Wedding Blog

So what is “DIY”?
DIY is short for “Do It Yourself.” It means completing projects on your own rather than purchasing a finished product or hiring someone else to make it for you.

Why DIY?
There are lots of reasons. Price and personalization are my two main reasons for my own DIY projects. You *can* save a lot of money by doing DIY, and you’ll definitely be able to customize any project or direction to meet your own needs. Plus, I have waaaay too much free time, and an itch for all things crafty :).

So I will save a lot of money doing it DIY, right?
Not necessarily–this is one of the biggest myths about DIY. It’s possible to save a lot of money, but it’s also possible to spend way more than you would by just buying the finished product. Keep in mind that when you buy something, the person or company who sells it has usually paid wholesale for his materials and has created the object enough to have streamlined the process, maximizing efficiency. Not to mention the fact that you might get frustrated, give up, and end up buying the project pre-made–you’re out the cost of materials *and* the cost of buying it. However, you can definitely save money with DIY if you know how to do it right–shopping at sales, wasting few materials, and maximizing use of materials. Having your tools in advance is always helpful, though of course that sometimes can’t be helped.

Should I try DIY?
Sure! If you have a lot of time and patience. I repeat: a LOT of time and patience.

How many projects can I do?
Well that depends on how busy your life is, how quickly you can work, the size of the project you plan on attempting, if you already have the skills necessary for each project, and if you’re the type of person who usually gets exasperated and gives up. A good (somewhat arbitrary) rule of thumb is one moderately-sized DIY project for every month of wedding planning you have left. You could certainly squeeze more in there, if you want to give up every weekend to working on crafts.

What do I need to DIY?
Depends on your project. Certainly you’ll always need the supplies for the project and directions (or an idea) of how to finish it, but I always need a nice flat workspace with good light and a comfy chair and a good-sized stack of movies to play in the background while I work. Ideally, this should be a place where you can leave your work for a while and come back to it intact (ie the kitchen table might not be best). Also, airtight storage is a necessity–when you come back to these completed projects right before the wedding, you don’t want to discover they’ve been covered in dust or cat hair!

I’m not crafty–can I still DIY?
Sure! I’d suggest that you work your way up, though–start with a small project like personalized water bottle labels, and if that goes well then you can try your hand at something more complex. And know your own strengths and limitations. If you really can’t cut a straight line to save your life, then maybe you should just leave stationery to the pros. But if you are good at picking up things quickly, then you may find yourself learning all sorts of things in order to do your DIY!

Waah! My stuff doesn’t look like the magazines!
Don’t expect it to. Those people are real professionals at what they do–it really shouldn’t even be considered DIY to see their finished products. Not to mention the fact that all of those photos are retouched extensively–every wrinkle or spot of glue is removed. This doesn’t mean that your DIY won’t necessarily look good, though. If you are careful enough and have the skill and patience, you really can make amazing DIY projects of your own.

What shouldn’t I DIY?
This is really up to you–how much time you have until the wedding, your own skills, etc. I’ve known brides who have made their own gowns (and they turned out gorgeous!)–they were, of course, professional seamstresses. But in general, I’d suggest that you avoid DIY that will actively require your attention at the ceremony or reception. For example, the food. At my wedding, we’re providing all the food (except the wedding cake!) ourselves, or from specific sources. But I’ve hired and appointed people to make sure it’s all set up according to plan before the reception, and maintain the buffet table during the reception. I would never advise any bride to occupy herself with this task during her own wedding! Also, do your research–and if the cost of doing a project is significantly higher than buying the product (also accounting for the offset of any personalization you would have if you DIY), then it’s probably not a good idea to DIY it.

Great! Now what’s your absolute best tip for any DIY?
Patience! Have patience with your own skill and with the materials you’re using. If you can stay calm–even when the project isn’t going so well–then your finished product will look better than one done haphazardly or hurriedly.

And last of all, good luck! I love hearing about other brides who are as into DIY as I am :).