Low-Key Backyard Wedding Ideas for the 2021 Wedding Season

by John Griffith
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Who doesn’t love a big wedding? Having all of you friends and family around with a big party celebrating your love sounds amazing, right? Well, unfortunately, lots of people have had to adjust their wedding expectations this past year. Though many people have opted to postpone their weddings, some have decided to embrace the smaller, more intimate experience. So, with the summer season approaching and it being the preferred wedding season, we have decided to offer a solution. If you don’t want to cancel or postpone one of the most important days of your life, we have a few backyard wedding ideas, which might definitely work for you! You might think that a backyard wedding is too simple for you, but after you see our ideas, you will understand that even the most understated decor can be magical!

A backyard wedding is a very intimate experience

arrangements of flowers in front and on top of wood tablebackyard wedding placed on green grass field

How to plan a backyard wedding?

Planning a wedding is always a daunting task, but having it in your back yard might make it just a tad bit easier. First of all, if you have decided to take up organizational duties make sure that you enlist some help from your closest friends and family. Organizing a wedding can be very stressful, especially if you are the bride, so you will definitely need the support. The second thing to think about is the budget. If you have bigger budget and a small back yard, you can always rent a large beach house, for example and use their back yard. If you have a smaller budget, however, you back yard can turn into just as a magical place as any other. Plan ahead, give assignments to people you trust and don’t forget to have fun.

Assign tasks to your closest friends to help you organize the wedding

arrangements of flowers in the middle of long table with white table cloth rustic wedding ideas strings of lights hanging above

What do you need for a backyard wedding?

Once you start planning you will have to pay attention to a few very important must haves for your backyard wedding.

Backyard wedding ideas for every weather

Everyone prays for nice weather on their wedding day, but everyone also needs to have a plan B, just in case. For garden weddings your best bet for any type of weather is to set up a tent. On one hand, if it is sunny and hot, the tent might keep you cool and can keep the sunshine away. On the other hand, if it is raining you and your guests will be protected and can keep enjoying the party without worrying about getting wet. Before you plan on the size of the tent, make sure you know the number of guests you are going to have. The good news is that there are plenty of spaces which provide tents for hire.

Tents are the perfect solution for any weather

bar stools next to high tables under tent made of white curtains outdoor wedding decorations greenery hanging from the top

Set up the space where the ceremony is going to be held

Every bride needs an aisle. So, pick a spot, set up a few rows of chairs and start thinking about decoration. Once again, it is worth noting that if the weather is not on your side, this space can be under the tent you have already set up. However, if the weather is nice, it is good to have the ceremony separate from the place where the party is going to be. A lot of people choose to set up the ceremony under an old, tall tree to use as a centerpiece. If your back yard has one of them, you are definitely lucky. Not only is it going to give the wedding a focal point, but it will also provide some shade for your guests, as well as yourself.

The aisle doesn’t need to be super fancy, because all eyes will be on you any way

arrangements of garden flowers along the pathway backyard wedding chairs on both sides

Backyard wedding lighting ideas

The lighting is extremely important. Having an outside wedding means that you may not have enough access to electricity and plugs, which is why you need to plan for lighting ahead. Undoubtedly the most popular means of lighting are strings of lights and fairy lights. You can often see trees wrapped in fairy lights and strings of lights hanging above the tables and dancefloor from trees. This is not only a great way to provide enough light at your wedding, but these tyme of lights provide a warm glowing, intimate light, which is going to feel very romantic. Furthermore, you can add some lanterns and candlesticks on the tables for extra romance.

Lighting is very important in any outdoor wedding

backyard wedding decorations tree wrapped with strings of lights table underneath with floral centerpiece

Backyard wedding decorations

The good thing about having a backyard wedding is that you already have the beauty of nature at your disposal. The only thing that you need to do is add to it. Of course, as is the case with any type of wedding, flowers are a must have. Whether as centerpieces, decorations on the arch for the ceremony, or simply hanging from flower pots from the tent ceiling, flowers need to be in the decorations. Pampass grass is especially popular when it comes to these rustic, boho style weddings. Another very popular way to incorporate nature is with greenery table runners. That way your tables will look minimalistic, yet super gorgeous. To be honest, when it comes to decorating outside, flowers, greenery and fairy lights might be all that you need.

Keep the decor simple, being around nature means that half of the decor is already done

flower arrangements all over entrance to tent diy wedding ideas lots of round tables under the tent

Use food as additional decor

Having backyard wedding is a very intimate experience. That is why, the best way to serve food is with banquet tables. The good news is you can use these tables as additional decor. Set up a desserts table where you can place the wedding cake along with all other sweets. Add a few flower bouqets and you have a gorgeous centerpiece. Same goes for the savory tables. Adding decorations to them, adds to the overall look of the wedding venue. Another great idea is to have a charcuterie table with all kinds of cheese, fruits, dips and appetizers. This will give you a more classy, elegant look.

Use desserts as additional decor

backyard wedding ideas dessert table with cake covered with white frosting and apple pie

Just look at this rich, fancy table

charcuterie table with different types of cheese fruits veggies dips bread backyard wedding ideas

Backyard wedding ideas for the outside bar

Well, it is no secret that every wedding needs an open bar. So, take the bar outside. Set up a bar just as you would a banquet table. Here you have two options. The first options is to have everything ready for people to just take. Drinks such as beer and water can be stored in a container filled with ice. On the other hand, use pitchers for wine and cocktails. And, if you are dealing with a hot day a lemonade table would be something your guests will love. The other option is to have an actual bartender prepare the drinks for you guests. Choice is yours!

Who doesn’t love an open bar

drinks bar outside with wood tables sign with lights backyard wedding strings of lights hanging above

Set up a lounge area

Setting up a nice lounge area with a cool backdrop can be a great place for pictures. What’s more, it can be a place for people to relax and talk away from the party. Furthermore, it can be a place for people to wait between the ceremony, the photoshoot and the actual party, Another reason why you should have a lounge area is so that you and your new significant other can escape the wedding at least for a little while. Set up a nice sofa with a few armchairs, you can also add a nice carpet for a little fanciness and you are all set.

Set up a cool lounge area for people who want to escape the party at least for a little while

simple wedding decorations lounge area with large white sofa two brown velvet armchairs

Another lounge area idea for a rustic backyard wedding

backyard wedding lounge space for photos made of hay with colorful blanket and throw pillows

Now keep scrolling through our photo gallery for even more backyard wedding ideas

backyard wedding reception wood arch with flowers bride and groom in front of it white rose petals along the aisle blue table cloths on tall tables with spring flowers in the middle rustic wedding ideas blue sofas in the background bouquets of spring flowers in the middle of long table surrounded by chairs backyard wedding ideas strings of lights hanging above

Sparkle it up with the help of your guests

bride and groom kissing backyard wedding decorations people standing around them holding sparklers bride and groom walking on green grass field home wedding ideas lots of trees in the background colorful flower bouquets on long table with white cloth on it backyard wedding decorations vintage benches around it colorful glasses and flowers on two long tables under strings of lights hanging from trees diy wedding ideas

Create the wedding of your dreams in just 5 steps

creative backyard wedding ideas list backyard wedding reception lights bar centerpieces lounge area banquet tables dessert table four layer cake decorated with pink roses and tulips simple wedding decorations

Here’s how to use an old, beautiful tree as a centerpiece for the ceremony

diy wedding ideas bride and groom standing in front of large tree tent set up in front of it dried flower bouquets on long table with white cloth outdoor wedding decorations tall trees in the background

Provide blankets in case your guests get chilly

favors for wedding diy wedding ideas blankets for guests macrame planters hanging from the tent

Or use heating lamps and fire pits

fire pits heat lamps set up next to benches simple wedding decorations strings of lights hanging above them floral table runner on vintage table with vintage chairs around it backyard wedding decorations under white tent flower arch made with fern plants greenery and white flowers backyard wedding reception flower arrangements and mini lemon trees in the middle of the table outdoor wedding decorations wedding centerpiece flower bouquets hanging from the ceiling of large tent outside wedding ideas long table under it flower bouquets on wood table with lots of chairs strings of lights hanging above it rustic wedding ideas placed on green grass field

Coordinate your outside wedding decorations with the area in which the wedding is being held

hawaiian style wedding outside wedding ideas pineapples used as centerpieces with rattan furniture home wedding ideas metal table filled with ice small bottles of moet with straws water bottles long table with large flower bouquets in the middle backyard wedding decorations strings of lights hanging from trees

You don’t need a ton of decorations if you have this type of view

long table with lots of people sitting around it outdoor wedding decorations strings of lights on both sides lots of lanterns arranged on both sides of the aisle next to chairs simple wedding decorations bride and groom in the middle lounge area under a gazebo with white curtains and fairy lights home wedding ideas sofa and armchairs macramé planters white curtains hanging from wood poles diy wedding ideas boho style garden wedding mrs and mr personalized chair signs outside wedding ideas tables arranged under strings of lights outdoor wedding decorations entrance arch with white curtains and flowers leading to tent with tables under it pool wedding home wedding ideas bride and groom standing next to the pool releasing white balloons rustic wedding ideas arch with flowers table underneath lots of chairs placed under large tree

Have seating charts ready for when your guests arrive

table cards arranged inside wood frame backyard wedding reception decorated with white flowers white curtain wrapped around wooden arch simple wedding decorations flower arrangement on the side white table cloths on round tables arranged under strings of lights backyard wedding reception minimalistic decor wood table and chairs home wedding ideas floral table runner and tall centerpieces with white and pink roses

John Griffith
John Griffith

John Griffith is a young, passionate journalist. Writing has been John’s hobby ever since he was a boy. He has worked in some of the UK’s most successful news portals over the course of his professional career but found his forever home at Archzine.

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