Why have your wedding at home? Real-life inspiration from Lily and Joe’s garden ceremony

Written By Terri Long

Photo credit: © Andy & Szerdi Photography Ltd

Planning a wedding at home might sound like a logistical conundrum too far at an already mind-boggling time. Heck, I panic about the dust on my skirting boards whenever my mum visits so I totally get it. But let me tell you, a ceremony at your own gaff can also be one of the most wonderful, personal and joyful choices you’ll ever make.

Take Lily and Joe’s garden wedding in Cambridgeshire on the Summer Solstice (hello, longest day of the year). Their home wasn’t just the venue. It was the heart of their story. From the kitchen they’ve danced in, to the garden they’ve wrestled into bloom, every corner carried memories. And on their wedding day, it became the keeper of new ones.

5 reasons to have your wedding at home

1. Your home is part of you

Joe and Lily’s garden wasn’t just a place where the grass grows. It was where they’d shared lazy weekends, pruned peonies and made memories with friends. So when it came to their vows, standing under the same sky they’d lived so much life under made perfect sense.

Pop-up top tip! A wedding at home instantly feels personal. It’s not just any old venue. It’s your space, with your personality and story baked right in the foundations.

2. The freedom is unmatched

Want to gallop down the aisle as a dog ring-bearer? (Looking at you, Lulu.) Want to plant a birch tree mid-ceremony? Want to dance barefoot on the lawn until the stars show up? At home, you can.

Pop-up top tip! Home weddings give you total creative control. You make the rules, or lack there of!

3. It keeps everyone comfortable

Because it was their turf, Lily and Joe could welcome their guests in the most relaxed way possible. Drinks in hand, outfit changes on standby, dogs running about – it felt more like a festival with friends than a traditional wedding.

Pop-up top tip! Comfort doesn’t mean chaos. With a bit of planning (and some weather-proofing if you live in Great Britain), you can have both ease and structure.

4. The quirks are what make it magic

Was Lulu the dog stealing the show as ring bearer part of the original plan? Kind of. Did she end up galloping down the aisle like she was auditioning for Crufts? Absolutely — and it was everything we all wanted and more. The timing, the drama, the sheer main character energy had everyone clutching their hearts.

Pop-up top tip! The quirks – whether it’s a four-legged friend stealing the spotlight, wireless speaker woes or a neighbour cheering over the fence – are all part of it and make the entire day unmistakably yours.

5. Memories that feel like home

When Lily and Joe look back on their day, they won’t just remember the vows or the confetti (although both were pretty spectacular too). They’ll remember looking around their own garden – the same one they’ve mowed, planted, and hosted friends in – and realising it had just hosted the biggest milestone of their lives.

Pop-up top tip! A home wedding doesn’t just last for a day. Every time you walk around afterwards, even the most everyday objects could remind you of the best day of your life.

Final thought on a wedding at home

So, if you’re wondering whether a home wedding is right for you, let Lily and Joe’s garden celebration be proof that it can be heartfelt, relaxed and still something from a fairytale, if you want it to be. Yes, there might be a few extra extension cables and a nervous moment about the weather (which is true for all weddings, let’s be honest) but in exchange, you get a wedding that’s yours from the ground up.

Thinking about saying “I do” in your own backyard? I’d love to help you craft a ceremony that feels just as homegrown.

Terri Long
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