Getting married at a family home may seem like more trouble than it is worth. After all, who wants to deal with the stress of looking after one’s home from the marauding hordes, when one’s mind should really be focussed on enjoying the day to the full? And what about all that clearing up?
However, holding a wedding in the comfort of one’s own – or family home – can offer many distinct benefits, allowing the day to be far more personal, far more unique and far less controlled by outside parties.
Before you start
Before you look at booking a marquee and a fleet of caterers for your wedding event, be sure to look at the licensing and planning laws that may affect your event. So long as your marquee will only be in place for a limited time, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about planning permission, but if you or an outside company plan to sell alcohol for a profit then licensing laws may well come into play.
Make sure you understand all the legal ramifications of holding such an event on your own grounds before you rush in, and make sure you find the right help for everything from the catering to the cleaning up.
Benefits
The benefits of marrying at home are numerous. Not only will it ensure that you can enjoy the most suitable day for you without compromising on style or space, but it will also allow you to create a reception venue of the right specifications for your own personal needs. Having a venue that is too big or too small for your function could completely ruin the atmosphere, but by choosing to hire a marquee and place it on your own property, you will be able to find one that is the perfect size for your plans, whilst also ensuring that the marquee you hire is imbued with the perfect style.
By choosing to party at home, you also don’t have to worry about strict curfews or other buzz-killing hotel regulations. You will be able to choose exactly when you finish your celebrations and exactly how you decorate and enjoy your reception space. In short, you will be able to have the wedding of your dreams, rather than having to sacrifice certain elements to fit in with the packages or venues that are available.
When it comes to price, a high-end marquee may not be cheap but, when all things are considered, marrying in the comfortable and familiar surroundings of your own grounds may well work out cheaper than using a dedicated venue. If you then offer rooms or outside space for guests to camp in, you might also find you save your guests a significant amount of money and hassle too.
Finally, marrying at home will serve to make your big day more memorable and will make a family home a far more important and special part of your relationship.
Preparing your home
Once you have secured any relevant licences, looked into any planning permission you may need, and found the perfect marquee to host your dream wedding, you will need to get your home ready for the big day. You will want to make sure that you have ample relaxation space and toilet facilities for your guests. If the home in question is kept in pristine condition, you may want to consider laying down protective coverings to ensure that over-zealous or directionally-challenged revellers don’t find themselves accidently damaging or sullying your home.
Author bio: Alan Holmes is a freelance writer, blogger and one-time events manager. He regularly writes articles about events planning, using sites such as Marquee Hire Guide to stay up to date with all the latest industry news and developments.