Is an Airbnb/backyard wedding right for you?

The wedding industry has become insane. We’re all thinking it. Heck, we’re IN the industry and thinking it. Depending on where you live, it is not uncommon to be quoted $10,000 (and that’s being fairly conservative) for a venue that is essentially just the space, tables and chairs. And that’s just the beginning. After that, you’ll want to secure your caterer and photographer, which are typically some of the priciest vendors, after the venue (and rightly so). Just when you feel like you have the most important things booked and can take a breather, you may realize that your venue requires you to hire a wedding planner. After a few weeks pass, you start researching florists, officiants, DJ’s/entertainment, bar services, hair and makeup artists, transportation, etc. And before you realize it, your wedding is costing the equivalent of a down payment on a house.

For some cultures and families, this is standard practice and something their parents may have been planning and saving for since the birth of their child. Other couples may just be on the same page that celebrating BIG is important to them. I want to be clear that this is not a blog post created to call out vendors in the industry or even accuse anyone of charging “too much,” as that is completely relative. Most small businesses are asking for what they feel their service is worth, which I will always 100% support. The point of this blog post is to reach the people who simply cannot or will not partake in what has become the “standard” for their wedding day.

For many, these opulent celebrations are out of reach or will stretch them thin financially, but social media/societal pressure has made them feel like they have to find a way to keep up. And I don’t blame them for feeling that way at all! As a vendor in the industry, it truly feels like there is no such thing as modest, low-key, or simple weddings anymore. Instagram and Pinterest have become a montage of perfectly curated “wedding inspo” that looks like it was taken straight out of Vogue magazine.

For those of you reading who may relate to feeling this way-we get it. Truly. And just because you don’t have inexhaustible funds for your wedding day does not mean that you have to compromise on the beauty, meaningfulness or celebratory nature. It may require a little extra creativity here and a little DIY there, but it is absolutely possible.

Backyard and Airbnb weddings had a major renaissance during and following 2020. Couples had to find a way to maneuver the turbulence happening in the world and the restrictions that were in place about gathering with loved ones. Thankfully, those restrictions are not an issue in present-day 2025, but the absorbanant prices of the new “traditional” wedding day might be.

So, is a backyard/Airbnb wedding the right move for you? Let’s dissect all of the things to consider.

1) For airbnb’s specifically- permission.

Do NOT try to sneak behind your host’s back and have a wedding on their property without being granted the right to do so first. It is not only extremely poor etiquette, but could potentially lead to legal issues. It is absolutely not worth the risk.

2) Size of the yard

You will want to make sure the size of the yard is conducive to the number of guests you hope to invite. If you plan on having space for a ceremony set up as well as for everyone to be able to sit and enjoy a meal, be sure that they can do so comfortably. Some metrics to keep in mind:

Tables that seat up to eight people are usually around 6 ft in circumference/length. If you want everyone to be able to sit without feeling cramped, a good rule of thumb is allotting 12-15 square ft per person. You’ll want to account for whether or not you plan to have a designated area for dancing, where food will be served, if you plan on having a bar setup and if a bathroom trailer/portable bathroom will be necessary. When considering all of these factors, I always recommend rounding up for how much space you believe will be needed. If your calculations lead you to believe you’ll need 1000 square feet, assume it will be more like 1150-1200. Leaving room for error is always better than overestimating and ending up panicked or stressed on your wedding day.

3. Parking/transportation

This is a huge thing to consider when you are having a large event in a residential area. You will want to assume there would be a car for every two people, and then for each of your vendors. With a big guest list, this is a quick way to get the cops called on your celebration by disgruntled neighbors. To avoid this happening, there are several different options. You can have guests park at the nearest public parking lot (typically large chain grocery stores are a great option because they don’t tow and have plenty of space), and then hire a shuttle to bring guests back and forth. The downfalls of this are that it can be a bit time-consuming if the lot is a bit of a distance away from the property and the shuttle only holds a fraction of your guests. Hiring a shuttle can also be expensive. Even if you only need them at the beginning of your celebration and then again at the end, you will likely have to pay them for the entirety of the event. This is because the restraints stop them from being able to take on any other jobs/work for the day to ensure they are available when you need them to be. If you live in an area that has Uber and/or Lyft readily available, you can also encourage guests to use those services to get from the nearby lot to the house/airbnb.

4. Restrooms

You will want to consider how many toilets will be needed to accommodate your guest count and whether or not they will be invited into the home where you are hosting your wedding. Allowing guests to walk through the house to use the restrooms can add a whole other layer of mess, potential damage as well as stress on the septic system. A good rule of thumb for how many restrooms/toilets are needed to avoid long lines and discomfort is 1 for every 35 people. A mobile bathroom trailer is a great option that isn’t a bright blue porta-potty in the middle of your wedding. They aren’t cheap, typically between $800 and $1,200, but can definitely be worth the investment.

5. Rain plan/tents

If the yard you will be hosting your wedding in is completely uncovered and there’s a chance of rain in the forecast, you’ll want to look into renting or purchasing a party tent. In my experience, renting these tents can be very pricey. If you have a handful of willing and able family members/friends that can help, it will likely be much cheaper to purchase your own and have them set it up in the yard. For example, there are 20x40FT party tents available on Amazon for $700. Rentals for tents and installation that size in my area will run you over $1,800. If I were hosting a backyard wedding, I would have one purchased the week or two beforehand just in case, and if I didn’t end up using it, I’d return the unopened package.

6. Rentals

Unless the house you are hosting at is also an advertised wedding venue, you will likely need to rent tables and chairs. I would research multiple rental companies in your area and compare/contrast prices to find the best option for you. In my area (Asheville, NC) you can assume white chairs will cost between $3.50 and $4.50 each. One way to cut back on costs is re-purpose the chairs from the ceremony for the reception. You can kindly ask a couple of guests to grab two chairs each and move them over to the tables where dinner/reception will be. Things like dinnerware are also something to consider. If you’re having food catered, do they provide plates, silverware, glasses, etc? If not, that might be something you’ll want to look into renting or even thrifting! I’ve seen amazing vintage plates, drinking goblets, etc. found and used for wedding receptions that look absolutely stunning.

As you can likely infer if you’ve made it this far, having a backyard wedding can be a lot of work. If you do it right, it can save you thousands of dollars and be an absolutely incredible experience, but not without a little elbow grease, lots of planning and some flexibility. It can also end up costing you just as much as a venue wedding if you’re not careful, so be sure that every decision you make stays true to your vision, whatever that may be. Some couples may decide that a more hands-off approach to their day is worth the price tag of a venue, while others may find it a fun/exciting challenge to build their celebration from scratch and make it as personal to their love story as possible. At the end of the day, it is YOUR wedding and you can create whatever feels the most natural for you and your fiancé.