Backyard Wedding! Any ideas?

Question

Getting Married Aug 30 in my sisters backyard or a park any ideas for decorations, food ( any good caters in chicago land area) how should i do this i have two weeks to plan wedding i want something simple yet classy. Any ideas are apreciated

Answer 1

If you are putting everything together in two weeks I would suggest doing it in your sisters backyard. Trying to reserve a park can be time consuming depending on your cities procedures - and it doesn't sound like you have a lot of time to spare.

You didn't need a whole lot of decorations. Just have your bouquet, maybe a wedding arch, and some nice candles on the tables with rose petals scattered around them.

If you are trying to do the wedding on a budget then you could always try to prepare the food yourself. You could do a BBQ - get some hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, steak, etc. and put someone in charge of grilling. Then, just make a lot of side dishes like pasta salad, potato salad, green salad, corn or roasted veggies, fresh fruit, etc.

Here are a few caterers you can check into:

http://www.chicagofun.com/home/party/cat...

Good luck!

Answer 2

you can hire a catering place to actually come there and bbq.. they have packages for it... (im not in your area though but im sure they have it)

i had a back yard engagement party and it was alot of fun. decorations, i hung pink and white japanese lanterns (the round ones made of rice paper)   made really simple centerpieces. i didnt go to crazy with decorations because i didnt want it to look tacky. i just did alot of candle light, the light up lanters white table cloths and some simple pink and white flowers.  

if you have two weeks to plan it find out if you need a permit for the use of the park and decide on the location right away so that if you do, you can get that paperwork done. and also so you can get the decorations in time if you need to order them you know?

good luck

Answer 3

well first off...congrats on the upcoming wedding...

now, my advice is start with the ceremony ....for mine I'm planning on having a bay front wedding so, I'm keeping it simple decor wise : aisle runner (could do a DIY monogram) an arch with flowers or drapecoordinatingg satin fabric over it that matches your color scheme. I would possibly do two alter displays  that could simply be 2 big vases of mixed flowers (high ones think snapdragons delphs etc).  on pillers (which could easily be made using wood and covered with fabric). Since, your wedding and reception is in the same space I would  set your tables up in a semi horse shoe around the this set up that way you can kill 2 birds with one stone and cut down on the price of chair rentals :)  of course this varies based on size of wedding but, that is the basic.  I would use 2 tone linen .,.....simple candle decor would work.....(really depends on your budget). As far as, flowers go....I have seen lovely arrangements at believe it or not local supermarkets Ie, rose and calia lily.  for under $20 also, I heard walmart and super target does wedding cakes.....

I would suggest a carving station/buffet if you only have 2 weeks ( I don't know what caters you will find on that short of notice).

Also, you can put pictures of you and the groom around or as centerpieces with flowers....

hope this helps some...

Answer 4

Try these two websites I used them for ideas when I got married, also get a wedding planner book from your local book store it can help you with the simple things. if you want you can email me if you need help. I loved planning my [e-mail]

Answer 5

I would get married at your sisters. I would have the wedding right when the sun goes down and I would have little white lights spread all around where the wedding will be.You know, like the strands of white x-mas lights. Maybe some hanging baskets.  Then you could have a bar-b-que afters.  

Answer 6

If you want to have dancing maybe you should rent a dance floor so you don't hurt yourself if you where heels. Anyway, what about draping trees with white twinkle lights?  

Answer 7

id do it dusk to night time  and get some nice  asian lamp balls that u can put lights in like these

http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse...

id have them around the dance area or cake  things like that also id look into  http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/search...

http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse...

also and alot of candels on the tables  and  use black tablecloths or dark color  to make it look Chic vs cheep

Answer 8

I totally agree with renting a dance floor.  Hire as much as you can so that it's easier for you.

Start with a caterer, the rest can fall into place.

If it's at your sisters house, please have one of the guys spray for mosquitos!  You don't want your guests eaten alive with Midwest August mosquitos!

Remember to have fun.

Answer 9

I got married outside too and used white paper chinese lanterns to decorate and it looked great! We also had white twinkle lights decorating the pavillion, but you could use them to decorate trees, bushes, etc. We set up an ipod for music because a DJ would've just looked weird set up out there. Also, it depends how formal your wedding is, but we had a volleyball game going and people loved it and had so much fun!

Answer 10

For my backyard wedding at my mom's home, we used Macaroni Grill for catering.  For a full service buffet (2 servers), they charge $14.99 per person for two entrees, salad, and bread.  Drinks are additional.  They did a great job, were prompt, and the food was yummy.

I think a large canopy makes any outdoor setting look a little more formal.  We had a large one over the ceremony area (also doubled as one of the reception areas) with a chandelier up top.  That alone, transformed the entire space and made power lines and the tops of other people's houses disappear.  Also, check out some wedding favors for style inspiration.  You don't need to spend much to get a lot of bang.

We spent about $6k on our wedding including attire.  It was very classy and we got lots of complements.  Plus, my husband told me after our wedding, "I don't know why people spend so much on weddings." He was originally against using my mother's home!

Answer 11

I'm doing the same thing.  Do you have colors picked out or a theme of some kind?  Start there, Orientaltrading.com has tons of stuff for cheap.  Also try hobby lobby or other craft type stores.  You can save tons of money to make things yourself.  Also Wal-Mart and Target carry a decent selection of decorations.  

Answer 12

I say keep it simple & accent the natural enviro around you.

Potted flowers, bundles of twigs wrapped with a ribbon in the centre & stood on end or placed in a sturdy vase, collected rocks placed in glass bowls o vases.

Food:  you could go with an evening BBQ or picnic theme, an afternoon tea or garden brunch