In the age of Instagram and Pinterest, a huge question brides ask themselves when planning their wedding, is whether they should buy, or DIY? The best way to distinguish between tasks a bride should tackle, and ones that should be left to the professionals is to ask: Is this something that can be done leisurely and well ahead of time?
Here’s my list of what can reasonably be DIY and what should be left to the pros:
DIY
-Wedding Programs
-Signage
-Cute décor touches
-Centerpieces that don’t include flowers
When it comes to centerpieces without flowers, think lanterns with a candle in them, which can look at the center of a table, or even something as easy as a cluster of candles on a mirror. Table runners and accent pillows are another great, and easy DIY, maybe even found around the house.
The key to DIY is getting things done months ahead of the wedding. Preassemble, label and organize into boxes for a planner to set up on the wedding day.
BUY
-Place Cards
-Escort Cards
-Desserts
-Flowers
-DJ/band
These items are a lot trickier and more stressful because they can only be done a few weeks (escort cards/place cards) to a of couple days (florals, desserts/cake) prior to the wedding. Its not that these cannot be DIY, but the amount of time and stress in the final weeks prior to the wedding day, simply isn’t worth the payoff.
One thing a lot of brides attempt to DIY are their flowers, but this is one thing in particular that should be left to the experts. From sourcing the right blooms to ordering them, to prepping them and keeping them at the right temperature in the correct amount of water takes knowledge and practice.
If not done right you could end up wasting a lot of money, time, and beautiful flowers. No bride should be spending the day before her wedding on her feet for 8 hours prepping and arranging flowers. She should be enjoying herself with her family, friends, and bridesmaids.
Music is another one of those things that should definitely be left to the professionals. It makes a huge difference in your wedding day experience if you hire a band or a DJ—they can really set the tone for a great evening! Having an iPod on the fritz can really put a damper on the fun, and the vibe of the night.
So, the good news is a lot of things can be DIY—it’s fun to get involved and really be able to create pieces of your wedding day yourself. But there are just some things that are best left to the experts.
