With the average wedding in England now costing more than £20,000 (approximately $27,000 USD), it’s no surprise more couples are swapping traditional venues for garden celebrations.
DIY weddings can be a great way to save money and create a day that’s completely personal, but they also come with plenty of behind-the-scenes planning that many couples don’t see coming.
From keeping food and drinks at a safe temperature to making sure everything runs smoothly, Wedding Expert Percy Trustain is shares the common mistakes couples make when planning a wedding at home.
Don’t underestimate how much chilled storage you’ll need
One of the biggest surprises for couples planning a garden wedding at home is just how much refrigerator space they will need.
Food for the evening buffet, desserts, flowers, wedding cake, drinks and even ingredients for caterers can all need to be kept cool, quickly filling up household fridges.
“People often assume they’ll be able to fit everything into the kitchen fridge, but once deliveries start arriving, space disappears very quickly,” says Percy.
“It’s worth thinking about chilled storage well before the wedding, especially if you’re catering for a large number of guests.”
Think about the weather, whatever the forecast
Even if the weather forecast looks perfect, Percy says it’s important to have a plan for keeping food and drinks cool throughout the day.
“Warm weather can make food unsafe much more quickly than people realise,” he explains. “Once food has been sitting out for a while, food items like salads, desserts and buffet items become much harder to keep at a safe temperature.”
Don’t leave drinks until the last minute
Running out of cold drinks is one of the quickest ways to frustrate guests. Rather than trying to chill hundreds of bottles the night before, Percy recommends planning where drinks will be stored in advance.
“Having enough chilled drinks means one less thing to worry about on the day and helps everything run much more smoothly.”
Plan where suppliers will set up
Home gardens aren’t designed to operate like wedding venues, so it’s worth thinking about where caterers, florists, photographers, and entertainers will be working.
“Giving suppliers enough room to unload and set up makes a huge difference,” says Percy. “The smoother everything runs behind the scenes, the less you’ll have to think about on the day.”
Have a backup plan
Outdoor weddings always come with a little unpredictability, whether it’s unexpected rain, high temperatures, or last-minute changes.
“Having contingency plans in place means you’re much less likely to be caught out if something doesn’t go exactly as planned,” Percy says. “The more preparation you do beforehand, the more you can relax and enjoy the day.”
With a little extra planning behind the scenes, couples can spend less time worrying about logistics and more time making memories and helping their garden wedding feel every bit as special as a traditional venue.
This article was made possible by Cool Running Trailers.
