Some weddings find their shape despite everything, the plans that change, the logistics that shift, the pivots that keep coming right up until the morning of. Sarah and Lucas had all of that, and what they ended up with, a backyard Savannah wedding on New Year’s Eve, was one of the most beautiful days I’ve ever photographed.
Though they live in Colorado, Sarah grew up in Savannah, and when their plans changed, they came back to where it all started: her parents’ backyard, with a marsh view that made every other venue they’d considered feel beside the point.
Why a Backyard Savannah Wedding Works So Well
Backyard weddings offer something most venues simply can’t: total flexibility. The timeline bends to the couple instead of the other way around. There’s no venue coordinator watching the clock, no room turnover to plan around. When Sarah and Lucas needed their day to be exactly what they wanted it to be, the backyard made that possible.
My advice for couples considering this route: choose a location where you already have happy memories. Sarah and Lucas felt that in the bones of the backyard, in the familiar smells and sounds of a house she grew up in. That comfort shows up in the photographs in a way that even the most beautiful rented venue can’t manufacture.
Things Worth Knowing Before You Plan a Backyard Savannah Wedding
A backyard wedding on private property is generally simpler than getting married in one of Savannah’s public squares or parks, both of which require a city permit and, often, an off-duty police officer, regardless of guest count. Private property is different: many municipalities exempt events under 50 guests from special event permitting altogether, though it’s worth confirming with the city directly since rules can shift.
A few things do still apply even on private property. If you’re bringing in a tent above roughly 200 to 400 square feet, you’ll likely need a tent permit from the local fire or building department to confirm it’s properly anchored and fire-retardant certified. Savannah’s noise ordinance also caps amplified sound at 90 decibels measured from 50 feet away, and in residential areas, that kind of sound equipment is only allowed between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m., worth keeping in mind if your reception is running into a late night dance floor.
Weather is the other big variable. Savannah’s shoulder seasons, spring and fall, tend to bring the mildest temperatures and are the most popular times to marry here, while summer brings real heat and humidity. Marsh-adjacent properties look stunning in photos, but they also mean more bugs in warmer months, so a little bug spray on hand for guests goes a long way.
First Look at UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium
Before the ceremony, Sarah and I met Lucas at the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium, just down the road from the house. It was New Year’s Eve, and the day was extraordinary, sunny, 82 degrees, a slight breeze off the water. One of those Savannah winter days that reminds you exactly why people get married here.
The center sits along the marsh and gives you access to piers, water views, wooded groves, and weathered wooden structures that photograph beautifully in coastal Georgia light. It’s an underused portrait location in Savannah and one I’d return to without hesitation.
Sarah and Lucas had their first look there, the moment she came around the corner and he saw her for the first time, and then we spent time just wandering. Walking the pier. Standing in the grove of trees. Taking in the view. This is one of the reasons I love building first looks into a wedding day: it gives couples unscheduled time together before everything picks up momentum. By the time we got back to the house, they were relaxed and present in a way that showed up in every photo for the rest of the day.
The Backyard Ceremony
The ceremony took place on the patio of Sarah’s childhood home, officiated by her mother, who was, by all accounts, touching and hilarious in equal measure. Guests gathered in the yard with a clear sightline to the vows, the peach-colored house behind them, the marsh beyond that.
Sarah’s mom stepping up to officiate made the whole thing even more specific to them, and that specificity is exactly what makes a ceremony worth witnessing.
Reception Under the Bistro Lights
The reception stayed right in the backyard, dancing under café lights strung above the lawn, dinner, toasts, the kind of night that happens when you put people who love each other in a small, warm space and let them celebrate. In their own words, their most memorable moment of the day was “dancing under the café lights in the backyard of Sarah’s childhood home. Our friends and family surrounded us, and we felt absolutely loved.”
As the sun dropped over the marsh, I pulled Sarah and Lucas away for one more round of portraits on the dock. Golden hour over a Savannah marsh is one of the more remarkable things a camera gets to see, the light, the water, the way it all goes soft and warm before the sky turns. Those dock portraits are some of my favorite images from the entire day.
Then they surprised their guests with fireworks off the pier, followed by a little astrophotography under the clear Savannah sky. It was the best possible ending to a New Year’s Eve wedding.
FAQs About Backyard Savannah Weddings
Do you need a permit for a backyard wedding on private property in Savannah?
Often not, especially for smaller gatherings, though tents over a certain size may require a separate permit, and it’s worth confirming current rules with the city directly.
What’s the noise ordinance for a backyard wedding reception in Savannah?
Amplified sound is capped at 90 decibels at 50 feet, and in residential areas, that kind of sound equipment is limited to between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m.
What’s the best season for a backyard Savannah wedding?
Spring and fall tend to bring the mildest weather, while summer adds real heat, humidity, and more insects near marsh-adjacent properties.
What are the best photography locations near a backyard Savannah wedding?
It depends on the couple, but favorites include the Savannah marsh at golden hour, the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium on Skidaway Island for a coastal, natural setting, and the historic district for architecture and texture.
Do you travel to Savannah for weddings?
Yes, I’m based in Atlanta and available throughout Georgia, Savannah included, along with destination coverage across the Southeast and beyond.
Sarah and Lucas’s day changed shape more times than either of them expected, and it ended up being exactly right. As they put it themselves: “Do it how you want to do it. There are pressures from all sides to have a certain kind of wedding or ceremony. Stay true to you and design a wedding that reflects your relationship.”
Planning your own backyard Savannah wedding? Get in touch, I’d love to talk about documenting it.
Savannah Wedding Vendors
- Planner: Weddings with Dana
- Caterer/Bakery: Mahgniffe Catering
- Beauty: Crystal Nicole Artistry
- Gown: BHLDN
- Jewelry: Doron Merav
- Lighting: JLK Events
- Rentals: Rancoe Events
