Pros and Cons of Having a Wedding at Home
Whenever I think about a bride getting married at her family home, it reminds me of the movie "Father of the Bride".
On the one hand, it is such a sentimental and meaningful place to tie the knot, and on the other hand, it is such an enormous undertaking! Take a look at the pros and cons of having a wedding at home to help you decide if it is right for you.
Pro: A Wedding at Home Is Personal and Unique.
What place could mean more to you than the one where you live or where you grew up? Imagine yourself putting on your wedding gown and pearl bridal jewelry in your childhood bedroom and then having your father escort you down the aisle.
If you are getting misty eyed just thinking about it, a home wedding could be perfect for you.
Con: A Wedding at Home Is Expensive.
People often assume that getting married in their own backyard will be less costly than having a reception at a country club or a hotel, but rarely is that the case.
While traditional wedding venues include a lot of your needs (tables, chairs, linens, dishes, etc.
), when you have a reception at home, you have to rent every last thing you need, right down to spoons and salt shakers.
And don't forget the generators for the caterer and the band, the tent, the dance floor, and the portable restrooms.
If you add in landscaping and possibly a fresh coat of paint for the exterior of the house, getting married at home will end up costing you more than going with a traditional reception site.
Pro: Any Date You Want Will Be Available.
One of the great things about having your wedding on your own property is that you know that any date you want is available.
You won't be competing with half the brides in town to book the third Saturday in June at a popular reception site.
And just think of all the time you will save inspecting different venues and trying to find one that you like.
Con: You Will Have to Deal With Permits and Ordinances.
Do you know if your town has a noise ordinance? You had better find out, unless you want the police to show up at your door to pull the plug on your d.
j.
at 10:02 pm.
Large gatherings may also require special permits from your town, and there will certainly be regulations about parking.
The chances are slim that you can get away with having one hundred cars parked on the lawn in your suburban neighborhood! It is a really good idea to hire a wedding planner to make sure that you do not overlook any of the legal stuff involved in planning a home wedding.
Pro: You Will Not Be Limited By an Approved Vendor List.
Did you know that a lot of wedding venues maintain lists of vendors from whom brides have to choose? If you chafe at the idea of being limited to the choices on an approved vendor list, you will enjoy the freedom of getting to pick whatever caterer, band, photographer, florist, and baker that you like.
Con: No Guidance on Wedding Vendors.
On the one hand, the restrictions of an approved vendor list can be a pain, but on the other hand, it can be overwhelming to find all of the professionals you need with no guidance.
A good place to begin is by asking for referrals from local businesses that work with a lot of brides.
The chances are that your bridal salon or the specialty bridal jewelry shop will know which caterers or florist their brides have loved working with.
Local chat boards can be another good starting point, as can bridal shows.
While planning a home wedding is definitely extra work, most brides who do it say that it was worth every bit of effort they put into it.
As they say, there's no place like home.
On the one hand, it is such a sentimental and meaningful place to tie the knot, and on the other hand, it is such an enormous undertaking! Take a look at the pros and cons of having a wedding at home to help you decide if it is right for you.
Pro: A Wedding at Home Is Personal and Unique.
What place could mean more to you than the one where you live or where you grew up? Imagine yourself putting on your wedding gown and pearl bridal jewelry in your childhood bedroom and then having your father escort you down the aisle.
If you are getting misty eyed just thinking about it, a home wedding could be perfect for you.
Con: A Wedding at Home Is Expensive.
People often assume that getting married in their own backyard will be less costly than having a reception at a country club or a hotel, but rarely is that the case.
While traditional wedding venues include a lot of your needs (tables, chairs, linens, dishes, etc.
), when you have a reception at home, you have to rent every last thing you need, right down to spoons and salt shakers.
And don't forget the generators for the caterer and the band, the tent, the dance floor, and the portable restrooms.
If you add in landscaping and possibly a fresh coat of paint for the exterior of the house, getting married at home will end up costing you more than going with a traditional reception site.
Pro: Any Date You Want Will Be Available.
One of the great things about having your wedding on your own property is that you know that any date you want is available.
You won't be competing with half the brides in town to book the third Saturday in June at a popular reception site.
And just think of all the time you will save inspecting different venues and trying to find one that you like.
Con: You Will Have to Deal With Permits and Ordinances.
Do you know if your town has a noise ordinance? You had better find out, unless you want the police to show up at your door to pull the plug on your d.
j.
at 10:02 pm.
Large gatherings may also require special permits from your town, and there will certainly be regulations about parking.
The chances are slim that you can get away with having one hundred cars parked on the lawn in your suburban neighborhood! It is a really good idea to hire a wedding planner to make sure that you do not overlook any of the legal stuff involved in planning a home wedding.
Pro: You Will Not Be Limited By an Approved Vendor List.
Did you know that a lot of wedding venues maintain lists of vendors from whom brides have to choose? If you chafe at the idea of being limited to the choices on an approved vendor list, you will enjoy the freedom of getting to pick whatever caterer, band, photographer, florist, and baker that you like.
Con: No Guidance on Wedding Vendors.
On the one hand, the restrictions of an approved vendor list can be a pain, but on the other hand, it can be overwhelming to find all of the professionals you need with no guidance.
A good place to begin is by asking for referrals from local businesses that work with a lot of brides.
The chances are that your bridal salon or the specialty bridal jewelry shop will know which caterers or florist their brides have loved working with.
Local chat boards can be another good starting point, as can bridal shows.
While planning a home wedding is definitely extra work, most brides who do it say that it was worth every bit of effort they put into it.
As they say, there's no place like home.
