Hey everyone. So, I need some advice.
My fiance and I have wavered a bit and have decided to have our wedding and reception at home. We're getting married at the end of September 2019, the guest list is about 60-70, and it's going to be cocktail-style, with light appetizers served toward the beginning of the reception, and heavier appies served around dinner time. I'm doing the desserts. My backyard isn't terribly level (it's large enough but the largest part of the yard is sloped), and the evening should be moderately cool given the time of year, so we're thinking about having a lot of the reception indoors, especially in the later hours of the evening. We've just bought this house and it's twice the space we've lived in before, so there will still be a lot of empty space, allowing enough room for people to walk about the house unhindered. We have three bathrooms, so that's not an issue.
My fiance abhors the traditional/typical wedding reception format, ie sit down dinner followed by toasts and then dancing. At every wedding we've been to together he has been incredibly bored because he's a bit socially awkward in that he hates small talk and therefore chooses not to talk except to the people he knows, and he doesn't dance, so it doesn't leave much for him to do at these receptions. He's very much an introvert and would like to appeal to the other introverts on our guest list (of which there are a number) by having a wide range of activities for guests to participate in, if they so choose. For example: The open concept living room/kitchen will house the dance floor and bar respectively. Cleared out guest room will be our photobooth area. Family room will be a lounge area for discussion/relaxing. Garage will be a small movie theatre with snacks and our favorite movie playing. And a portion of the backyard will have a small firepit with marshmallow toasting.
I love the idea of all of this, but because I have no family in town, and we've chosen not to have a wedding party, AND I'm doing the dessert table, I'm worried it's going to be far too much work for the two of us to get everything ready...
Does anyone have experience with a backyard/in home wedding and reception, or can they offer me any advice on this?
Thanks in advance!