Nashville weddings

Does the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Bride Still Need a Wedding Planner?  Yes! Says Simply Yours Weddings.

Monday, March 5, 2012

The precious title for her business, Simply Yours Weddings, doesn’t even begin to cover the sweet spirit of Emily Humphries, a local Nashville wedding planner who discovered her heart for brides when she realized that oftentimes, their exhaustion hinders them from enjoying their wedding planning. This truth was especially captured when Emily began to sew her own wedding together. She set out to fill a need, granting brides with what she describes as the “gift of time to live your life and enjoy your engagement, and the gift of freedom for you and your family to enjoy your Big Day!”

Merely five minutes of speaking with Emily conveys her deeply-rooted love for what she does, promising beauty for any bride’s wedding day. I spoke with Emily specifically in regards to the ever so popular Do-It-Yourself aka “DIY Bride.” In light of blogs, Etsy, and Pinterest, DIY options are exploding!  But does that mean that DIY brides don’t need a wedding planner? Emily offers some wise responses pertaining to this subject, which ultimately reminds the DIY bride just how valuable a planner can be.

Image courtesy of Zach Goodyear Photography

ABG: Do you have experience working with DIY brides?

Simply Yours: Yes, I do! The description of a total DIY bride is a bride who does everything herself, and while not all brides sell out to this description, most brides want to do something themselves, granting every bride a little dash of DIY. Sara Towne, who also writes for ABG, is a good example of a bride in the middle. Sara carefully selected a handful of projects to create, while still avoiding the stress of conquering every detail that goes into a wedding. The question isn’t, ‘Are you capable of doing this [DIY wedding]?’ You’re capable. You’re creative. You’re artistic. The question is, ‘Are you going to want to spend the week of your wedding doing this? Do you have time for everything?'

Image courtesy of Betsy Limbaugh Photography.

ABG: Why do you think brides are attracted to DIY weddings? Is it to save money? To add a personal touch, perhaps?

Simply Yours: The attraction is likely a combination of both. The DIY trend has been growing for several years but the main stream availability of DIY materials has really come about during these hard economic times. Therefore there is often an illusion that DIY is always the less expensive option which may or may not be true. When I was married 4 1/2 years ago, there was not a lot available for DIY projects or even ideas for projects. There was really one major wedding planning website and a lot of magazines. But now with a combination of social media, Etsy, and Pinterest the trend itself and the influx of ideas has multiplied tremendously. Brides now start conversations with "Well I saw this idea on Pinterest..." and that dictates the amount of projects or ideas they have going for their wedding. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it sure can multiply your to-do lists in a hurry!

Left image courtesy of Scoobie Schneider Photography; Right image courtesy of Daniel Meigs Photography.

ABG: In your experience, do DIY brides lean toward not hiring a wedding planner? Do they usually assume they can take care of everything?

Simply Yours:  Viewing the wedding planner as unnecessary is a thought for a lot of Brides. I understand it, I started out as one of those Brides myself. A lot of the time, she sends me an email explaining her desired projects, while admitting she has finally come to a point where she does not have time to do all of them herself. OR she needs further direction on how to make the things she really wants come into fruition. Essentially, all brides think that they can do more, but emotional stability—family—time—all of these things weigh heavily on weddings.  Feeling the weight of it all isn’t indicative of a bride’s talent or creative ability. It just reveals that our emotional capacity eventually reaches its end. We don’t realize how draining it will be until we’re in the middle of it.

Image courtesy of Betsy Limbaugh Photography.

ABG: What types of projects make the most sense for the DIY bride?

Simply Yours:  Fun, personal quirks that polish off a wedding, such as guestbook elements, guest favors, pictures, signs, welcome baskets—things that don't require a lot of time, but weave the couples’ personality into the mix. I like to encourage brides to choose DIY projects that will not make or break their weddings.

Image courtesy of Scoobie Schneider Photography.

Images courtesy of Simply Yours Weddings.

ABG: How can a planner best help a DIY bride?

Simply Yours: Orchestrating an endless craft list along with managing a normal life and preparing a solid foundation for a marriage is simply too much. Eventually something has to give. The wedding planner is the give. She’s the support, let her finish it. She has the time and the resources to bring DIY ideas into fruition. She’s the one who understands what tends to fall through the cracks in weddings, and catches them before they do! She’s a master for details, who reminds the bride to be a bride, the mom to be a mom, and the best friend to be a best friend, all the while stepping up herself to complete a bride’s DIY fancies. You can trust her.

Image courtesy of Ulmer Studios Photography.

When projects seem endless, we oftentimes come to resent our creativity! Emily prizes your creativity, and on behalf of wedding planners, wants to implement your imaginative treasures into your special day! To learn more about how Emily can help you plan the day you've always dreamed of, visit her website today!

To get more sage advice from Emily and our host of experts, register today to attend our wedding planning boot camp, The Smart Bride, which starts March 13.

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send   Posted on March 5, 2012 | Filed under: Advice & Planning, DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Wedding Planners & Coordinators