The wedding venue is probably one of the most important decisions that you will make. It can set the tone for the entire wedding.
The idea of having your wedding ceremony in your own home, rather than renting out a hotel ballroom or banquet hall, may sound a little strange at first. But just consider its myriad advantages, which include:
1) You get to save tons of moolah on venue expenses, which means that you have that much more cash left over to enjoy a ritzy honeymoon.
2) You will be more relaxed as everything you need is right there for you, which means you can let loose and enjoy your big day.
3) The best part about having your wedding ceremony at home is all the new memories that you will be making. The sentimental value is priceless.
So once you have decided to have your wedding at home, here are a few factors that you will need to consider to ensure that everything goes off smoothly without a hitch.
The Location
First, you need to decide where you want to have the wedding ceremony, the living room or terrace or the garden.
Clear the place out and make sure there is minimum furniture there. For most of the guests, you can lay mattresses on the floor and throw some cushions to make them feel at home. Keep a few chairs around for those who would not be able to sit on the floor. Choose the colours of the cushions and the sheets according to the colour theme in your house.
Make sure you have enough space for the guests to move around. You could hire a small room in the locality for the furniture or simply ask your neighbours to keep it in their house.
Weatherproof your home
With so many people in your house, it is bound to get very hot, especially if your wedding is in the summer. Make sure you have central AC; if not, at least hire some coolers for the night.
If you are getting married in the winter, then place heaters inside the house for it to remain warm.
If it is the monsoon season, then check for any leakage in the ceiling and walls. Cover up the balconies, first with plastic and then fancy curtains. Keep a space ready for the guests to freshen up before they can participate in the function. Ask everyone to take off their shoes before they enter, or else there will be muddy footprints everywhere in your house.
The logistics
Hire a cook a few days in advance to take the pressure away from other family members who usually cook. Even if the caterers are providing food, the cook will be a great help if you need something extra
Order a water tank to avoid water problems, just in case. You can never trust the electricity, so hire a generator or get new battery for your inverter. Put away all fragile articles from the house to avoid breakages.