This week I’m sharing an inside look at one of my favorite and most sophisticated “backyard weddings” to date, from Elizabeth and Peter’s private estate wedding in Crozet, Virginia. Planning a wedding at a private home comes a TON of extra logistics. With the expertise of Mia and her team at Little Acorn Events this stunning September wedding came together perfectly for E&P. Getting to have those sentimental moments with family in the home where you were raised, and including your fur-babies throughout the day is certainly a huge draw of creating lifelong memories at your private home on your wedding day!

As a guest on the blog this week, Mia is sharing her biggest tips and common hurdles with choosing to host your own wedding vs. using a traditional venue.

“Planning a private estate wedding comes with many logistics outside the scope of a “ready to go” venue, so working with an experienced planner is imperative for an stress-free planning process! When we begin working with clients on private estate weddings, we always start with a site visit to spec spaces for ceremony, cocktail hour, & reception. Often, this includes tent installation sites, so we consider water runoff, flat ground, accessibility, and of course–the beautiful views that are so bountiful at Virginia estates! We curate vendor teams based on personality matches & experience, and consider the topography of the land when designing our timeline & wedding day vision. Logistics to consider include power, lighting, potable water access, catering accessibility for onsite food preparation, restrooms, and heating/cooling. We love working with clients to bring these visions to life!”

-Mia (Little Acorn Events)

Bride and Groom portraits at Garden Party Private Estate Wedding in Crozet, Virginia

Bringing a wide open field to life as a wedding venue is no small task! Everything from parking, tent rentals, restrooms, dance floor, power, dance floors and weather plans need to be carefully planned.

Here’s a few stats that Mia say’s to consider. “I’d say the biggest thing with costs that people don’t consider are the added things like needing to provide a tent, lighting, power, flooring, etc. Often, our rentals for private estate are much higher than venues, especially because venues often provide tables & chairs and with private estate weddings we are building a wedding from the ground up. Tents often range between $6-8,000 including lighting & a dance floor.”

Ceremony at Garden Party Private Estate Wedding in Crozet, Virginia

So weighing those extra costs is definitely a factor to consider when choosing the convenience and sentimental value of having your wedding at your private estate! But just LOOK HOW STUNNING they come together when done right! I’ll never get over the white sail tent standing tall in the open field surrounded by the Crozet Mountains. Just wait until you see how the party lights illuminated the dance floor with the most magic arrangement of floating lanterns. Reception at Garden Party Private Estate Wedding in Crozet, Virginia

Garden Party Private Estate Wedding in Crozet, Virginia

When they say full service planning, they mean it! Mia and her team at Little Acorn events (pictured above) helping to bustle and brides dress without interrupting cocktail hour! The champaign was certainly flowing this night, with a few stations set up to serve guests, and the groom himself partaking in sabering the tops of the bottles! Garden Party Private Estate Wedding in Crozet, Virginia This elegant garden party in the Crozet mountains had a top notch team of vendors! With planning a private estate wedding comes a ton of extra logistics and requires a bit of flexibility for vendors who are used to working at a fully established venue! Days like these require extra prep and setup time. I was so impressed with the most delicious hot and ready gourmet food stations scattering the perimeter of the tent. Plus a vibrant night of live music. It was such a joy to photograph this incredible wedding celebration. Reception at Garden Party Private Estate Wedding in Crozet, Virginia