Just got married in Ridgefield, WA in my parents’ backyard, and I wanted to share what we did, what worked for us, and the vendors who helped make it happen.
This was a private-property/backyard wedding, so we were essentially building a venue from scratch: food, bathrooms, tenting, tables, seating, transportation, ice, weather backup, vendor schedules, power, logistics, and all the tiny things a venue would normally already have handled. It was a lot, but it was also so personal and absolutely worth it for us.
A few things from our experience:
1. We treated it less like “hosting a wedding at home” and more like building a temporary venue.
Since we were getting married at my parents’ house, we had to provide almost everything ourselves: bathrooms, tents, tables, seating, food service, alcohol service, transportation, ice, rain plans, vendor schedules, etc. I knew it would be a lot, but I do not think I fully appreciated how many little infrastructure decisions there would be until we were in it.
2. We had a weather plan, even for late June.
We had rain in the forecast, and I was very glad we had a tent and flexible seating options. LGS Event Rentals handled our tent, tables, and other rental basics, and Dave was quick to help us adjust with an extra tent and additional seating when the forecast got stressful.
3. We mixed rented furniture with thrifted seating/furniture.
A lot of our seating and furniture was thrifted, which helped us create a more collected, backyard-party feel instead of everything looking like one standard rental package. We also used Lily & Cane for furniture accessories (ottomans, rugs, plants, etc.), which ended up being one of the best decisions we made. The lounge areas helped the party feel more intimate and gave people places to gather, talk, and keep circulating instead of camping at the same table the whole night.
4. Bathrooms and ice were not glamorous, but they were very important.
For the backyard infrastructure, Royal Throne LLC handled bathrooms for us, and Bob’s Cold Storage helped with our ice situation. These were not the most exciting line items, but they were absolutely necessary and not things I wanted to be worrying about day-of. We ended up needing ~2 lbs of ice per guest and returned the bags we didn't use.
5. The hotel block was one of the most stressful parts.
Our hotel ended up releasing us from our attrition rate, but getting to that point was really stressful. In the days of Airbnb, VRBO, staying with family, and alternative housing options, I think if I were doing it again, I would designate a transportation pickup/drop-off spot and let guests choose where they wanted to stay.
6. We used cabs instead of a traditional shuttle bus.
We used Radio Cab Vancouver for transportation to and from the hotel/pickup area, and I am very glad we did. After talking to several large shuttle/bus companies that felt very expensive for what we needed, Radio Cab ended up being a much more practical solution. Brian was helpful and made the logistics easy.
7. We did cocktail hour before the ceremony.
This was one of our less traditional choices, and it worked really well for the vibe we wanted. Guests could arrive, grab a drink, settle in, and start talking before the ceremony. It made the whole evening feel more relaxed from the beginning.
8. We greeted guests at the entrance instead of doing a big bridal entrance.
This was one of my favorite choices. We stood near the party entrance and greeted people as they arrived, which meant we got to say hello to everyone right away instead of feeling pressure to go table to table later. It was the perfect start to the evening and made the rest of the night feel more relaxed.
9. Our bridal party sat down during the ceremony.
It was just the two of us standing up there, and our bridal party sat with the guests. I loved how intimate it felt, and it kept the focus on the actual moment.
10. We did not do a traditional plated dinner.
We used Elephants Delicatessen and the food was excellent. Later in the night, @leos_tacos_llc was perfect as a more casual, grab-and-go food option. Since our wedding was not a formal sit-down dinner the whole night, tacos worked really well because people could eat, keep talking, and get back to dancing.
11. We had a coffee truck later in the evening.
We had Where’s Coffeegirl come later in the night, and people thought "it was inspired". After food and drinks, having coffee available gave everyone a second wind and helped transition the party into dancing. This was one of those choices that felt a little random while planning but ended up being a huge hit.
12. We made our own kegged cocktails.
We wanted kegged cocktails, and Perfect Pour Services made that possible by renting us the equipment we needed. Our Palomas were a hit. We didn't need to spend a lot of money on professional bartenders. I am really glad we had the right dispensing setup, because that is not something I would have wanted to troubleshoot in the middle of the event.
13. We skipped the cake.
We did a dessert spread from Papa Haydn instead of a traditional wedding cake. Papa Haydn has been one of my favorite Portland dessert spots for years, so it felt more personal to have a table of my favorite desserts for guests to try. Sorry, Mom.
14. A coordinator was essential for us.
We worked with Golden Day Wedding Co., and Kacie was our command tower. Since this was a backyard wedding, there were so many vendor arrivals, schedules, setup decisions, and logistics that a venue would normally absorb. We handed the reins to her the week of the wedding, and she kept everything calm and organized.
Multiple vendors also made a point to tell me how kind and considerate she was to work with, which mattered a lot to me. I genuinely think her calm energy helped the whole event feel more relaxed for everyone.
15. We did a river cruise for the rehearsal dinner.
We had our rehearsal dinner with Island Style Charters on the Willamette. A lot of our family was visiting the PNW for the first time, and a sunset tiki cruise felt like such a fun way to show them the area. Mindy and Captain Dale were great, the views were beautiful, and it was one of the most low-stress parts of the weekend. And it wasn't that expensive!
16. We did live music followed by a DJ.
We had Brooklyn Del and the Revelators as our live band, followed by DJ Casey Kay. Brooklyn Del and the Revelators were genuinely incredible — the kind of band I would go see live again outside of a wedding. DJ Casey Kay kept the party going afterward and brought exactly the energy we wanted for the dance floor.
Overall, I loved having a backyard wedding, but it was definitely more like producing a full event than simply hosting a party at a venue. For us, it was beautiful, personal, and worth it — but the logistics were very real, and the right vendors made all the difference.
