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Let’s talk about the necessary utilities for your backyard wedding.
Necessary utilities for your backyard wedding: Power
If your event is going to be outside, you need to be prepared to provide electricity, which means you will require a generator. Check with your catering, lighting, restroom and entertainment providers to see exactly how many amps they will need, and at what voltage. Relay this information to the generator purveyor and they will be able to recommend the proper generator for your event.
If your property is remote, and your installations will also require power, you will need to make sure that your generator has enough fuel, or that you have extra fuel on site in case the generator needs a refill. Discuss this with those vendors who will be doing any installations before the actual wedding day. For example, the lighting pro will need to be able to turn on the lights during installation so that they can ensure the lighting is working properly.
If you decide to add items like fans or heaters, due to last-minute weather issues, make sure that your generator can still handle all these demands. Fans in particular draw a lot of power.
If you are using the inside of the home at all for the event, even if only for the caterer, or band, you should consider putting another generator on hold, lest the home lose power for some reason. Unfortunately, I have worked several events where there was a complete loss of power in the home and having a back up generator really saved the day.
Necessary utilities for your backyard wedding: Water
Your restroom trailer will need a source of water. Usually a garden hose is a sufficient option. If you absolutely don’t have access to a water source for the restrooms, you can pay the restroom supplier to bring the restrooms with water already in the tank. I do recommend that a restroom trailer be on its own generator.
Your caterer will also need access to water for brewing coffee, at the minimum. They should be able to get by with access to a sink inside the house. I’ve also rented hand washing stations for the caterers to use in their prep area. If the property has no water supply, make sure all vendors are well aware of this.
Photo made by Katie Stoops. Tent and lighting by Skyline Tents.
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, and making a smart transportation plan for your backyard wedding.
