Complete Guide: Planning an Airbnb Wedding

If you’ve been searching “unique wedding venues” and haven’t had much luck, I recommend turning to the rental home sites Airbnb and VRBO. There are so many advantages to having an Airbnb wedding, but there are some major factors to keep in mind. Because they aren’t traditional wedding venues, you’ll want to make sure you do thorough research before booking.

The Search

Check Your Filters

Almost all of the rental sites have filters for “allowing parties and events”. While you could search all houses and individually message hosts to ask, it’s a big time saver to first go for houses that already have a policy in place. Even if the listing says it does allow parties, message the host before booking your stay. Most times there is an additional event fee that comes with booking the property. There also may be a set of rules around minimum nights and exclusive vendors.

Parking

Parking is a super important and often overlooked piece of planning weddings in private homes. Not only do you need parking for any guests who will be driving, but your vendors will need space as well, especially to unload during set-up. Again, talk to the Airbnb host. Does the neighborhood have street parking, or do they have recommendations of nearby public lots? If parking is an issue, you’ll have to factor in shuttles for guests.

Check the Amenities

Get information about what’s included in the kitchen. If you are having an intimate wedding, you may be able to use the china and glassware at the house. Your caterer or chef may also be able to use the existing kitchen, versus building out a separate one with rental equipment.

How many bathrooms are in the house? This really becomes crucial for larger parties where you may need to rent a bathroom trailer.

Sound

If you’re looking to dance, check with your host to see if the town has any noise restrictions. Some places only allow up to 70 decibels which is actually no louder than a standard conversation!

The Planning

Once you’ve locked in your Airbnb venue, the real planning begins!

Layout

Because you’re going with a non-traditional property without a wedding venue manager, make sure you check in several days early to play around with your floor plan. If you’re having your party inside, you may need to enlist family and friends to move furniture. If you’re having your ceremony and reception in the same area that requires a space flip, make sure you have a game plan around rental storage.

Catering

While you always have room for creativity with catering, a house adds an extra layer of options! Maybe you lean into the home theme and have an elevated backyard barbecue. If space allows, seat everyone at one long king’s table and have an awesome crawfish boil. Because an Airbnb celebration is more relaxed by design, you have room to play.

Rentals

Another advantage of checking in a few days early is you can have some of your vendors deliver a day or two early. This is really helpful when it comes to rentals. If you’re paying the rental company to do your set up, you can have all of your tables up prior to the day of, making it easy to adjust layout as needed. Rental trucks also take up a lot of space and take quite a bit of time to unload, so other vendors will thank you for getting this out of the way ahead of time.

Check with all of your vendors before you finalize your rental order. Your DJ may need a specific size table, or the dessert vendor you hired won’t provide platters.

Insurance

While you should definitely hire vendors who have their own insurance, you’ll need to secure a one day insurance policy as well. WedSafe is a great, easy option.

Hire a Planner

No matter how laidback you’re feeling about having an Airbnb wedding, having a professional with you is going to make a huge difference. Wedding planners work in private homes often and will be able to make your day flow seamlessly. We’re used to finding creative solutions on the fly which can be important when working in a non-traditional space.

Figure Out Sleeping Arrangements

Plan out who is staying with you way ahead of time. There are so many different ways to split it up and of course, it depends on how many rooms are available. I always feel it makes most sense for immediate family and/or wedding party to stay with you so that getting ready and taking photos on the day of your wedding is that much simpler.

Airbnb Wedding Venues in New York

Now that we’ve covered the nitty gritty, here’s a list of Hudson Valley Airbnbs for your wedding:

Woodstock Luxury Estate

Town: Woodstock

Sleeping Capacity: 14

Pet Friendly: No

Features: 16 acres, hot tub, mountain views

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Abigail’s Country Catskill House

Town: Hunter

Sleeping Capacity: 16

Pet Friendly: Yes

Features: Pool, close to mountains for hiking

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Large Catskills Vacation House

Town: Lexington

Sleeping Capacity: 40

Pet Friendly: Yes

Features: Game room, close to mountains for hiking

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Windrift Hall

Town: Coxsackie

Sleeping Capacity: 14

Pet Friendly: Yes

Features: Private pond, close to downtown Hudson

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Shakespeare on the Hudson

Town: Catskill

Sleeping Capacity: 16

Pet Friendly: Yes

Features: Hudson River views, hiking trails on property

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Enchanting Rustic Log House

Town: Saugerties

Sleeping Capacity: 16

Pet Friendly: No

Features: Chef’s kitchen, outdoor patio, soaking tub

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Orchard Hill Estate

Town: Harriman

Sleeping Capacity: 25

Pet Friendly: Case by case basis

Features: Pool, hot tub, fire pit

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Ashton Hills Main House

Town: Shokan

Sleeping Capacity: 16

Pet Friendly: No

Features: Close to Woodstock, large jacuzzi, firepit, natural swimming pond

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Airbnb Wedding Venues down the New Jersey Shore
*please note that you must inform the host of what you’re looking to do before booking

Downtown Red Bank Home

Town: Red Bank

Sleeping Capacity: 16

Pet Friendly: Yes

Features: Large fenced in backyard, short walk to downtown Red Bank

Point Pleasant Home

Town: Point Pleasant

Sleeping Capacity: 16

Pet Friendly: No

Features: Wraparound porch, sweet private patio in backyard

Dream Victorian

Town: Asbury Park

Sleeping Capacity: 16

Pet Friendly: Yes

Features: Wraparound porch, walk to Asbury Park Convention Hall

Belmar Modern Home

Town: Belmar

Sleeping Capacity: 12

Pet Friendly: Yes

Features: Private backyard with covered deck and a large patio

Quiet Point Pleasant Home

Town: Point Pleasant

Sleeping Capacity: 10

Pet Friendly: No

Features: Ocean views, deck with seating for 16

If planning an Airbnb wedding sounds intriguing after all of this, but you still want to go a simpler route, I offer an all-inclusive Tiny Wedding package. Tiny Weddings include everything from venue to flowers, and are offered at some beautiful locations in Hudson Valley, including some with overnight accommodations! You can learn more about Tiny Weddings here.


Sarah Carroll