The DIY wedding is a popular option for couples looking to save some pennies on their wedding day. And there are a lot of benefits to choosing to DIY your big day, however, we wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t share some lessons with you! After all, we want you to plan a stress-free wedding so you can enjoy the day of your dreams.
Here are some key learnings and thoughts about choosing to DIY your wedding day.
Start early
Like anything with weddings, it’s so important to be prepared and organised. Start your planning early – decide which items you’ll be DIYing, and which items you’ll be buying or outsourcing. Commit to this list to ensure you set boundaries and not take on too much or overextend yourself. Remember, this is going to be a busy time so give yourself enough breathing space for other wedding / work / friends / self-care activities in the lead up to the big day.
Set a theme
Setting a theme will help you stay on track! Ensuring you have a clear direction – think mood board, colours, textures – will mean on the day all of your elements will come together beautifully. Having a theme should also make some decisions easier along the way, too!
Storage
As you continue to create and collect pieces for your big day, you’re going to need somewhere safe to store these goodies. You’ll want to find somewhere that’s out of the way from your family, particularly if you have little kidlets running around. Keeping everything labeled and organised so it’s easy to find and transport is going to be key.
Transport
Have you thought about how many items you’ll be transporting on the big day? Do you have access to a van or big enough 4WD to do everything in one trip? Best not to rely on a ute unless you have a proper way to strap everything down and it comes with a wet weather plan! Don’t forget, you’re also going to need to transport these items back at the end of the evening too. You’re also going to need to coordinate with the venue to see when their bump-in and bump-out times are, as well as access for your vehicle to drop off your goodies!
Cost
There is a common misperception that DIY is a cheaper alternative for your wedding day. However, this is often not the case. There have been multiple times where we have seen couples blow their budget on last-minute things that have been forgotten or overlooked in the planning process. Set yourself a budget and be clear with what you’re going to need to outlay from the start.
Time
Planning a wedding is a big job. It requires a lot of research, searching, shopping and decision making. It’s a lot to add to your already busy life with work, family, friends! Ensure that you take the time to look after yourself throughout this process, which may mean outsourcing more things for the day than you had anticipated. DIYing will require a lot of preparation, so have a clear understanding of how much time you have to dedicate to pulling everything together. Don’t overexert yourself – the lead up to your wedding is meant to be fun, not stressful.
Sustainability
We find that after the big day, couples are left with a wedding-sized stash of things in their garage which they try to offload to the next DIYing couple. Think about what your plan is for all your creations after the wedding. You don’t want them sitting around the house cluttering your newly-wed space, but you also don’t want them to go straight to landfill.
There’s a reason why DIYing your wedding day is so popular – there are many benefits and it can be a truly great option for couples. But it is important to do your research before you commit to taking on more than you can chew or willing to commit to.
Have a question? We’re just an email away.
K x
