I had the privilege of working with Courtney and Erik on their private residence wedding last summer. Despite turning out to the be hottest day of the year in Rochester, it was an absolutely beautiful and personal day!

They chose to get married on Courtney’s family property, with the ceremony in the backyard and the tent across the way next to the swimming pond. At-home weddings may seem like a piece of cake but in reality, require a LOT of planning! Here are just a few of the things that we needed to take care of ensure a successful event – mow down an adjacent field to ensure enough clearance for the reception tent; bring in plenty of onsite power to handle the live band, lighting, portable restrooms and catering needs; create enough signage to point guests in the right direction as the ceremony and reception took place at two different locations on the property. Not the glamorous side of planning but all very necessary elements.

If you’re planning to have a private residence wedding, be sure to hire a team of professionals. Wedding planners keep open lines of communication among all vendor partners, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and things run smoothly. We can also help build a practical budget for at-home weddings, which are not always a low-cost option for a location, when you consider that you have to bring everything onsite!

Enjoy the beautiful photos from Laura Ivanova! It’s seriously one of my favorite wedding days to relive. This gorgeous wedding was also featured on Style Me Pretty!

wedding planning & signage: Denae Brennan Events // photography: Laura Ivanova Photography // videography: Vibrant Film // venue: Private Residence // flowers: Fox & Fern Floral // catering: Johnny Mango Catering // rentals: Majestic Tents & Events, Linen Effects // band: Bluewater Kings // stationery: Minted // makeup: Katie Kirckof // hair: Sola Salon // cake: Daube’s Bakery // wedding dress: a&be bridal shop