vary greatly. We’ll break down the typical costs associated with backyard weddings and offer tips for hosting a wedding on a budget.
One of the biggest advantages of hosting a backyard wedding is avoiding venue rental costs, which often run into the thousands of dollars. However, that doesn’t mean there are no venue-related costs. Lighting, restrooms, electricity, and parking all need to be considered.
If you don’t have toilets in your home’s backyard for guests to use, you may need to rent portable toilets for the event. Prices range from $75 to $150 per toilet. Make sure you provide enough portable toilets for the number of guests. Parking may also be an issue if you don’t have enough space in your own home. You may need to arrange for off-site parking and shuttle guests. Evening events often require additional lighting.LED lights are a popular option and cost around $200 for a basic setup. Catering, music, and lighting all require power. If there are no electrical outlets in the yard, you may need to use a generator. It’s also wise to have a backup rain plan, which may mean using a large wedding tent or moving the wedding indoors.
When these items are taken into account, the potential cost of a backyard wedding venue is budgeted between $1,000 and $3,000. Carefully evaluate your venue ahead of time to anticipate and prepare for any needs.
Catering Costs
Providing food and beverages for your guests makes up a large portion of most wedding budgets. Backyard weddings are no exception. The cost of catering depends on the following factors
Type of menu (buffet, catering table, seating, food truck, etc.)
Number and selection of dishes
Type of cuisine (formal, casual, dietary preferences)
Bar service (beer/wine only or full liquor bar)
Number of guests
Rental, staffing, insurance and other service costs
A formal prix fixe menu may cost $80-$150 per guest, including food, service and rental fees. A more casual buffet menu can reduce the cost per person to $20-$60. Food trucks offer a flexible, affordable catering option that simplifies logistics and costs about $15 to $35 per guest. Beer and wine only at the bar typically costs $15 to $35 per guest, while a full open bar costs $20 to $60 per guest.
For a backyard wedding with 100 guests, expect catering costs to range from $2,000 to $15,000+ depending on your menu and specialities. Get quotes from several caterers to compare prices.
To set up a 100-person backyard wedding, plan on spending
Tables and chairs: $300-$1,000
100 to $300 for plates, glassware and cutlery
Lighting $100 to $500
Toilet trailer $100 to $300
Wedding tent, if needed
Decorating costs
From flowers and signage to altar backdrops and dance floors, decorating is key to transforming your everyday backyard into a wedding venue. Create a cohesive aesthetic based on your taste and the character of your backyard. Spend 10-15% of your total wedding costs on decorations.
For a 100-person backyard wedding, expect to spend
Flowers (bouquets, centerpieces, ceremony arch, etc.) $300-$3000
Signage (welcome sign, bar sign, buffet sign, escort cards) $200-$1000
Lighting (string lights, lanterns, walkways) $100-$500
Ceremony decorations (altar, arches, aisles, chairs, programmes) $100-$600
100-$500 for wedding reception decorations (linens, centrepieces, placemats, napkins)
Dance floor $100-$300
Cost of clothing
Wedding clothing and accessories are one of the more important personal expenses. But you can control this by making smart choices.
Bridal gowns typically cost $1,000 to $2,000, though backyard brides can find gorgeous gowns for under $500. Consider casual styles such as tea-length and beach dresses rather than elaborate gowns. Buy at sample sales and wedding dress resale sites to get a significant discount off the retail price.
Grooms can wear more casual suits or trousers with a button-down shirt and tie/bowtie for a total of between $200 and $600. Bridesmaids’ dresses average $100 to $250 each, depending on fabric and level of formality. Simplifying accessories such as shoes and jewellery can save money. If appropriate, couples can even wear what they already own.
Other Costs
Additional costs such as photography, flowers, and gifts should be included in the backyard wedding budget. These items cost approximately 5-10% of the total cost:
Photography: $1,500-$5,000+ depending on time of day, product and number of photographers
Videography: $1,000-$3,500+ depending on length, length of highlight film, number of videographers
Wedding Cake: $300-$700+ depending on portion size, design details
Stationery (invitations, signage, programmes): $300-$1,000
Wedding Planner: $1,500-$5,000+ for partial or full planning services
Wedding Licence: $50-$150+, depending on location
Wedding Insurance: $200-$500+ for liability coverage
Hair/Makeup: $100-$150 per service
Wedding bands: $300-$5,000+ per ring
Gifts for wedding party, family, etc.: $300-$3,000
Rehearsal dinner: $1,500-$5,000+ depending on formality and size of group
The exact cost of a backyard wedding depends on the location, format, rentals required, menu, and other factors.
