Planning Your Wedding - What to DIY & What NOT to DIY

You’re ready to start planning your wedding?! YAY!! I am SO happy for you! Your wedding day truly is one of the greatest days of your whole life, one that you’ll remember forever. I know you’ve got a Pinterest board chuck-full of wonderful ideas and inspiration that you’ve been daydreaming about since high school – who doesn’t??

But now that it’s actually happening, you might be realizing…that there is so much to plan! So many big and little details that you ACTUALLY have to decide on! You’re probably also realizing that all those things cost money, and it adds up quick, huh? Well, let me help you out because your wedding day, and planning it, should be A GOOD EXPERIENCE! And it definitely doesn’t have to break the bank!  

NEVER ACUTUALLY DO IT YOURSELF!

There are certain things better left to the professionals that will make your day more beautiful, memorable and run smoother. But there are lots of things you can “DIY” to save money or simplify your wedding day. But my biggest advice to you is NEVER ACUTUALLY DO IT YOURSELF! Whatever it is you decide to DIY, find someone else who does that thing WELL – a sibling, family member or friend. But NOT YOU!

Where to begin:

Start by making a list of your wedding day priorities in order. Start with the ‘have to have’ most important parts of your day, and then work your way down to things that would be nice, but are definitely not a ‘make it, or break it’ type of deal.

Your top priorities are likely things that you should hire out for. Find a professional that can make these aspects of your wedding top-notch, the very best they can be! Then go through the list again, what can you do with the resources that are available to you? Think - family, friends, or let’s be honest, even friends of friends would help you out!

It’s YOUR WEDDING DAY after all!

I’ve been to my fair share of weddings and spend most of my time there taking pictures (duh!) of every person, detail and emotion that I can. With that experience, here are my two cents on what you should and should not DIY for your wedding day.

Venue: Depends..

Most of the time it makes the most sense to “hire out” for this one. Find a location that is romantic and exactly what you are looking for. But hey, sometimes you know someone with a gorgeous backyard that will work perfect!

Flowers: NO

Florals are such an incredible way to add color and elegance to your wedding. They can also be such a huge part of your decor (bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, centerpieces, arches, etc). Unless you know someone that has any sort of background in floral arranging, this is one to leave to the pros too. Fresh flowers have to be handled the night before, or ON your wedding day – I can guarantee you won’t want to be stressing about them while you are trying to get ready.

Invitations: YES

This is one you can TOTALLY do yourself. Etsy has tons of templates that you can buy for just a few dollars. Simply download the file, customize for you and your groom, and then get them printed at Costco (or any photo printer that you trust)! SO many people these days have skills in photoshop and graphic design, you probably even have a friend that could help you create a custom design!

 Dancing: YES

Some couples take dance classes/lessons prior to their wedding so that they can perform a memorable and impressive first dance. If this is something that is a priority for you, it really could be as simple as finding a simple ballroom dance on YouTube and spending a couple of date nights learning it in your living room!

Food: YES

This one is totally DIY doable if you have lots of family that are good cooks/bakers that you trust, and are willing to help! But it can add a lot of stress if your families are busy cooking and prepping, and not getting to enjoy the day with you and your new spouse. Personally, just keep this one simple, whichever way you decide!

Decor: YES

Probably one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to DIY! Instead of renting out things like signs, vases, candles, photo frames, etc. from a party/event company, start getting those things together NOW! Take advantage of secondhand stores and Hobby Lobby 50% off! This one just takes some planning ahead.

Music: Mostly Yes!

Unless you have a vision to have a rockin’ DJ with disco lights MC your wedding, this one can be SO easy to DIY! Throw together a Spotify playlist, give your brother or one of the groomsmen access to it, and leave him in charge of setting up to a sound system (this is something you want to check ahead of time to make sure they have, if not you may want to rent or borrow some big speakers) at the venue. His job is as simple as putting the music on shuffle at the start, and when the time comes, starting the right song for the first dance, cake cutting, etc.

You can have your dad or funny uncle MC as events need to take place!

Planning/Coordinating: Depends…

If you are going to go extra big on your wedding with multiple events and lots of moving pieces, a wedding planner might be a good idea. But a little thinking ahead, proactive planning, and a detailed itinerary sent out to all those involved should be good enough for everything to run smoothly.

Photography/Videography: NOOOOOOOO!!!!! 😂

This is a big one! Once it’s all said and done, you’re happily married and you can finally take a deep breath and enjoy newly wed bliss, all you’ll have left to remember your day by is the pictures and video that were taken that day!

Everyone has a smartphone, and you know you can count on Grandma and your friends to get a couple good (maybe blurry?) snapshots and selfies of the day. You might even find some embarrassing videos of everyone dancing on Instagram!

But you’ll want to look back and see EVERYTHING from such a special day. All the decorations, little details, relatives and guests, venue, flowers - but most importantly, you and the love of your life. Pictures that are thoughtfully edited and would look timeless framed in your home.

A well-compiled video that you can show to your kids so they can laugh at the funny hair or clothing trends and make you feel OLD!

This is most definitely something to find a professional to take care of.

All that is required of you is to enjoy your wedding day! Forget about all the planning and preparing that the day took and soak in the LOVE you have for your spouse and the life that lay ahead for you both. I’ll capture every breathtaking and beautiful moment for you, I promise you’ll want to re-live this day over & over again!

Being a DIY bride is a smart way to save on costs and add your own special touch to make it feel genuine. So, go make your list of wedding priorities, and find others who can HELP YOU make your wedding day beautiful and exactly what you want it to be!

I’ll be here when you need to find a photographer to capture the perfect day!

You can browse more of my work here, & you can find pricing here.