A lush green expanse may sound like the perfect backdrop for a backyard wedding. But cultivating a lawn and a property’s plantings requires planning and proper execution to have an idyllic outdoor space years later—sometimes decades later, if owners are prepping a future party space for children or grandchildren.

“I would urge a client to focus on their ultimate dreams and wishes for their property while leaving an appropriate-sized lawn and/or hardscape area that can accommodate a party or wedding,” said Kate Ries, president, Clinton+Ries Landscape Architects in Hyattsville, Maryland. Plant types and their placement should also be a top consideration, she said.

Ries recommended a year-round approach when curating a backyard for a future marriage ceremony. A “four-season garden” can be “enjoyable and livable,” she said, so a wedding could be hosted at any time of year, weather permitting, of course.

For tips on creating a picture-perfect yard for a wedding, we asked landscape pros to weigh in.

Plant Trees That Will Mature in 20 Years

“Creating a focal point in your yard that has space behind it for setting up seats is a practical place to start. It would be nice to align the focal point with your main views from inside the house so you can enjoy it for the next 20 to 30 years before the ceremony. If feasible, place a center focal point at the far side of the level space, on a central axis to your home. Think of how you might decorate with an arbor of flowers in the future, making sure there is room for a gazebo or pergola if you decide to install one or rent one for the ceremony.

Planting a pair of trees “which are sometimes called ‘marriage’ trees, is an old customary practice in the Northeastern region of the United States. These are two matching trees of the same size planted side by side, often in the front of the house on either side of the entrance. A variation of this custom is to plant two trees directly next to each other and prune them to fit together. Over time they appear as one. Young trees planted this way will be mature and beautiful in 20 to 30 years. 

“Grow your lawn using the hardiest seed mix for your climate, or the best local sod. Remember that the lushest lawn is in mid-spring and early summer, as well as the fall. Love your lawn, feed it and weed it.

“For flowers, I suggest roses. Choose the old-fashioned everblooming roses and keep them well-pruned. If you are planning a spring/early summer wedding, peonies are fantastic. Well-pruned flowering shrubs such as hydrangeas and low-growing Korean lilacs are lovely.”

Grow a Healthy Wedding Lawn

“Consider how public guests would approach the space. Focus on blocking out distractions, such as views of neighbors and other items you wouldn’t want people to focus on, including light poles, trash cans, streets, driveways, generators, air conditioners, and similar objects. You should be left with a beautiful and calming space, allowing you to easily place accent pieces, such as containers with seasonal colors, a fountain for sound, or other usable pieces to help with entertaining.

“The key to creating a wedding lawn involves careful consideration of all factors that contribute to a healthy lawn. First, your soil needs to be adequately drained. I like to ensure the earth has at least a 3% slope and that the soil underneath the turf is composed of 50% topsoil and 50% washed (without silt) sand. Most lawns require watering at least three days a week, but monitoring the soil to ensure it remains moist without being overly wet is key.”

(As published in Mansion Global – June 18, 2025)