Are backyard weddings really cheaper than a venue?

For $3k I would go with the venue! We looked into a backyard wedding but it really wasn’t much cheaper if at all by the time you hire all the extra help and equipment needed to pull it off. A venue definitely allows less of a headache for you as well since you won’t have to worry about set up/clean up, etc.

You have to price everything and decide from there. Since you have a smaller guest list, it won't be as expensive as it would for 100+ guests. Not all backyard weddings have alcohol/bartenders extra decorations, etc. which is where prices add up.


Find out what is included with the cabin shelter and what needs to be brought in.
Weigh the pros and cons of each.

3k? I would definitely go with the venue!

I would imagine it's cheaper in general. My friend spent only $300 for her backyard wedding. She only had 4 guests and they didnt rent any chairs nor tables. https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/frugal-ceremony-no-reception/6ac74fd230e3389e.html

Wow I would def go for the venue. That sounds like such a great price. But also like others say weigh the pros and cons of each, so you're aware of what it would cost for the backyard wedding vs the venue.

For that amount of people, yes I would pay the $3k for the venue. If you only had 10 or even 15 people, I'd say backyard. When it is a fewer amount of people, I think there is less pressure to rent tables and chairs, as people can sit wherever, but for more than 20 guests, you probably don't have that many chairs and such for outside seating, so might just be worth it to pay the money.

For reference, we are having our minimony in October and only doing dinner (either catered or at a restaurant). We're estimating 15 people, worst case scenario spend $1000 between appetizers, plated dinners at restaurant plus 2-3 drinks per person, and cake plus desserts. Best case, it is $500 catered trays plus some liquor and wine and some six packs.

Backyard weddings make sense in a lot of different scenarios -- super small guest list, avoiding public COVID regulations, if you know someone with a particularly gorgeous property, etc.

How much they cost will vary greatly depending on how simple or extravagant you want it to be. If you're going to need to rent tables, linens, tents, chairs, flatware and will be hiring a bartender, server, and other positions, I'd personally go for the venue at that point.

Between rentals and logistics, backyard weddings can add up and be more of a headache than you want.

I really wanted to minimize the things I'd have to think about and make decisions on day-of, so we went with an all-inclusive venue. But the best way to decide price-wise is to list everything out, compare prices, and note the pros and cons of each. Some venues still require you to do cleanup and have some restrictions, so I would get that info on the venue before deciding so that you have a complete picture.

Thank you for the opinions!
I will start writing everything out and weigh them both

View Quoted Comment Here's an article on things to ask them:
https://www.brides.com/story/questions-to-ask-your-wedding-venue-before-booking

We’re having a backyard wedding for 20 people this year due to COVID and it’s costing us $5-6K and it’s been super stressful. I wouldn’t recommend it.

View Quoted Comment Oh no. Im sorry to hear that!

A backyard wedding can kind of cost as much or as little as you want it to, but I'm pretty sure ours cost more than your quote and we only had fifteen people. I don't regret any part of it, but we chose to do that because of covid, which means I've had some experience of planning a wedding with and without a venue. Planning for 15 people at (my parent's) home, was much more stressful than planning for 150 people at a venue with a coordinator. If you're super concerned about cost, think about what you'd want to include in a backyard wedding and price things out so you can compare it to the venue. If cost is something you care about, but you also don't want to worry too much about planning and logistics, don't bother with the comparisons. Just book the venue.

It all depends on where you live, how big the wedding is, and what you prioritize.

Where I live, finding a venue that doesn't provide a caterer was MUCH more expensive than going all inclusive (...we don't have a backyard, but that's a different thing).

Venues provide space, tables, chairs, linens, bathrooms, settings, kitchens, liability, planners, contact points, dance floors, candles, glassware, and, where I am, usually the catering and drinks, servers, etc.

That all adds up.

As Jana said, you're going to have to price it out.

That sounds like a great price, but I would make sure that it is VERY clear on what is actually INCLUDED vs OFFERED. Our venue, while we love it, has not had the greatest communication skills and there are a lot of things that they said or implied that were included that they have later told us is extra. Things like chairs and cleaning fees. Our venue is a similar price to the one you mentioned, so I would just make sure.

I did.A backyard wedding because of Covid but I have to say if your thinking of. A full backyard wedding it can certainly add up and it is very stressful doing it on your own. I have my venue for next year but I say go with a venue they do it all for you and you just relax my wedding day was crazy because I was setting it all up myself while getting ready. Especially for the price your being offered by the time your done with all the little things in the backyard it’s the same price as a venue where it’s less stressful but also depends on when your doing it and regulations if your ok with that. I chose the backyard this year because it was the least restrictive option due to Covid.

So i have another option. This is a restaurant downtown. Is this a good deal? This price doesn't include tax and gratuity.