DIY- “do it yourself” in case you didn’t know (hey some people aren’t good with acronyms). The question is, “To DIY or not to DIY?”
Most of you all know my take on DIY. I have a love-hate relationship with it. Mostly love because it usually turns out to be awesome, personality-infused awesomeness. I do it myself (pun intended) all the time- the table numbers I sell in my Etsy Shop (duh, those are DIY), details for photo shoots, etc etc. BUT sometimes there are certain things that are better to DIY, and then on top of that, certain situations that can make it easier or harder. So let’s go over what starts it all- why or why not to DIY things for your wedding. Feel free to share your own experiences with DIY in the comments too! (Just remember to be nice!)
Why To DIY
– You can’t find exactly what you’re looking for elsewhere, so you resort to doing it yourself.
– You want to save money on insert your wedding-related thing here, have done your research, and believe that doing wedding-related thing yourself will be more cost effective.
– You want to involve your family/friends in your wedding.
– You want there to be a more personal, intimate aspect to your wedding.
– You’re just crafty and want to DIY your wedding!
Photo by Shay Cochrane Photography | (Most everything pictured above was DIY.)
Why NOT To DIY
– You don’t have the time (could be time in your schedule or just not a lot of time before your wedding date).
– You’re willing to spend money to have a professional who knows what they’re doing do it in exchange for your sanity.
– You don’t have an army of people to help you with projects.
– You have 200+ guests (take it from me- not a sane good idea to DIY when you have more than 150 guests).
– You don’t have a creative/crafty bone your body.
When it comes down to it, it’s really just a choice that you have to make. Consider your own situation, look at your options, and then decide whether or not you want to DIY. And course you don’t have to DIY everything for your wedding. Some things are easier than others- I have a different post coming down the pipe on that!
So brides, who’s DIYing and who’s not? Share your why or why not!
{You can find more Thursday Tips posts and other advice, on the ELD 101 page!}
Lauren
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I am a fan of DIY details and plan to DIY as much as I can for my own wedding. Being in the wedding industry, I have witnessed the good, bad, and most certainly the ugly that some DIY weddings present. I would advise that if a bride/couple do not possess craft or art skill, to trust a pro to do it. I would advise that if you plan to diy to make everything you can two months prior to your wedding. That way if something doesn’t turn out like you had planned, you have a little bit of wiggle room to find a pro. For me, my choice to DIY is all about doing what I love to do: bring my design to fruition, making one of a kind items that you can’t find anywhere else, and it’s certainly cheaper for me to DIY.
I would LOVE to be a DIY type person! but will never happen- i am all thumbs.
great post though.oh and i know enough people who dont know what diy means! so good you clarified :)
My only other comment is that DIY can OFTEN be more expensive than simply purchasing/paying someone to make your projects. It’s important to do your research and know exactly HOW to do your DIY beforehand. You may need to purchase special equipment (paper cutters, glass mats, or attachments for your sewing machine), the cost of materials may be greater than you think, and, especially if it’s your first time doing this DIY project, you may not like your results. I’ve seen more than one DIY project end up being more expensive than a bride intended/expected because she had to purchase extra supplies and redo her original work.
I’d argue that even if you’ve done your research and think you can do something less expensively that’s not a reason to DIY. Unless you’ve done a test, and have experience with what you’re planning, it may end up costing more than if you go with a professional. This is especially the case if you think you can DIY invitations. Remember to include printing costs if using your own printer – this includes ink (it’ll take more ink than you think and ink is expensive) and extra supplies (you’ll have a few less than perfect copies – ink supplies running low, printer jams, etc). we did our own invitations because i love design and obsess about paper selection. By purchasing eco paper on sale/special I was able to Offset ink costs.
Yes, I’m always the first person to tell people to NOT go out and buy everything from the craft store! I’m guilty of it myself- always over buying because I have no idea how much of something is going to take, and I always underestimate how long it will take me too! Research and preparation are key for DIY.
And I don’t always think DIY saves money- it’s so easy for little trips of $25 and $50 to add up to end up being more than you thought! Often times it is best to find someone who can do the DIY for you because they know it like the back of their hand and have it down to a science. If anything, experience is worth a few extra dollars! :)
You have a such a good point on how DIY might be costly if you don’t have experience doing DIY and over buying stuff. I have to say, I wish I read your tips on the why not to DIY before my wedding because I was way in over my head. I had no time, no help and around 200 guests. I ended up disappointed because I ended up not using any of my projects :-( I LOVE DIY but it really is something that takes careful consideration and planning. It is too funny that we posted on the same subject today! I love it!
I’m a total DIY-ER! Probably because i am uber-specific about what i want. if i can’t find it (which happens all the time) then i have to make it!!
I think that if you have a lot of ideas that will help reduce the wedding budget and make your celebration unforgettable., you should do it! The main thing is not worth saving on the wedding day – a good mood and smiles!