Whether you're looking to save money, or just love being crafty, we put together 10 tips to help you have a successful DIY wedding.
1. Make a list of what to make and what to have done professionally
Do you want to hand write your invitations and envelopes? Will clear mason jars work with your planned decor, or do they need to be spray painted? Are you making an arch or renting one? Make a list of everything you want to make so you know what to purchase and/or have friends save for you, and what you need to get ordered. This will help you keep things organized and in perspective, as well as keep your budget on track.
2. Organize the DIY Day in advance
You will want most of your bridal party available, in addition to friends and family, available to help. This means giving them plenty of time to plan and save the date on their calendars. Plan to let everyone know at least three weeks in advance. Extra tip: have your maid of honor help coordinate this for you.
3. Go shopping the week before
And keep your eye out for deals! Michaels and Hobby Lobby are great DIY centers and frequently send out deals and coupons. Bring a friend along on the shopping day, whether it's your mom, maid of honor, or just a friend, to help you stay on track and keep you company. To guarantee a more productive day, don’t forget to make a coffee stop before you start shopping.
4. Be prepared for an all-day party / work day
Mentally prepare yourself for a full day of working and crafting. You can probably count on a few people being able to stay the full day with you, but for the most part they will probably come and go throughout the day. You will be tired, but it will be a fun filled day full of accomplishment and bringing you one step closer to your wedding day!
5. Have storage or transportation plans figured out prior to starting
If you can't have the party at a house where you can store everything, be sure to have transportation plans in place. You'll want to make sure you have enough room for everything to fit and stay secure until the big day.
Storage bins are a must when transporting items to the venue. They can also be useful with dividing up what-goes-where for the big day, and will help your coordinator know how to put it together exactly how you envision it.
6. Plan to provide snacks and drinks
You don't need to have a full meal for everyone, but having snacks and drinks, like water, coffee and mimosas, is a kind gesture for everyone who is pitching in to make your wedding come together. Select food options they can grab on their own and make them feel more at home.
7. Have work stations set up
This will help things run smoothly, particularly if you are creating things like the arch, spray painting center pieces, and hand writing invitations. Set up separate spaces inside and outside for each DIY craft so that everyone has a good amount of work space and won't be in each other's way.
8. Take a Lunch Break!
Sometimes it can be hard to take a break, especially if you feel like you're in a groove, or even in a pinch. Grabbing a real meal will give you a chance to rest and recharge your mind before diving back in to finish all your wedding day crafts. Make it easy on everyone by having lunch delivered, or having a designated person in charge of putting lunch out for everyone.
9. Evaluate your progress and make changes as needed
After lunch, if you find that most of your center pieces are painted, but there's still a mountain of decorations to be glued together, reposition people to help get those decorations finished. Wherever you need extra help, just ask people to step in. You want to get as much done today as possible.
10. Be sure to leave time to pack and store your projects
Whether you're storing everything at the project site, or transporting them somewhere else, you will need to leave time for everything to dry before packing up. As the day progresses, try to pick a good stopping point (unless you want to set up lights and keep working in the night), and have everyone help clean up while projects are drying.
We hope these tips encourage and inspire you in this season of planning and preparing for your wedding. A DIY wedding can be a lot of work, but we know you will enjoy seeing your vision come to life and grow more excited as your wedding day gets closer! Be sure to share your DIY wedding experiences with us in the comments below.