Home Wedding

You may prefer to be married in your home or a parent's home for a number of reasons. Home weddings tend to cost less and provide a more intimate atmosphere. Many celebrity couples choose to hold their weddings at home because this type of ceremony allows for more privacy. Because of space limitations, good planning is essential for the comfort of your guests.


Determine the maximum amount of people that can comfortably fit into each room or outdoor space at the home.


Calculate if the space can accommodate your entire guest list. If not, you must either edit your list so that it fits on the property or find a new wedding venue that can accommodate all of your guests.

Decide whether you want to host all of the wedding festivities or just one component


Vendors, such as caterers, bands, and videographers, require space and electricity. Make sure your home can provide them with the tools and real estate they need.


Think about what location in the house will work best for the ceremony and how many people will comfortably fit in the space. Include the number of vendors who will be present. You should also make sure all vendors will have ample space to work with.


Contact vendors and ask them if they are willing to work in the house. Be sure to cover any specific accommodations they will need and whether they will charge a fee for travel. This also applies to the wedding officiant. If the location is remote and/or a long distance from where he is located, the officiant may request transportation and/or housing.


Have an inspector come out and make sure the wiring and structure of the home are safe to hold the wedding. If you will be using a lot of electricity (for catering and the band's hookups, for example), you don't want to run the risk of blowing a fuse.


If you are committed to hosting your wedding at home, first determine how many guests your venue will allow. Then begin making and refining your guest list. Make sure to take full advantage of your space by envisioning the potential seating arrangement and floorplan.


Check with your neighborhood's governing body to see if you need any special permits. If you will hold the reception in the yard, perhaps with music, you may need a party or noise permit to avoid getting a ticket or disturbing your neighbors.


Have a parking plan, and explain it to your guests in the invitations. If parking will be limited at the house and/or the street leading to it, consider using a nearby parking lot and shuttling guests.


Open up as much of your house as possible, including the yard, to guests. This will help diffuse the group, making it less crowded.


Run the air conditioner. No matter how nice it is outside, packing your house full of people will send the temperature upward. Your guests will already be stuffed into uncomfortable clothes as is.


Be considerate of your neighbors, even if it is your wedding day.


If parts of your wedding are indoors, then run the air conditioner. No matter how nice it is outside, packing your house full of people will send the temperature upward.


Don't rely on the yard as your only option for the ceremony or reception. You need a backup plan in case of rain.


Make sure to schedule home maintenance well in advance of the wedding date. Call at least a month in advance and book the gardener and a maid service to service the home on the day before the wedding.