There’s something magical about saying “I do” under twinkling lights in your own backyard. A backyard wedding can feel warm, personal, and unforgettable, but only if it’s done the right way. Too often, couples begin planning with a set of assumptions that sound convenient but don’t hold up in reality. As a wedding planner who has designed backyard celebrations for high-end clients, I want to set the record straight.

Here are six common backyard wedding myths, and the truth you need to know before hosting one.

Myth 1: Backyard weddings are cheaper

Many couples believe a backyard wedding will save them money compared to a traditional venue. The truth? A backyard wedding often costs more because everything has to be brought in: tents, flooring, bathrooms, lighting, power, catering equipment, and staffing. At a venue, these things are built-in. At home, they all must be rented, delivered, installed, and removed.

If you are having a professional caterer, they will need to prepare all of the food on site, which means creating a kitchen and bringing more than enough staff to handle service. This can be double the price of what a venue would offer and that’s without including things like tables and chairs.

Of course there are always ways to do things cheaper, but a true backyard wedding, hiring in professional vendors, can easily range from £60,000 to £150,000+, depending on scale and design! What you gain is privacy, exclusivity, and the ability to customise every detail, but it’s important to know it’s not always a budget shortcut.

Myth 2: You don’t need a wedding planner

If anything, you need a planner even more. Everything must be coordinated and managed from scratch and from day one. That means working with rental companies, managing deliveries, arranging for tent installations, handling power generators, ensuring permits are secured, and overseeing dozens of vendors who may all be arriving at different times, including those providing things like a mobile bar service.

A wedding planner is the person who turns your backyard into a functioning venue and, without one, you’re setting yourself up for chaos. Hiring a wedding planner from the beginning is the best choice here as a partial planner, or, even worse, a day-of-coordinator, will not be able to undo any of the mistakes made while the planning took place. Get the expert first.

Myth 3: You can just rent a house

This is one of the most common misconceptions. Many couples assume they can simply rent a beautiful house on AirBnB and host a wedding there. But most rental homes explicitly forbid large events. Even if they don’t, there are liability, insurance, and zoning issues that make it risky.

A proper backyard wedding usually requires using a family-owned property or estate that you know you can access and modify. Otherwise, you risk losing your venue, or worse, being shut down, just before your big day.

There are upwards of a dozen site visits that will need to happen during the planning process. If you are renting a piece of property just for the week of your wedding, none of those visits can happen.

Myth 4: Tents are optional

Unless you’re in a climate with no chance of rain or heat and humidity (which hardly exists), a tent isn’t optional, it’s essential. A tent does more than protect against weather. It creates an elegant, defined space where you can control lighting, temperature, and sound. Think chandeliers, draping, custom flooring, and climate control.

Without a tent, you’re at the mercy of the weather, and even the most gorgeous backyard can feel uncomfortable and unfinished.

You also need to book a tent in advance…you can’t wait until the week of the wedding when you see the weather report and decide that you need one then because nothing will be available.

Myth 5: You don’t need much space

Backyard weddings require far more space than most couples imagine. It’s not just the ceremony and reception, you also need space for catering tents, generator access, restrooms, parking, and vendor setups. A large flat surface is ideal for tenting, and uneven yards may require flooring to make them safe and functional.

If you’re dreaming of a guest list of 150 or more, you’ll need significant acreage to comfortably (and legally) host everyone.

Not sure if you have enough space? Hire a wedding planner to come look at your location before committing to the backyard wedding idea.

Myth 6: Guests can just park at the house

Unless you live on an estate with expansive parking lots, guest parking is rarely feasible. Cars lining the street can cause issues with neighbours, traffic, and even local police. Instead, luxury backyard weddings often require valet service or shuttle transportation from a nearby lot or hotel.

It’s an additional cost, but it ensures your guests arrive smoothly and your property isn’t overrun with vehicles. Not to mention all of your vendors will need to leave their trucks and vehicles nearby the home as they will need access to them during the wedding day. Those vehicles add up and leave no room for guests to park their cars on-site.

Backyard weddings are stunning, intimate, and deeply personal, but they require far more planning and investment than couples can initially expect. When done right, they can feel like the most exclusive event in the world. When done without preparation, they can quickly spiral into stress.

If you’re considering a backyard wedding, my advice is simple: go in with eyes wide open, invest in the right professionals, and treat your property like the luxury venue it’s about to become. Done properly, it will be an unforgettable celebration that feels like home.

About the Author

Danielle Rothweiler is a luxury wedding planner and founder of Rothweiler Event Design. Known for creating unforgettable celebrations for celebrities, athletes, and high-profile couples, Danielle blends elevated design with flawless logistics to deliver weddings that feel effortless yet extraordinary. Her work has been featured in People Magazine, on hit reality shows including Jersey Shore Family Vacation and Vanderpump Rules, and across countless media outlets. With a reputation for creativity, discretion, and Jersey charm, Danielle is one of the most sought-after planners for couples looking to turn once-in-a-lifetime moments into show-stopping memories.