The average American wedding costs upwards of $30,000. But if you have your heart set on a gorgeous venue, an elegant plated meal or other luxurious touches, it could cost you quite a bit more.
Whether your wedding budget falls above or below the average, adding a few DIY elements is never a bad idea. Indeed, it’s not only a good way to cut costs in one area so you have more to spend on another, but it’s also an excellent way to add special, personal touches to your big day. Keep reading to learn how to add some DIY touches to your wedding without the stress.
1. Give Each Envelope a Personal Touch
Your wedding invitations are the first (or close second, if you opt to send save the date cards as well) impression guests will have of your wedding. Bottom line: beautiful invitations will help set the stage for the big day. Whether you’re hosting a black-tie affair or a more laid-back destination wedding, your choice of invitations says a lot about you and gets guests excited about what’s to come.
Now, you don’t need to make your own invitations to lend a DIY touch to this special part of your big day. Instead, sticking a custom stamp over each envelope seal makes for a simple finishing touch. If you’re opting for elegant wedding invitations, addressing each envelope in calligraphy shows each guest just how much you care about them — and their attendance — at your wedding.
2. Don’t Take on More Than You Can Handle
DIY projects aren’t for everyone. When the big day is a year or two away, it’ll seem as though you have plenty of time to tackle those projects. But consider all the little things that will take up your time and attention ahead of your wedding day. Things like making your own bouquet, baking your wedding cake or decorating your own reception venue simply aren’t realistic. Even if you’re crafty, taking on more DIY projects than you can handle will only leave you even more stressed out in the days and weeks leading up to your wedding.
3. Hire Some Help
Doing certain parts of your wedding day on your own is fine, but trying to DIY the entire thing is a mistake. Many brides don’t realize just how busy they’ll be as the wedding day gets closer, or on the wedding day itself. That’s why hiring a wedding planner on a limited basis, and especially to be there on the big day to make sure everything goes off without a hitch, will help you avoid those last-minute disasters and unnecessary stress.
4. Find DIY Projects that Have an Impact
If you want a DIY project that’s manageable to take on but that will still have an impact on your wedding day, you have several options at your disposal. One is your wedding centerpieces. On average, professional wedding centerpieces will set you back almost $1,000. But the average DIY bride spends just $272 on her centerpieces. Unless you have your heart set on elaborate bouquet centerpieces, there are plenty of ideas you can complete weeks or even months ahead of time.
On the day of your wedding, you (or your wedding planner or loyal bridal party) can always add fresh touches like flowers or greenery. Other manageable DIY wedding projects include creating your own seating chart or name place cards, designing decorative items for your cake table or gift table, or making your own paper lanterns to decorate the ceiling of your venue for an extra, magical touch.
Adding Your Own DIY Touch to Your Wedding Day
Adding a few DIY touches to your wedding day is a wonderful way to save money and make your big day even more personal. But taking on too much or going it completely alone is a big mistake. Instead, stick to projects that will have an impact or add special details to your existing invitations and decorations that will have a nice effect without the big time commitment.
