Guest Expert: Nashville’s Budget Planner Chimes In On Whether To Do-Yourself (DIY) or Not
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
DIY weddings are where you create most of items for your wedding. Hillary of Your Day of Fairy Tales was a DIY bride. She made just about everything for her wedding and also assists her clients, whether they are DIY or not. She helps many budget brides plan their wedding, manage their DIY projects and is here to share her advice for deciding whether you will or will not DIY.
Photo: McCoy Made
Guest Blogger: Hillary of Your Day of Fairy Tales
If you are getting married, which I’m sure you are if you are reading AshleysBrideGuide.com, then you have probably been pulled into the all-consuming world of wedding DIY projects. Pinterest, Etsy, and Weddingbee all have extensive DIY projects that you could take on if you feel that is the best decision for your wedding. But how do you as a bride decide what projects you can really take on? The first thing to do when deciding what projects to DIY for your upcoming nuptials is to price it out. The main reason most brides DIY their wedding décor is to save money. Visit Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Joanns, shop on ebay, etc to price EVERYTHING you would need. Then check out Etsy.com.
Ask yourself these questions:
1. Am I capable of making this?
2. How much am I going to be spend in total on supplies? (Ashley adds - if you are not skilled, you may end up spending more on supplies than expected, driving the cost of the project up.)
3. Is it cheaper/better to have my planner or florist make it?
4. Would Etsy (a site for handmade goods) be a better alternative to what I want?
5. How many do I have to make? Can I make that many? Do I have time?
Favors (above) and florals (below) made by Hillary of Your Day of Fairy Tales for her Nashville DIY wedding; Favors were cookie mix in mason jars made from scratch by the couple. Photos above by McCoy Made.
Direction signs, table decor, and photo wall created by Kate and Justin for their vintage, DIY Nashville wedding. Photos by Krista Lee Photography.
How do you know though if you’re capable? Never sewn anything in your life, but think this sewing wedding project would be awesome? Don’t do it. You will end up spending more on mistakes you have made and could have just saved time and money buying the completed project to begin with.
What about family and friends who have a skill that you don’t have? As a planner, I have even asked family members who have skills I don’t. I once hired my grandmother to make 20 hot pink pillows for a bride because we could not find a color pink pillow we loved. If you can’t sew but have a grandmother like mine who can, have them help!
DIY is all about making your wedding your own and putting your own spin on it. If you aren’t crafty, you can still make it all about you, just with purchasing the items instead!
Guest sign in poster, floral and table decor created by Erin and Josh for their DIY Nashville wedding. Photos by Becca Yager Photography.
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Posted on June 20, 2012 |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
