Backyard Wedding Reception: Things to Remember

Having a backyard wedding can save a lot of costs on renting a venue. An added bonus is that if you put money into improving your own backyard for the wedding then you add value to your home and not all of the costs are a complete loss. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when you have a backyard wedding.

Below is a list of common wedding needs that many forget to account for when comparing a backyard wedding to renting a venue:

#1 Restrooms: It’s important to rent nice portable bathrooms. You don’t want all of that foot traffic in the house and 1-2 bathrooms is not enough for all of your guests (especially for large weddings). Royal Luxury Restrooms in Whittier is a great vendor for this.

#2 Electrical Power: Make sure you have enough power for your vendors to plug in their equipment. Ask your food vendors, DJ’s, and photobooths how much power they require and make sure to not plug them all in to the same breaker. Helpful tip: If you need more power and have friendly neighbors, perhaps ask to run an extension cord from their house, but be sure to invite them to the wedding too.

#3 Servers: If you aren’t hiring a full service caterer, then it’s important to hire servers to help with food set-up, food service, bartending, clearing tables, cutting and serving the cake, and emptying trash cans throughout the event. Spare Hands in Fullerton is a great company to hire for these services. 

#4 Parking: Have a plan for parking for your guests. Consider hiring a shuttle or valet drivers to get your guests to your backyard from a nearby parking lot. Party Bus Group in Garden Grove provides a lot of transportation options.

#5 Neighbors: Be proactive and notify your neighbors in advance that you will be having an event in your backyard. Even better invite them to join in and you can avoid noise complaints from the neighborhood. Also, be aware of your cities noise ordinances and quiet hours and end your event accordingly.

#6 Rentals: Don’t forget to rent enough tables, chairs, and linens for your guests. Yennis Party Rentals in Orange County can help you with all of your rental needs.

#7 Day-of Coordinator: Lastly don’t forget to hire a day-of coordinator to work with all of these vendors and make sure everything runs smoothly. Contact me for more planning tips or to get a quote for your wedding.

If you’re willing to put in the extra work to plan a backyard wedding, then go for it! You can potentially save money and spruce up your place to make it party ready for years to come!

Tipping Your Vendors: Who to Tip and How Much

I get asked this question all the time so hopefully this can answer some of your tipping questions and help you figure out tips for your wedding vendors. As a day-of wedding coordinator I can distribute these tips to your vendors so that you don’t have to worry about it on the day of. The easiest way is to put cash in envelopes and label them with the vendors name and company.

Make-Up Artist & Hair Stylists:

15-20% of the total bill

Baker:

A delivery tip of $10-$25

Florist:

15-20% of your order

Transportation:

15-20% of the total bill

Officiant:

$50-$200

Photographer/Videographer:

$50-$200 for each photographer and videographer.

Photobooth Attendant:

$50 per attendant

DJ:

$50-$200

Caterer Manager:

$2 per guest or $50 if they have been exceptionally helpful.

Servers:

$25-$50 per server

Bartender:

$50-$100

Day-of Coordinator/Planner:

10%-20% of fee or $100+

Just a reminder tips are ultimately up to your discretion and if you feel happy with the service. Most vendors who are on-site the day of are used to getting tips, but positive Yelp, Google, and Social Media reviews are also a big thank you to vendors! Just make sure that they feel appreciated for the hard work they put into your special day!

Wedding Planner Vs. Day-of Coordinator and Which is Best for You

Wedding Planner

A wedding planner helps you throughout the preparation of your entire wedding. They help with creating a budget, designing and sending invitations, booking a venue and all vendors—they will do the bulk of the work for you.  They also provide all of the services that a day-of coordinator would provide. Costs for a wedding planner could range from $3,000-$5,000 depending on the scope of your event.

Day-of Coordinator

A day-of coordinator is focused on the logistics of your big day and typically starts assisting you with final details about a month before your wedding day. They create your day-of timeline with you and confirm set-up times with your vendors that you have booked. They help coordinate rehearsal dinners and help with all logistics on the day-of so you or your family members don’t have to. Day-of coordinators can be a more affordable option compared to full-service wedding planners, costing between $800-1,600 on average.

Venue Coordinators

Venue coordinators are not the same as a day-of coordinator. They are provided by your venue and they are looking out for the venue’s best interest and deal with everything having to do with the facility—set-up, bathrooms, facility equipment, etc. You will most likely meet with the venue coordinator when you book the venue and their costs will be included in the booking price.

Which is Best for You

Choosing between hiring a wedding planner or day-of coordinator can depend on a couple of factors like your budget and time. Make sure you meet with potential planners/coordinators in person before you book them. You will be spending a lot of time with them and you want to make sure you get along and share the same style and vision that they do to ensure your wedding day goes the way you want it to.

By Kristina Freeman

Kristina Freeman is a day-of coordinator and the owner and founder of Perfectly Planned Occasion located in Orange County. She is a Type A personality who loves highlighters, sticky notes, clipboards, and planners. She has an attention for detail and loves helping brides execute their special day perfectly.