How to Plan a Romantic Backyard Mini-Moon
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What’s Up, Hungry People
This time last year, I was picking out my wedding dress without a care in the world. I was supposed to get married on June 6, 2020. I was supposed to have a bachelorette party and bridal shower. Instead, in March, I found myself in quarantine. In April, we canceled the bachelorette and bridal shower. In May, we postponed our wedding eight weeks in the hopes things would be “better” by August. The honeymoon never even had a chance to be planned at all.
All of this inspired me to create a special experience for brides who might not be going on their dream honeymoon right away but still want to do something memorable and romantic.

We DID Honeymoon… Two Years Later!
Editing in from the future to bring an update to this post! We ultimately postponed our honeymoon for two years and ended up being able to go on a trip that was even better than we had originally dreamed of. We love to travel more than anything. We got engaged in Paris so we wanted our honeymoon to ‘top’ that adventure. In 2022, exactly the same week of our wedding two years previous, we spent two weeks in Indonesia and a full week of that was spent in Bali – so to say that we had a dream engagement, a dream wedding (all things considered) and a dream honeymoon is an understatement.

Let’s Go on a Backyard “Mini-Moon”
Our original honeymoon plans included two weeks spread out between Thailand and Japan. But as things started shutting down, it became more and more apparent that leaving the country wasn’t going to be the best idea. So we tabled all discussions about the honeymoon until next year or whenever a safe way to travel abroad is found.
We tossed around the idea of traveling somewhere domestically – but with most places still closed or operating under decreased hours, it seemed pointless to travel somewhere to ‘explore’ when our ability to do anything other than hang out in the Airbnb was extremely limited.
We definitely will still plan to do a big honeymoon trip in the future (see my update above!). But it still felt sort of a bummer to have our wedding on a Saturday and then basically…just go back to work on Monday. So instead, we decided to take the week off to de-stress (I desperately needed about 48 hours of uninterrupted sleep, that’s for sure).

But to make it feel like we were actually able to “get away” for a few days, I thought it would be fun to pitch a tent in the backyard and effectively have a backyard honeymoon!
Fortunately, I married the right man and he loves to indulge my ideas whether or not he thinks it’s going to be fun for him or not. And to be honest, we only slept outside for one night (because I care about his comfort too, this is marriage after all). However, we did have three fires and used the tent every evening for lounging, laughing, and watching our favorite shows under the stars.

It was nice to have a simple pop-up space that was somewhere other than our deck or living room to retreat to. And even my husband had to admit, it was pretty romantic for an old tent in the backyard.
We’ve had this tent for years but have never actually used it. It fits several people so it was quite roomy for the two of us. To make things a little more comfortable (and romantic), I brought out our air mattress and some cozy spare pillows and blankets from our guest room.

A couple of cheap tiki torches helped keep the bugs away – and cast a wonderful glow around the tent after the sun went down. I even ran an extension cord from the house to the tent so we could plug in a fan, keep our phones charged and refill the mattress if we needed to.
The best part about this DIY honeymoon is that I was able to reuse many of our wedding decorations to make it whimsical and charming, just like our wedding was. We spent all the money on the materials and decor – might as well get to use it again!

I was even able to use our handmade cake stands (we picked up a few new hobbies over quarantine) and decorated them with some tea lights, flameless candles, and a few of our floral centerpieces for extra romantic ‘candlelit’ mini bedside tables.

The dogs wanted in on all the action – naturally they had to be involved in every aspect of our backyard honeymoon. I mean, they even got their own comfy beds right next to ours in the tent.

Which speaking of the dogs, they definitely thought the tent was for them and them alone. Theo quickly staked a claim on the comfiest part of the bed. They both spent their own time in the tent without myself or my husband throughout all the days that the tent was out in the yard. Silly dogs.

What’s For Dinner?
For our inaugural night in the tent, I wanted to have a low-key picnic-style dinner. Something that was easy and we could pick at throughout the evening. So I made us a honeymoon charcuterie board with all of our favorite snacks, dips, cheeses, and jams.
I’ve found the easiest way to make an impressive charcuterie board is to mix between homemade and store-bought ingredients. For example, the chicken and tuna salads, jalapeño cheese dip, and French onion dip are all store-bought.
The mango salsa and tomato salsa are homemade – the tomatoes and ghost peppers I grew myself!

The next key to an incredible charcuterie board is to offer as many dipping and/or sandwiching combinations as possible. For me, that means soft pretzels, crostinis, and fresh-baked French bread alongside butter crackers and Wheat Thins.
And a sweet cracker flavored with apricot and dates can make the perfect carrier for a sharp cheddar or spicy habanero cheese.
I also had a bunch of different cheeses to try – and the true secret to getting as many different cheese flavors for the cheapest price possible is to seek out sampler baskets in your deli. Most delis I’ve been to (at least here in Northeast Ohio) have tiny pieces of cheese for sale, usually the little end pieces that can’t be sold for full price per pound.

I’ve found some incredible cheeses by perusing these baskets. Plus, nothing makes you feel extra fancy like some smelly cheese.
I’ve been lucky the last few times I’ve gone to the deli and found jelly and jam samplers being available for a dollar each. With flavors like blueberry lemon, raspberry pepper, and peach bourbon cardamom the flavor combinations are endless.
I also like to mix in a variety of cured meats like summer sausage and salami mozzarella roll-ups. Little bits and bobs like pistachios and olives can help fill in empty spaces. I served my board with sweet and savory dips like chipotle honey and gochujang for some international flair.

Here’s What You Need
For the Charcuterie Board:
- Large soft pretzels: For a hearty, chewy base.
- Crostini: Adds a nice crunchy texture.
- Wheat Thins: Perfect for dipping and snacking.
- Party crackers: Versatile for all dips and cheeses.
- Summer sausage: A flavorful meat option.
- Chorizo: Adds a spicy kick.
- Pepperoni: Classic choice for any board.
- Salami mozzarella roll-ups: Easy and delicious.
- Tuna salad: A creamy, savory spread.
- Chicken salad: Another creamy, savory option.
- Brie with orange fig jam: Sweet and creamy cheese delight.
- Sharp cheddar: Classic and tangy.
- Habanero cheddar: Spicy and bold.
- Stilton: Rich and tangy.
- Honey goat cheese: Sweet and creamy.
- Cream cheese: Smooth and versatile.
- Dill cheese curds: Fresh and tangy.
- Variety of jams or jellies: Pepper jelly, peach cardamom, blueberry lemon, etc.
- French onion dip: Classic savory dip.
- Jalapeño cheddar dip: Spicy and cheesy.
- Gochujang: Adds a Korean spice.
- Chipotle honey: Sweet and smoky.
- Mini gherkins: Sweet or dill for tangy bites.
- Stuffed olives: Salty and savory.
- Pistachios: Adds a crunchy element.
- Mango Ghost pepper salsa: Super spicy!
For the Dessert Board:
- Apple slices: Fresh and crisp.
- Popcorn: Light and crunchy.
- Marshmallows: Soft and sweet.
- Strawberries: Juicy and fresh.
- Chocolate fudge sauce: Rich and sweet.
- Marshmallow sauce: Light and fluffy.
- Lemon curd: Tangy and sweet.
- Sweet cream fruit dip: Perfect with fruit.

Assembling the Charcuterie Board
Start by laying out your larger items like the soft pretzels, crostini, and party crackers. These will serve as the foundation for your board. Arrange them in a way that creates a nice visual flow and makes it easy for people to grab.
Next, add the meats. Spread out the summer sausage, chorizo, pepperoni, and salami mozzarella roll-ups in different sections of the board. This ensures a good mix of flavors and textures in every bite.
Now it’s time for the cheeses. Place the brie (with the orange fig jam on top), sharp cheddar, habanero cheddar, stilton, honey goat cheese, cream cheese, and dill cheese curds around the board. Try to keep similar types of cheese near each other for easy pairing.
Fill in the gaps with the dips and spreads. Use small bowls or ramekins for the jams or jellies, French onion dip, jalapeño cheddar dip, gochujang, and chipotle honey. Scatter them around the board so there’s always something delicious within reach.
Add your “filler” items next. Tuck the mini gherkins, stuffed olives, and pistachios into any remaining spaces. These little bites are perfect for rounding out the board and adding extra flavors.

Dessert Board
For dessert, arrange the apple slices, popcorn, marshmallows, and strawberries on a separate board. Place the chocolate fudge sauce, marshmallow sauce, lemon curd, and sweet cream fruit dip in small bowls around the fruit and popcorn. This board should feel lighter and more refreshing after the savory main board.

Tips for the Perfect Backyard “Mini-Moon”
- Make it Comfortable: Bring out an air mattress, cozy pillows, and blankets to ensure a good night’s sleep under the stars.
- Keep Bugs Away: Cheap tiki torches or citronella candles can help keep mosquitoes and other bugs at bay.
- Lighting Matters: Use a mix of fairy lights, tea lights, and flameless candles to create a magical evening atmosphere.
- Stay Powered Up: Run an extension cord from the house to the tent to keep your phones charged and plug in any necessary appliances like a fan or inflatable mattress pump.
- Reuse Wedding Decor: Incorporate decorations from your wedding to add a personal and romantic touch to your backyard setup.

The Whimsy Outdoor Decor!
After our wedding, we had dozens of flower arragements leftover which were perfectly repurposed to decorate the outside of the tent. I had considered donating the flower to a retirement home or hospital, but since these flowers were used as the centerpieces or carried as bouquets throughout the evening, I felt the safer choice was to keep them at home.


We had plenty of fake candles and tea lights at our disposal – which made for the perfect romantic lighting once the sun went down.



It was Romantic AF
It was so nice to be able to walk out into our own backyard and have this gorgeous escape waiting for us every night.

So there you have it, Hungry People! Whether your honeymoon plans got delayed or you’re just looking for a romantic staycation, setting up a backyard “mini-moon” is a charming way to celebrate. It’s all about making the best of what you have and creating special memories with your spouse or significant other.
With a cozy tent, some creative decor, and a delicious charcuterie board, you’ll feel like you’ve escaped to a far-off retreat right in your own backyard. Plus, it’s a great way to reuse those wedding decorations and enjoy some uninterrupted time together. Here’s to love, laughter, and a fantastic mini-moon!

Honeymoon Charcuterie Ideas
Equipment
Ingredients
IDEAS FOR BREADS:
- large soft pretzels
- croustini
- Wheat Thins
- sesame, butter, etc party crackers
IDEAS FOR MEATS:
- summer sausage
- chorizo
- pepperoni
- salami mozzarella roll ups
- tuna salad
- chicken salad
IDEAS FOR THE CHEESES:
- brie with orange fig jam on top
- sharp cheddar
- habanero cheddar
- stilton
- honey goat cheese
- cream cheese
- dill cheese curds
FOR THE DIPS:
- variety of jams or jellies: pepper jelly, peach cardamom, blueberry lemon, etc
- French onion dip
- jalapeño cheddar dip
- gochujang
- chipotle honey
FOR THE "FILLER" SPOTS:
- sweet or dill mini gherkins
- stuffed olives
- pistachios
- mango salsa
- ghost pepper salsa
FOR DESSERT BOARD:
- apple slices
- popcorn
- marshmallows
- strawberries
- chocolate fudge sauce
- marshmallow sauce
- lemon curd
- sweet cream fruit dip
Instructions
- Assemble the boards so that all the space is filled – starting with larger items that are in bowls like the dips, then moving on to main proteins (meats and cheeses, etc) and fill in empty space with breads, crackers, fruits, nuts, etc. Enjoy!