Wedding bells are in your near future and you're looking for a unique venue to say "I do." You're looking for a space that is charming, familiar and has lots of sentiment. Perhaps you should look no further than your own front door.

Why You Should Have Your Wedding at Your Home

One of the best reasons to have your wedding at home is because it's budget-friendly. Rather than doling out money on venue costs, you can use the money for a professional photographer, entertainment, catering delicious food and drinks, and a spectacular honeymoon.

Having a home wedding means more freedom to personalize your ceremony. Make it fun and non-traditional without any rules or constraints from venues and officiants. Pin a corsage to your pets' collars and let Fluffy and Fido be a part of the ceremony. Your wedding photos will be more meaningful with a familiar background and more focused on you and your guests.

However, since most residences aren't suited for larger events, you must work out the logistics of an at-home wedding. Read on to learn how to make your home the perfect wedding venue.

Ways You Can Make Your Home Wedding Ready

Declutter

Begin getting your home wedding-ready with a thorough decluttering. Clutter will show up in your wedding photos. Stacks of boxes and magazines by the stairs will ruin those candid shots. Not only will a clutter-free home mean better photos guests will be able to move about more freely and find a place to sit with their drinks.

Hire a Cleaning Crew

Of course, you'll want your home to look its best on your wedding day. However, you have many more important matters to attend to than cleaning. Hiring a cleaning service will save you time and ensure that your home sparkles for your future in-laws.

Find a reputable and affordable service through friends, the local newspaper, or online. You can also hire a crew to clean up after your event.

Embrace the Entire Property

Use all the features of your home indoors and outdoors. Have the ceremony in the garden or the living room by the staircase. Utilize the dining room, deck, or other outdoor living space for a reception or cocktails. If you have a smaller home, you may need to add floor space with a large tent or two.

Reserve and assign bedrooms for the bride, bridesmaids, and hair and makeup crew. Give your bathrooms a spa-like makeover with luxurious linens and candles.

If your home has a special location such as by a lake or picturesque view, play it up and include it in the ceremony.

Keep the Wedding Decor Simple

Your home's decor and overall personality will shine through by adding simple wedding decor. Begin with a pretty bridal wreath on the front door. Swap out heavy drapes with lacy shears. Add seasonal flower arrangements at strategic points, lots of candles, and a curated selection of silver-framed family photos.

Have a Weather Plan

Checking the weather ahead of time is one of the first things a bride-to-be does. However, if you have planned all or part of your event outdoors, make sure to have a plan B in case of inclement weather. Setting up one or more large tents will give the wedding party and guests a place to shelter from the rain.

Have an Exit Plan

End your wedding day with a memorable send-off. Leave an open space near the front or back entrance of your home clear of parked cars for a seamless and magical departure.

What to do Before the Big Day

One of the first things you should do when planning your wedding is to check the marriage laws in your jurisdiction. You may be required to have a short ceremony with witnesses at the local registrar's office to obtain a legal marriage license.

Make sure your guests have access to toilets and rent portable potties if your guest list tops out over 30 people. Work out the logistics of parking and let your neighbors know about the event. Arrange enough spaces for the expected number of cars to be parked or work out a plan to transport guests.

Rent or borrow enough chairs for guests and tables for food and drinks. If the event will last after dark, ensure you have adequate lighting. Your lighting can be as simple as tiki torches, hanging lanterns, and fairy lights strung in the trees.

Double-check arrangements with a caterer or food truck, a photographer, and live entertainment. Then relax and get ready for your wedding day.

Written by Taylor McKnight, Author for Taylor Rose Beauty