I wanted to write a post on DIY for a while now. This morning while I came across this "Failed at DIY" post in one of the bridal forums, I really decided it just needs to be done.
First of all, I have to say that I love when our brides come up with DIY ideas. It is truly something that can make your event special. There are plenty of things that you could do and it really adds an extra charm to any wedding. But! (Yes, there is a "but") before we all go into land of creativity, I encourage you to ask yourself few questions.
1. Can I do it? I know a lot of you are creative and craftsy but it doesn't mean that you are capable of cutting glass, bending 10 gauge wire and sawing wood. I have to say it is impossible to be good in everything and some of those projects out there can get really intense. Make sure you are realistic with your skills. Pick projects that focus on your skills. If you are better in cutting things out than in painting, possibly it is best to create a design that will showcase your cutting skills.
2. Will whatever I make, look the way I want it to look? If you decided to go for it and you picked a project to work on, do a test. (A lot of times whatever you see online is done by professionals, keep that in mind). I recommend doing your test in early stages of your planning. That way you will be able to see if what you will create will satisfy you. If it won't look the way you planned on it at least you won't have to stress since you will have more time to find a solution for your project.
3. How much is too much? I am guilty of doing that actually for my own wedding. I overloaded myself with crafty projects and underestimated how much effort it actually will take to create everything I set myself to create. I did table numbers, custom favors, invites, sign in games, I designed pretty much everything and anything for our wedding. All I can say, it made me incredibly stressed and in the end I had to compromise quite a bit. So the lesson here is, to edit yourself early on and make sure you pick only one or two projects that are important to you and will really make a difference.
4. How much time will it take me? Ah yes this one I also love because it also was part of my problem. Even the simplest DIY project when you multiply it by 200 guests becomes a huge ordeal. It takes up quite a bit of time, even gluing a little flower on a candle for all of your tables can be much. Keep projects simple and make sure you start working on them early in the planning stages, don't wait till the last minute. Also have family or friends that are willing to help. (Prefer ones that are more artistic). Dedicate a day or two, three and try to focus on finishing everything within those days. The longer you wait to get started on your projects the more chances you have in not completing them.
5. Is it worth it? I learned that one also while planning my wedding. I wanted to DIY for two reasons. One was that I knew what I wanted everything to look like. And two that I wanted to save money. I am pretty sure I didn't save any money. I spent a lot on all the supplies. I wasted a lot of my time on creating everything. After all I spend over $700.00 on my DYI invites. So that was for sure not the cheapest option out there. With everything on my plate I was also pretty stressed on getting everything done. After the wedding I asked myself if I would've done all my DIY projects again and knowing everything I know now, the answer is no.
Remember planning your wedding can get stressful but it doesn't need to be. Have fun with it and plan accordingly. It is important to look at all of your options. Check out vendors that can help you (they might be actually cheaper), get ideas and DIY only if it will add positive experiences to your wedding.
What are some of your DIY projects that you are planning on doing for your wedding?
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