How To Plan a Private Residence Wedding

Do you have a large, stunning backyard you’ve always dreamed of getting married in? Or does your family have a charming cabin in Lake Tahoe, perfect for a mountainside ceremony? Did your grandparents offer their farm to be your wedding venue? There are so many reasons couples choose to have a private residence wedding. However, before you start planning away, let’s talk about some common misconceptions, benefits, and what it takes to plan a wedding at a private residence.

What is a Private Residence Wedding?

First, let’s get clear on what it means to have a private residence wedding. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a wedding hosted at a private home or estate rather than a public venue. The best part? It doesn’t have to be your own home! It could be a vacation property, an Airbnb, or even the home of a friend or family member. What makes this type of wedding special is the personal touch it brings — a private residence offers a unique, intimate setting that feels less like a formal venue and more like a heartfelt celebration in a space chosen just for you.

Misconceptions of a Private Residence Wedding

Planning a wedding at a private residence sounds dreamy — imagine saying “I do” in a place that feels cozy, personal, and entirely yours! But before you fall in love with the idea, let’s clear up a few common misconceptions about private residence weddings (trust us, they’ll save you from surprises later).

1. A Private Residence Wedding Costs Less Than a Traditional Venue

Many couples assume that using a family home or rented property will slash their wedding budget, but that’s not always the case. While you’re skipping venue rental fees, a private residence wedding often comes with hidden expenses. Think portable restrooms, lighting, generators, and rentals for everything from tables to tents. We’ll break this down more later, but spoiler alert — you might spend more than you would on a traditional venue!

2. You Don’t Need a Wedding Planner for a Private Residence Wedding

If you think a private residence wedding means skipping the cost of hiring a planner, think again. Organizing a wedding on private property is a logistical puzzle, and you’ll need an experienced planner to pull it all together. At Epic Thyme, we’ve done everything from landscaping to setting up power sources, ensuring every little detail is handled. Without a full-service planner, your big day could turn chaotic faster than you can say, “Where’s the backup generator?”

3. You Already Have Everything You Need at the Venue

This one’s wishful thinking. Sure, you might have a lovely backdrop and sentimental value at your private residence, but what about the event essentials? Chances are, you’ll need to bring in items like tables, chairs, dinnerware, professional lighting, and even portable kitchens if catering is involved. And don’t forget about parking and restroom facilities — details homeowners rarely think of but become critical for your guests. Planning for everything your event requires is a must, and it’s where having expert help makes all the difference.

Planning a private residence wedding in Lake Tahoe

Benefits of a Private Residence Wedding

Now that we’ve tackled the misconceptions, here’s why private residence weddings can be absolutely magical.

1. It’s a Fully Personalized Experience

Unlike traditional venues, which can come with strict rules and built-in design elements, a private residence is your blank canvas. Want backyard string lights, a personalized menu, or decor that perfectly matches your vibe? Go for it. There are no venue-imposed limitations, allowing you to design your day exactly the way you’ve dreamed. The best part? You can party at your own pace (as long as you stay within local noise laws).

2. Your Wedding Will Be Private and Intimate

One of the best perks of a private residence wedding is the intimate and secluded atmosphere it creates. Whether you’re getting ready in a family home, soaking up the meaningful memories of the space, or just enjoying the quietness of no strangers watching your vows, the setting feels inherently personal. Forget wedding crashers or wandering attention from strangers — your celebration will be entirely yours.

3. It’s Easy To Create a Multi-Day Celebration

One of the best parts of choosing a private space for your wedding? The freedom to stretch your festivities. From hosting a welcome dinner to a morning-after brunch or even turning your wedding into an unforgettable weekend retreat, there’s so much flexibility with private estates. It’s not just about the big day; it’s about making memories you and your loved ones will cherish for days.

What Does a Private Residence Wedding Take?

You might think hosting your wedding at a private residence would cost less than a traditional venue, but here’s the catch: homes aren’t built for weddings. Unlike venues that come equipped with essentials like tables, chairs, and dishware, everything must be rented and brought in for a private residence wedding. And that’s just the start — logistics like transporting rentals, setting them up, and ensuring things like dishes are cleaned and stored (especially in areas with wildlife) mean additional time, effort, and costs. It’s a level of detail that often surprises couples!

With this in mind, let’s dive into what it takes to have a private residence wedding and how to start planning yours today!

1. You Need the Perfect Space

Not every backyard is fit for a wedding. Some spaces are simply too small or too steep to host an event. When considering a private estate for your wedding, think about the amount of space needed, not just for your guests but for your vendors and their equipment as well. Does your caterer have enough space to prep your wedding meal? Does the DJ or band have adequate electricity to keep the tunes playing all night long? Is the wedding ceremony and reception going to be held in separate spaces or the same? Is there enough space for your guests to park, or do you need to hire a transportation service? These are some questions to consider.

2. You Need Room For Everyone to Get Ready

Along with space for your actual wedding ceremony and reception to take place, you also need space for you and your wedding party to get ready for the big day. Are there indoor rooms available? Or will your wedding party need to get ready at their hotel or other accommodations before coming over? Either way is fine, and there is no right or wrong answer. These are just important elements to think about when planning your private residence wedding.

3. You Need To Bring Everything In

We highlighted the example of bringing in tables and chairs because it is an easy one to illustrate. Everyone knows your guests need a place to sit and enjoy a meal and good conversation. But there are so many other elements needed to bring a wedding together — ones that aren’t so straightforward or “pretty” so they are easy to forget about, such as:

Tables and chairs (enough for guests and vendors––they need somewhere to sit and eat, too)
Garbage cans
Silverware
Bathrooms
Wedding lounge furniture
Extension cords
Hose connections for the restrooms
Backup generators with gas (in case the power from the house is not enough)
Fresh running water for the caterer
Lights
Bar and drink station
Dance floor

And you need extra of everything, just in case someone drops their fork or a chair breaks. It is wise to purchase or rent at least 10-20% extra (depending on the item). You also need to provide an ample amount of tables, chairs, and dinnerware for your vendors to be able to sit down and have a meal.

This list is not extensive and doesn’t even include the “fun” rental items that bring your celebration to life. Did you know that if a coffee machine, band, and chocolate fountain all use the same electrical line, there is a good chance the breaker will blow? We know this from personal experience! Each element needs to be carefully managed to ensure it comes together on your wedding day without any hitches.

4. You Need Decorations

It’s true that one of the benefits of having a private residence wedding is getting to personalize the space. Realistically, this also requires a lot of detailed planning. Take, for example, a “Welcome Table,” which is common to have at a wedding.

While it may not seem like a lot, there are multiple elements needed to bring a table like this to life:

Table
Table runner
Framed photo of the happy couple
Flower arrangement
Candles
Welcome sign
Card basket
Guest book
Pens to sign the guest book
Jar to hold the pens
Alcohol wipes for pens
Hand sanitizer

And this is just one table! For a spectacular private residence wedding, you need to give that much detailed consideration to each element, from where you will stand and say your vows to where your guests will enjoy a cocktail hour while you have your wedding photos taken to where you will dance the night away.

We mentioned one of the benefits of having a private residence wedding is getting to personalize the space. Realistically, this also requires a lot of detailed planning. Take, for example, a “Welcome Table,” which is common to have at a wedding.

While it may not seem like a lot, there are multiple elements needed to bring a table like this to life:

Table
Table Runner
Framed photo of the happy couple
Flower Arrangement
Candles
Welcome Sign
Card Basket
Guest Book
Pens to sign the guest book
Jar to hold the pens
Alcohol Wipes for pens (and a little bin to dispose of them thanks to COVID)
Hand Sanitizer

Plan Your Private Residence Wedding With Epic Thyme

Our goal is not to deter you from such a unique and intimate wedding experience but to help you understand what it will take to bring your private residence wedding to life. And we are so excited to help you plan it. We have designed, coordinated, and managed tons of successful private residence weddings and know how to stretch your budget, cut costs where needed, and give you the wedding you’ve always dreamed of. Contact us today to learn more!

Lake Tahoe wedding planning team for a private residence wedding

What the bride of the featured private residence wedding had to say about her experience with Epic Thyme:

“Our wedding truly exceeded our expectations and Epic Thyme is 100% the reason for this! We definitely gave Christi a run for her money by asking her to help us pull together a wedding in just 8 weeks on private property with seemingly endless obstacles to navigate due to the COVID pandemic and local wildfire season. Despite her busy schedule, Christi made time to work with us each week, offered creative solutions to the many logistical problems that arose, and approached every step of the planning process with enthusiasm, encouragement and positivity. We are so grateful for the ways she went above and beyond to make our vision come true, her willingness to take care of so many details on our behalf, and the creative flair she added to make the entire weekend a beautiful and magical time for us and our guests!”