u/supersmile824

My fiancé and I decided on a September backyard wedding and I believe we have everything booked - looking for anymore tips tricks or photos to share from experience!

We want it to feel like a festival, fun, drink eat and dance than something formal. We have a few acres to work with so thinking of having cocktail hour in one part of the yard and reception under tent in another part.

Food - booked a company from PA for our NJ wedding they stated all they need is an outlet and they’ll bring the rest including their own tent if it rains. Doing buffet style - penne vodka, chicken/steak/fish tacos, lemon chicken, Mac and cheese, chicken fingers - they also include elevated plastic cutlery and plates

Reception Music - DJ is booked

Tent / seating /lighting - sailcloth tent is booked along with tables, chairs, table cloths, 20x20 dance floor, string lights included (thinking of adding the generator this company supplies but curious if I could rent cheaper elsewhere)

Ceremony seating - we are building wood benches for people to sit

Cocktail hour - same catering company doing this in a different part of the yard, friend is playing live music during this

Bar - we hired a beautiful mobile bar that also sets up a welcome champagne table as well, includes signature drinks, beer taps, water and lemonade

Parking - we live down the road from a municipal lot - we called the town and they said it is public parking so anyone can park there for the wedding, we will be having a friend of a friend operating a 15 passenger van to transport people who park back to the house

Decor - thrifting brass/gold candle holders and purchasing battery operated taper candles, have the usb charging touch lamps, and doing a few bud vases on each table with a few blooms (if anyone has tips on this lmk) - is it weird to not have a table setup besides center flowers and lighting - it’s buffet style

Bathrooms- luxury bathroom trailer with 5 stalls (3 women and 2 men) has its own generator

Dessert - fried Oreos from caterer and fruit and ice cream truck arriving

Older folks - we will have a golf cart to transport them across the yard if needed

Day of coordinator - booked

Hair and makeup - booked

Photographer - booked

Photo Booth - thrifted a large mirror and will set up a “selfie station”

Invites - thinking of doing my own on Canva

STDs- done already on Canva

Seating chart - thrifted a large gold frame and will print the assigned tables thru Canva

Rings - we’ll get there eventually LOL

RAIN PLAN- add walls to the tent and do everything under the tent - the mobile bar has their own tent if needed as well as catering

Anything I am missing?!
Also hoping to do a ceremony at 4:30pm - if anyone has experience or suggestions for a full day timeline!