35 Backyard Wedding Ideas for a Summer Wedding

Don’t just walk into your backyard wedding. Make an entrance with an elaborate walkway or even a custom pop-up door frame like this one. Because no bride should ever have to miss out on that breathtaking gasp from guests as those doors slowly open.

Vintage rugs add a homey touch to a backyard wedding, but also come in handy if you plan to wear any sort of heel down the aisle (no irrigating the ground on your way down). Borrow from friends or rent them from an event furnishing store.

Oh, you thought we meant just dogs? Obviously let your four-legged fur bb walk down the aisle with you (no need to get venue approval for pets!), but why not let a trained owl fly in your rings, too? A little Harry Potter, yes, but we’re into it.

This sentimental runner and altar combo is the perfect backdrop for a rustic yet chic backyard wedding. I meannn, it’s made of long-distanced love letters between the couple, so ya can’t top that. Rent one, make one, or borrow one…the point is to definitely have something this gorgeous standing behind your vows.

Not only can you fit more people into your ceremony space by using benches instead of chairs, but they’re also super easy to move to the side of the yard to create the space you’ll need for dancing. Keep them rustic or dress them up with aisle decor (i.e., lanterns, flowers, candles, etc.).

You’re already outdoors, so you might as well keep things a little wild. These inground bouquets are exactly what your backyard Bridgerton-esque banquet dinner needs.

Keep things from feeling too monotone by adding in bright bursts of color. Lampshades, scarves, or even colored candles can stand in for flowers on a budget, but strung up flower garlands make adorable upgrades, too.

Having a pool in the backyard isn’t a dealbreaker…in fact, it can actually be a game changer for your wedding decor. Float candles in the water or use extra centerpieces around the sides to make it part of the overall aesthetic.

“Something dried” is a huge trend for the 2022 wedding season, and this sepia-toned centerpiece nails it. Use pampas grass when possible, and place extra centerpieces throughout the garden for ultimate contrast.

Find ways to bring the indoors out with low lounge furniture that can create a chic picnic vibe, especially for your cocktail hour. Go bohemian with blankets inside a lit-up yurt or tent, or opt for parasols and pillows for daytime weddings.

Here’s one way to at least make that giant tree in the middle of your yard part of the wedding. But seriously, hanging framed photos of your family from a tree or wrapping the trunk in your favorite Polaroids turns nature into decor in the best way possible.

Not all backyards offer privacy, but that’s nothing a little custom curtain can’t fix. Makeshift walls are great ways to create intimate spaces with a lounge-like feel, like the ones from this Santa Barbara wedding.

You don’t have to DIY everything just because you’re throwing a backyard bash. This is literally why rental companies exist, and you can rent everything from the lighting to the seating and even these stylish yute poufs.

We’re not even going to hide how happy we are that champagne towers are a thing again. Your backyard cocktail hour just got 10 times classier. You’re welcome.

Curating a bar menu is often better left to the pros (unless cocktail making is your thing). Consider renting a bar—ideally one that comes with a bartender—or bringing in a mobile bar cart to serve drinks in style, like this Italian Piaggio that can serve six of your fave bevs on tap. Cheers!

Personal touches are what backyard weddings are made of…like these minty mojitos infused with strawberry. Invent your own drink, name it something cute and creative, and toast with your guests to your custom creation!

I recently heard that millennials are so obsessed with adorably curated charcuterie because they’re the adult version of Lunchables, aka our childhood, and now it all makes sense. How fun are these cones with the fancy toothpicks though?! Passed apps should all be this imaginative.

Vintage bar carts set up around the yard give the right vibe for a chill wedding. Think of them like drink stations, where guests can pour or even mix their own throughout the night.

Champagne walls (and even beer walls) are easy to install in any backyard, but there’s something about this margarita wall that just hits different. Maybe it’s the mirror? Or the fact that you’ll be serving up adult Capri-Suns…which has always been the ultimate backyard treat on a sunny day.

Best part of the wedding food truck trend? No waiting in a 20-minute lunch-hour line to get your favorite tacos. Bring the truck right into the backyard as your mobile caterer, or just have them pull up front for easy access all night.

First off: Obv check with your neighbors before booking a full band. That being said, hiring a solo saxophonist or a Mumford-esque quartet to serenade guests will totally suffice to keep the vibe while still keeping the peace.

You can choose any caterer you want, so why not go with your mainstay? This pizza truck makes their pies on the spot for weddings, so slices are still hot as they’re served. Plates optional.

Seating charts can feel so structured and stiff, but not this custom bookshelf with guests’ names on the spines. It’s such a fun way to add personality to something so pre-arranged.

We’ll toast to family-style meals set up on long banquet tables beneath hanging lanterns and tree branches all day (night?) long. I can almost feel the grass on my bare feet while swooning over this backyard feast!

Most weddings are all about the details, ofc. But the beauty of a backyard wedding is that it already feels more intimate than something held inside a venue, so lil touches like calligraphy name plates stand out even more.

Seated alfresco dinners are taking the place of buffet lines and cocktail party receptions, so put the focus where the food is by shining some light (as much as you can find!) on the table. Drape string lights, use vintage candelabras, amp up that flood lighting, whatever it takes to make that baby shine.

Yes, another tablescape, picking up on the trend?! The jewel-toned glasses blend into the decor on this dreamy banquet table, with just enough mix to the table’s match.

Dance floors are non-negotiables in our book, whether that means you rent a wooden one or just section off a portion of the yard for when the mood strikes. And yes, after that champagne tower, the feeling will strike.

It’s when you think you have just enough twinkle lights in your backyard setup that it’s probably time to add some more. They’ll add drama, whimsy, or that extra “wow” factor when guests first walk into your wedding.

Yes, you’ll want those bright night stars to shine down on your wedding guests. But trust us, you’ll also want these disco balls and pampas grass “chandeliers” hanging overhead, too. (Just imagine how stunning your first dance photos will turn out.)

Sure, you could totally have a traditional cake table…or you could create something more memorable like this cake swing. We vote cake swing.

Anyone who tells you they don’t still get excited when they hear that ice cream truck music in the distance is lying. Now imagine that same excitement at your wedding, only there’s no chasing this truck and it comes with customized flavors like “I Love You Berry Much” and “Vow-Nilla Coconut.” Also, how cute are these newlyweds that hopped inside to serve their guests?!

Roaring campfires add a cozy touch to any celebration, but they’re also great excuses to snuggle up with your new spouse for some steamy photos. Top this idea by creating a custom s’mores bar for guests with add-ins like candy bars (or Reese’s PB cups, a game changer), flavored marshmallows, and graham crackers or cookies to hold them all together.

We love a good succulent wedding favor, but when it comes to a backyard wedding, nothing beats a blanket (if chilly), an umbrella (if sunny or rainy), or even a keepsake fan (if you’re that person who planned their August wedding in Texas).

It’s not super easy to sneak out of a backyard wedding undetected, so going out in style is absolutely the best choice. Doing so on the back of a vintage motorcycle? Also the move.