With the price tags on weddings getting bigger and bigger each year, a new trend has emerged in today’s market. Do-It-Yourself weddings (DIY) are gaining popularity in addition to the simple fact, production of the wedding becomes more personal to those involved.
From the wedding stationery to the decorations at the reception venue, DIY ideas sprout out from all over the web. With the help of threads, rubber stamps, and art paper, numerous brides not only from the US but also from all over the globe have DIY-ed their entire wedding.
Aside from helping the bride and groom save hundreds of dollars, guests get to look closely into the details of the wedding elements knowing that the bride has spent hours and days over perfecting every single thing. Also, there are no worries when it comes to tying in all elements to the specific Pantone shade – you can paint, stitch or wrap everything to match it all in perfect harmony.
However, DIY projects are not for the busy ones and those with no passion for details. If you think you are up for the job, plus you think you need to cut off the wedding budget to save up for the honeymoon, then be prepared to DIY. All that is needed is a little imagination and a whole lot of elbow grease.
Now the question is, what should be handmade and what should be left to the professionals? Here’s a quick list to help you decide.
Stationery. These are made months in advance and are first in the line of all the things that should be set for the wedding day. The save-the-date cards, invites, programs, escort cards, and the thank you cards – all of these can be done the DIY way. Take into great consideration that since the invitations come first among anything else, these should look presentable and easy to read. No one would want the guests to be confused as to the church’s name, let alone the date of the wedding itself so DIY these with great care and precision.
Decoration. Since the decorations for the ceremony and the reception can be made in advance, DIY-ing these is a great idea. Envision the venue as what you would want it to look like and measure the dimensions needed for backdrops, curtains, and banners. Make sure that the decors are strong enough to withstand the partying all night long but are still easy to remove right after the event.
Hair and Make Up. A big chunk of the wedding budget goes into these two fine details, and it is reasonable since the wedding day is the bride’s own day to shine. Doing your own hair and make-up requires the right equipment and tons of practice. If you are not 100% sure about what you are doing, better leave this one to the pros. With all the stress and the pressure on the day itself, you’ll feel a whole lot confident knowing that you look like a queen on the most important day of your life. Plus, professional hairstylists and makeup artists have tricks up their sleeves – this ensures that your hair can endure a breezy garden afternoon wedding and your false eyelashes won’t fall off when the veil is raised.
Wedding Favors. If it is a food item, like cookies, cupcakes, or brownies, then these are made more special once they are DIY-ed. Guests would appreciate you sharing a family recipe while sharing your special day with them as well.
There so many details that can be handmade or DIY-ed, simply remember to thoroughly research or study the project. Ask tips from the pros and know where to buy materials at a very affordable price. Also, don’t hesitate to ask for help from the husband-to-be, it’ll be a perfect way of bonding for the both of you right before the wedding day.
I agree that when you DIY certain projects for your event that it will save you money. Stress I can not guarantee that it won’t happen. Just remember that the wedding day or weeks leading up to it are very special and should be enjoyed by the bride and groom. If she is busy scrambling to finish out all of the projects she has done, where does she have the time to enjoy the moment. I would seriously consider hiring a Month of wedding planner, who will handle putting all the details together and coordinating the wedding day. This way, the bride has a stress free day and can truly enjoy the party of her life!
Thanks for this oh so real insight. Definitely, the last thing you want to do during the highlight of your life, “The Wedding Day!” is worry about the extracurricular items and details of where’s what and who is suppose to be doing what. I agree, if at all possible and within the means of budget, event coordinators / planners are a really nice way to go!