Backyard weddings can be magical when hosted at a family home that holds sentimental value for you and your loved ones. They give you the freedom to pick whatever date works for you and can be more budget friendly as you avoid a wedding venue fee. If you’re planning a backyard wedding for this summer, here are a few tips to ensure the day goes smoothly.
1. Do your homework
Before you commit to a backyard wedding, make sure you have space for the type of event and number of guests you plan to invite. Work with your wedding planner, rental service and/or caterer to assess how much space you’ll need. If you’re renting a tent, ask the tent rental company to check if the lawn is level enough for tables.
Once you have a layout in mind, start thinking about how you can prepare your backyard by planting flowers that will bloom at the time of the wedding, trimming bushes and clearing away any debris. If you don’t have a green thumb, hiring a landscaper to take care of the gardening can free up your time for other wedding planning details.
2. Lock down your rentals
Renting a tent will shelter you and your guests from the rain or blazing sun and can be used in combination with fans, air conditioners or heaters to make the temperature comfortable. You’ll also want to rent tables and chairs — the rental company will take care of the setup and teardown leaving less work for you.
If you're planning for a guest list of more than 20 people, you may need to rent additional restroom facilities, so you don’t damage your home’s plumbing.1 There are several options available beyond the standard plastic port-a-potty. High-end portable toilet trailers are available for rent and can still provide an upscale experience, especially when decked out with amenities like lotion, breath fresheners and band aids.
3. Get powered up
No one wants to blow a fuse or cause a power outage on their wedding day! Your normal power supply likely can’t handle the high-power demand of additional grills, coolers, roasters, lights and sound system that you’ll need for the wedding. Check with your vendors to find out their equipment’s power requirements and rent generators that will be able to handle the load.
4. Get the green light from the city
When throwing a backyard party, you’ll typically need to obtain a special occasion permit or special event permit for the day. Check with city officials to see if there are local noise ordinances, fire codes, health department regulations or zoning issues that you need to be aware of. Although not required, it’s also a good idea to notify your neighbours, letting them know what noise to expect as well as when the event will end, and asking them to keep noise down during your ceremony.
5. Protect your property and guests
When you invite people to your home, you’re increasing your risk that someone could damage your home or hurt themselves on your property. Check the limits on your home insurance policy; depending on the amount of equipment and number of guests you’ll have in your backyard, you may need to purchase additional coverage.
Purchasing event liability insurance is a great way to ensure you’re covered. Not only will it cover damage to your home and injuries that occur at your event, it typically includes party alcohol liability which will protect you if you’re held responsible for an incident where alcohol consumed at the wedding was a contributing factor. Specific wedding insurance can also be purchased to cover damage to rental equipment, your cake, flowers, decorations, wedding gifts and cost to cancel the event.
Call your OTIP insurance broker today at 1-866-561-5559 to get a quote for event liability insurance to ensure that you have the insurance coverage you need for peace of mind during your backyard wedding! If you want to review your current home insurance coverage, call 1-800-267-6847.
1. Junebug Weddings