Backyard Wedding Ideas

10 Backyard Wedding Ideas That Are Dirt Cheap!

Do Backyard Wedding Ideas have to be boring or plain? Absolutely not! Sometimes, many DIY weddings have a really unique touch that expresses the couples personality more than traditional weddings, while still using cheap wedding decorations.

backyard wedding ideas

Make your own 'Save The Date' cards.

These can be made from a simple great looking photograph of you and your fiance. Have it made into a postcard with some simple editing of font style and information on the front, have them printed up on colored card stock in your wedding color. Your guests will get the information on your date in style-and CHEAP! Incorporate those same graphics in your invitations too.

Put the money in improving your house for a backyard wedding.

Probably the reason you're looking for backyard wedding ideas is to save some money and have a unique day. The money that you would have spent on renting a reception hall for just a few hours could go toward your new place, sprucing it up with projects to create a great wedding location and the benefits will be with you long after the wedding. An investment in your home, or toward a down payment, now, THAT is wise!

Search Craig's list for great treasures.

Finding Cheap backyard wedding ideas and decorations can often be used later on too. Find an old wooden table(s) on Craig's list or your local newspaper. I am amazed at the stuff I find (and have sold!) on there. You just may find a great buffet table to serve your guests, or glassware that another bride is done with. Many times it can be cheaper to buy these items slightly used than renting them at party rentals.

Wedding Music doesn't have to break the bank.

Ask around, are there friends who have a special talent with the guitar? Maybe a cousin can play the keyboard while you walk down the aisle. For the reception, use a large boom box with your favorite Ipod songs. These can be personal, yet cheap ways to create music and atmosphere.

Lighting and candles can create ambiance cheaply.

Don't get sucked into thinking you need expensive decorations to set a romantic or fun atmosphere. I've seen a wedding where they strung strands of lights from Wal-Mart from one side of the garden to the other above the seating area. The tables were decorated with votive candles for each place setting for a soft and romantic glow at night.

I also love the idea of tiki torches placed around the perimeter of the eating area at night. See picture below

Hand out glow sticks for sunset or evening weddings.

If you're having a backyard wedding toward the evening hours, each guest can get a glow stick that they use to cast a fun glow, hung on the reception chairs. After the wedding, theycan use them to find their way back to their cars after dark.(Fun, yet cheap wedding decorations under $30)

Choose fruit over flowers in your table centerpieces.

Okay, you may want some flowers here and there. But filling glass containers or jars with fruit in your wedding colors, lemons for yellow, plums for purple...) you can save a bundle! The look is fresh and pretty.

Check out Costco or other big warehouse store for cheap wedding flowers, placed in clay pots or mason jars the night before, or morning of, your wedding.

Favors are in the bag!

Wedding favors don't have to be expensive. You can make your own by getting white or brown small paper bags, put a photo of you guys on the outside of each one and fill with an item within your theme. Flower bulbs for a garden or flower theme, or shells you can fill yourself with wax to make pretty beach theme candles, or even homemade soap!

I also really like the items at the knot wedding shop as I think their favors fit in nicely with your cheap wedding decorations but are still unique. You can check out their selection here.

Share your story in photographs - very cheaply.

It can be expensive, or cumbersome, to get a projector and videos made of your childhood and courting days. So, hang photo's on clothespins from clothesline hung from trees or fencing. It's one of my favorite and cheapest backyard wedding ideas with a high impact and personal touch.

Glass, and no cans, are always classier than plastic.

Get large tin barrels to hold ice and bottles of soda for a more elegant look than cans. Also, collect old wine bottles and fill them with homemade mint lemonade or sweet iced tea for an alternative to soda, beer or wine (local restaurants are a good source-cleaned and sanitized well, of course). Make hand labels for each and place on buffet or dinner tables.

To get more backyard wedding ideas or new ways to make it unique, Read about other wedding theme ideas here