From place cards to makeup to decor items, there are countless facets of wedding you can DIY. However, how do you decide what to DIY and what to leave to the professionals? Here are four things to consider when deciding what to DIY and what to splurge on a professional for.
Personal Skills
Analyze where your skills are and how they can be applied during the wedding planning process. Also, remember to think about your strengths beyond the typical DIY realm of crafts. For example, if you are gifted at doing hair/makeup, consider doing it yourself in lieu of hiring a hair and makeup artist on the wedding day. Your wedding planner can provide suggestions for parts of the wedding that can be DIY’d other than the traditional favors, invitations, centerpieces, etc. that are typically thought to be done at home. In the end, LoveMadisonWeddings.com reminds us, “your wedding is not about centerpieces, flowers, and the perfect tablescape. That’s part of the fun of planning a wedding of course, but don’t get so caught up in the details that you lose sight of what your wedding is about.”
Educational Resources
Along with considering your personal strengths, consider what resources you have in order to learn about the different facets of DIY. Resources range anywhere from local community centers that offer flower-arranging classes to the Internet that has thousands of makeup tutorials perfect for the wedding day. If you are doing your own invites, consider learning how to make them look professional through the use of an invitation kit. RusticWeddingChic.com suggests purchasing a DIY invitation kit as a way to both save money but also have all the necessary invitation components for a sleek and professional look. When deciding what to DIY and what to leave to the professionals, remember the many educational resources that are available, and you may just gain a new skill in the process.
Cost
Consider DIY costs in terms of both finances and time. As far as finances go, professionals may be offered deals from purchasing in bulk that make it more affordable to go through them as opposed to doing it yourself. In regards to time, DIY nearly always takes longer than expected, so LoveMadisonWeddings.com emphasizes the importance of starting early. Also, remember the time DIY will take for items that need to be done directly before the wedding (i.e. fresh floral arrangements), as you want to keep your stress to a minimum. RusticWeddingChic.com notes that bouquets can be easily purchased from the grocery store and placed in nice vases to give a put together, yet relaxed floral feel. Your wedding planner is a fantastic resource to consult with when debating the cost of DIY, as he or she will be knowledgeable with what aspects of the wedding are worth splurging on the assistance of a professional.
Teamwork
For DIYing, it can be incredibly helpful to approach the project as a team. If you plan to DIY an item that needs many replicas (i.e. table cards, centerpieces, etc), see if you can schedule a day for your bridesmaids, friends, and/or family to come over and help. Before calling the team together, though, LoveMadisonWeddings.com recommends making one or two items on your own in order to ensure you are completely happy with the end product prior to creating 200 of them. Not only will extra hands help to form an efficient assembly line, but you can also use it as an opportunity to socialize. Wedding planners are skilled at planning social events beyond just weddings, so your planner may offer an a la carte service to help to plan a DIY party for you and your closest confidantes.
