New York Backyard Wedding Photographer
Alexis Buryk // Wedding Photographer Servicing New York, New Jersey, and beyond
As a wedding photographer who has photographed many backyard weddings over the years,
I was recently asked to share my tips for couples on the subject over on the Redfin real estate blog.
Although they only asked for one or two important things, I realized I had a lot to share!
As a couple in the NYC area (or beyond!) planning your intentional wedding celebration,
there are so many factors to consider in the early stages.
If you’re thinking that a backyard wedding might be for you,
I wanted to share with you some thoughts and tips that I hope might make the process more simple
and enjoyable for you.
In the below Backyard Wedding Guide you’ll find:
Some backyard wedding photography inspo
Info on what to consider if you’re thinking of having a backyard wedding
Resources to help your backyard wedding planning experience
A Gallery of Photos Taken
at Backyard Weddings
in the NYC Metro Area + beyond
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
And why I love photographing backyard weddings…
Hi, friend(s)! I’m Alexis, the owner + lead photographer of City Love Photography.
* I photograph weddings mainly in the city
and the surrounding metro NYC area— the boroughs, LI, NJ…I am originally from north Jersey, so I consider it all local
* I moved into Manhattan as a freshman at NYU
many moons ago, and now proudly call Queens
my home (and AOC my rep!)
* I am thoroughly obsessed with every corner
of the NYC metro area, and love photographing backyard celebrations because I enjoy the laidback + intimate vibe of a giant house party combined with the awesome + totally special/unique experience of a wedding
You’re visiting this page most likely because you’ve decided or are trying to decide if you want to have a backyard wedding in the New York area. Some of you may be on the fence on whether this type of wedding is right for you, or you may be totally on board and excited for this approach.
As a photographer, I work with couples on many different types of weddings:
in restaurants, industrial lofts, historic buildings, etc.,
as well as those who choose to go the backyard wedding route.
Backyard weddings are fantastic for couples looking to have a more intimate + laidback vibe to their wedding,
but who still feel that having their community witness their commitment to each other is super important.
Backyard weddings can also be the right fit for couples with special homes in their lives:
either the house you’ve bought together, the vacation home that has long been a place of love for your family, a community member’s home they’re generously opening for you, and lots of other great reasons.
Backyard weddings are great for those reasons and more,
but they also require a different kind of planning than many other weddings.
Below, I’ll share with you some of my own tips for planning a seamless backyard wedding,
as well as some additional resources that will hopefully help you out on this part of your planning journey!
A Photographer’s Guide to Backyard Weddings
in the New York Area
Backyard Wedding Planning Advice
1) Logistics: The number one thing I urge you to consider when you’re thinking about a backyard wedding is unfortunately the totally unsexy + not-so-fun aspect of logistics. I know, I know- it may sounds MUCH easier to consider your wedding to be a giant house party at your aunt’s place than to think about the headache of planning a wedding at a more traditional location. However, backyard weddings often end up being much more logistically complicated (and expensive!), depending on the amount of guests you’re inviting and your own expectations, because you need to bring EVERYTHING in and think about the big picture in a way that a venue will already do for you. How many tables will you need for dinner? What happens if the weather is bad? How will you set up and then break down a ceremony space? Will you need a dance floor? And one of the most important considerations couples often overlook: are there enough bathrooms?! If logistical ease is the #1 priority of your wedding, and you’re inviting more than 25 people to join you, I would encourage you to consider whether other laidback options, like a restaurant wedding, might be a better fit for you than a backyard wedding. If planning each detail and being cool with bringing in things like portable bathrooms (true story, there are some bathroom trailers that are pretty cool!) is no sweat for you, then party it up in the backyard!
2) Guest Comfort: A topic so important it bears repeating- if you’re going to have a backyard wedding, don’t forget to factor in bathrooms! Renting bathrooms may seem like overdoing it, especially if the property has several. Taking into consider the amount of guests who may need the facilities simultaneously, as well as potential bad weather (would you want many guests with muddy shoes tromping into the powder room?), portable toilets are probably one of the best investments you can make when it comes to your backyard wedding.
3) Weather: I tell all of my couples this, regardless of where they’re having their wedding- we hope for the best case scenario, but we also make a plan for the worst case scenario! Backyard weddings often need very different plans for each case. Tents are seriously your best friends in worst case scenarios. Plan to have a tenting option for your celebration, plus floor and side cover options in case of really bad weather. It can feel like an excessive spend, but the peace of mind value is truly tremendous!
4) Photography: Photographing a backyard wedding isn’t very different for me than for other celebrations. With all of my clients, we communicate a lot beforehand, discussing plans and details and making sure we build trust and connection well before the wedding day. If there are any spots on the property you particularly love, make sure to let your photog know, and likewise, if there are any areas that are private and off-limits, be sure to the let them know that, as well (#healthyboundaries!) One of the reasons I really love photographing backyard weddings is that I get to provide my couples an enduring visual preservation not only of their wedding celebration, but also this space that means so much to them. Especially when it’s a space that you love and know very well, it’s such a pleasure for me to document it and hopefully bring you a new perspective on a place you hold dear.
5) Party at your place: All of this being said- when you have a place that’s really special to you, and that house party vibe with your nearest-and-dearest is really what you’re going for, then embrace that backyard wedding. Keep the logistics as streamlined as possible, go with the flow, and enjoy the homey-ness of your celebration. The loving energy that a wedding brings into a space is so incredible to witness- celebrate your commitment, along with the space that means so much to you, with the people you love, and let that be the heart center of your wedding experience.
And if your budget allows, definitely hire a planner with backyard wedding experience :)
Freakin’ beautiful portable toilets #FTW!
Backyard Wedding Planning Resources
Here are some great articles from around the web on planning your backyard wedding:
The Knot Tips for a Backyard Wedding
A Practical Wedding Backyard Archives
Is it really easier to have a backyard wedding? from Catalyst Wed Co
Backyard Wedding Inspo from Brides Mag
Planning a backyard wedding in the NYC Metro area? I’d love to be considered as your photographer!
…
Please fill out the form below to get the conversation started
For more info about backyard weddings, or to chat about your wedding photography needs,
you can also connect with me over on my Contact page.