Wedding DIY Dos and Dont’s

I’d like to start off by saying I love doing DIY crafts and projects and know many brides do too! With Pinterest being at fingertips reach, it’s easy to get carried away with finding inspiration from every wedding you come across online. Now when it comes to DIY wedding projects, I may not jump for joy at every idea. As a wedding planner there are a few things that make me raise an eyebrow. Here is a list of DIY don’ts for the Bride-to-be.

Don’t make your own table linens.

So you’re at Joann Fabrics and you come across a gorgeous bolt of what seems to be a lamour satin that’s just the right shade of blush pink with the perfect sheen and even better… it’s on sale! You quickly grab the bolt before anyone else can snag the beauty and think “hmm… I can use this for my sweetheart table!” You look up the dimension for the table and see that it’s 60″ so you say to yourself, “I’m going to buy 2 yards of fabric which is 72″… that’s more than enough!” Well, I hate to break it to you. You need a 132″ round linen to properly cover a 60″ halfmoon not a 72″ rectangular piece of fabric. Not only is the length and width too short, the fabric won’t even cover the legs.

Save yourself the hassle, money, and time and just rent the linen. There are plenty of cost effective options you can do. For example, if the venue or caterer is providing a standard polyester linen you can typically upgrade to a satin, for a nominal fee, or you can choose to add an overlay or table runner over the standard linen as they are less expensive than renting a premium floor length linen.

The supermarket is where you buy groceries, not your wedding flowers.

Flowers are definitely a big ticketed item depending on the overall look of the design. I haven’t come across a single bride who absolutely dislike flowers. I mean, what’s not to love about them? It may be enticing to buy wholesale flowers from the supermarket but think for a second as to why it’s so “cheap.” I will agree that floral costs may seem expensive but allow me to explain what needs to be taken into consideration.

Many florists will tell you that amazing floral arrangements do not magically appear in a couple of hours. In fact, the prepping starts days beforehand. This includes de-thorning the stems, temperate control to ensure maximum blooming, cutting, and arranging the flowers without bruising the petals. Florists charge the way they do because there is a lot of work done beforehand, during the arrangement process, delivery, setup, and breakdown. In addition, they have an artistic eye and will be able to carry out your vision with ease.

If you’re looking for ways to save, talk to your florist and see what flowers are in season and what may be a good alternative to that Juliet garden rose you love so much. A good florist will always be able to work with you in creating a design that is not only beautiful, but won’t break your bank.

Let Nana enjoy your wedding.

We all swear that our grandmother cooks the best food, am I right? Nobody’s cooking can be compared to Nana and boy can she whip up some delicious meals! You plan on having an intimate wedding in your backyard with about 50 people. The dinner menu is going to be simple. Nothing too fancy that Nana can’t handle. After all, she’s a “pro” at cooking large quantities of food for the holidays and family reunions so what’s the difference?

The difference is time. It’s the time your grandmother spends making her list of groceries then driving to the multiple stores to find the freshest ingredients. It’s the time she has to wash and prep the food into the wee hours of the night because the chicken isn’t going to marinate itself. It’s the time spent in front of the hot stove stirring the large pot of soup so that it doesn’t burn at the bottom. Nana is on a mission to make the best food for your wedding but at her expense. She won’t be able to see you smile as you make your grand entrance or witness your first dance as husband and wife because she was too busy making sure the garnish was placed just right on the plate.

If you love your Nana, don’t let her cater your wedding, even if she insists. Instead, contact a local restaurant you enjoy and hire a professional wait staff to service your wedding. This is an inexpensive route that’s still delicious and the best part? Your Nana will be able to enjoy your special day.

DIY wedding projects should be fun and easy not daunting and tedious. Do yourself a favor and leave the big stuff to professionals. Now relax and enjoy the wedding!