Seriously....has anyone ever planned a backyard wedding?  I would love to rent a tent and trick it out with floor to ceiling drapery, uplights, heaters...the works.  By the time I added up tables, linens, catering and flatware I almost fainted. 

Anyone have advise on cutting cost without losing the WOW factor???

 maybe without the couch ;)

Aww I'm sorry I'm no help on this. I considered doing the same thing and even with almost all diy stuff and the cheapest rentals, etc it would cost me waaaay more than the venue i picked! Sorry. Maybe you should post this on the main thread? Good luck~

Depends on who you know. Do you belong to a church that would let you borrow or rent tables and chairs for a good price? Linens can be made if you have a friend who can sew.

My wedding is outside at my fiance's dad's house - about 200+ people.  We got all our tables and chairs free by borrowing them from local churches our parents belong to.  I would definitely look into that - finding them for free alowed me to rent linens at $7 bucks a pop!

Ikea has some sheer-er drapery panels for 5.00 each, this place has some crystal curtains that look good and are inexpensive (I am thinking about cutting them apart for swags etc) http://www.shopwildthings.com/clbune.html, we got some uplights at lowes (or was it home depot, drat!) on clearance for 5.00, we are using christmas lights..the white ones and I am making poms and fold out flowers. 

It is also really easy to make candle chandeliers as well, flea markets and garage sales often have those old brass chandeliers (I got a bunch a while ago for 5-7 bucks each, clipped off the light holders and wire, sprayed them white, threw a few crystals on them, all for max 10.00 each. 

I have also taken silver plate serving trays, suspended them from ribbon and filled them with candles, it is really very pretty.  Oh....and I have almost that exact same couch, ha ha.  Too bad I can't haul it to the reception site ;).  Good luck! 

We just had our back yard wedding and it came in under $4,000. We had so much fun and most of what we had was handmade or vintage. We've been writing a little about it here: 

http://www.ourmarriageproject.com/06/2010/wedding-decor-the-tables/

Can't see the pictures : (