The Dress
Alexis Currie, sales manager and senior stylist at Gown Boutique of Charleston, believes backyard weddings are a wonderful way for couples to celebrate with their closest family and friends. “We have seen backyard weddings become increasingly popular and are very excited about it,” she said, adding that backyard weddings allow couples and their families to create unique, memorable experiences.
“An elaborate cathedral train may present a challenge in a backyard wedding,” said Currie. But when it comes to helping brides choose their gowns and accessories for the big day, she wants brides to feel beautiful and confident above all else.
Currie recommends that brides stay true to themselves and their vision for the event when selecting their bridal gowns. “You can never be overdressed for the occasion,” she said, encouraging brides to find the gown style, shape and design that best suits them, no matter the venue.
Currie favors a fingertip-length veil and simple headpiece that won’t drag on the ground and encourages brides to consider a wedge heel or flat shoe for the occasion. That said, she also believes anything is possible with the right bridal party to assist, especially with brides who have their hearts set on a long train or veil.
The Plan
While planning a backyard wedding may seem like a cost-effective option, the expense primarily depends on the landscaping, menu, decor, entertainment and number of guests.
Tassia Davis, founder and chief wedding planner at Beautiful Bride Events, has been a wedding planner in Charleston for about ten years. Davis has seen backyard weddings range from simple celebrations to elaborate affairs. She likes the idea of an intimate backyard wedding but cautions couples when considering a 50+ person celebration. “With a bigger guest list comes more planning, higher costs and additional accommodations,” she added.
Davis recommends hiring a full-service caterer with a mobile kitchen but warns against elaborate displays like carving stations. Instead, she favors more outdoor-friendly food options like tacos, mac-and-cheese bars and flatbread stations. She also thinks high-end disposable dishware and cutlery are perfectly appropriate for a backyard wedding, adding that an adequate number of trash cans should be readily available for guest use.
When planning a backyard wedding, Davis encourages couples to work with established rental companies and do a walk-through before committing to the space. Once the rental company, caterer and wedding planner have seen the yard, it’s easier to fashion beautiful outdoor ceremonies, intimate seating areas, cozy café lighting and amenities such as restroom trailers.
Davis also encourages couples to consider tenting, flooring and, most importantly, a backup plan for inclement weather. She encourages brides to invest in a second dress to wear after the ceremony or later into the evening and also thinks hosts of backyard events should prepare for an influx of partygoers. Davis encourages couples to schedule first looks and bridal party photos before guests arrive. She also recommends having an airtight plan for guest parking or transportation.
The Testimonial
Charleston native Amber Hoover Bennett had a lovely backyard wedding. As an avid bargain hunter and collector, Bennett had spectacular ideas for her wedding day theme and decór, with the vision resting on a borrowed backyard. Thankfully, the homeowners obliged. Bennett and her fiancé put together an enchanting event in only three months.
Bennet created a focal point in one tree, lit with strands of Christmas twinkle lights and useing faux birds to showcase the landscape. Dinner was eaten on mismatched but curated China, and much of the table décor was thrifted and borrowed. This is why Bennett believes that the sky’s the limit on what a couple can do when celebrating their nuptials with a backyard wedding.
Davis believes the flexibility of a backyard wedding allows couples to use local, seasonal and gifted materials like wildflowers, feathers and greenery for decór. “The best aesthetic comes from mixing materials,” said Bennett. “Pick out your linens, ask your mom, aunt, great-aunt or cousin for something borrowed, and create new traditions on your wedding day. It starts somewhere, why not with you?” she quipped.
Bennett echoes Currie’s sentiment that a backyard wedding can come together beautifully with the help of a dedicated bridal party and supportive family. She encourages brides and grooms to ask for help and use their loved ones’ talents to make their backyard wedding dreams come true.
“If a hiccup arises, because it will, just roll with it,” advised Bennett. On her own wedding day, rain unexpectedly poured down after the linens were out, candles were in candelabras and flower arrangements graced the tables. “Everything had to be stripped down and dried,” she said. The couple had a large wedding, which meant lots of tables and linens. “All available family and friends took loads of linens to the laundromat,” said Bennett, explaining that only large, commercial dryers could save the day. “It all worked out,” she added. The wedding was gorgeous, the guests were happy and all was well, thanks to the couple’s dedicated inner circle who rallied around them.
More than ever, couples are writing their own rules for their wedding celebrations. A backyard wedding may require more creativity, attention to logistical details and planning, but it’s a trend that isn’t going anywhere. With the right team, proper planning and imagination, everyday backyards can blossom into stunning outdoor event spaces and one-of-a-kind celebrations.
By Isabel Alvarez Arata
