Planning a Backyard Wedding

For Karissa + Jared, choosing a wedding venue didn’t take much thought at all. Her parents’ backyard wasn’t just a pretty place to say, “I do,” it was a place that held a lot of meaning in their relationship. It’s where they spent countless afternoons as teenagers, where their friendship shifted into something more, and where they first started imagining a future together. Every corner of that yard held a memory, and being able to stand there on their wedding day felt like coming full circle.

What made their backyard wedding even more meaningful was how much love went into preparing it. Karissa’s father poured his whole heart into making the space wedding-ready. He had fresh landscaping done, added thoughtful details and decorations, and spent hours working quietly behind the scenes. You could feel pride in every neatly trimmed lawn and garden bed and in the fresh gleam of the newly cleaned stonework and pathways. It was clear he wasn’t just getting the yard ready. He was giving his daughter the most beautiful version of a place that he knew held a special place in her heart. 

The morning of their wedding carried that same lovely, meaningful feeling. Karissa got ready in her childhood bedroom with her mom and bridesmaids. As their hair and make up got done, they laughed and reminisced all morning long while watching the backyard come alive through the large windows. I was even able to capture a double-exposure film shot of Karissa’s wedding dress overlaid with her mother’s, both hanging just steps from where so many memories were made. Then, when she was dressed and ready for her big day, Karissa descended the staircase – much the same way she did for prom and every other big event she had growing up – and greeted her dad in a touching father-daughter first look.

A Private Backyard Ceremony Just for Family

To prepare for their ceremony, Karissa’s father prepared a secluded section of the backyard facing the tall trees along the edge of the property. He lined the space with stone borders and frilly fronds. Just beyond the bushes, you could even spot the old trampoline where the couple once spent their teenage afternoons getting to know each other. It was like a small piece of their past joining them on this most special occasion. The wooden arbor at the top of the aisle was handcrafted by Karissa’s father and uncle and their welcome sign and memorial bench once belonged to Jared’s grandmother. All of these subtle family touches added to the deep love and warmth that filled the air as the time for their ceremony grew closer. 

While planning their ceremony, Karissa + Jared knew they wanted something small and intimate – something just for them and the ones who meant the most in their lives. So, instead of having all of their invited guests attend their ceremony, they kept it small. Only their immediate family were in attendance as they recited their heartfelt vows and exchanged rings. One of the sweetest moments came at the very end, when the newlyweds surprised Karissa’s grandparents by handing them their wedding license to sign. With a flourish of ink, the matriarch and patriarch of the family signed off on the beginning of the young couple’s new lives together in a tender moment everyone is sure to remember forever.

After the ceremony, Karissa + Jared made sure they had ample time to get all of the family portraits they wanted. It was important to them to make sure we photographed every person who held a special place in their lives and played a part in their love story. Then, we took newlywed portraits all around the property. From the front walkway to the poolside to the loveseat in the living room, we stopped at all of the places around the home that held meaning to them. All in all, Karissa + Jared’s beautiful ceremony was the perfect blend of nostalgia, gratitude, and endless hope and love for the future to come. 

Ending the Night with an Elegant Reception

After their newlywed portraits, Karissa + Jared slipped away inside the house as the rest of their guests began to filter in during cocktail hour. Away from the ceremony space, elegant white tents covered the majority of the space. Beneath them, long wooden tables dressed with white runners and simple vases of white flowers and tall taper candles. Cocktail tables filled the rest of the yard and the pool area creating plenty of spaces to chat. Meanwhile, the catering team fired up Karissa’s father’s grill, making culinary magic and bringing the feel of summer family barbecues to the occasion. 

Finally, when all the guests had arrived and found their seats, the DJ announced the newlyweds and Karissa + Jared made their grand entrance into the reception. From there, the rest of the evening unfolded without a hitch. The grand entrance flowed straight into a lively first dance on the dance floor beneath the largest tent. Dinner followed, along with sweet speeches from the father of the bride and maid of honor and Karissa’s father-daughter dance – all of which left teary smiles rippling through the crowd. As the evening wore on the dance floor almost never emptied and guests enjoyed fresh-rolled cigars, an ice cream cart, and s’mores by the firepit. 

After dinner, Karissa changed into a short white dress and glittery sneakers, fully ready for the party ahead. And as though that was the sign everyone was waiting for, the energy fully shifted into celebration mode. Everyone – even Karissa’s grandparents! – made their way to the dance floor and the backyard pulsed with the thrumming joy of the party. Finally, all of the guests lined the pathway from the backyard to the front driveway and Karissa + Jared walked beneath the raised sparkler wands in a magical send off. Though their wedding day was coming to an end, for Karissa + Jared, this was just the beginning of a new chapter growing from the place their love story began. 

Did you enjoy Karissa + Jared’s backyard wedding celebration? Thinking of planning one of your own? I’d love to be there to photograph it!

Hey there! I’m Rachael Crowe of OkCrowe Photography. I’m a wedding photographer based right in New York City though I’m more than ready to pack my bags and head to wherever you need me around the world! Whether you’re planning an elegant wedding in your backyard or an extravagant celebration in the heart of New York City, I’d be honored to be there to document it all! Head to my contact form and let’s get the conversation started!