To follow up with a post from last week, I’d like to further discuss the costs of having a backyard wedding. I am finding it very common that brides are unsure of the actual cost of certain services and a tented outdoor wedding is no exception.

For the sake of ease, lets say this backyard wedding is for 100 guests.

The following equipment is absolutely necessary for an outdoor affair:

tent including poles and sidewalls $2000

tent for caterer                                        $150

13 60″ round tables                                $107

2 8 ft banquet tables (head table)        $16

5 cabaret tables (cocktails)                   $34

1 cake table                                                $7

1 8 ft gift table                                           $8

100 basic wood folding chairs             $375

13 linens for dinner tables                    $468

2 linens for head table                           $59

5 cocktail table linens                            $105

1 cake table linen                                    $23

1 gift table linen                                      $29

100 napkins                                             $60

dance floor                                               $475

portable restrooms                                 $1000

Total:                                                      $4916

Keep in mind that this is a ballpark figure and all the equipment (except for linens) is very basic. I also did not incorporate delivery and set up charges since they vary depending on the company and location but you can estimate at least $500 total.

Now that I have crunched the numbers for you go ahead and decide if an outdoor wedding is for you (and your budget!).

A bride planning a backyard wedding is a girl after my own heart. I love the atmosphere, intimacy and the endless possibilities of a backyard affair but what many people don’t understand is that you can’t just “throw up a tent.”

This post is by no means intended to deter anyone from hosting a backyard wedding, I just want to remind you all that is involved.

A backyard wedding requires a tent, tables, chairs, and possibly a dance floor, lighting, electricity, and portable restrooms. Doesn’t sound like much? Well, you are coordinating it all. There is no banquet manager to ensure that you have enough tables, chairs, linen, etc. or to help you with the layout of the dance floor or guest tables. With that said, hiring a good rental company is absolutely necessary. They will help you every step of the way but you need to stay organized and be the driving force for all of the communications and planning. Also, not only are you coordinating all of this during the planning stages you are also supervising set-up just days before your wedding.

There is one last thing. I try not to push on the blog that you should hire a Wedding Day Manager but here you must. When your wedding is at your (or parents’) home you will not be able to escape the mishaps that occur. I mean really, what are you going to do when the guest shuttle gets stuck in the mud, it begins to pour rain 5 minutes before your ceremony, or the portable restroom overflows? You will be panic stricken and you don’t need that on your wedding day.

If you are organized, up for a bit of a challenge and can handle a higher level of stress, by all means plan a backyard wedding (and have so much fun!).