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I know that some of you will marry in a house of worship, which is a great option to pursue. But many of you will opt to get hitched in the backyard. The wedding ceremony is the most important part of the day, even if it takes the least amount of time, and should be treated as such. So you should pick your backyard wedding ceremony location with care.
If you wish for all of your guests to be seated during your wedding ceremony, you need to select a spot where the ground is very close to level,. We don’t want guests falling out of chairs placed on a slope. If you plan to have a short but sweet ceremony, your guests can be asked to stand on ground that’s less than perfectly level. But you will probably still want to identify a good spot for placing a limited number of chairs for the VIPs (parents, grandparents, siblings, readers, antsy flower girls and ring bearers, etc.) and older family members.
If you need a table for any items like a unity candle, kiddush cup, or sand ceremony items, that table will need to be on somewhat level ground.
Since you are not in a house of worship, you will need a focal point to define the ceremony site. Ideas include:
- a floral arch
- a beautiful chuppah or canopy
- an existing gazebo or bridge
- vintage tables and bookcases filled with family heirlooms and photos
- an area rug for the marrying couple to stand on
- a raised platform
- a big tree with hanging poms, lanterns or floral garland
Backyard Wedding Ceremony Ideas
I once had a wedding ceremony that was a quarter-mile walk, uphill, from where the guests arrived at the family farm. We did numerous things to help keep these wedding guests comfortable. To start, we had a shoe valet, where ladies could deposit their heels and pick up Rescue Flats for their trek to the ceremony location. We also had water, sunscreen, bug spray, and parasols available for guests to use upon their immediate arrival.
While some guests walked to the ceremony spot, we had horse-drawn wagons and golf carts available for others. Once guests arrived at the ceremony, there was another water station and a surprise – popsicles passed by the caterer! We also had a small restroom trailer up on the hill. The main restroom trailer was close to the reception tent, andtoo far away for practical use during the ceremony.
Don’t miss my other blog post with even more ideas for your backyard wedding ceremony.
Check out my foundational home wedding blog posts about: backyard wedding tents, wedding tent flooring, professional lighting for your backyard wedding, restrooms for your backyard wedding, utilities for your backyard wedding, and making a smart transportation plan for your backyard wedding.
