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The old saying – there is no place like home – can also ring true when it comes to wedding locations. If you have the home that will allow you to have your dream wedding – and you don’t mind the extra work that will be needed to make it perfect – then you really cant go wrong.
Room To Move
The most important issue with a home wedding is having enough room. The last thing you are going to want is to feel cramped. If you don’t have enough room then you have two options: either cut your guest list down or look for an alternative wedding site.
As a general rule of thumb you should be working on 6-10 square-feet of floor space per guest for row-seating.
Getting Help
Most people are used to being in their home, and this usually means that the best way to bring in fresh ideas is to hire a wedding coordinator or decorator. They will be able to help you make the most of the space which you have as well as with the little thing such as hiring a cleaning crew, getting the parking of cars etc.
Get Your Garden Cared For
If you are going to have an at home wedding then you now that your garden will be a major factor in the overall part of your wedding. Get your lawn cleaned, cut and trimmed. A well-manicured garden will help make your guests feel comfortable and at home.
Wedding Officiant
Before you even start making arrangements for your at home wedding, make sure that you speak to your wedding officiant and that they are happy to perform a home wedding ceremony.
You'll Need to Rent Everything
Unless you have enough tables and chairs in storage somewhere you are going to have to rent all the tables and chairs, dinnerware, napkins etc. If you have hired a wedding planner – they should organize all of this for you.
Got Enough Power?
You may have to look at hiring a generator to ensure that you have enough power for all your electrical needs. The last thing you will want is to risk a power failure. If you are unsure – get an electrician to give you some recommendations on what you are going to need.
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Level Ground
If your garden or outside deck area is not quite 100% level then you will want to make sure that it you have a level area for the tables, chairs and dance floor. Some companies can build areas which are level, so if your outside area is not level, get it levelled.
Party Permission
Some cities may require special permits before you can have your party at home. You may need to get permission from the local fire department and/or an electrician. You may even need to find out about noise levels and parking in the street.
Enough Loo’s?
What happens if you have one bathroom but 50 guests? Don’t underestimate the power of the portable toilet! They have come a long way in recent years, and are not the smelly yucky things you may remember.
As a rule of thumb, you will want to have one bathroom for every 35 guests.
Include Your Neighbours
Let them know of your wedding plans well in advance. They may be planning to host a party the same night. Also, make sure they know the ceremony time so nobody's mowing their lawn during your vows, and ask if they'd offer their driveways for extra parking space.
But you can't rely on neighbors' generosity completely. Make sure there's enough street space for parking, or arrange for guests to park at a nearby lot like at a school or church, and provide round-trip shuttle service. If you want valet parking, hire a reputable company. You don't need a Father of the Bride scenario on your hands.
Home Insurance
Make sure that your home insurance will cover any issues which may happen during your wedding. The last thing you will want is for something to happen and to discover that your home insurance doesn’t cover it.
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