Backyard Wedding Expenses

Typical Backyard Wedding Expenses

Many people have been opting for backyard or outdoor weddings instead of the traditional, venue weddings. They can be less expensive than other weddings. However, you may run into costs that you were unaware of. Here is a breakdown of customary backyard wedding costs.

Typical Costs

These are costs that you would expect to run into whether you were having a wedding outside, in your backyard, or at a more traditional wedding venue.

• The number of guests. As with any party, the more people you have, the more you can expect to spend. A wedding is no exception. Almost everything for a wedding is charged in “heads”, being the number of people that are invited to the wedding. Keep that in mind while you are planning.
• The wedding dress.
• The groom’s tuxedo or suit.
• Different flowers or flower arrangements are priced differently dependent on the type of the flower and the size of the arrangement.
• A wedding officiant or minister.
• A marriage license.
• The caterer.
• The photographer and/or videographer.

Outdoor Wedding Costs

An outdoor wedding brings additional costs that you may not have thought about before you started budgeting. Here are some costs you should include for your outdoor wedding.

• A tent. If you are planning to have a fully outdoor wedding, you might want to consider renting a tent for the occasion. Work with a rental company to figure out the size and style that is right for you. Make sure that your tent works for your surface (pavement, grass, sand, etc.) that your wedding is on. Weatherproof your tent in the event of inclement weather.
• Renting chairs typically costs between $2 and $8 per chair. Delivery and set-up can cost an additional $50 – $150 or more.
• An arch or alter. If you plan on having a decorated area where you will stand for your ceremony, a metal arch can cost anywhere from $20 to $130 or more depending on decoration and a larger wooden arch typically costs anywhere between $100 – $400 or more. You are also able to rent a wedding arch. These costs typically run up to $35 – $500, depending on size, material and decoration.
• An outdoor dance floor. A dance floor typically costs about $300 for 100 guests. If you have more guests, you will need a bigger dance floor, which will come with a higher price tag.
• Portable restrooms. For a normal non-flushing Porta-Potty, rental costs can range from $100 – $175. Deluxe restroom trailers with multiple stalls can costs anywhere between $1000 – $4500.
• If you are having your wedding at a location other than your backyard, such as a public park, there may be a permit you need to pay for the wedding and reception. Fees run from $25 – $600, depending on local regulations, amenities available for use, the length of time the park is used, and whether that area is open or closed to the public for the wedding.

Each wedding brings its own surprises. Not every expense you will encounter is on this list!