| Home is where the wedding is |
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By Christina Friedrichsen, Author of Intimate Weddings:
Planning a Small Wedding that Fits Your Budget and Style,
www.intimate-weddings.com
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Photo by
Captivation Photo Studio | |
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When it comes to choosing a venue for your wedding,
you might not have to look any further than your own backyard.
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At-home weddings are becoming increasingly popular,
especially for couples who want to add a personal touch to their weddings.
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With 60 percent of couples living together, many
already own homes and love the idea of tying the knot there. Others couples
may choose to get married at the home of a relative or friend.
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For many couples, an at-home wedding means a small
guest list. Stephanie and Mark, for instance, had only 25 people at their
wedding, which was held at a friend's farm: "They live in a great heritage farmhouse. An artist lived there in the
1940's and painted spectacular murals on the walls in the living room and
dining room, so it is quite a backdrop for a wedding, especially combined
with all of the flowers we had," says Stephanie.
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Julie and Mike got married in the home Julie grew up in, surrounded by
only eight guests: "I had lived my entire life there until I was 21, when I bought my own
house an hour away. My dad was the original owner of the house, and I
remember how proud he was when he made the last house payment. To be married
there made me feel closer to my dad," says Julie. "It added to the intimacy
that there were few guests and the house is somewhat small. It just felt
right."
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Although at-home weddings can be intimate and charming, they are not for
everyone. Depending on how elaborate the wedding is, they can be more costly
and stressful than a wedding elsewhere.
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If you are having your wedding outdoors at your home or the home of a
friend or relative, chances are you will have to rent a tent, as well as
tables, chairs, and linens which can - add quite a bit to your costs. Even if
you are having the wedding indoors, there's a chance you won't have enough
tables and chairs to accommodate everyone. Unless you are making dinner
yourselves or having family do it, you will also have to hire an outside
caterer.
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There's also the stress of getting your home ready for the Big Day.
(Trust me. I know all about this one. We had our outdoor wedding at our home
and it was a lot of work getting our digs ready!) To reduce your workload,
enlist friends and family (we sure did!) to help get your house ready. Also,
have them help decorate, which can reduce your costs.
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Last, but not least - make sure your bathroom facilities can handle the
wear and tear of frequent use. If not, consider renting portable restrooms.
The last thing you want on your wedding day is an overflowing toilet!
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