At-Home Weddings: Why Saying “I Do” in Your Own Garden is the Ultimate Trend

Back Garden “I Do’s”:
The Rise of At-Home Weddings’

There’s something quietly magical about saying ‘I do’ under strings of fairy lights between apple trees, the scent of fresh air and wild flowers, and the low hum of familiar voices all whilst the sun sets on a warm summer’s evening. No grand isle, no travel to and from venues, and no extravagant ballroom chandeliers, just a garden that holds years of memories, gaining more meaningful and poignant memories. For many couples, an at-home garden ceremony feels less like a money-saving compromise and more like a personal and family-based event that brings all your loved ones together.

Not long ago, big venues and endless guest lists felt like the default or blueprint for a proper wedding, with hotels, estates, and country houses promising polish and prestigious ceremonies, often at the cost of intimacy and ease. However, in recent years, couples have started questioning the classic script, especially due to the pandemic. What began as a pandemic necessity has grown into something far more intentional, rather than being a backup for restrictions. Now it’s a choice for couples who are craving personal, meaningful celebrations and want to prioritise connection, redefining what a wedding can look like.

Backup plan to the first choice

During lockdown, life was put on pause. Shops closed down, holidays were cancelled, and weddings were moved forward. However, as restrictions were slightly lifted, a new kind of wedding ceremony revealed itself as the perfect solution for those who wanted to get married, but couldn’t go to a church or reception. This is when backyard weddings surged in popularity as a way to get around restrictions, whilst still being able to have a small and intimate family event.

Fast forward a few years, and backyard weddings are still gaining popularity, with couples realising that they enjoy the smaller guest lists, relaxed timelines, and meaningful special moments for their special day. This demand for more intimate family moments, paired with the consistently rising wedding costs, also made it an obvious choice for couples who didn’t want to break the bank for their wedding or face burnout from months and months of planning. This has placed at home weddings as a conscious decision in recent years rather than a compromise.

Creative freedom and emotional value

Emotional value

What makes back garden weddings so compelling isn’t just their charm; it’s the emotional weight the space already carries. Family gardens and personal spaces aren’t just blank canvases; they’re layered with memories, whether that be childhood birthday parties, hot summer days, sunbathing, or cold New Year’s night fireworks. For other couples, it’s the place where they first bought each other a home to meet their parents for the first time.

Getting married in a space like this adds depth to a celebration that’s impossible to manufacture elsewhere, making the ceremony feel genuine and lived-in. When vows are spoken in familiar surroundings often land differently, heavier, and morehonest. Because the space itself tells a story. There’s less pressure to put on a show when you’re in a space that is already meaningful, so you have time to be more present.

Creative freedom

At-home weddings allow couples op through tradition out of the window in favour of their own personal preferences. Instead of working on the schedule of the venue or church that they attend, couples can organise the day exactly as they want it. This freedom extends to decoration and vendors, where couples can let their creativity run wild with unique layouts, DIY touches such as hand-made signs and centre pieces, casual seating arrangements, and food that actually reflects your personal tastes. This freedom leads to weddings feeling authentic to the couple and also unique, so your day truly feels yours.

The not-so-Instagram side of at-home weddings

Of course, as dreamy as backyard weddings look on Instagram, they do come with their own set of realities. When your backyard becomes a venue, you suddenly become responsible for everything a traditional venue would normally handle behind the scenes, so you have to spend time and money hiring toilets for the garden, turning your conservatory conversion into a bar, and clearing up the next day. The weather also becomes a big issue, meaning that you must have rain, wind, and heat plans for whatever the weather your big day brings.

In addition to parking, local restrictions, noise levels, catering, and the structure of the day, all need to be meticulously planned. This can feel stressful when thinking about it, which is why many couples choose to employ a wedding planner or an on-the-day co-ordinator even for very small weddings. Having someone else to help with logistics allows families to relax, couples to stay present, and the celebration to unfold without feeling like a project.

Final thoughts

In the end, back garden weddings remind us that love doesn’t need a grand stage; it just needs a space where life has already been lived and shared. Whilst at-home celebrations won’t suit everyone, the sentiment behind them feels everlasting.

As you plan for your outdoor summer wedding, you want everything to be perfect.

Summer is the perfect season to host an outdoor wedding. Weather conditions are warm and generally drier compared to other seasons.

4 Must-Haves for an Outdoor Summer Wedding

Backyard Readiness Checklist

FAQ for At-Home Weddings

Outdoor Vendor Hiring Guide: FAQ

Photo by Emma Bauso