How to Plan a Wedding at a Private Residence

Having a wedding at home is one of the best ways to ensure complete flexibility when planning your wedding. Private residence weddings offer an unparalleled level of privacy and familiarity. It can also be a wonderful way to add a touch of sentimentality to your day. Whether you’re planning your wedding at your own residence or a family home, it’s the perfect way to create lasting memories.

However, private residence weddings aren’t without their own set of challenges. Unlike getting married at a venue, there’ll be a lot more logistics to consider. So, to help with your plans, I’ve rounded up a few of my top tips for planning a private residence wedding.

Hire a Wedding Planner from the start

I’m starting with a point that I’m obviously biased about, but which I wholeheartedly believe can make or break your wedding plans. If you’re having a private residence wedding, I recommend having a wedding planner on board from the very start. Hiring a trusted professional who has experience planning marquee weddings will save you SO many (often costly) mistakes in the long run. At Rachel Dalton Weddings, we’ve organised countless private residence weddings and know exactly what to consider when planning a wedding at home. Get in touch to find out how we can help!

Consider All of the Logistics

And I mean all of the logistics. You are, quite literally, building your wedding venue from the ground up. And whilst that offers a lot of freedom, it also means you have to think of everything. Parking, power, toilets, access points, water supply, permits… the list goes on! Chances are, you’ve never planned an event of this scale at your house. Trust the team you’ve hired to guide you through the logistics.

Bring on a Trusted Team of Professionals

This brings me nicely to my next point! Having a trustworthy team is always essential when wedding planning, but especially when you’re getting married at home. When bringing suppliers into your private residence, you need to know that they will act professionally and respectfully. Check your supplier’s reviews, ask for recommendations and trust your planner’s referrals. This is particularly important for your marquee supplier, planning team and caterer.

Have a Solid Wet Weather Plan

Unless you have a lot of indoor space, chances are you’ll rely on utilising the grounds of your house or a marquee for your event. But regardless of the time of year you’re getting married, you must have a solid plan B in case of inclement weather. Consider a backup marquee or space in the house for any outdoor parts of the day. And if rain is forecast, provide your guests with umbrellas to use when moving between locations. I hope you won’t have to use them, but it’s always best to be prepared!

Ensure You’ve Staffed the Day Correctly

Whilst a venue will make sure you’ve got the correct amount of staff on duty, with an at-home wedding, this falls to you. In addition to having a team of coordinators and a strong catering and bar service team, you’ll want to consider the following: a marquee attendant, a power/lighting technician, parking attendants and security. Toilet and cloakroom attendants can also add an extra special touch for your guests. And booking a clear-up crew for the day after the wedding can save you (or your families) a lot of hassle after the day.

Lean Into the Sentimentality

At-home weddings offer an added dose of sentimentality, so find ways to highlight this throughout the day. If you’re returning to your hometown for the big day, use locally sourced elements in your menus or as favours. Consider the ways to honour your stories from this house throughout the day. Arrange your getting-ready portraits in a significant room in the house. Find small ways to honour past memories whilst building new ones!

Overall, planning a wedding at a private residence is such a special and sentimental way to say ‘I Do’. With some careful planning, it will be a beautiful and memorable occasion for you and your loved ones.

Get in touch to start planning your private residence wedding.

Images by Emma Ryan Photography from a previous wedding at a private residence.