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A consistent wedding trend is the DIY bride, aka: the do it yourselfer. While there is a definite euphoria associated with doing things yourself and accomplishing a seemingly unconquerable feat - especially at a significant cost savings, a wedding is perhaps not the ‘best’ time to earn your ‘DIY merit badge’ so to speak. Worse yet, you have photos to prove just how exhausted you made yourself staying up late tying little bows on little favor bags, or folding programs.
Some believe the way around this technical difficulty is to enlist family or friends on the unpaid work detail, with or without their consent! Nothing says 2:00AM argument the night before the wedding like affixing 150 escort cards to clothespins to hang from ribbons that aren’t sticking on a ribbon frame because the paint is still wet. While these loving souls may have initially agreed to help you through thick and thin, the reality is this is not their wedding.
Weddings are an emotionally charged, once-in-a-lifetime event that require the bride’s full attention and energy. So whether you are a DIYer that ‘Prefers to do it yourself because you enjoy it’ OR, you believe you ‘HAVE to do it all yourself because you can’t afford not to,’ we recommend keeping your DIY projects to a realistic minimum, and do as much in the months prior to your event as possible. Also keep in mind DIY projects can spiral out of control and become more time-consuming and often cost more in the end than originally anticipated.
Our solution to this dilemma is simple: consider hiring a wedding planner, like us at Forget Me Knot Events, for the tedious and time-consuming tasks. Wedding planners can often SAVE you money due to significant discounts they are able to obtain through their extensive vendor relationships, and in the TIME it will take to complete a task. So take the time to consider what your time, and your sanity are worth and earn that DIY badge for something else instead, like decorating your first home together. For that, you can earn the 'smart cookie' badge.
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| Smart Cookie Badge by Lee Meszaros on Etsy.com. |
I agree! Many DIY brides may be inspired by a project and think, "I can do that!" True, many brides *are* capable, talented and skilled in various areas including graphic design, scrapbooking, baking, sewing, decorating and crafting in general, but what may seem "simple and fun" to do -- such as invitations, programs, escort cards, centerpieces, favors, etc. -- can become a major hassle and a serious regret later.
ReplyDeleteMany DIY brides don't realize that the one 'thing' they planned for the DIY project is actually 50, 80, 100 (or more) things -- depending on the guest count. Then suddenly "all that time" you had is gone before you know it as you are most likely juggling a full time job (perhaps school too), wedding research and appointments, dress shopping & fittings, bridal party & family activities, and just regular life. That "fun" DIY project is now something you no longer have time to do, have no energy to work on, and is costing more than you initially thought as you've run out of your last spool of ribbon, which you find out is either out-of-stock or discontinued at the craft store when you go back to buy more.
If you are a die-hard DIYer (and many of us are!) and determined to literally put your personal touch on your wedding, then pick ONE manageable project that you will *enjoy* and realistically have time to complete prior to the wedding (and we're not talking in the 24 hrs. prior). You may want to create just one (or a few) prototypes then have your wedding planner execute the rest. From someone who's "been there" -- a self-proclaimed DIYer -- this is a better way to go when it comes to your wedding.
So ENJOY the process of planning your wedding and the actual Big Day to follow by leaving it to the professionals to help you budget, prioritize...and take care of the big *and* small stuff :)