Advice on garden/backyard reception, please!

This sounds like a great idea :-)

i have a friend who got married abroad but had a reception in her parents garden when she got home, they hired a marquee and had outdoor games it all looked beautiful.

You can hire marquees with kitchens or outside caterers could use the ones in the house there will be loads of options for food. Vans that do festivals are often able to come to weddings or you could do a hog roast/BBQ.

If your friend is a caterer she could always prep all the food beforehand and have others to heat and serve. My OH is a chef and he will be preparing all the food for our wedding breakfast and has got chefs coming on the day to heat and serve ect. Xx

Hi, I think it's a lovely idea as long as your mil doesn't get spooked by people she doesn't know. Make sure she gets a list of who's going. I personally would go for a BBQ and ask someone to look after it so you can mingle. When have done loads of parties in the garden as long as you have got cover and seats you will have happy guests.

congratulations and welcomed to hitched.

Hi, also a new member (with only 2 weeks to go!)

We're having the party in my MILs back garden, they live in the country so it is large. We're hiring a marquee, which is probably costing half our budget, but you can definitely go for simpler marquees. We've had to hire portaloos as my MIL didn't want people coming into the house, we're also doing the bar ourselves. It's the little things like bins, how to serve the drinks and of all things ice that we're now worrying about!

We're having a hog roast from caterers which isn't too expensive, instead of a formal sit down meal. We've decided to have a help yourselves bar, with just wine and beer and soft drinks.

I would highly recommend it, as we are able to have the marquee exactly how we would like it, and it also makes it easier for our families.

I photographed a wedding a couple of years ago for a couple who were on a tight budget. They hired a country cottage near York for a week and did what you're thinking of. If you'd like to see the photos just send me a message via my website. It worked out great for them. One reason they chose it was because they wanted their dog to be present! They got married at a local church then went to the cottage.

Thank you all so much for your replies - I really appreciate it! Some wonderful suggestion here ?

My MIL had joked about having it in her garden months ago; I did wonder whether she would feel happy with large numbers of people (well, larger than normal) in the home, but she says being in the house isn't the problem - it's her leaving it but I would definitely give her the guest list. Most of the people she either knows well from my OH's childhood (his friends have known each other for 20+ years), their relatives and on my side, my MIL hears about them all the time.

I did wonder about portaloos - even if it was just one in the garden. Although the garden is attached to the house and there are two bathrooms, I agree that large numbers in one house could end up being a bit chaotic and wouldn't want to make my MIL anymore anxious.

I was thinking a BBQ would be a good idea - me and my friend suggested doing as much of the food as we could together, the night before (we've hosted several parties before) and my auntie is also a very good party host under pressure! I just want people to enjoy themselves too; I wouldn't want people I'd invited to the wedding/reception to worry about food, drink etc!

I love the idea of doing it for so many reasons - making sure my MIL is there, it being cheaper than hiring a venue, putting a very personal stamp on it and it basically being quite laid back!

I don't know how to tag you posters individually (sorry, I'm inept at forums) but thank you also to the photographer poster - I will check out your website now. How did you feel about filming a wedding in a personal environment? One of the things we would be happy to spend a decent part of the budget on is photography

xox

Congratulations and welcome!

We've attended several garden weddings and they are always lovely. It sounds like a great compromise to get your MIL involved, provided it won't be too much if she isn't used to crowds.

My especial favourites are the ones without a disco where everyone just chills out and people drift away into the evening until the just the family/hardcore friends remain around a campfire or fire pit.

Pointers: bearing in mind I haven't done this, only attended a few:

1) Toilets: if you have enough people to make a disco worthwhile then you have enough to necessitate additional toilets. Plan to book a unit at the same time as the marquee.

2) Noise: your MIL's neighbours are within their rights to call the police after 11pm if the disco is still blaring.

3) caterers: need not a be a limiting factor at all if you are going for a barbecue, van or cold buffet selection but if you want hot food your MIL's kitchen may not be up to it: you may need to hire a catering kitchen too.

4) parking: if your MIL's street is narrow than having 50 cars outside may be a problem. Consider transport/parking at the same time as other logistics.

5) price: remember a marquee is never ever a cheap option.

6) entertainment: keep the garden party vibe going during the day with a jazz trio or something else light.

Sorry no advice here but your post made me cry! I think it's a lovely idea, my MIL also has agoraphobia and at the moment we're unsure if she will go to the wedding (if she does go it will be on a lot of valium so I'm not sure she'll remember much of it). Good luck with the planning x

My friend had her reception in the parents-in-law's garden. Echoing what others have said: - Marquees are expensive, often more than a venue! But possibly cheaper options can be found. - You will need to organise a lot of stuff, tables, chairs, portaloos etc - You can't sell alcohol without a license but you won't have to pay corkage either so can get it cheaper than if you were at a venue. You could also consider asking guests to bring a bottle depending on the 'vibe' I think it's a lovely idea and as long as you are happy to do the organising it sounds great!

We are having our reception in our garden. There are only 30 of us and it's not a massive garden. Food wise, everyone will have eaten at the local pub before so it's just the evening buffet we're organising. We're looking at platters of sandwiches, quiches etc. You don't want to be cooking on your wedding day. Drinks wise we have told people not to bother with wedding gifts but to bring a bottle. although we'll be buying in drinks it does alleviate the pressure a bit. For fun we have hired a bouncy castle.

You might be able to borrow a small marquee or even get one off ebay quite cheap.

Again, thank you all for the recommendations and advice - had such a busy weekend so apologies for delay in thanking you all.

Parking should be OK - our house is a five minute walk from MIL, and FIL works at the school; he's mentioned that providing he knows how many would be coming then they would be happy with people parking outside the grounds. We live in a town with a lot of free, on and off street parking which is all only a few minutes walk away.

Noise is a good thing to consider - PIL live in a residential area with a lot of families and older people so will make sure those bases are covered.

I think we will get caterers in, but going to discuss it with friend on Wednesday. I think also having a meal down the pub which is nearby the church may be a good idea for just the small number who would be at the wedding - and then invite more to the "reception" at PIL. To be honest, not many of our family drink and it would just be our friends, half of which are teetotal and half who like a good booze up!

Bliss_Balloons, I hope your MIL does make it. It's a very difficult situation I know.

Thanks again xx

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