What Is the True Cost of a Backyard Wedding? A Comprehensive Guide for Ohio in 2025
Backyard weddings offer an intimate and personal touch that many couples find irresistible. They come with an air of nostalgia and charm thatβs hard to replicate in traditional venues. However, the idea that hosting a wedding in your backyard is the βbudgetβ option can be misleading. To ensure your big day is everything youβve dreamed of, itβs essential to understand the true costs associated with a backyard wedding, especially if youβre hiring professionals for all services. As a locally owned wedding venue in Northeast Ohio having hosted over 350 outdoor wedding ceremonies you could say we know a thing or two about all the hidden details to pulling off a fabulous wedding day. In this blog, weβll break down the estimated costs for a backyard wedding in Northeast Ohio in 2025, including rentals, services, and unexpected expenses.
Venue Costs: Your Backyard Isnβt Free
A weed free yard is a long fought battle in Northeast Ohio
While you wonβt pay a venue rental fee, preparing your backyard for a wedding comes with costs. These can include landscaping, pest control, and possibly even structural improvements to make the space wedding-ready.
Estimated Costs:
Landscaping and lawn care: $1,500 - $5,000
Pest control treatments: $100 - $300
Temporary fencing or privacy screening: $200 - $800
Restroom rentals (if additional facilities are needed): $1,000 - $1,500 for luxury portable restrooms
Total Venue Prep Cost: $2,800 - $7,600
Rentals: Creating a Venue from Scratch
Here at Century Farms we have invested more in tables and chairs than we paid for our first home! You wont find many like ours around to rent, but nice options are available if you are willing to search and stretch the budget a bit.
Unlike traditional venues, a backyard wedding requires renting nearly everything. Hereβs a breakdown of the essentials:
Tents and Weather Protection: Large tent for 150 guests: $2,000 - $4,000
Sidewalls, heaters, or fans (seasonal considerations): $500 - $1,000
Tables, Chairs, and Linens: Tables and chairs for 150 guests: $1,500 - $2,500
Linens, napkins, and tableware: $800 - $1,200
Lighting and Decor: String lights, chandeliers, or uplighting: $500 - $1,000
Additional decor (arches, centerpieces, signage): $1,000 - $2,000
Dance Floor and Staging: Dance floor rental: $500 - $1,000
Stage for a band or DJ: $300 - $700
Miscellaneous Rentals:
Catering equipment (ovens, warming trays, etc.): $500 - $1,200
Bar setup: $400 - $800
Total Rental Costs: $8,500 - $14,400
While a morning Mimosa Bar is lovely be sure to remember to eat and feed your bridal party while getting ready. Hair and Makeup starts early and often with the excitement of the day ahead of you its easy to forget to eat.
Catering and Bar Services
Professional catering is often the largest single cost for a wedding, backyard or otherwise. Expect to pay per guest for food, drinks, and staff.
Catering: Food and service for 150 guests: $75 - $150 per person
Estimated total: $11,250 - $22,500
Bar Services:
Open bar package (beer, wine, and basic spirits): $20 - $40 per person
Bar staff and rentals: $800 - $1,500
Total Catering and Bar Costs: $14,050 - $28,500
Professional Services
Hiring professionals ensures the day runs smoothly. Hereβs what to budget for these essential services:
Wedding Planner: $2,500 - $5,000
Photographer/Videographer: $3,000 - $7,000
Officiant: $200 - $500
DJ or Live Band: $1,500 - $4,000
Hair and Makeup Artists: $150 - $300 per person (bride + bridal party of 4-6): $900 - $1,800
Total Professional Services Costs: $8,100 - $18,300
Staff!!! Hire some or enjoy the cleanup process of 200 people treating your backyard as an old school party field. You member thoseβ¦yeah I member those.
Additional Costs
Permits and Insurance
Many municipalities require permits for large gatherings, even on private property. Liability insurance is also a must to protect against unforeseen circumstances.
Event permit: $50 - $300
Liability insurance: $150 - $300
Transportation and Parking
If your home doesnβt have sufficient parking, you may need to rent a shuttle service.
Shuttle service: $500 - $1,500
Cleanup Services
Post-event cleanup is often overlooked but crucial to returning your yard to normal.
Professional cleanup service: $500 - $1,000
Total Additional Costs: $1,200 - $3,100
Grand Totals
Adding up all these expenses gives a clearer picture of the true cost of a backyard wedding. Hereβs the estimated range for 2025:
Low-End Estimate: $34,650
High-End Estimate: $71,900
Tips for Managing Costs
Prioritize Rentals: Rent only what you truly need and look for rental companies that bundle services to save on delivery fees.
DIY Where Possible: Consider DIY decor, floral arrangements, or a buffet-style meal to cut down costs.
Plan for Weather: Budget for a tent or heaters even if you think you wonβt need them. Ohioβs weather can be unpredictable.
Negotiate with Vendors: Many vendors are willing to work within your budget if their packages have room to do so. So, donβt hesitate to ask for different or smaller packages to get within your budget.
Soβ¦.Is a backyard wedding worth it?
While a backyard wedding can be an enchanting and personal choice, itβs not inherently cheaper than traditional venues, especially when aiming for a professional and polished event. Depending on the overall vision you want for your wedding day securing a locally owned venue for your wedding very well would be the less expensive option in the long run. By understanding the full scope of costs and planning carefully, you can create a magical day that fits your vision and your budget. Take a closure look at the offerings that Century Farms presents for your wedding day on our Investment Page. In comparison with the above figures booking your wedding at Century Farms subs out the Venue Prep Costs, everything under Rentals costs, and Clean Up Services as well. This brings your estimate down by $12,500 to $25,100 before adding your chosen Century Farms package. Our packages range from only $4175 for an off season Sunday to $10,500 for a peak season Full Wedding Weekend, and all our wedding packages include onsite lodging.
Century Farms is a locally owned and operated business. We sincerely hope to encourage couples to learn more about the value and importance of choosing a locally owned business when itβs time to book your wedding venue & vendors. With locally owned venues you will often see a higher level of hospitality, better communication and a greater desire to truly ensure your wedding exceeds expectations. We are thrilled to support wedding venue owners from around the country with a weekly shout out in our blog. you can find locally owned wedding venues featured on this wedding venue map.