I love most of the ideas except the noodle boxes; they don't seem to go with the country setting.

If there are farmers around, can you borrow bales of hay for guests to sit on? And have a few picnic tables. Then you need some pub tables so people can mingle and have a place to put their drinks or plates. I think you can totally do some nicer paper or plastic plates. Even better, if you can collect old (vintage) sets of dishes that nobody really cares about, it would be so cute.

The hangar probably needs some work as far as decorating. If the space is too big, have some kind of room divider and use Christmas lights to light up the part you want people to use. Add some tulle or fabric on the walls and ceiling.

Make sure the guests are aware of the informal nature of the wedding so they don't show up in formal attire.

Now, this can probably be done on a budget, but it is also very possible that backyard weddings end up more expensive than weddings in a venue. You'll probably have to cut out a major wedding item, like a band or DJ, limo, bridal party, nails and hair, bachelor/bachelorette parties, or liquor.

Good luck!

Tell them to elope.

i think noodleboxes are fine for a non-standard sort of wedding. table seating enough for those that need it, the high tables (no chairs) is a must, so you can set your drink down while using your chopsticks.

my daughter is getting married late summer 2016, i wish she'd elope, i could redo 3 bathrooms for the price.

I would rent a u haul and have the groom's best man and ushers go raid my friends patio lounge furniture the day before and set up comfortable seating for older guests. By nature outdoor furniture won't get destroyed by people eating and drinking. Get creative for coffee tables and decorate with flowers). Set up one lounge area with vintage furniture for bridal party. Neat pieces like a dresser with the shelves left at home for the designated shoe drop off. Each guest gets a shoe bag( sewn up on sewing machine by you with name tag as they arrive). As suggested rent bar tables for eating. Use hanger as a back up, but rent a tent too. Just seems more outdoor wedding to me and less to have to decorate. This is fun. I hope one of my future daughter in laws ask me this question someday.

My sister had an engagement party in her backyard for about 80 guests and they worked for weeks in fine tuning the planning; it is very time consuming to arrange and you will need a lot of volunteers to help with setting up the day before. Your wedding planner will help of course, but I would suggest catering white plastic chairs and long tables to place items on and would use paper plates and disposal forks/spoons. A bbq is easy with volunteers jumping in. Ask friends to bring salads, etc. Assign people to jobs the day of. You'll definitely need plans in case of rain...in the hanger and if not large enough a marquee (which is expensive though). There are some great sites on line for creative ideas around themes, decor, etc. as well as check lists and recommendations - ie: washroom considerations. There is nothing nicer than a casual outdoor wedding though.

Thank so much all, I do like the ideas re vintage plates etc and the vintage furniture-also think high tea fabulous idea but not sure Siobhan will-however will present all of the above and cross fingers that yes, they do indeed elope!! Vegas was the plan! Sooo much cheaper.

Wondering with being near vineyards, using that theme may be an idea. Some of the pics below may help, for instance borrowing wine barrels to be used as tables to rest food/drinks on. https://www.google.com/search?q=vineyard+wedding+ideas&biw=1366&bih=599&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=kddZVb2aOIu8yQT6kYDYDw&ved=0CCsQsAQ

Wine and tapas? Another thought!

Thankyou for all your comments and advice, I am sure most of it will be incorporated somewhere along the line!