By Kaylin Ross | Kaylin Ross Photography | Serving Alabama, Georgia & North Florida
Backyard weddings have a reputation for being the "casual" option. Lower budget, lower stakes, less formal. But some of the most beautiful, most intentional weddings I've photographed have been in someone's backyard. Victoria and Jaques's wedding in Georgia is proof of that.
Two white tents. A pasture ceremony with floral arches. A memorial wall for loved ones who couldn't be there. A make your own bouquet vendor. Parents joining the first dance. And food so good that nobody wanted to leave.
If you're considering a backyard wedding, here's what you actually need to know to pull it off and have it look like something out of a magazine.
Your Ceremony Space Matters More Than You Think
Victoria and Jaques set their ceremony up in the front yard with chairs flanking the aisle and flowers in the ground next to each row. Behind them, floral arches framed a wide open pasture as the backdrop. It was stunning and completely intentional.
The biggest mistake couples make with backyard ceremonies is underestimating how much the setup impacts the photos. You don't need a venue with built-in architecture -- but you do need a focal point. An arch, a floral backdrop, a tree, a fence line. Something that gives your ceremony visual structure and gives your photographer something to work with.
Think about where the sun will be during your ceremony too. An evening ceremony like Victoria and Jaques's means softer light and a more flattering look across the board. Golden hour portraits right after? Even better.
Tents Are Worth Every Penny
Victoria and Jaques had two large white tents set up in the backyard for the reception, and they transformed the space completely. Tents do a few things at once -- they define the party area, they protect your guests from weather, and they give you a lit, contained space that photographs beautifully at night.
They also used the tent space smartly. A bartender set up in the back corner. A make your own bouquet vendor inside for guests to enjoy. The space felt curated and intentional, not like a random backyard with some tables thrown in.
If you're working with a budget, one good sized tent is better than no tent. It anchors everything.
The Personal Details Are What People Remember
One of the most meaningful things at Victoria and Jaques's wedding was a decorative wall set up near the tents honoring loved ones who had passed and couldn't be there. It stopped guests in their tracks. It was quiet and beautiful and it meant everything to the people who understood who those photos were for.
Backyard weddings give you the freedom to include things like that -- details that a traditional venue might not accommodate or that might feel out of place in a ballroom. Use that freedom. The personal touches are what make a backyard wedding feel like a backyard wedding instead of just a cheaper version of something else.
Other personal details that work beautifully: buffet style food where family members contribute dishes, signature drink stations, lawn games, a photo display of the couple.
Tell Your Photographer Everything
When I arrived at Victoria and Jaques's wedding, I knew what I was walking into. That matters. A backyard space doesn't have a built-in timeline the way a traditional venue does there's no coordinator handing off the schedule, no venue manager running the day. Your photographer needs to know the layout, the timeline, the key moments, and any details that are important to you so nothing gets missed.
Victoria and Jaques had a pastor bless the rings during the ceremony. The parents were called up to join the first dance. Those are moments I was ready for because we had talked through the day ahead of time. If I hadn't known, I might have been in the wrong position when it happened.
Don't Underestimate the Night Shots
Some of my favorite images from Victoria and Jaques's wedding were taken after dark. Flash photography outside with the bridal party, everyone together, genuinely having the best night. There's an energy at backyard weddings late in the evening that is hard to replicate anywhere else -- people are relaxed, the formalities are done, and it's just a really good party.
Make sure your photographer is comfortable shooting in low light and has the equipment for it. Those late night flash photos are often the ones that end up on your wall.
One More Thing
At the end of the night, when I told Victoria and Jaques I was heading out, the bridal party refused to let me leave without getting in a group photo with them. They taught someone how to use my camera so I could be in the shot.
That doesn't happen at every wedding. But it happens at the ones where everybody felt comfortable, the day ran beautifully, and the photographer became part of the celebration instead of just a vendor.
That's what a great backyard wedding can be.
Get in touch / Ask a question
If you're planning a backyard wedding in Georgia, Alabama, or North Florida and want a photographer who will show up prepared and stay until the last shot, I'd love to hear about your day.
