The Truth About Getting Married At Home

Are you ready for the truth about getting married at home?

Getting married at home has always been popular. For good reason, too. For starters, it appears to be more affordable than getting married at a wedding venue. And, it can feel more comfortable, and more intimate, than a traditional wedding venue, too. Many couples find that getting married at home removes red tape and bureaucracy, which can be very appealing.

All of this to say is that there are some downsides to getting married at home, even if it seems wonderful at face value. In fact, the truth about getting married at home is that it can pose challenges you may not have to consider if you’re getting married at a venue. For each couple, and each wedding, it’s essential to weigh those challenges if getting married at home is an option for you.

This post is going to tell you the truth about getting married at home. Now, I’ve been to a few weddings that took place at people’s homes. And, they were wonderful events. Weddings I would gladly go back to and experience again. For the right couple, and the right wedding vision, a home wedding can be great. However, for others, it’s not the right choice. This post will help guide you to see what is best for you.

Let’s get into it.

GETTING MARRIED AT HOME MEANS YOU HAVE TO CLEAN REALLY WELL, BEFORE AND AFTER

One thing you don’t have to worry about if you get married at a wedding venue? Cleaning your house.

Of course, no one wants to return to a gross house after their wedding. I’m not talking about just making sure things are tidy, though. I’m talking about a deep clean. The kind you’ll want to do when you have a lot of guests over. Making sure the clutter is put away and the bathrooms are sparkling. And, well, when those guests leave after the wedding, you’ll want to clean again.

If you’re getting married at home, you’ll need to factor in the time or expense it takes to clean your house before, and after.

A WEDDING AT HOME MEANS RENTING CHAIRS AND TABLES, AMONG OTHER THINGS

Most people don’t have many extra tables and chairs laying around, ready for use. And, if they do, it’s not likely that they are all that fancy or “wedding worthy”.

Getting married at home means that you’ll need to make the arrangements and pay for rentals. Depending on the size of your wedding, you may need tables, chairs, plates, linens, silverware, lighting, and even heaters or fans. The rentals can really add up if you’re not careful.

If you’d like more information on lighting, this is a great post for you.

GETTING MARRIED AT HOME MEANS GUESTS ALL UP IN YOUR BUSINESS

If you get married at home, it means, well, guests will be at your home.

Now, most guests are respectful. They won’t go rummaging through drawers and cabinets. At least, not in a malicious or sneaky way. However, sometimes guests may stumble upon some stuff. A guest with a headache may come across some embarrassing prescriptions in your bathroom cabinet. Or, a guest looking for a pen may open a super messy drawer in your kitchen. That sort of thing.

If you’re close to your guests, all is well. Homes are meant to be lived in. However, just to be on the safe side, put away anything that you don’t want guests to find.

A HOME WEDDING STILL NEEDS AN OFFICIANT AND LICENSE

Getting married at home is not the same as having a backyard birthday party or a barbeque. It still is an official wedding.

Of course, you can take care of all the legalities ahead of your actual wedding. Many couples will do a courthouse wedding and then a reception at home. However, if your wedding is going to become an official marriage when you get married at your home, you need to follow the proper protocol. This means an officiant who is licensed for your location and the proper documentation.

GETTING MARRIED AT HOME STILL NEEDS A DAY OF COORDINATOR

Let’s get a little controversial here. Every wedding, even those that take place at your house, need a day of coordinator.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Your day of coordinator does not need to be a paid professional. They do need to be competent and available, though. This is the person who will meet vendors. The one who will find missing family members when photos are being taken. The one who will make sure the space is set up to your specifications. Find that person, and treat them nicely, because they will make sure your wedding runs smoothly.

A WEDDING AT HOME MAY REQUIRE PERMITS AND INSURANCE

As a best practice, every big event should have insurance. And, depending on your location, you may also need a permit or two.

Insurance will cover you just in case things go wrong. Since you’re getting married at home, you’ll likely have homeowners insurance that can cover events. Check with your insurance agent to see their thoughts on your wedding and if you need additional coverage for your wedding day. As for permits, if you’re going to have loud music, or lots of people, you may need to clear it with your city or county ahead of time. Make some calls, do some research, and cover your bases just in case.

GETTING MARRIED AT HOME MAY UPSET YOUR NEIGHBORS

I literally just mentioned loud music and lots of guests, didn’t I? Well, these things may upset your neighbors.

It can be awkward to alert your neighbors to a wedding that they are not invited to. However, you should give them the heads up that you’ll be having an event of some sort. You don’t need to tell them it’s a wedding, if you don’t want to. An alert that you’ll have lots of guests taking up parking spots and maybe some intrusive music on a certain date, with a specific end time, will go a long way. It may even prevent your neighbors from calling the authorities or coming over to complain.

A HOME WEDDING ONLY MAKES SENSE IF YOUR SPACE IS BIG ENOUGH FOR YOUR GUEST LIST

Before you decide to get married at home, take a close look at your guest list.

Of course, not everyone you invite to your wedding will be able to make it. However, plan on most of them coming. Count up the anticipated head count, and make a judgement call on if you have enough space. You don’t want guests to be overly cramped or unable to sit or spread out.

GETTING MARRIED AT HOME CAN MAKE PARKING TRICKY

When you get married at home, you need a plan for parking.

If you live in a spot with lots of space for people to park cars, this is a no biggie. However, not everyone has lots of space. Guests may have trouble finding a spot. Or, they may get confused about what is an okay place to leave their car. Share your instructions on where to park, no matter your situation. Guests will appreciate knowing what is okay and not okay for their cars.

A WEDDING AT HOME MEANS YOU NEED TO STOCK UP ON “BATHROOM SUPPLIES”

Whenever you have a crowd eating and drinking for an extended period of time, it means that there will be lots of people using bathroom supplies. You need to be prepared.

Be sure to have a plan for your bathrooms. I mean, lots of toilet paper. Extra soap. Someone coming in and swapping out hand towels, wiping down toilet seats, and taking the trash away every hour or so. You know, the basics. Bathrooms are a big deal and you don’t want yours to be unprepared for your guests.

GETTING MARRIED AT HOME MEANS FOOD DELIVERY OR EXTRA SPACE FOR COOKING

Unless you are a professional caterer with lots of experience feeding a crowd from your kitchen, do not plan on cooking all your food yourself. The best plan would be to have food delivered, or to hire a caterer to cook onsite, with the appropriate amount of space.

This is a biggie. Not just because cooking your own wedding food can be stressful. It can create messes. And, use up valuable space. The key here is to have a plan for food that does not limit your kitchen or your time.

A HOME WEDDING STILL NEEDS A BAD WEATHER PLAN

No matter where you live, you need a bad weather plan. I mean, you may have a killer backyard, but do you have a plan for if it rains? Or becomes unbearably hot? Or any other number of bad weather events that can occur?

If you don’t have space in your actual home for everyone, you’ll need a plan. For example, renting a tent to protect guests from rain. You can also have a plan for warm weather, such as cooling stations, fans, and the ability to go inside, if needed. The point is that you need a plan, rather than just assume that everything will work out. A little mitigation ahead of time will come in handy if you need it.

GETTING MARRIED AT HOME MAY UPSET YOUR PETS

Do you have a plan for your pets?

Not every pet does well with a crowd. Especially a crowd that is all up in their business. For some dogs, you may want to drop them off at a separate location for a day or two while you get married. Cats should have a quiet room to chill in while everything is going on outside them. Smaller animals should be secure and put away so they don’t get pulled out, played with, and lost.

THOUGHTS ABOUT GETTING MARRIED AT HOME

If you are getting married at home, you are the venue. There’s no one else that you can fall back on for the big logistics and suggestions. The entire wedding flow and planning falls on you to figure out. For some weddings, this is ideal and totally worth it. Others may want to consider their options. The key is that you understand up front what getting married at home really means, so you can decide if it’s right for you. Happy wedding planning!

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