Backyard Weddings - Gorgeous weddings during COVID

Written By Jessica Jenkins

Small wedding table setting - borrowed photograph


Over the last couple of years many of my couples have had to postpone, and some even cancel their weddings. Some have then decided to elope and have a party later on, when they can gather their friends and family together (especially from overseas). Or have reduced the number of their wedding guests so that it fits the number restrictions. Everyone has had to be flexible and make changes.

With New Zealand moving to the ‘traffic light system’ and restrictions on numbers at events, as well as the concern with possibly having to postpone (or cancel) your wedding why not look into an outdoor wedding? Or even take a closer look at your own backyard! There are some lovely ways to hold an intimate outdoor wedding in Auckland.

Whether you have a small, intimate backyard wedding. Or a larger wedding held at one of Auckland’s regional parks I’ve lined up some of the most beautiful options for you. There’s nothing quite like the magic of saying your wedding vows under the sky, with the breeze on your skin, nature and your loved ones surrounding you. On our Auckland doorstep there are so many dazzling options for an outdoor wedding.


Outdoor venues

With all of this in mind there are a lot of places around Auckland where you can hold your ceremony, in Regional Parks or beaches. Or you could decide to dress up your backyard for an intimate and personal wedding day. There are even a few wonderful outdoor wedding venues that can help with the planning and space.

1/ Auckland Regional Parks

Jacob & Rebekah Wenderholm Wedding

Auckland is packed with lovely spaces and parks to hold your wedding ceremony. All you need is a permit to hold the event in the space. This will ‘reserve’ your space and ensure that there are no other large gatherings in the area. It doesn’t mean that the public can’t come through the park. So be aware when looking at this option, that depending where (and when) you pick, you could get a larger audience than you intended! After all, everyone loves a wedding, especially spotting the gorgeous bride. Pop a few simple (natural) decorations around, maybe an arch and most people will be respectful of your space. If you don’t want a big ‘extra’ audience, pick a weekday wedding or out of high summer at the beach.

To Think About

Most of the parks will give permission for a wedding ceremony to be held on the grounds with a 2 hour window, with some simple decorations. However, they don’t want you partying into the night at the park. You may need to hold your reception somewhere else. If your guest list is small enough you could have a simple picnic style wedding with lovely rugs, hampers and champagne. A great chance to be creative!


Take a look at the Auckland Council website for more information on what you need to do to get a permit and where you might be able to hold the ceremony. Some of the parks I like are:

  • Wenderholm Regional Park - with the estuary on one side, and the ocean on the other this is a lovely spot for the wedding ceremony and a casual group lunch event. Lots of beautiful, natural spaces to photograph your wedding.

  • Cornwall Park - has two lovely, intimate spaces set aside for wedding ceremonies. With the gorgeous gardens this can be a beautiful option for your ceremony. Though you will need another space for the wedding reception.



2/ Auckland Beaches

There are so many beautiful beaches around Tamaki Makarau. Check with Auckland Council for what beaches you need permits for and what the alcohol rules are. There are a few beaches that don’t need permission for, which will free you up a little.

Keep in Mind

Beach weddings have all the romantic summer feels. With sand between your toes and the sea breeze in your hair, saying your vows out in the open couldn’t feel more wonderful.

With a beach wedding you might need to be a little more organised:

  • Pay attention to the tides. Make sure that your favourite spot isn’t under the high tide mark!!

  • If it is raining on the day, make sure you have an alternative somewhere.

  • Let your guests know what to expect so they wear the right sort of shoes.

  • Be clear about where your ceremony will be so that your guests can find you on the day.

  • Also, whilst that private little bay across the rocks is amazing, remember that not all of your guests may be able to get there easily.

3/ Outdoor Wedding Venues

Keeping your wedding party to an intimate number can get you through a lot of the number restrictions. There are some wonderful venues that offer a ‘backyard’ style wedding option, that gives you the outdoor space that you need. But with the privacy of having it to yourself and allowing you to have the reception on site. Check out these gorgeous options:

4/ Backyard Weddings

Holding your wedding (and reception ) in your (or a borrowed) backyard can be intimate, personal and unique. Allowing you to focus on making the most of your space, having the very best food, wine, music and decorating your space to be just how you want. You have control over everything. And even better? You have control over what you spend your money on, this can be very freeing when looking at the cost of weddings elsewhere.

With a simple plan to make the most of trees, parasols, arches or even making an alternative plan (with a space near the house, or a pre-set marquee) if the heavens do open can add to the intimacy of your event.

Your Ceremony

Your ceremony can be held as simply as at the back of the garden, in a decorative doorway or even under the fronds of some beautiful punga ferns. What you do want is to ensure your guests (and you) know where to head for the ceremony itself.

This can be shown with a beautiful arch of flowers (dried or fresh) or a space decorated with a registry table and flowers. Having a small number of chairs (enough to seat grandma and Aunty Joan) will show your guests where to sit and can be tidied away after the ceremony, or rearranged to create conversation space. A carpet can be hired to create an aisle, black or white look lovely, and will lead guests and give you (the bride) a space to make an entrance. Vintage rugs could also be used to add a little bohemian vibe. Give each of your guests a cone of rose petals to sprinkle on the happy couple as you finish the ceremony.

How about decorating your backyard with fairy lights or festoon lights? It very quickly and simply creates a space that sparkles with joy. A twinkling secret garden that invites your guests to relax. And holding your ceremony at dusk when the garden comes to life.

Your Reception

The joy of a backyard wedding is that you can have the fridge full of your favourite drinks. The food can be catered, or food trucks ordered. Keep it simple, delicious and flowing. Hiring a bell tent for the backyard (if you have space) gives a nice lounging space, and looks gorgeous in photos. You can even hire a pop-up bar and bar tender. This means that you can leave all the pouring, managing and even a bespoke cocktail to them! They also can look super cute in the corner, creating another space for guests to hang out.

Check out these pop up bars to bring the party to your backyard:


Be Prepared

Often a big wedding comes with a big price ticket. By managing the set up yourself and holding the ceremony outside or in your own backyard you can create a very personal and intimate wedding, at a more reasonable price. After all, your day is about being surrounded by those you love and celebrating your love together.

The Cake

When planning a backyard wedding, or an intimate wedding you have the freedom (and some extra cash) to spend on the fun stuff. Like the most incredible cake of your dreams! You can invest in a fancy cake from your favourite chef. Or even the most crazy or extravagant cake you can imagine.

If a cake has never been at the top of your list you could finish of the meal with a platter (sweet or cheese) or even the most giant pile of delicious donuts.

  • The Platter Collective - platters, sweet, savoury and did someone say ‘cheese cake’?

  • Platter & Graze - platters, beautifully decked out and with anything you like. Could even set up a picnic for guests.

  • Mamas Donuts - beautiful donuts, made with love.

Cheese cake

The Food

By setting up an outdoor or backyard wedding you can have the food you want. Whether this is food trucks, a beautifully presented grazing platter with all the gorgeous trimmings, a hamper picnic or beach BBQ, catering from your favourite restaurant or even Mum’s speciality. You have the ability to craft your menu as you’d like, and offer a taste of the food you enjoy and your friends and family can enjoy. Food can be served standing up or sitting on picnic rugs, or you can have gorgeous dining tables set up in your backyard. The same goes for the drinks, wine, cocktails and soft drinks can be what you like.

The Photographer

I love to photograph weddings that feel like the personality of the couple shine through. Without big venue costs or large wedding guest numbers, investing in a photographer can be a great way to make the most of your day. A photographer can be there for the prep, the set up, the getting ready, and right through the ceremony, into the reception. Capturing all the moments, emotions, laughter, tears and love on the day. Removing the formality of some of the day sets everyone up for a chance to feel like they are part of the wedding. These type of weddings let the photographer capture the couple with each of their guests in a relaxed and personal way.

You have the freedom to set up the timings of your day how it suits you. We can spend as long as you like taking photos of the wedding party, the beautiful couple or the entire wedding, guests and all. The chance to linger over couple photos, or make sure that we get special one on one photos with Great Grandma can mean so much.

The Set Up

Hiring lights, furniture, arches, rugs, tents, marquees, pop up bars or even the utensils can feel like a bit more effort than you’d like. But there are some great hiring companies that will make it simple. They can help you with the set up and pack down. Or even help you with getting enough festoon lights to cover your space, and help it twinkle.

  • Rent for Events for some very beautiful bohemian and vintage options for seating, lanterns and a full outdoor wedding set up.

  • The White Wedding Club has it all from planning, styling and even hiring.

  • Two Foxes can help with your styling and has all of the furniture and props to make your day.

  • Vitrine has the quirky, vintage and unique furniture and props to help your day stand out.

  • Arkade hiring great furniture for trendy wedding spaces.

The Weather

Auckland is beautiful, but at the same time we do often get wet days, even through summer, and sometimes even it’s wet in the morning and not later on. This does make it hard to know what to expect on your day. If you are prepared, and a little flexible you can handle any weather. Providing (or suggesting) umbrellas or parasols (for the hot summer days) can be a great way to keep everyone dry and sheltered through the ceremony. Spend some time considering an alternative ceremony location in case of rain. This can be as simple as a small marquee, tent or the like. Or even a box of umbrellas (enough for everyone to borrow), or even gum boots if you are going fully farm rustic!

Borrowed photo.

BEAUTIFUL WEDDINGS

I know how hard it is to adjust your wedding plans, when two years ago it could be anything (and with anyone) you like. Some of my couples have had to adjust, postpone or change their wedding as much as three times through COVID.

Looking at the bright side, the trend for outdoor, bespoke and unique weddings is now well and truly a lot of brides preference. On the day the very best wedding vibe is about the people and the memories, so create a space where love and conversations can sparkle. A smaller wedding, and space, can make people feel cosier and closer.

Take advantage of this time, it will go down in history as unique. You will be able to tell the story to your grandkids about your COVID wedding, wearing masks and getting married, right here, in your own backyard.

All of the beautiful weddings that I have photographed shine the brightest when they are personal and capture the essence of the couple getting married. Being a reflection of who they are and the melding of their lives together. Their families, their cultures and those little details that could be no one else. Bohemian, vintage, modern, intimate and personal. Making your wedding day about you, your family and friends will make a day no one will forget. And a photographer that is there through it all will document it for the future.

Let your day shine bright!

Jessica Jenkins
Previous

HOW IS ZANDA WEDDING FILMS DIFFERENT?
Next

My Top 15 Auckland Surrounds Wedding Venues