Weddingbee Blog
The closer I lurk to the big 3-0, the more comfortable I am with admitting aloud those things I cannot do, I’ve never been able to do, and I likely will never be able to do. I see it like this: if your twenties are all about trying new things, then surely when you reach the Dirty Thirties you can become curmudgeonly complacent at those things at which you suck, and it’s okay. For me, such things include:
Don’t look at me like that, Martha!
Today’s wedding culture is seeped with the crafters, the artists, and the inventors. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to hearing the swan song of the DIY-ers and wanting to join them, wanting to personalize my wedding with clever home-grown touches. This is what weddings do to you! One minute you’re perfectly content with not knowing what the heck a Cricut is and the next you’re talking yourself into making perfectly cut program fans. Along the way I’ve had bouts of DIY-ness, thinking, ‘I can do this! I can make my own invitations. I can construct tissue paper pomanders! I can arrange my own flowers!’ And then the afterglow fades and I realize, ‘No, no I can’t and furthermore I don’t even want to.’ Someone else, do it. Please. I am begging you.
I have a theory. Well, I have a few, but this is one: The wedding has become an outlet for otherwise unfulfilled creative desires.
Right?? Remember when you had art class in the third grade and you sculpted a kangaroo but its ear cracked off in the kiln but your mom put it on the mantle anyway?? Remember that? And you were like, WHAT? He got into a scrap, SO??! Wedding planning is the new third grade art class!
For all my big talk and momentary whimsies I very much remain a Someone-Else-Do-It-Please-er. How to tell if you’re a DIY-er or a SEDIP-er? You might be the latter if:
Which are you? Do you use your wedding as an excuse to get artsy with it?
|
Share this post:
We Few, We Happy Few, We Band of SEDIP-ers
I’m a DIY wannabe, but if I really “wannabe” honest with myself, I’d have to admit I’m a fellow SEDIP-er.
hilarious post potato chips I can totally relate. I never had a interest in DIYing until my wedding. I think it appeals to lots of us “uncreative types”. It like a second chance at third grade art.
Also I would like to add to the list of things I can’t do ( and am okay with!)
my taxes
make my own frosting
I’m with ya but I’m trying to fall into the DIY category…We’ll see what happens!
I’m with you. Especially with the whole the button falls off you buy a new blouse. Yes, I’m THAT bad.
I’m half and half! Somethings I find I can totally DIY, but somethings I’d just rather pay for the convenience of someone else doing it for me. Like invitations. Heck no. I wouldn’t even attempt to DIY invites. But I think I can swing a cake topper.
Right on, chips. I continue to say the reason I loved my wedding planning time so much is for 2 reasons:
1. I didn’t pretend I wanted to or could DIY delightful details. I stuck to my strengths.
2. We kept all decisions within the rubric of one simple philosophy: Is this going to actually enhance what the day’s about: us getting married and throwing a great party for our guests? If not, forget it.
Ah buttons. Yes, I still bring things that need a button put back on to my mommy. No shame in that.
I have no idea how to turn on a sewing machine, much less use one. Do they even have an on/off switch?
I can parallel park a Suburban in a Honda Civic spot but I have no desire to learn what any crafting machine can do.
Michaels/JoAnn/Hobby Lobby etc. wig me out. Seriously. They scare me.
Proud SEDIP-er member. I don’t have the time or the patience to DIY anything. But on second thought, I am a DIY-er also because I am paying other people for DIY items. That shoud count for something.
@Miss Hamster: ha! That made me laugh.
@marylizbeth: I hear ya girl. The first time I saw someone whip their own whipped cream I was so impressed.
@Turtle: I love your philosophy!
@Miss Sapphire: Oh definitely. My mom is my tailor.
@Miss Sapphire: I don’t think I’ve ever used a sewing machine! And those stores scare me too. So overwhelming!
@Chocolate Delight: Totally! You and I are contributing to the economy. That counts for a lot!
This post couldn’t come at a more perfect time. I can’t even draw stick people. I can make a smiley face look like a deranged psychopath. The only pair of scissors I own are the child-proof ones that aren’t even strong enough to cut through cardboard. However, in an effort to save money, I figured I’d attempt to tap into my Martha Stewart-ness and see where it takes me. Hours have been spent researching ideas, downloading templates, watching tutorials, wandering clueless around Hobby Lobby looking for something called ‘cardstock’… My creative juices have been flowing and I’ve just now started attempting my chosen projects.
I sat down last night to create some nifty tissue paper flowers. Easy enough, right? No. Not really. When my paper flower looked more like an elephant who had been run over by an accordion flap, I threw my bag full of DIY-crafty crap across the living room floor and almost admitted defeat.
I will try my flowers and all of my other projects again soon… but not before copious amounts of Xanax are ingested.
Martha Stewart, I hate you.
I definitely feel you on this. I would love to DIY a lot of the wedding, but a few things got in the way: I am not *all* that talented, I am *way* too busy with school, and our guestlist got too big and that made it somewhat unmanageable. Sometimes I have to remind myself that it’s okay not to make everything myself and to source it out.
Rock of Love II Marathons are a totally legitimate reason to be busy ;-P
Part of me thinks “I have a doctorate. How difficult can using a stamp and embossing powder possibly be?!” And then I try it and end up with an ineligible blob of ink for a return address. But after about a dozen blobs, I finally made it work, and actually enjoyed it. Granted, all of this happened after standing in Michael’s for 30 minutes, stupidly staring at ink pads. Seriously - why does the world need 35 types of ink pads?!
@linspurdu: This made me laugh so hard. Girl, you are officially part of the SEDIP-er club! Outsource that shiz!
You are so dead on! I just had a woman at work teach my how to sew a button on yesterday when one of mine popped off my jacket. She nearly passed out when I told her I get rid of clothes that lose buttons, because to me they’re “broken”. LOL Aside from sewing, I’ve always been pretty good at art and crafts and stuff, but for some reason the thought of doing anything like that for my wedding totally overwhelms me. Who knows if I’ll end up getting the courage to try anything or not!
LOL PChips you crack me up- I’m a DIYer… but let me tell you- I will leave a blouse on my dresser for months before either tossing it or begging my mom to sew on a button. I’m not sure what it is about those darn buttons- Sew a button on a hair flower for my E-photos -check- sew one on my fav shirt so I can wear it again… time to find a new fav shirt.
I think you are totally right, but I am 100% aware of the issue. 
After my FYI proposed, I thanked him for wanting to marry me, for making the proposal great, for my beautiful ring, and for giving me an excuse to spend a year+ planning and crafting… yay!
Hilarious post Ms. PChips. I have DIY-envy, but am firmly a SEDIP. Fortunately my mom’s best friend is way into the DIY and wants to help me create an affordable chuppah of my dreams.
On behalf of SEDIP-ers everywhere… I love this entry. You’re my hero.
Haha, this is a great post! I used to be crafty when I was younger, but totally got intimidated when I first started wedding DIY. But now I’m back on the bandwagon of DIY’ing everything…not to save money, but to make our wedding as ‘us’ as we can.
My mister had to teach ME how to sew. All I had to do was sew one measly button on my jacket, but instead stabbed myself in the finger with the needle and proceeded to bleed all over my jacket. Mr. Valhalla finished the job for me…ooops.
I am definitely a SEDIP-er. I have tons of unfinished craft projects in my house based on craft whims I felt the need to indulge in. Origami anyone? How about scrapbooking? And now I think I want to make my own invitations - ugh!
Hilarious as always, P-Chips!
Totally a SEDIP-er. Totally and completely. And I’m okay with that. Aside from the invitations (if I can craft an effective/not lame personal statement - here’s to grad school apps - I can make my own pretty programs, dammit!), I am not the least bit interested in DingIM.
Um, am I the only person that just wears the shirt even after the button fell off? I think my only crafty outlet is my halloween costumes!
I identified with all your “you might be a SEDIP-er” symptoms but I somehow managed to bust out quite a lot of DIY projects. All thanks to some very helpful Bee posts! Now I embrace my crossover from the SEDIP-er to the DIY-er! 
I have to admit to being a bit of a SEDIP-er. I kept saying I was too busy to DIY, but I really was kind of glad to delegate some things to my mom and sis.
I love this post! I’m a DIYer, but it’s as a replacement for my workaholic ways. I’ve always been that girl who has 2 jobs and works like 70 hours a week and loves it. Now I’m a new mom, and there is no way for me to work that much and see my FI and daughter, so I’ve hung up the second job and filled our living room with paper flowers, glue, yarn, and anything else that strikes me at Hobby Lobby.
I most definitely use wedding planning as an excuse for craftiness. I am a crafter in many ways (photography, scrapbooking, sewing, decorating) so it just seems natural to DIY my way through a wedding as well.
I SO wish I was a DIYer (I’d love to sit in front of the tv and make something instead of read blogs and pretend to work), but I’m not, at all. I’ve already told my MOH that any crafty bits have to be her job.
Best excuse ever for not DIYing anything? Long-distance wedding planning! I can address invites, which require mail anyways, but make something? Sorry, how would I get it home? 
PChips - this is the best post I’ve read in a while. You crack me up!
People have been telling me that I’m “crafty” lately and I’m not really sure how to take that. Either they are being nice, or they have a very, very, very low standard of “craft”. I can make bulletin boards. That’s about it. We’re trying the Christmas card thing this week, so we’ll see how *that* goes…
I have DIY phobia. So glad I’m not the only one! I’m totally a SEDIP Bride.
@Brianalaura: I do that too. I figure it goes with the whole “absent-minded professor” theme I’m going for.
I sort of became a DIY-er because of the wedding, but it brought out a crafty/creative side of me that got buried at some point between the LSAT and the bar exam. I’m so happy that I started making things again–now I don’t want to stop! I think it’s so important to be true to yourself when it comes to your wedding. If you don’t like making crap, don’t make crap!! It will just frustrate you and you will end up wasting money and time.
Most definitely! Other people are experts: it saves me time and money to have them do it. (With blouses: I bring the buttons to my seamstress… oy)
P.Chips-funny, funny, funny!
Thank you for this hillarious post-I am definitely a SEDIP-er!! I was the kid who couldn’t color in the lines to save her life no matter how hard I tried :-). I have nothing but admiration for the crafty, DIY bees! My excuse-I would do it, but I am just too busy (this said while I am watching a marathon of the Real World Road Rules Challenge)
I loved being a DIY-er, but I admitted where there were things I just wasn’t savvy enough to pull off: i.e., gocco-ing anything.
I loved this post and the title grabbed me right away
I am a BIY-er. Buy It Yourself. I thank God I have very many helpful friends. I call it “managing resources”
Word. I have no problems with my lack of interest in crafting or my desire to do it. It makes me an uncool Bee, but I’ll risk that.
@Mrs. Star: Star I knew you’d be down with Willy Shakes
@Miss Yap: Oh I like that!
Tissue pomandors? I bought the Martha Stewart kit and had one of my lazier bridesmaids do it. Paper products, ceremony alter, bouquets and bouts, all other things crafty? My BFF and partner in crime did it for me and put up with all my crazy demands (hey its my GD wedding and I’m only having one in my life, if you don’t do what I say, I’m not taking you out for sushi and a margarita!!! - and you know what, worked every time ) I still owe my life to that girl, without her my wedding wouldn’t have been nearly as cool as it was
@Ms Potato Chips: Glad I could provide some comic relief. Your post SPOKE to me, girl.
See how small my avatar is? Yea. It’s because I’m also mentally challenged about all things computer. Geez- in thinking about all these vast talents I possess, I should really be aiming high for this wedding. Toss in some circus clowns into the homemade paper elephant mix (with styrofoam peanuts resting in bowls as my centerpieces) and I may have THE BEST redneck wedding of the year.
Awesome.
I can sew on a button and hem a skirt or a pair of pants, but use a cricut? Or a gocco? Heck NO! The only think I really thought about doing myself was the flowers and even that has gone by the wayside due to stress (Thank you Krogers!)
Oh gosh, yes yes yes!! I think I’ve read close to a million posts about Gocco and still cannot grasp exactly *what* it does or *how* it does…whatever it does! Burning bulbs transfers ink onto paper? Huh? I looove reading about all of the amazing women here and out in blogland who are serious DIYers, but I just can’t get into it myself. I guess I DIYed my STDs because I placed some text on them in Photoshop, but I think that’s going to be the extent of my craftiness.
You’re hilarious. “When a button falls off, you buy a new blouse.” This one made it crystal clear for me. I’m a DIYer because last night I recently sewed the holes in my socks! haha! Not to mention all the DIY projects I’ve cooked up for myself.
Oh my god! You are hilarious! I try my best to be a DIY-er but that’s mostly because I am cheap and think that perhaps it will be cheaper to give it a go myself! I’ll let you know how that works out!
I really try to be DIY but ultimately, if it weren’t for budget, I would definitely be a SEDIP-er. I’m realistic about my abilities, and they are few when it comes to wedding decor.
[...] We Few, We Happy Few, We Band of SEDIP-ers by Ms. Potato Chips [...]
| Visit our sister sites | Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Fertile Thoughts Infertility Support |
Ms. Potato Chips, Boston/Narragansett RI Age and Occupation: 29, PhD Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Personal Trainer/Business Owner/Physical Therapy Assistant Engagement Date: January 1, 2009 Wedding Date: June 2010 Venue: The Narragansett Towers About Me: A semi-professional bookworm, if I could be a literary character I’d be a cross between Jo March and Jane Eyre, only better accessorized and much lazier. My hobbies include sleeping in, seasonal brews, running, Trader Joe’s, and watching Unwrapped and Good Eats with Mr. Potato Chips. I harbor an irrational fear of tulle, crafts, things that are fussy, and overuse of the phrase "Your Special Day". After a year or seven together, down the aisle we go, slouching toward adulthood and planning a Rhodie party with equal parts whimsy, cheer, and pizza.
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Latest Gallery Pics