What’s the easiest way to make a backyard wedding feel special? With flawless decor, of course! Backyard weddings are so warm, intimate, affordable and best of all, convenient. That being said, a backyard wedding doesn’t need to be overly casual or feel like a backyard wedding. Whether you want a rustic vibe or elegant atmosphere, it can absolutely feel like the exciting, big event you’re dreaming of with these hot tips to design it to perfection.

Before we dive in to our favorite backyard wedding decor ideas, let’s talk the pros and cons of backyard weddings so you can get a full picture of what you’re getting into with one.

Pros to Planning a Backyard Wedding:

• Convenient
• Affordable
• Intimate
• Comfortable
• Flexible wedding date
• No non-refundable wedding venue deposits
• Freedom to be creative!

Cons to Planning a Backyard Wedding:

• Size limitations
• Parking/car restrictions
• Landscaping damage
• Sound restrictions/noise ordinances
• Depending on size of the home and the number of wedding guests in attendance, there may not be an indoor solution if there is bad weather

You May Also Like…

How To Plan A Backyard Wedding
30 Beautiful Backyard Wedding Dress Ideas
27 Gorgeous Backyard Wedding Ideas

Jump To…

Backyard Wedding Decor Ideas
Tips For An Awesome Backyard Wedding
Backyard Wedding Must-Haves

Backyard Wedding Decor Ideas

Potted Plant Centerpieces

If your backyard wedding is more casual and earthy, potted plants make for a unique and simple centerpiece. Not only are they pretty, they feel so effortless and warm. We love these assorted plant sizes and succulents idea from Brides (above) – so adorable!

Draped Greenery

Forget plain & simple white curtains draped in your outdoor tent, add some greenery! Draped greenery adds an ethereal and elegant vibe to an otherwise overlooked ceiling space.

Family-Style Tables

Make all guests feel like part of the family with a long family-style table. It feels intimate but can end up seating quite the large crowd! Ditch the table cloth for a boho-chic farmhouse table look.

Simple But Sophisticated Arch

Define your ceremony space with a simple yet sophisticated arch. We love the minimalist draping and gorgeous florals on this arch, it’s perfect for any backyard space!

Decorate the Trees

Make the trees feel like intentional decor with drapery, rings, lanterns and florals. It also makes for a sweet and pretty backdrop for the couple to take pictures with their photographer, or guests to snap a few pictures of themselves in attendance.

Wow-Worthy Bar Set Up

Make your backyard bar one that turns heads rather than one that fades into the background! Showcasing champagne with gorgeous greenery elements and florals feels so elegant and perfect for an outdoor event space.

Elegant Details

If you’re not dreaming of a casual wedding atmosphere but still want to do a backyard soiree, remember that the space will have room for lots of sophisticated details. Adding beautiful table cloths to the cocktail hour tables, adding bows and florals to chair backs, and classy centerpieces will all contribute to an elegant wedding atmosphere. Focus on the details!

Transform a Pool

If you have a pool to work with, make it an eye-catching part of your space! Instead of viewing it as unusable space, a pool can be a great focal point. You can even put a bridge over it for a unique walk down the aisle or entrance – just make sure it’s sturdy and secure so you don’t end up taking a swim! Other pool options:

• Have a dance floor put over the pool – make it clear for a dramatic effect!
• Fill the pool with balloons or cute floating wedding-themed decorations
• Place cocktail hour high-top bar tables all around the pool
• If there’s room, use it as the backdrop for your ceremony

Tips For An Awesome Backyard Wedding

Have A Bad Weather Backup Plan

Weather is super unpredictable so make sure you have a backup plan. If your indoor space isn’t enough to accommodate your guest list, you’ll want to make sure you can get a tent or a covering for your outdoor space last minute. It’s helpful to have it on hand in case those clouds roll in and precipitation makes a surprise appearance, but at least knowing you can get access to one from a rental place nearby is a must.

A lot of couples plan on having a tent structure either way as it protects not just against bad weather, but also protects guests from the sun and keeps everyone comfortable. It also helps to define the space and make it feel like a true event area.

Create a Hangout/Lounge Area

Give guests a space to step away from the party of the reception with a lounge area. This is something that you may not always be able to do at a venue depending on the layout of the space, so if you have the ability to get creative in your backyard this is a great idea for guests. Not everyone loves to be in the middle of the dance party the whole night so having a space they can have a quiet conversation with a relative or take a break from the music is helpful, especially for older guests!

Dessert Bar Creativity

Get creative at your backyard wedding for the dessert. Lots of couples are opting for a wide array of options, so that every sweet tooth can be satisfied. But many are also putting together ice cream sundae bars, gelato bars, s’more bars, or different flavors of cakes and cake pops for guests to enjoy! This makes your event unique and also is fun and delicious for guests in attendance.

Lighting, Lighting, Lighting

Make sure your lighting is on point! As the sun goes down, many don’t realize how dark their backyard can really get. Having a properly illuminated space not only contributes to the ambience of the event, but is also essential for guest safety. You don’t want people tripping over plants and yard gnomes trying to find the restroom in the dark!

Most homes aren’t already outfitted with glamorous (or even event-sufficient) outdoor lighting, so this component is key to a successful backyard wedding. Think about incorporating bistro lights, dance floor lighting, and pathway lighting that leads guests to and from the event, to the bathroom, and to any other area they’ll need to access.

Define Important Spaces

Make your entrance and ceremony backdrop pronounced, so guests know what the area is. This also helps to create a little more drama and visual intrigue as opposed to your space just looking like a backyard with a few chairs sitting out! We love drapery or barn doors at the entrance, or keeping it simple with pretty potted plants and a welcome sign. For a ceremony space, you can’t go wrong with a floral covered arch, large rustic triangles, or a wall of greenery!

Backyard Wedding Must-Haves

A Killer Dance Floor

Just because your wedding is in the backyard doesn’t mean you should skip out on the dance floor! If you don’t have a large enough solid surface already, look into local dance floor rental options. Many DJ’s even have them available for rent, along with dance floor lighting and their services – or they may know someone who can rent to you, so be sure to ask!

Great Food

Many couples make the mistake of not feeding guests enough. It’s an easy detail to skip over when most venues that offer catering will take care of that arrangement for you. However, it’s important guests aren’t starving and there’s plenty of food to go around – especially if you’re going to have a bar!

Entertainment + Games

Lawn games are an awesome way to make guests feel at home and they give them something to do during cocktail hour or after lunch or dinner. We love giant Jenga, ring toss, or corn hole for a fun addition to a backyard wedding!