Planning a Wedding at Home: Inspiring Home Wedding Ideas for Decor & More

What could be more romantic than marrying your true love at your most cherished location? When you offer your home to your wedding guests, you put your heart on show since home is where the heart is.

With careful preparation and creative decor choices, prepare your house to greet guests for a small and unique wedding. Here are a few of our top picks for a memorable and romantic home wedding.

How to Plan a Home Wedding: Key Points to Consider

Even if choosing wedding decorations and flowers is the most enjoyable aspect of tackling all, paying attention is also essential to every little detail. Home weddings present a unique mix of difficulties, so to stay ahead of the curve, keep some of these things in mind when you're planning:

Budget

Setting a budget is the first thing you should do when organizing an at-home or any wedding. Estimates can help you stay within your budget as you schedule providers and purchase décor because costs may increase rapidly.

Fortunately, home weddings are usually more affordable since you're already saving money on venue rental and planning costs compared to off-site or destination weddings. Before you even begin, you're saving money!

Guest List

When organizing the guest list, consider how many people can fit in your party venue. The most significant individuals in your life will be present to support you and your spouse as you embark on the next phase of your relationship, even though you may need to be more picky about who you invite to your home wedding.

Vendors

For wedding providers, having a wedding at home has unique difficulties. Make sure you have the space and facilities you need, or provide the services you hire the opportunity to bring in what they need (cold storage, generators, etc.) by keeping in close contact with them.

Food is typically the top priority for vendors. Food trucks are an excellent choice for house weddings if you have the funds because they are self-contained. If you're hosting indoors, your kitchen may get congested if caterers have access to it, but they'll probably take care of all the setup and cleanup to save you time.

Think about what you'll employ outside services for and what you wish to do yourself. Friends and family are frequently more than willing to lend a hand when they can, so you may have an uncle who enjoys working behind the bar or a cousin who is a skilled cake decorator.

Remember that your loved ones will work throughout your party if you ask them to assist with necessities like food, the bar, or the music. Consider using outside providers as a backup plan if you would rather have your visitors unwind and have fun.

Logistics

It's unlikely that your comfortable house is built to hold many people. In order to have all your "T's" crossed and "I's" dotted on the big day, keep in mind the facilities and utilities that are required as you plan:

  • Parking — Your loved ones will need a place to park their cars because so many will be heading straight to your house. You may need to determine overflow space even though your driveway if you have one, might accommodate a few. Traffic management strategies include:
  • Your property—If you have the room, consider designating a section of grass as the parking area with cones, ropes, and welcome signs.
  • Street parking—Encourage visitors to use the neighbouring street parking based on your zoning regulations. If you live in a close-knit community, consider how many people may also affect your neighbours.
  • Group transportation—If parking is scarce in your neighbourhood, consider arranging a shuttle service to and from your house and sending visitors to an off-site venue (such as the hotel where you have a block of rooms rented).
  • Bathrooms — Consider putting in portable restrooms based on the number of attendees. Increasing washing and flushing may be too much for even the most excellent plumbing available today. This will be especially useful if your wedding is outside, as it will limit the distance guests must travel or eliminate the need for a rotating door to enter and exit your home for potty breaks.
  • Tents — You want to (literally) cover all your bases in case of bad weather, especially if you're holding an outdoor event. Consider the area beneath the tent to prevent guests from slipping in the mud. A specific outside area for guests to congregate or relax is welcome, even if most of your wedding will occur indoors.
  • Insurance & Permits—In addition to being aware of zoning regulations and noise restrictions that may impact your wedding preparations, contact your homeowner's or renter's insurance company to determine whether there are any coverage gaps that need to be filled for the event.
  • Clean Up — When you have your wedding at home, you are responsible for cleaning up after the reception, unlike when you hire a space and can leave the mess to someone else. Make a plan for cleaning up at the end of the night, whether hiring an outside team or asking guests to help so you and your spouse can go in style without worrying about the trash.

Wedding Planning Pro Tip: Our Wedding Planning Checklist provides a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to help you with the wedding planning process.

Decor Inspiration for a Wedding at Home

Now that you've mastered the fundamentals of wedding preparation, it's time to concentrate on the exciting part: décor!

Whether hosting a large outdoor celebration with family and friends or a small indoor dinner party, decorating your house's wedding location adds a particular touch to the occasion.

Let's look at some decor ideas to add more individuality to your area.

Decor Essentials for a Wedding Ceremony at Home

With a little décor and lots of love, you can create a unique, sacred location to remember your marriage, whether exchanging your vows in your living room or beneath your favourite weeping willow tree.

WELCOME GUESTS WITH DECORATIVE SIGNAGE 

An official welcome will include signage that expresses gratitude and helps visitors feel welcome at your house. To add unique touches, decorate your welcome sign with flowers and greenery that match your wedding theme.

DEFINE THE CEREMONY LOCATION WITH AISLE DECOR

Backyard weddings occasionally require assistance distinguishing distinct areas within the grassy area. To define the ceremony area, create a floor design that includes your wedding arch and moveable chairs.

The location is even more beautiful with chair aisle décor, which includes cascading ribbons, delicate flowers, and foliage accents. Additionally, consider using vintage carpets or other intriguing fabrics to add a cosy touch to the wedding aisle.

STYLE AN ELEGANT WEDDING ARCH 

A wedding arch provides a focal point and a hallowed area for your vow exchange. Arches come in various forms and styles, from triangular to circular, so you can find the ideal one to personalize for your home wedding. Consider the ceremony space's size and style; for instance, an indoor wedding may require a smaller arch than a field wedding where vows are exchanged.

Decorations Ideas for a Wedding Reception at Home

Celebrate at home with loved ones and some of these must-have wedding decorations after saying "I do":

FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE RECEPTION TABLES (AND BEYOND)

Floral centrepieces are a simple way to tie in your wedding theme and create an ambience at your reception tables. Depending on your dining area and table selection, you can use low vessels strewn around the tabletops for a small, charming look or go big and dramatic with towering vases and overflowing flower cascades.

Remember to decorate other surfaces with flowers as well. Gift tables, escort card displays, bar and dessert sections, and counters will all look better with more floral accents.

Couple's Chair Decor

Decorate your couple's chairs with lovely flowers and ribbons to save your seats. It will feel wonderful to know that you will always have a place by each other's side, even if you're dining family style instead of at a romantic table.

GIVE GARLANDS A GO

Use flower garlands to quickly cover voids and add lush greenery to your reception area. Adorn entrances, wrap them around tent poles, and place them on tables—the more, the better!

Home Wedding Ideas: Indoors or Outside?

Although the house and yard are officially included in your home area, you may choose to use only one for your wedding. Let's go over some strategies for hosting at-home weddings that maximize the utilization of your home and yard.

Why Should You Host Your Wedding Indoors?

Our homes are a meaningful choice for sincere wedding festivities because they are brimming with a lifetime of memories. The following are just a few advantages of holding your wedding at home:

  • Private meeting area
  • Weather protection that is already styled to your liking
  • Utility facilities (kitchen, restroom, etc.) are easily accessible.

Ideas for Hosting a Wedding Inside Your Home

Even when your house is already well decorated, when you're hosting a special occasion like a wedding, think about giving it a temporary makeover with well-chosen décor options that highlight your favourite spot:

CREATE A WELCOMING ENTRYWAY

With a charming entrance that offers a sneak peek at your wedding theme, you can assist visitors in finding their way to the celebration. Use eye-catching signs, floral installations, or freestanding flower arrangements to draw attention to the main entry and help guide traffic flow while enhancing the aesthetics of your doorway.

HIGHLIGHT ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS

Convert commonplace elements of your house and backyard into stunning settings that enhance the atmosphere of your wedding:

  • A stunning stone fireplace may be transformed into a photogenic background when the mantle is decorated with lights, flowers, and greenery.
  • Line the steps with the soft glow of electric candles and adorn the railing of your staircase with garlands.
  • For a delicate, romantic effect, frame windows with tulle, garlands, and sparkling string lights.
  • Decorate a garden shed with flowers, draped cloth, and the gentle glow of old lanterns.

INCORPORATE IMPORTANT FAMILY HEIRLOOMS

You may already have the most excellent wedding accessories in your closet.

Consider using heirloom dishes or serving ware to commemorate adding a branch to the family tree. You can also make great-grandma a part of your day by using cake displays, antique china for dinner place settings, or even vintage tea sets for afternoon brunch events.

Not to mention those beautiful linens kept for a particular occasion—that time has come!

Inspire Romance With Mood Lighting

Examine the light in each area you intend to use for the wedding party, even if your house usually is well-lit. You can turn down the lights and use other light sources, such as lanterns, fairy lights, and pillar candles.

Give Your Chandelier a Garden Glow-Up

Speaking of lights, make the most of your statement chandelier by bringing the garden party within with a beautiful hanging floral wreath. In addition to providing visible height, decorative chandeliers, structural beams, and other ceiling fixtures also contribute to the room's additional levels of romance and whimsy.

Why Choose an Outdoor Wedding?

Backyard weddings are trendy because of the sunshine, fresh air, and open skies. Outdoor weddings provide the following advantages:

  • More room to hold a large number of guests
  • The ability to personalize your day
  • Amidst the splendour of nature
  • Ideal for laid-back and informal weddings

Outdoor Wedding Ideas For Your Backyard

You already have many of Mother Nature's finest creations to use as inspiration for your décor when your wedding is outside. Improve your garden by implementing some of these design concepts:

Create a Cozy Backyard Gathering Space By the Fire

A fire pit is ideal for guests to relax while enjoying hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. Use informal sitting alternatives such as Adirondack chairs and bartop tables to promote mingling and discussion. For a unique impact, add colourful flame logs to the fire setup. Another entertaining dessert option is a station where guests may construct their s'mores!

Utilize the Existing Landscape to Inspire Your Decor

Use your wedding decorations to draw attention to how lovely your garden is. There are numerous ways to make your wedding feel like a logical progression of your property's best features, such as basing your wedding arch in front of the fragrant lilac bushes that border your yard or incorporating the colours of your stately maple tree's leaves into your wedding theme.

Illuminate the Party Space

For ambience and safety when navigating rough terrain, you should add a little extra brightness to your outside backyard wedding, even though the stars are lovely and bright:

  • From your statement tree, hang fairy lights made from mason jars.
  • Place antique lanterns along walkways to provide illumination for you and your visitors.
  • Overhead string lights create a lovely outdoor canopy that resembles sparkling stars.

Save Space for Lawn Games

Establish a space for lawn games to capitalize on the elegant picnic feel of your backyard wedding. Whether it's a traditional croquet course or a more relaxed game of bags, guests can relax and have a good time. While the grownups enjoy cocktail hour, it's a great way to keep your youngest guests busy.

Ways to Make Your Home Wedding Decor Unique

When you host and prepare your wedding at home, your guests will see your personality and sense of style in a setting that is authentically you. To give your day a unique and individual touch, add your twist to the decorations:

Choose a Wedding Theme That Fits Your Style

Even though you adore your comfortable home, you should probably decide on a wedding theme to assist you in choosing how to decorate and make your room even more unique for your wedding day.

What is a good theme for a wedding at home?

Whether based on your common interests, lifestyle, or backgrounds, the ideal theme for your home wedding highlights the positive aspects of you and your spouse. Please choose a topic that aligns with your desired mood for the day and use your imagination to convey it.

Here are a few of our favourite backyard or at-home wedding ideas in case you need some inspiration:

  • Rustic Chic — Consider cosy areas, rounded lines, warm hues, and natural textiles.
  • Timeless Romance — Picture delicate materials like lace, organza, chiffon, gentle pastels, and abundant roses.
  • Modern Elegance — Use formal china, passionate reds, sleek lines, and eye-catching centrepieces.
  • Vintage Glam — For some Old Hollywood at home, go big with gold accents, luxurious, layered linens, and classic touches.

HOW DO YOU PICK A COLOR PALETTE FOR A HOME WEDDING? 

Take inspiration from your surroundings when choosing a colour scheme for your wedding. A patio wedding is an opportunity to add colour pops, but an indoor ceremony may require more preparation to ensure that your theme complements your home's current décor.

Another factor to consider is choosing colours that complement the theme and mood you envision for the day. Which do you prefer—bright and dramatic colours, soft neutrals, or warm and inviting tones? Consider how your colour choices affect your mood and make use of the natural surroundings.

To help you come up with your colour story, here are a few of our recent favourites:

  • Denim Blue
  • Russet Orange
  • Moody Burgundy
  • Black
  • Burnt orange, lavender aster, and garden blush in dusty blue and navy

View our lovely wedding colour schemes or design your own with your preferred shades. Once you've decided on your wedding colours, you can use them as a reference for the rest of your exquisite décor.

Explore Budget-Friendly Wedding Decoration Ideas at Home

You don't have to spend much money on decorations to have unique home wedding décor for your at-home wedding. In contrast to other locations where you might have to start from scratch, you probably already have the framework in place. While concentrating your decorating on the main elements you want to enhance in terms of attractiveness, let your home's inherent charm do the hard work.

  • With reasonably priced pre-made floral decorations that match your wedding theme, like table centrepieces, garlands, and a scattering of rose petals for added romance, you may highlight your favourite spots.
  • Use objects in your house, such as planters, glasses, pitchers, and vases, to create unique floral arrangement vessels.
  • To finish your decor idea on a budget, visit thrift and second-hand stores and borrow pieces from friends. Go antiquing and hunt for accessories to fill in any décor demands you can't get at home.

DIY Your Way to Gorgeous Wedding Day Decor

Take the design into your own hands (and house) to add a more unique touch to your decor. If you have the time, the imagination, and perhaps some assistance from your friends, you can assemble the decorations you need to make your house a wedding-worthy space.

Our collection of do-it-yourself flowers, foliage, and décor will assist you in creating the ideal one-of-a-kind wedding day appearance. Additionally, knowing that you put everything together will make it feel even more unique!

Let Flowersarch Help With All the Essentials for Planning a Wedding at Home

Enjoy organizing your wedding at home for a beautiful, one-of-a-kind day full of love and enduring memories. To enhance the beauty and atmosphere of your wedding day from the inside out, browse our selection of artificial flowers and décor.

Tag us in your stunning at-home wedding pictures on Instagram at @flowersarch. We adore watching our women realize their wedding dreams!