Elevate Your Wedding Plans with These Innovative Solutions

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Elevate Your Wedding Plans with These Innovative Solutions

Envision a wedding planning experience where convenience, creativity, and cutting-edge technology blend seamlessly to craft your perfect day. With innovations like virtual reality venue tours, digital invitations, and AI-driven vendor selection, the journey to your special day is now more accessible and personalized than ever.

Below, Fox & Finch shares some technological advancements for simplifying the planning process and opening doors to a world of possibilities. These tools will ensure your wedding is not just an event but a reflection of your unique love story!

Rent What You Need

Renting items for your wedding can be a practical and elegant solution to create your dream setting without the need to purchase everything outright. One notable option for those looking to add a touch of sophistication and charm to their special day is Fox & Finch. They offer an exquisite selection of furniture that can transform any venue into a picturesque scene straight out of a fairy tale.

From vintage sofas and elegant chairs to rustic tables and unique decor pieces, Fox & Finch provides couples with the opportunity to curate their space to reflect their personal style and theme. Renting from them not only ensures a stunning backdrop for your wedding but also offers a hassle-free way to achieve it, allowing you to focus on enjoying your big day.

Embrace Digital Invitations

You can get creative at no cost by opting for digital invitations, and a free online design tool allows you to add your personal touch with customizable templates. These eco-friendly alternatives to paper invites allow you to design and send personalized invitations through email.

They save on costs and reduce environmental impact and provide a platform for creativity, so you can customize your invites to match your wedding theme perfectly. Plus, digital invitations offer the convenience of quick RSVPs and easy guest communication.

Create a Personal Wedding Website

Developing a personalized wedding website has never been easier. With user-friendly platforms, you can create a site that shares all the essential details with your guests.

These sites can be tailored to reflect your personal style, providing a unique way to communicate with your attendees and share your love story. They can also serve as a digital keepsake of your wedding journey and enrich your memories for years to come.

Wedding at Home

Planning an at-home wedding can be a deeply personal and intimate choice, providing the opportunity to say your vows in a space that holds significant meaning. While organizing your special day at home, consider making improvements that not only cater to the aesthetics and functionality needed for the wedding but also aim to enhance your home's market value.

This strategic approach ensures that the investments made for your wedding day serve a dual purpose—creating a beautiful and memorable setting for your nuptials while also increasing the long-term value of your property. From upgrading the landscaping to enhance curb appeal to renovating key areas like kitchens and bathrooms, these improvements can offer a return on investment by making your home more appealing to future buyers.

Simplify Vendor Selection with AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing how couples choose their wedding vendors. AI-driven platforms analyze your preferences and style to suggest vendors that align with your vision. This cutting-edge technology simplifies the selection process, making finding vendors that resonate with your unique taste easier.

Throw a Great Reception

To ensure your wedding reception is both memorable and smoothly run, consider these key event tips: First, having sufficient bartenders and a well-stocked selection of liquor is crucial to keep the celebration lively and your guests satisfied. A good rule of thumb is to have one bartender per 50 guests to minimize wait times.

Secondly, opt for a menu that avoids overly messy foods, which can lead to spills and stains, detracting from the elegance of your event. Choose dishes that are as delightful to eat as they are easy to manage with party attire. Lastly, investing in good entertainment cannot be overstated—whether it's a DJ with a knack for reading the room or a live band that keeps the energy up, the right music sets the tone for your reception and keeps your guests dancing the night away.

Efficient Guest Communication

Managing guest communications is a breeze with wedding apps. These platforms allow you to handle RSVPs, meal preferences, and seating arrangements efficiently.

They ensure effective communication with your guests, keeping them informed and engaged in the lead-up to your special day. Moreover, these tools often include features for sharing updates and essential announcements so everyone is on the same page.

Save on Your Honeymoon

If you're dreaming of a Disney honeymoon but are mindful of your budget, an effective way to save money while still enjoying the magic is by looking into renting Disney Vacation Club (DVC) points. This savvy approach allows couples to stay at luxurious Disney resorts at a fraction of the cost directly through Disney.

Renting points from DVC members can unlock access to deluxe accommodations, offering the same high-quality amenities, prime locations, and immersive Disney experiences but at a more affordable price point. This method not only offers significant savings but also provides a unique opportunity to experience some of Disney's most coveted resorts, making your honeymoon both magical and economically smart.

Capture Memories with Drone Photography

Drone photography provides a spectacular way to capture your wedding from unique angles. These aerial devices offer a bird's-eye view of your venue and celebrations, creating stunning and memorable photographs and videos. Drones add an extraordinary dimension to your wedding photography, ensuring you have breathtaking visuals to cherish for years to come.

Wrapping Up

In a world where technology constantly reshapes our experiences, seeing its positive impact on something as timeless as wedding planning is exhilarating. These technological tools bring ease, efficiency, and a touch of modern elegance to the entire process.

They allow you to focus more on the joy and less on the stress of planning so that your journey to the altar is as memorable as the day itself. With these innovations, your dream wedding is not just a fantasy but a beautifully orchestrated reality, waiting to unfold.

Things You Can Totally Skip to Simplify Your Wedding Planning

By Maggie Holmes

If you’re in the process of planning your big day, it might seem like your list of tasks will simply never end. It is indeed a huge responsibility and you probably want everything to be perfect, but you have to accept that some things might not go according to plan – it’s only natural. There are issues every bride is bound to face, so you want to minimize creating even more issues if you don’t have to. Simplifying your wedding planning is a great way to cut yourself some slack and save some money along the way. Here are some of the things you can totally skip.

No need for paper invites

We live in a digital age, so unless you are a huge fan of stationery, you can skip the paper invites. Not only is it expensive to have paper invites made, especially if you’re having them hand-made, but getting them to their recipients is also more complicated and time-consuming than if you just had to send an e-mail. Your invites can still look nice and sending them out will be a breeze!

You won’t have time for DIY

What you might not realize in the beginning phases of your wedding planning is that very soon, you will have too much on your plate. This is why this might not be the best time to try and DIY things like decorations for your wedding. You can save yourself from a lot of headaches if you simply accept this and go for pre-made.

Alternatives to a rehearsal dinner

Nowadays, traditional sit-down rehearsal dinners are not mandatory. No one will stone you if you completely skip them, but you can also add your own twist and substitute it with something else you feel more comfortable with. Look up some alternatives and you might get inspired, not to mention save some money.

Skip the intricate makeup

Of course, you want to look your best on your wedding day, but you also still want to look like yourself. No one is saying you should skip makeup altogether, but you certainly want to skip extravagant looks and too much maquillage on your face. Instead, it’s a great idea to go for simple, natural looks that enhance your beauty and won’t take hours to recreate. Get some temporary eyelash extensions for a natural-looking gaze, and pamper your skin with facials instead of slathering on a ton of foundation on the big day.

Forget about dance lessons

Amidst all the wedding planning, there is a high chance that you will barely have any time to squeeze something like dance lessons in your schedule. Unless the dance is a hugely important part of the wedding to you personally, don’t feel pressured to have a pre-made choreography and get every step right. The beauty is in the spontaneity of the dance, so you might as well skip dance lessons.

Favors are not mandatory

Another thing that is completely up to you is wedding favors. Sure, they are a nice gesture, but getting caught up in the details is unnecessary, as guests will probably appreciate anything, even if it’s not the fanciest. In fact, even if you skip wedding favors, chances are that everyone will be preoccupied with something else and won’t even notice. The same goes for welcome bags, unless you are to have a destination wedding.

Cut back on pinning

Finally, you probably can’t get enough of all the eye-candy on Pinterest. However, overdoing it is not a good idea. Once you’ve got a general idea of what you want your decor to look like, it’s a great idea to skip frequenting Pinterest every spare minute you have, as it will just make everything more confusing.

Wedding planning is crazy as it is, there’s no need to get caught up in details that won’t matter as much in the end. Instead, try to take some time to relax and simplify your wedding planning process a bit to make it more manageable. In the end, all that matters is that the two of you and your guests have fun.

Author Bio:

Maggie Holmes is a passionate blogger keen on writing about beauty and fashion. Her exclusive hobby is to surf the net to find amazing articles that can inspire her with some fresh ideas for article writing. She loathes being a common person who wastes her time.

You can follow her on Twitter at 

8 Ways to Prepare your Outdoor Space for an At-home Wedding

Contributed by Kacey Bradley

Nothing is quite as intimate and cozy as an at-home wedding in the great outdoors. But, there's a few tips you should keep in mind to turn tying the knot outside into a breeze. Here's a look at 8 ways you can prep your outdoor arrangements for the upcoming big day.

1. Personalize Your Space
One of the biggest perks of throwing a wedding at your home is having the freedom to customize your space entirely to your needs.

Let your style and personality reflect your outdoor decor and arrangements. Because it's your home, you can add any details you please! Whether you decide to hang up personalized banners or trickle rose petals across your front lawn, one of the best ways to prep for an outdoor wedding is to let go of boundaries and fully customize your space.

2. Get Organized
You don't want your guests to fumble over hoses and rakes on your wedding day, right? Never underestimate the importance of giving your outdoor area a good ol' cleaning.

There are many different ways to organize the outside of your home, so you can add a touch of personalization to your sense of organization, too. Use flattering furniture that doubles as storage to store away tools, lawn equipment and general outdoor accessories.

3. Incorporate the Theme
You may have your indoor decorations down to the T, but can you claim the same for your outdoor arrangements, too? Establish a theme that is apparent both indoors and outside.

If you don't have a theme already in place, now's the perfect time to brainstorm one! Themes contribute to a memorable experience. As an added bonus, they make your wedding day photos even more personal, too.

4. Invest in a Tent
No matter where you live, the weather goes by its own schedule. While outdoor plans may leave you vulnerable to the elements, an easy way to safeguard your wedding from unpredictable weather is to set up a tent to comfortably protect your guests.

Tents provide shade in hot temperatures and protection against water when it rains or snows. Do a headcount of your guest list to invest in the perfectly proportioned tent for your festivities.

5. Check for Pests
Make sure that your guests are the only ones digging into your delicious dishes on the day of your wedding by ridding your outdoor space of pests and bugs beforehand.

If you notice any bee or hornets nests, you'll want to remove them safely with the help of an expert. Remove any free standing water, leaves or piled up debris in your yard to deter small animals from visiting your lawn.

If you plan to eat outdoors at your wedding, light some citronella candles to ward off insects and other pests. On your wedding day, your human guests should be the only one enjoying your food!

6. Prep the Furniture

Chances are, you won't have enough seating or tables available on-hand to accommodate all of your guests. To minimize your costs, consider hiring a rental company to supply you with all of your outdoor furnishings required for the event.

7. Don't Forget the Lights
The darkness may be romantic and mysterious, but nothing spells disaster quite like navigating through an outdoor space without lighting.

Make a landscape lighting plan and decide which area of your space you want to brighten up during your big day. Common areas that often require additional lighting include dance floors, dining areas, pathways and anywhere guests will be seated.

Soft lights add to the ambiance and can really tie together the look of your wedding. You don't have to settle for harsh lights. Consider using Chinese lanterns, candles or string lights when possible.

8. Envision Your Wedding Day
The best way to prepare your outdoor space for a wedding is to create a mental image of how you picture your actual wedding day. Never go into your preparation blindly to avoid potential confusion or unwanted arrangements.

Discuss your plans with your soon-to-be-bride or groom and come to an agreement on your outdoor must-have accessories, decor and festivities. Then, the next step is to put these actions in motion so that you can successfully enjoy the big day!

Kacey Bradley is the blogger behind The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. Along with writing for her blog, she has written for sites like U.S. News, SUCCESS, Ruffled, and more!

Follow Kacey on Twitter and subscribe to her blog to keep up with her travels and inspiring posts!

Unique Wedding Centerpiece Ideas

A lot goes into planning a wedding, from booking the perfect venue to designing your reception space, and so much more. Once you check the big items off your to-do list, there are a thousand more smaller decisions that need to be made. 

Choosing a wedding theme helps bring your vision to life so you can focus on how to decorate your wedding and reception space. A boho chic wedding theme for example often features vintage furniture rentals such as peacock chairs. This theme also brings in worldly inspiration, such as hanging lanterns reminiscent of Morocco. 

While reception table decor may not be your biggest priority as you plan your big day, these small details can have a big impact on your reception vibe. Your reception decorations also have a way of sneaking into a lot of wedding photographs, so remember that you’ll be looking at these centerpieces for years to come! 

Centerpieces are also a great way to show off your couple personality to all of your guests, as every guest that attends your reception will get a chance to admire the table decor up close. While florals have been the classic choice for table centerpieces for years, many couples are now optioning for more unique and affordable options. 

Featuring unique centerpieces and elements that are not flowers into your table decor lets you give guests a “wow” wedding moment. There are endless options for your wedding centerpieces, so get creative and ditch the traditional (and overdone) floral! Check out our bohemian and trendy centerpiece inspiration below or head over to Zola to check out more wedding centerpiece inspiration. 

Things to Include on Your Registry That You'll Actually Use

When wedding planning you can often get caught up in expectations of what you should, or shouldn’t do and include. This can be an expensive cycle to get caught up in, and when it comes time for your registry it can mean you end up with a bunch of stuff that will only take up space while sitting untouched for years to come.

A good system is look at what you use everyday and find things you want to replace, things that would be helpful and essentials you might need for the future. With the rise of registry options and aggregate sites there’s more flexibility and choice as to what you can include, and also how much guests are willing to contribute towards.

Splurge Where It Counts

Don’t feel the need to add every little thing you think you want, take a look and see if instead you can upgrade something you truly need to a nicer model. Instead of having that set of crystal martini glasses you will never use, upgrade your vacuum from a mid-range to a quality model that will have more functions and probably last longer. Bakeware is a popular registry choice, but if you only use your oven for storage, pass over that section of tons of gadgets and upgrade from the 400 thread count to 1,000 count sheets you’ll actually enjoy.

Think Ahead - But not too far

If you know you’re about to move into a new home take into consideration what you’ll need to get settled in. Many couples make the move from apartments to homes soon after tying the knot, which means more space to enjoy, but also more rooms to furnish.

Don’t be afraid to add furniture, decor or anything you’ll need for the house and want to build your home around. Guests are happy to help you build your new life together and they’ll love seeing their contributions in your new home, not to mention be grateful for the comfy new mattress they helped purchase when they stay over in the guest room.

The one caveat to this is to not get ahead of yourself and register for things you won’t have space for or use within a few months. No one needs an entire patio set taking up space in their storage unit or family basement while you’re still house hunting with no guarantee you’ll actually have a patio.

Get Ambitious

Have you always wanted to do something as a couple? Looking to find a hobby you can enjoy together after the stress of the wedding is done? Add a fund to the registry for them!

If you’re outdoorsy and wanted to try kayaking, add some camping gear or a fund for a weekend  away spent on a river. Maybe laying in the sand isn’t your style and you want to get scuba certified on the honeymoon, it’s all possible to add to your registry; add a link to your resort’s site where your guests can check out what they’re contributing to. Wanting to learn about wine and host dinner parties, why not add a wine club membership - just think of what works for you and add it! Variety of choice and price point is good for any registry.

Again, the point is not to fill your garage with extra stuff you think you might use one day, it’s to include things you have a plan for and a schedule that can accommodate them.

Valuable Extras

Sometimes you do actually need homewares, but dealing with wedding planning stress and packed schedules means you can’t find a moment to really sit down and envision what you want. Before you head out with your scanning gun, remember to select items that are versatile. Extra linens and towels that fit both your bedroom and the guest room, throw blankets that are cozy enough for the couch but warm enough for overnight visitors are all great choices. Also, plain white serving pieces can function as chic dinner party display additions and hold your basic Wednesday night take out.

Make your registry work for your future life together, be yourselves and have fun building your home without adding clutter!

5 Wedding Place Setting Ideas for Every Style

by Kacey Bradley of the Drifter Collective

Planning the actual wedding ceremony generally pales beside the magnitude of preparing a memorable reception. After all, the ceremonial part remains set in stone depending on the religious faith or lack thereof of the intended. The reception is really where the happy couple can let their creativity take wing.

The place settings selected for the reception dinner enhance the overall theme of your wedding. They create quite the impression on your guests and bring the rest of your decor together. Here are five ideas to get your creative juices flowing and design a table layout like a pro.

1. For Lovers of Whimsy

If colorful butterflies or clever combinations of patterns matches you and your spouse-to-be's quirky sense of style, create a whimsical place setting. The sky's the limit for this type of setting, so let your imagination soar.

Consider writing handwritten place cards for a more down-to-earth appeal. Choose a color scheme that matches the bridesmaids' gowns and combine different shades and patterns of that color in your choice of plates, napkins and more. You can easily create personalized take-home party favors on the cheap using items found in many dollar stores. 

2. For Lovers of Tradition

Those opting for the classic elegance of a traditional wedding place setting do well to embrace classic black and white tones with subtle accent colors. Formal styles demand quality dinner plates, artfully folded napkins, sparkling silverware and real rose centerpieces.

Design these settings around clean lines. Many reception venues are happy to do much of the place-setting planning for you if you select this option, though they certainly welcome your input. Consider classical accents such as ice sculptures to pull together the formal theme.

3. For the Outdoorsy Type

Are you planning an outdoor wedding and reception? You'll want to create your place settings with durability in mind. Fortunately, outdoor receptions may cost you far less than other venues due to the ease of decorating.

Lace picnic tables with chains of your favorite flowers and add garlands to decorate each pavilion. Consider creating mason jar chandeliers to subtly illuminate evening receptions. Wooden plates and simple burlap-looking napkins complete the rugged outdoor theme.

4. For the Theme Wedding Set

Dreaming of a wedding straight out of the pages of your favorite novels? Make your place settings match your theme with a bit of creativity.

Those considering Star Wars-inspired weddings can incorporate futuristic elements like light-saber shaped name cards, metal or jet-black dining plates, and droid salt-and-pepper shakers. Those planning fantasy-themed nuptials, such as those set in the Seven Kingdoms of George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, can create place settings that mimic those used at the Red Wedding — only without "The Rains of Castemere" and the ensuing nastiness.

5. For the Destination Wedding

Those planning destination weddings can craft place settings in tune with the location of the event. Some destinations will suggest schemes to use, but most still allow for creativity and adding your own personal touches.

Beachside weddings match perfectly with tropical decor, from coconut-shaped tumbler glasses to palm-tree-shaped swizzle sticks. Couples choosing to get married upon a cruise ship can create place settings based upon a nautical theme. Those saying "I do" in the mountains can go with a skiing-inspired look with Sherpa-esque elements.

Kacey Bradley is the blogger behind The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. Along with writing for her blog, she has written for sites like U.S. News, SUCCESS, Ruffled, and more!

Follow Kacey on Twitter and subscribe to her blog to keep up with her travels and inspiring posts!

10 Factors to Consider When Planning a Spring Wedding

by guest blogger Kacey Bradley of The Drifter Collective

Whether you're returning to your childhood home to walk down the aisle or opening your home for a pair of lovebirds, a backyard wedding is a unique occasion that comes with responsibilities. Backyard weddings are a personal and fun way to exchange vows, but you need to consider a few extra things to host the outdoor celebration. Here are six things to remember when planning a backyard wedding.

For couples who aren't into the snowy, cold weather winter brings or the searing temperatures of summer, spring can turn into a beautiful time to get married. The flowers bloom, and the weather is, hopefully, a perfect 60-70 degrees.

If you decide on a spring wedding, consider these 10 factors for smooth planning and an absolutely gorgeous wedding day.

1. A Venue With a Plan B

Spring weather is unpredictable. One day could be sunny with a light breeze, while the next you're dealing with a torrential downpour. If you choose an outdoor venue, make sure it has an indoor option, whether it's a barn or a tent. If your venue doesn't have an option on-hand, consider renting tents big enough for your entire wedding—just in case you need to move the ceremony and reception indoors.

2. Decorating With Lots of Flowers

Decorating for a spring wedding is easy with so many flowers and greens hitting their peaks. Flowers such as peonies, calla lilies, ranunculus and tulips are all in-season and more affordable during the spring. You can even purchase hanging installations as an easy and affordable way to decorate your reception.

3. Avoiding Spring Holidays

Most people think of avoiding weddings on winter holidays, such as Christmas, or the Fourth of July. However, there are some spring holidays you need to keep in mind when planning your wedding date. Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day, Easter, Passover and Ramadan all occur throughout March-May and could prevent some of your guests from attending.

4. Dressing Your Bridesmaids for the Weather

Spring style can feel notoriously difficult because of the shifting weather. To make up for this conundrum, choose a dress that pairs well with a shawl or bridal cape in case there's any inclement weather. For example, one of these chiffon gowns is lightweight enough for a warmer day but can easily transition to a cooler night with a beautiful shawl over it.

5. Lighter Suit Jackets for Guys

You can't leave the guys hanging. For the groomsmen, opt for a lighter suit jacket or no jacket at all in case of a warm spring day. If your wedding is more casual, consider khaki pants or rolled sleeves to complete the relaxed vibe and keep all the groomsmen comfortable. Make sure both your groomsmen and bridesmaids have umbrellas on-hand for any passing rain showers.

6. Using a Spring Color Palette

Since spring is a period of transition between summer and winter, you can get away with any color scheme that fits your personality. Mint, pink, green, pastels or a shimmery gold all work well. Incorporate these colors into your decor for everything from your table centerpieces to your bridesmaids' dresses.

7. Crafting an In-Season Menu

Lucky for you, spring is a great time to score fresh fruits and vegetables at a lower price. Early in the spring, you'll find carrots, peas and other leafy green vegetables. Toward the later months, such as May, you can use watermelon and tomatoes in a fresh salad. Talk to your caterer ahead of time about what fruits and vegetables will be in season during your wedding.

8. Planning in Advance

Spring is a popular time to get married, so you'll need to plan your date and venue early to get above the competition. You also need to realize that your wedding won't be the only one happening in the spring. Send out save-the-dates early so your friends don't have too many conflicting wedding dates and can attend.

9. Fading Light

Talk to your photographer ahead of time about the optimal light and when to find it. During the spring, you'll have longer days and later sunsets. You and your photographer can plan a time to leave the reception and sneak outside for some good sunset photos. Make sure you don't plan any formal toasts or dances during the golden hour.

10. Weather, Weather, Weather

No one can predict spring weather, but you can plan for it. Arm everyone with umbrellas in advance and even swing for some cute monogrammed rain boots for your bridesmaids in case the ground is muddy. If it's a comfortable day, but a cooler night, see what you can do about heat in your venue. Or, add some outdoor fire pits with blankets around the benches.

Plan the Perfect Spring Wedding Day

No matter what happens on your spring wedding day, you'll feel less anxious when you prepare for the worst. Follow the 10 tips above to help create the perfect day that you'll remember for the rest of your life.

Kacey Bradley is the blogger behind The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. Along with writing for her blog, she has written for sites like U.S. News, SUCCESS, Ruffled, and more!

Follow Kacey on Twitter and subscribe to her blog to keep up with her travels and inspiring posts!

6 Things To Remember When Planning A Backyard Wedding

by guest blogger Kacey Bradley of The Drifter Collective

Whether you're returning to your childhood home to walk down the aisle or opening your home for a pair of lovebirds, a backyard wedding is a unique occasion that comes with responsibilities. Backyard weddings are a personal and fun way to exchange vows, but you need to consider a few extra things to host the outdoor celebration. Here are six things to remember when planning a backyard wedding.

1. Legal Requirements

One vital consideration many people don't know is that backyard weddings require a permit under certain conditions. When the wedding guest list is extensive, or you're going to provide porta-potties, you may need a permit. Avoid a visit from the police due to a noise disturbance during the celebration by contacting the proper authorities first.

Contact your county or city government to get a limited special occasion permit. There may be regulations for parking, zoning and fire safety that they'll update you on. You also might need to talk to your local health department.

2. Sufficient Power Source

Weddings take lots of planning and logistics when it comes to decorating, making guests happy and providing conveniences. Lights, the DJ or band's equipment, technology and sound equipment all need to be plugged in, which means you'll need a power source. The catering staff or food vendors probably need power to prepare and store their creations, too.

Use a generator for the special day, so you don't risk compromising the main house's power or even the whole block's. If your original plan to provide power fails, you'll need a backup source.

3. Neighbors

People can file noise complaints against their neighbors for many reasons — from disturbing airport noise to turning up the TV too loudly. To prevent disturbing neighbors with unexpected noise or parking that blocks their car in, warn the neighborhood about the event. If you're upfront about how long the wedding and celebration will last, you can keep neighbors happy. Inform them where people will be parking, what hour people will start to arrive and how many people will be attending.

Whether neighbors decide to avoid the event by going out of town or choosing to stay indoors, their experience will be more convenient. Also, if the neighbors tend to be noisy, you can politely ask them to refrain from playing any loud music or having a party on the same day.

4. Yard Maintenance

Backyard weddings are a natural and intimate setting, but you'll need to manicure the yard for a satisfactory backdrop on the special day. Make sure to get landscaping work completed a few weeks or days before the celebration so it will be easier to set up the tent, tables, chairs, photo booth and dance floor.

Summer and spring weddings also need constant yard upkeep to feature a backyard extravaganza, because flowers need to be cultivated to bloom. For a warm-season wedding, prevent bugs from swarming your backyard, so your guests aren't swatting the air during the vows.

5. Parking

The average driver spends approximately 17 hours each year searching for parking spots — don't let your backyard wedding be another source of parking troubles. Help the guests find their parking spots around the backyard venue. Your area may require you to obtain a parking permit, too.

For neighborhoods with street parking, check the laws and restrictions. Make sure your guests can leave their vehicles during the hours of the wedding. If the backyard is large, you may be able to rope off an area and put up signs to show guests where to leave their cars.

6. Backup Plan

Outdoor weddings involve risk because weather forecasts are often wrong. Backyard weddings can also be challenging because stormy weather can push people indoors, and your house may not be able to comfortably hold all the guests. A tent can save the day if it starts to rain.

Don't dwell on what could go wrong but do plan for the worst. Whatever happens, make sure the wedding can still proceed successfully, despite the weather conditions or any hiccups.

Throw a Successful Backyard Wedding

Backyard weddings can be an affordable and lovely setting, but there are a few things you'll have to plan before the big day to make sure the event runs smoothly. Once you've checked off your to-do list, enjoy the celebration you've organized.

Kacey Bradley is the blogger behind The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. Along with writing for her blog, she has written for sites like U.S. News, SUCCESS, Ruffled, and more!

Follow Kacey on Twitter and subscribe to her blog to keep up with her travels and inspiring posts!