How to Plan an Airbnb or VRBO Wedding: Everything You Need to Know

More and more couples are stepping away from the traditional wedding venue model, and instead of renting a ballroom or a country club for a single evening, they are booking a vacation rental for the whole weekend. When choosing this option, you get to stay for multiple days if you want to, fully customize the space with your wedding decor, and have incredible views only you and your guests can enjoy at your private location. 

Picture renting a big farmhouse with a wraparound porch and mountain views where your closest family and friends spend the whole weekend. You could enjoy a slow morning together ahead of a backyard ceremony, followed by a private chef cooking you a celebratory dinner. The next morning, you could have a relaxed brunch before everyone heads home, or you can make the whole day out of it too. That is a very different experience from a six-hour venue rental!

If that kind of weekend sounds appealing to you, an Airbnb or VRBO wedding might be exactly what you have been looking for. Here is everything you need to know to plan one well.

Why Couples Love Airbnb and VRBO Weddings

The thing I hear most from couples who have done this is that the weekend felt like actually being and celebrating with the people they love. When you all stay together, you don’t need to worry about your guests rushing off to a hotel at the end of the night or feel like you barely got to talk to them because the evening flew by.

Instead, you have the whole weekend together with meals, late nights on the porch, slow mornings with coffee, and the kind of quality time you simply wouldn’t get with a traditional wedding concept. 

Plus, a vacation rental has warmth and character that a traditional event venue usually doesn’t. The atmosphere feels more homey and relaxed, and much more personal. Many of the properties come with amazing scenery and outdoor spaces, which can come in handy if you’re getting married at a popular location during peak season, so you don’t need to share the views with anyone else.

While a vacation rental can also be a bit cheaper than booking a venue, most couples choose an Airbnb or VRBO wedding because it genuinely creates a better, more intimate and flexible experience.

Airbnb vs. VRBO: Which Should You Use?

If you are planning to host your ceremony or reception at the rental property, or if you plan to have guests staying there with you, VRBO is generally the better option.

Over the years, Airbnb has become much stricter about parties and events, and technically hosting a wedding at an Airbnb property goes against their rules. There have been cases of bookings being canceled when the host or platform found out a wedding was happening. VRBO, on the other hand, lets you filter your search specifically for properties that allow events, which makes finding the right rental much more straightforward.

That said, the most important thing regardless of which platform you use is to communicate directly with the property owner before you book. Reach out, explain your plans, ask any questions you have, and make sure you are all on the same page before you put any money down.

This is actually something I help my couples with! I provide a pre-written message they can send to hosts that clearly explains their plans and asks the right questions upfront. It takes the guesswork out of the conversation and helps avoid any unpleasant surprises later.

What to Look for When Choosing a Property for Your VRBO Wedding

One of the biggest mistakes I see couples make is falling in love with a property based on how it looks in the listing photos without thinking about how it will actually function on the wedding day. A gorgeous house that is awkward to move through, has no good outdoor space, or barely fits everyone comfortably is going to create unnecessary stress for the day.

Here are the things I always encourage couples to think through before booking:

• Guest Count: Vacation rentals work best for smaller celebrations. In my experience, around 20-35 guests or fewer tends to work really well, although every property is different. Many vacation rentals also have occupancy or event limits, so it’s important to ask the property owner how many guests are allowed before booking.
  
• Indoor & Outdoor Spaces: Think beyond just where the ceremony will happen. Is there a comfortable place to get ready? A beautiful outdoor ceremony location? A dining area large enough for everyone? Different spaces throughout the property help the day flow naturally and give everyone room to spread out.
  
• A Weather Backup Plan: If you are planning an outdoor ceremony or dinner, make sure there is an indoor option you would genuinely be happy with if the weather does not cooperate. A bright living room, a covered porch, or a beautiful dining space can all work beautifully. Some properties also have enough yard space to accommodate a tent rental as a rain plan, which is worth asking about.
  
• Natural Light: This is something most couples don’t think about, but it has a huge impact on both the overall atmosphere and your photos. Large windows and bright, open spaces make the property feel more inviting and photograph beautifully throughout the day.
  
• Parking & Accessibility: Consider where guests and vendors will park, and whether grandparents or anyone with mobility concerns can comfortably access the ceremony and reception spaces.
  
• Kitchen & Dining Space: If you are bringing in a private chef or catering, make sure the kitchen has enough space for food prep and that the dining area can comfortably seat everyone at once. A long farm table in a beautiful dining room is one of my favorite reception setups!
  

The bigger picture here is that you are not just choosing a property because it looks pretty in photos. You are choosing the place where you will spend one of the most meaningful weekends of your life. It is worth imagining the whole experience unfolding, not just what the listing photos look like.

How to Make the Most of Your VRBO Wedding Weekend

One of the biggest advantages of staying at a vacation rental is that your wedding doesn’t have to fit into one six-hour timeline. You have the freedom to spread the celebration across multiple days. 

The Night Before

The night before the wedding, you could enjoy time with your guests with a welcome dinner, pizza night, bonfire with s’mores, cocktails on the porch, a game night- there are so many things you could do! This is a great moment to enjoy something low-key where everyone arrives, settles in, and gets to catch up before the wedding day itself. 

Wedding Morning

Coffee together, a slow breakfast, getting ready at the property, a first look in the backyard or on the porch. Private vows just the two of you before family joins. Time to just enjoy the space and soak in the morning before everything begins. 

The Reception

There are so many ways for you to celebrate your wedding day. A private chef dinner, a family-style backyard meal, a brunch reception, lawn games, a campfire, live acoustic music. The reception at a vacation rental can feel like a really great dinner party at a home you love, which is honestly one of the most enjoyable ways to celebrate. And there will be no venue coordinator telling you the night has to wrap up at 10 pm. 

The Morning After

You can wake up to a pancake breakfast, coffee together, and enjoy a slow start before everyone heads home. Some couples even plan a short hike or explore the area together that morning. This part of the weekend is genuinely lovely and something a traditional venue wedding just does not give you.

Why Vacation Rentals Work So Well for Micro Weddings

There is something that happens naturally when your guest count is small, and everyone is sharing the same space for a whole weekend. With 20-35 guests or fewer, conversations happen more naturally, everyone gets to know one another, and the day often feels much more relaxed than a traditional wedding. 

Instead of feeling like you’re trying to visit every table or greet hundreds of guests, you actually have time to sit down, enjoy dinner, play games, have conversations, and simply be present with the people you invited. 

Vacation rentals and micro weddings naturally complement each other. The size and the setting both work toward the same goal: creating space for real connection instead of a performance. So keep your guest count small, and enjoy your wedding with those who are closest to you!

Top Tips When Planning a VRBO Intimate Wedding

There’s a lot to plan and coordinate for a VRBO wedding, so these are the top tips you should consider to help with your wedding planning!

• When you’re looking for a VRBO, try to find a rental that has lots of natural light and good aesthetics that fit your elopement vibe.
  
• Look for a rental that has enough space to host all of your guests comfortably. Whether it’s a large backyard, an open floor plan inside, or a spacious dining room. You want to make sure there’s enough room to host your event. Especially if you are having your elopement ceremony there!
  
• If you can, look at the surrounding neighbors and area! Is the rental as private as the listing says it is?
  
• Read the reviews of the VRBO! See if anyone else has had a wedding or event there, and take note of their experience.
  
• If you also want to spend some time at a nearby park, such as Shenandoah National Park, rent a VRBO to host your ceremony & reception, and then go into the park for a private adventure with just the two of you and your photographer. That way, you avoid having to navigate bringing people into the park, trying to find a ceremony spot, etc.
  
• Book your VRBO a few days before the wedding, so you can set things up and make sure everything is ready to go. 

Is an Airbnb or VRBO Wedding Right for You?

Airbnb or VRBO wedding is a great option for couples who are after the following:

• Couples who value quality time over tradition.
• Couples who love hosting family and friends.
• Couples planning a micro wedding or intimate celebration.
• Couples who want a slower pace.
• Couples who love the idea of turning their wedding into an entire weekend experience.
  

If you are planning a much larger wedding with a big guest list, a traditional venue is likely a better fit, and that is completely okay. But if you are leaning toward something intimate, relaxed, and a little more personal, an Airbnb or VRBO wedding might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Let’s Plan Your VRBO Micro Wedding Together!

One of my favorite things about vacation rental weddings is how personal they feel. Not because every detail was perfectly curated, but because the whole weekend was designed around actually being together. Slow mornings and good meals and late nights on the porch and the kind of quality time that a traditional wedding timeline almost never has room for.

If you are in the early stages of planning and feeling a little overwhelmed by the traditional venue search, I want to encourage you to think a little differently. Instead of asking where do we want to host an event, try asking where do we want to spend this weekend with the people we love most. That question will lead you somewhere much more interesting.

And if you want help figuring out how to bring it all together, that is exactly what I am here for. When you book with me as your wedding photographer, I will support you in planning your perfect day at your VRBO. I’ll document every moment, and you’ll receive guidance through the entire process! You deserve to love your day and remember it exactly as it was. The feelings, the emotions, what you did – everything. 

Every Elopement and Micro Wedding Package with Juliana Wall Photography Includes:

• 4 hours to two days of Photo Coverage with me, Juliana
• In-depth questionnaires, so I can truly get to know you and help create a day that feels right.
• Sneak peeks within 3 business days, so you have gorgeous photos to share ASAP.
• Personalized planning assistance – helping you with locations, permits, vendors, and timelines.
• A private online gallery – to easily download, share, and order prints of your photos.
• Photographer’s travel costs included 
• A new adventure buddy!

If you’re dreaming of planning an intentional elopement or micro wedding in Washington, DC, or Northern Virginia, I’d love to hear about it! Learn more about my packages here! 

To inquire about working with me, fill out this form and schedule a FREE consult.