Stunning at-home weddings don’t have to take place at the Spelling mansion to be memorable (though I would have loved to be a fly-on-the “gift-wrapping room” -wall at Tori’s.) Wedding venues can be expensive and a great alternative is to have your reception and even your ceremony at-home. We’re not suggesting that you invite 100 of your closest friends to your one-bedroom apartment. Instead, think about a family member or friend who might be willing to donate their home for your wedding venue. With flowers, lighting and décor complimenting the existing personality of the home, the at-home wedding can be as chic as they come.

An at-home wedding can also be the perfect backdrop for a One World Wedding. Think about using a house that is already full of ethnic art and décor. Add in some mood lighting, candles and gorgeous centerpieces and it’ll be just like having your reception in a museum. If the existing home décor needs to be punched up, your caterer is generally equipped to do this. From tables and chairs to linens, extra lighting, votives, lounge furniture and props, they’ll be able to transform the existing space into the venue of your dreams. Don’t be shy about bringing in your own art and props to add to the décor.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning an at-home wedding:

1) Set it up Outdoors: If your host is hesitant about having a hundred people traipsing through their house, consider just using the back yard and erecting a tent for the festivities.

2) There is No Shame in Portable Toilets: It’s important to always make sure you have enough powder rooms for your guests. Today’s porta-potties are often as nice as hotel bathrooms, with marble sinks and running water!

3) Just Valet It: Parking can prove to be one of the biggest issues for an at-home wedding, so plan ahead. Make sure the street isn’t too narrow for parked cars and check into any permits that may be needed. Consider hiring a valet. They can take care of most of that for you, or rent a shuttle that runs all night between the house and a nearby hotel where guests can leave their car.

4) Flower Power: If you have enough advance warning, think about planting beautiful flowers at the home, or hire a professional landscaper to head over to the house and spruce up the flower beds. If everything is running at a last-minute pace, ask some friends to plant potted flowers the weekend of the ceremony, then send the home with guests as favors.

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