Whether you are trying to keep your wedding low budget or you just want an intimate gathering with friends and family for your special day, having your wedding at your home can be a very attractive option. You can save several thousand dollars having it in your own backyard versus renting out a space, plus you won’t need to spend money on things like travel or accommodations for yourself. However, while there are plenty of great things that come with having your wedding at your home, there are also plenty of negatives to consider as well. Only by looking at both the pros and cons can you decide whether or not having your wedding at your home is a fair tradeoff between hassle and cost savings.
Pros
Probably the most obvious benefit of having your wedding at your house is the cost savings. Renting a wedding venue will cost several thousand dollars, and that expense is immediately erased by doing it in your backyard. You won’t need to rent a limo or book a room at a hotel for the weekend either, so you can easily see that those savings add up fast. Additionally, you will have much more control over your wedding when it is at your house because you won’t need to adhere to the rules and policies of your rented wedding venue. Many venues don’t allow certain things like wedding sparklers to be used after your ceremony (or limit their size so you can’t use longer ones like 36” wedding sparklers), and some venues even have curfews like midnight when your reception must end. By having it at your house, you are in complete control of what happens, when it happens, and when it’s time to wrap things up at the end of the night.
Cons
It may seem like wine and roses at first, but there are tons of headaches that come along with hosting your wedding at your own home. First off, parking is going to be a chief concern. Unless you live in the country on several acres, chances are you’ll need to have guests park their cars at a public lot and shuttle to your house for the ceremony and reception. Also, you’ll need to decorate your home and yard for the wedding, which can be very time-consuming; not to mention the fact that you’ll need to be the ones who clean up the mess once everybody leaves. Lastly, if you plan to have an open bar during your reception, you will need to have a strategy in place for when Uncle Ted has one too many and needs to politely be asked to leave. It may seem simple during the planning stages, but once you’re faced with the task after you just tied the knot, it can be a real downer.
Only you and your partner can determine whether or not the hassles of hosting your own wedding are worth the cost savings. If you have a large house with plenty of land, the option is much more appealing than if you live in a house in the middle of the suburbs. If you like the idea of using “controversial” items such as wedding sparklers, being in control of the venue is another obvious perk. No matter which way you are leaning, make sure you weigh out the pros and cons before making a decision on whether or not to have your wedding at your own home to avoid regret on your special day.