Wedding planning guide · Adrian Mazur Photography
How to plan a DIY garden wedding
Guests arrive through a garden gate, find their names on a handwritten plan and sit down beneath a marquee for dinner. The details can be simple. What makes the day feel personal is the way those details tell your story.
Whether you’re using a family garden or hiring an outdoor venue, start with shelter, space and a realistic setup plan. Then pick a few projects you’ll enjoy making and give them room to shine.
01 / The space
Walk the garden before you buy anything
Sketch the route from arrival to the ceremony, drinks, dinner and dancing. Mark the toilets, kitchen or catering area, deliveries and power. Check gate widths, slopes and ground conditions with suppliers. Walk the same route as a guest using a wheelchair or a walking aid would, including the route to the toilets after dark.
Choose a covered layout that can seat your guests if it rains. Ask the marquee supplier about flooring, drainage, anchoring, heating, ventilation and when they would call off an installation due to wind. Decide who makes the weather call and by what time, so suppliers and guests get one clear message. Have a shady option and drinking water ready for hot weather too.
Confirm power and lighting with your suppliers, including the caterer’s and band’s needs. Ask who is responsible for running cables and lighting paths. Agree delivery and collection times, parking, cleanup and when music ends before you book. At a family home, give neighbours advance notice and a way to contact the person running the day.
Plan the legal ceremony separately if needed
In England and Wales, a civil marriage can take place at a register office or at premises approved by the local council. Confirm whether your venue’s approval covers the outdoor space you want to use. If the garden is for your celebration only, you can book the legal ceremony separately and hold a personal ceremony in the garden. GOV.UK ceremony guidance · London register office guide
02 / Things to make
12 DIY garden wedding ideas
Choose a few details guests will see or use, then make one sample before buying supplies in bulk. Test paper, ribbons and signs outdoors so you know how they look in bright light and whether they stay put in a breeze.
1. A welcome sign at the gate
Use large, readable lettering on a stable stand. Add a simple arrow if the ceremony is out of sight.
2. A photo line through the years
Print copies of family or travel photos, add a few dates and peg them up somewhere sheltered. Keep originals at home.
3. A seating plan guests can scan
List names alphabetically and give each table a clear number. Put the sign where a queue won’t block the entrance.
4. Small jars of flowers
Group two or three small vessels per table and keep arrangements low enough for guests to see each other. Ask a florist what will hold up in the heat.
5. Napkins tied with fabric offcuts
Cut strips in two colours and use them to tie folded napkins. Make a sample place setting first to check how much fabric you need.
6. A marquee entrance banner
Make a short fabric or card banner and ask the marquee supplier where it can be safely attached. Keep the entrance and exits clear.
7. A travel keepsake as a table detail
Bring an object you already own, such as a well-travelled suitcase. Use it to display postcards or photographs that mean something to you.
8. A postcard guest book
Set out postcards, pens and a box near the drinks. Give guests one prompt, such as sharing a favourite memory of you both.
9. Flowers that move with the day
Ask someone to move ceremony arrangements to the bar or dining area once the aisle is clear. Choose containers that are easy to carry.
10. Petal confetti in a shared basket
If your venue permits it, use a basket and let guests take a handful. Ask one person to distribute it just before the exit.
11. A quiet corner for guests
Put a few chairs in the shade away from the speakers. A small table with water and a basket of blankets can make the spot useful throughout the day.
12. A handwritten menu with a story
Add one line about why you chose a dish or drink. Keep dietary and allergen information with the caterer so guests know who to ask.
03 / Cost and setup
Budget for the garden as a venue
Build your budget in three parts: site essentials, food and drink, and styling. Get quotes for shelter, flooring, furniture, toilets, power and lighting before spending on craft supplies. Ask whether delivery, setup, collection and taxes are included, and keep some money aside for changes to the weather plan.
For each DIY project, price one finished item, multiply by the quantity and add tools, spare materials and setup time. Borrowing a dozen vases may be straightforward. Sourcing, cleaning, transporting and collecting a garden full of mismatched furniture can be a job in itself. Assign someone to receive deliveries and deal with supplier questions on the day.
A checklist for the final weeks
- A month before: test your table layout and sample decorations. Share the wet and dry plans with your suppliers and confirm access, power and timings.
- The week before: pack each project in a labelled box with a photo of the finished setup. Confirm seating, dietary requirements and the people responsible for moving décor.
- The day before: check paths, lighting and shelter once suppliers have set up. Walk the guest route after dark and make the weather decision at the time you agreed.
- On the day: hand supplier calls and the setup checklist to your coordinator or named helper. Leave one person in charge of collecting borrowed items afterwards.
04 / Photography
Make time for the people behind the details
Plan a few minutes for photographs of the garden and finished tables before guests sit down. Tell your photographer which details have a story. A handmade sign means more when you also see the friend who painted it welcoming people at the gate.
At a site visit, stand where you’ll exchange vows and look at the light from both directions. In bright weather, even shade can be more comfortable for the ceremony and portraits. Pick a dry spot near the marquee for family photographs if it rains, and keep group portraits close to the drinks so guests can rejoin the party quickly.
If evening portraits matter to you, agree a short break around dinner and speeches based on the light on your date. Ask your photographer to take a few frames after dark as well. The lit marquee and the people still on the dance floor can make a lovely end to the story.
05 / Common questions
Before you commit
Will a DIY garden wedding cost less?
It can if you already have suitable facilities and keep the setup simple. Compare the full garden quote with a venue that includes furniture, staff, toilets and cleanup. Decide which projects are worth your time once you have both totals.
What should we hire rather than make?
Start with jobs that depend on a safe installation or have a fixed deadline: the marquee, electrical setup and catering. Keep personal projects such as stationery, flower jars and photo displays within the time and help you have available.
How much time should we leave for decorating?
Time one complete table and one display in a trial run, then add time to unpack, move between areas and make adjustments. Confirm when the suppliers will finish so your helpers can set up in the right order.
Planning a garden wedding?
Tell me where you’re getting married, what you’re making and how you’d like the day to feel. We can work out where photography fits naturally into your plans.
Enquire about your wedding photographyFurther inspiration: a DIY wedding in Warwickshire photographed by Kristian Leven and Upwaltham Barns’ DIY wedding ideas.