Ideas for a Backyard Wedding

The very first wedding I ever attended as an invited guest rather than part of the family was held in a backyard that I knew like back of my hand. I'd grown up in that backyard with the bride's brother, my best friend, but on the morning of Sandy's wedding it was transformed into a delightful bower. The backyard wedding decorations includes banks of roses and fluttering ribbons that lined an aisle between white chairs and led to a romantic gazebo where she and her husband to be said their vows. I've been in love with the idea of backyard weddings ever since.

If you're lucky enough to have the sort of backyard where you can have a wedding - or to have a friend who's willing to lend you one - there are dozens of ideas for a backyard wedding that you can adapt to your own unique style. Some of my favorite ideas for a backyard wedding suit any wedding from the most formal (a formal backyard wedding? You bet!) to a backyard barbecue wedding. Others are meant for a certain time of day, or style. There are ideas for decorating for backyard weddings, for music and for wedding favors and activities

To transform a backyard lawn into a bountiful wedding bower, turn to a local tent rental company. You can rent a simple wedding arch, or a dozen to form a rose-covered aisle for the bride's walk to the altar. The choice of tents is truly amazing. A classic billowing white bridal tent, trimmed with fluttering satin ribbons and decorated with floral medallions can create a formal space for the most elegant bride, or welcome a medieval wedding party to a festive feast.

If the wedding will run into the evening, string rows of Japanese globe lanterns around the main wedding area, and transform the darker perimeter with miniature Christmas lights in pure white. If the wedding is more casual, use tiki torches around the perimeter of the yard - with citronella candles to keep the mosquitoes at bay.

You may choose a full wedding tent - or just a canopy in case of rain or to provide shade for your guests during the day, but do be sure to provide some cover just in case. If nothing else, the buffet and banquet tables should be under cover to protect them from the sun.

Food for backyard weddings can be anything from a catered sit-down dinner to a barbecue to 'bring-a-dish-to-share'. One of the beauties of having your wedding in your own backyard is that you can be comfortable and at home in the setting - and so can your guests. No matter what kind of spread you decide upon, though, be sure to provide plenty of seating and table space. Especially if you're not having a sit-down meal, your guests will need places to put down their plates and glasses when it's time to applaud the bride and groom.

At the end of the evening, celebrate the beginning of the newlywed's life together with something really spectacular. The Chinese traditionally send off the new couple in a shower of firecrackers to start off their new life with the sparkle of fire and noise. Is there a more fitting and romantic end to a wonderful backyard wedding than fireworks lighting up the sky with congratulations to the new bride and groom?

That's only a sampling of ideas for backyard weddings. Your local florist and events rental agent can offer dozens more - between them and your own imagination, you're sure to turn a handful of ideas for backyard weddings into the wedding of your dreams.