Why i Chose a Backyard Wedding
I knew I wanted full control over the design and total creative freedom to bring my vision to life. I wanted something chic, whimsical, rustic, elegant, and a touch of boho. A backyard wedding gave us just that—and more. It felt intimate, laid-back, and personal, while also being a more budget-friendly option than a traditional venue.
I DIYed a ton of the wedding decorations, curated and rented pieces to elevate the space, and embraced every opportunity to create something meaningful.
In this post, I’m sharing how we pulled it all together, with plenty of backyard wedding ideas, DIY wedding decoration ideas, and tips to help you create a one-of-a-kind day, too.
Whether you are looking for a backyard wedding on a budget or the most magical backyard wedding to be, I am confident you will find inspiration in this post!
Photography by the talented Janelle Connor Photography
The Vision + Planning Process
I was drawn to a neutral color palette with boho and whimsical touches—elegant but easygoing. Pinterest helped spark the vision, and I brought it all to life with a mix of DIYs, Marketplace finds, and a few key rentals.
We hosted the wedding in my aunt’s backyard by the lake. To anchor the reception space, I rented a unique tent from Little Foot Yurts and strung string lights inside and throughout the trees. The glow after dark was so magical. We rented a dance floor and set up long 8-foot tables with elegant chairs, white linen, and soft beige table runners through the tent to set the tone.
Ceremony Setup
My aunt had an existing wooden arch, but you can easily build one yourself. I designed and made a macramé backdrop to hang from it and added rented dried florals for a boho, natural look. This combination became the perfect ceremony focal point.
I also loved the view from the arbor looking back up throught the tent! It was a gorgeous ambiance.
DIY Wedding Table Decorations
To style our reception tables, I sourced vases from the thrift store in all different shapes and sizes. I painted them in Cashmere and Cathedral Taupe by Fusion Mineral Paint then filled each one with rented dried florals.
We added:
- White linen + beige runners
- IKEA candle holders
- Water jugs from IKEA
- Thrifted and painted vases
- Amber vases
- Old pickle jars I added macrame to and filled with fairy lights.
It created an elegant, mismatched look that felt warm, handmade, and totally us. This is a great way to thrift and DIY wedding table decorations for your wedding!
Creative Touches to our outdoor wedding decorations
Welcome Sign
I designed our welcome sign in Canva using a customizable Etsy template. I had it printed on foam board through VistaPrint and hung it from a rented sign holder.
Dried florals around the base of your sign elevate even the simplest setup.
I rented all of my dried floral from Niche Floral Decor
Champagne Wall
We rented a champagne wall and had it fully stocked when guests arrived and again for a toast after the ceremony during the reception. If one isn’t available in your area, this is a great DIY project.
I rented mine from the talented Nautical Home Designs.
Vintage Ladder Wine Station
I found a vintage ladder on Marketplace and turned it into a wine bar using painted wooden boards as shelves. I tucked baskets filled with ice into each level and decorated it with dried eucalyptus and small framed signs. To secure the dried eucalyptus I used zipties. These made for beautiful outdoor wedding decorations!
Guestbook Station
I styled a guestbook station using a vintage picnic basket I scored on Facebook marketplace, a Polaroid camera, and a book for guests to sign. This was styled on a thrifted sowing machine table- how cool?!
This sat next to a cozy seating area made from thrifted and rented furniture.
I used inspiration on Pinterest to style this area and created this yarn and beaded backdrop on a wooden dowel to hang from a gold frame I got on Amazon. I used zipties to secure the dowel and dried eucalyptus to it. This was one of my favourite backyard wedding decoration set ups.
This set up made for great wedding party photos!
Card box Suitcase
I found this vintage suitcase to collect our cards from our guests in. I decorated it with pearls I got from Michaels and created this small macramé string to add to the vintage aesthetic. As avid travelers, this added a sweet personal touch.
Macramé
I've been known as a macrame artist (for 4 years!) so it was inevitable that I had to have multuple handmade macrame items at our wedding. I made two macramé lanterns and strung lights inside, hanging them throughout the tent. These gave off the most beautiful glow once the sun went down. These are actually super easy to make with metal rings and some cotton cord!
I also had other elements throughout the day that I strung together with cord.
DIY Keg Bar
Another great idea for backyard wedding decorations is a DIY keg bar! We built a custom keg bar with a dual system to serve both beer and seltzer. This was a huge hit with our guests and a budget-friendly way to serve drinks!
Check out the full tutorial here: UNIQUE DIY WEDDING BAR GUARANTEED TO BE A HIT
We also had a second bar that we borrowed from our friend who made it for their wedding! This was also a great hit. Let's just say many shots were poured from there!
Final Thoughts on Hosting a Backyard Wedding
Backyard weddings are more than just a budget-friendly option—they're deeply personal and full of heart. Being able to make so many of our outdoor wedding decorations by hand gave the day extra meaning. From hand-painted vases to a custom keg bar, everything told a little piece of story and had a little piece of my soul.
If you’re dreaming of a celebration that feels like you, a backyard wedding gives you that freedom. Whether your space is big or small, with the right mix of DIY magic and intention, it can become the most special place to start your next chapter.
Loved this project? Let’s stay connected!
If you found this post filled with outdoor wedding decorations ideas and DIY wedding inspiration helpful, don’t forget to save it for later by pinning it to your favorite Pinterest board! It’s the easiest way to come back when you’re ready to start planning your own special day.
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Let me know how your backyard wedding turns out—I’d love to see your ideas come to life!
If you loved this post, check out UNIQUE DIY WEDDING BAR GUARANTEED TO BE A HIT
