If you’re like most engaged couples planning a wedding in 2021, your plans have likely been thrown in the air a number of times as a result of the unforeseen circumstances brought on by the pandemic. It’s no surprise if you’ve had to drastically downsize your guest count, rearrange your planning timeline, and practically reimagine your entire wedding day.
Even though vaccine distribution is currently underway, the future is still flooded with unknowns, especially in regards to planning large-scale events such as weddings. For this reason, many couples who are still planning to get married within the next calendar year are opting for more intimate gatherings and their own home as the most suitable venue option.
Meet the Expert
- Tzo Ai Ang is the founder of Ang Weddings & Events, a wedding planning company in New York City.
- Based in Washington, D.C., Andrew Roby is the founder and wedding planner at Andrew Roby Events.
- Lisa Costin is a wedding planner, co-founder, and creative director at A Charming Fete in Cleveland.
This decision is not always an easy one for brides and grooms, notes New York City wedding planner and founder of Ang Weddings & Events, Tzo Ai Ang. “Many couples have been looking forward to getting married at a gorgeous venue surrounded by their family and friends for years or even decades,” she says. “It isn’t easy to have the dream wedding that you envisioned crumble in front of your eyes due to something so unimaginable, like a pandemic.”
What’s more: Choosing to have a wedding at home is a decision that is unique for every couple. “As in many things in life, all homes are not created equal,” says Andrew Roby, D.C.-based wedding planner and founder of Andrew Roby Events. “Not every couple has acres of land that would easily serve their wedding needs, and even those with adequate space still face challenges such as yards not being leveled or filled with trees.”
No matter the size, location, or décor of your home, one thing is for sure, and that’s the fact that absolutely any home wedding can be special, intimate, and unique. “The guests attending are the couple’s very closest family and friends, so the quality and strength of those relationships is very powerful,” notes Lang. “They may be the only couple who get married at that home and, if the home is where one of them grew up, it can hold extra meaning.”
Here, wedding professionals share their best-kept tips for how to successfully pull off an at-home wedding in 2021.
