Typically, when brides want to stay on a budget, the first thought to pop into their head is, “Hey, I can make that.” Enter, one of the most used phrase in wedding planning history, DIY. DIY simply means do it yourself. And, trust me, we’ve seen our fair share of DIY projects throughout wedding days. Some DIY projects have been more successful than others, but for the right couple DIY can really pinch some pennies. Bottom line, DIY is not for everyone. By this I mean, it may be easier, cheaper, and less time consuming to buy. So, let’s talk DIY today and take a trip through some projects we’ve seen, loved, or some that can be left behind.
Now, I’m not knocking on the DIY trend. When it comes to utilizing tools and my staff’s skills, we are always down for a good DIY. Truth be told, when we had our booth at the Seattle Wedding Show, myself and my wedding planners or assistant would DIY that booth top to bottom. We made art installations, floral centerpieces or hanging hoops, and we poured our time and effort into making it a knockout. But I was always thankful to have a team with tremendous talents. Our team is also supportive with our couples when it comes to DIY. We’ve supported clients with creating centerpieces, signage, and more. So if you’re looking to DIY, but don’t know where you want to start, Elegant Affairs can help you determine what is realistic. Some of our favorite do it yourself projects are:
Flowers: The Pacific Northwest is a floral DIY dream, but you have to be open to what’s available each season. There are so many affordable vendors that allow you to stray away from the traditional wholesale floral sector. I can’t even count how many weddings we’ve helped our couples create their floral dreams with DIY. We’ve had couples pick dahlias from a neighbor’s yard, purchase $5 bouquets from the Pike Place Market, or order the exact flowers they want through the local grocer. Oftentimes, we pick up florals in the morning and our team of talented planners and asistances get to work. We’ve created centerpieces, bouquets, boutineers, floral headbands, and so much more. Bottom line, if you’re going to get into the world of floral DIY for your big day, there’s a few things you need to know.
You will need supplies. Visit your local hobby shop and purchase supplies, and get more than you think you’ll need. This includes: floral tape, floral wire, pins, ribbon, or twine and gardening clippers. You will also need to find vessels for your centerpieces. You can always rent from a rental company, or head to your local IKEA or Dollar Tree. But before you dive in deep to the project, price everything out and determine if you have the time to create everything. Do you have friends you can enlist and a cool place to store the florals before the next day? I would not recommend creating any floral arrangements without a cool place to store or more than the day before.
Signage: Give us all the signs! We are also lucky enough to have had some awesome hand lettering folks on our team. Our couples have opted to have additional services, such as having our team members create signage for their big day. We’ve done everything from bar signs, guest books, welcome signs, here comes the bride signs, hash tags, dessert bar… so many I can’t even count! If you’re going to tackle signs, here are some budget friendly ideas. Use wood or acrylic from the local lumber store. Or pick up old signs and frames from goodwill and give it a face lift with a good can of spray paint. So you think your handwriting is not up to par? In this world, everyone and their neighbor has a cricut. Find someone who is willing to help you cut out some vinyl for your signs.
Hair and Make-Up: Even though this is such a brief moment of the morning of your wedding day, it can be a costly one. Especially if you’re springing the bill on your wedding party. And if you want to DIY it, watch you-tube, buy make-up using reviews, or know a friend who always has killer hair and make-up? Ask them to help you with your big day. Yes, you want to feel beautiful on your big day, but remember you also want to look like you. It’s okay to do your make-up on your wedding day. So, look up some Tik Tok make-up stars and get practicing, because this is a DIY activity that we support. Fun fact - did you know that Elegant Affairs used to offer hair and make-up for brides and the bridal party? We had a talented duo of wedding planners, who were rockstars in this department. They’d even do a trial for the bride! Although we don’t offer those services anymore, we are happy to help you find budget friendly artists to help with your day, or find some make-up influencers.
Alright, we’ve hit our three easy DIY and favorites. Now let’s talk about what we think you should pass.
Hire a Caterer: Yes, hire a caterer. We know that depending on your budget, hiring a caterer may seem like a daunting task. They are also one of the largest parts of your budget, but every penny you spend on the caterer is worth it. It’s a full service, from making sure permits are in place, ensuring that your food is cooked safely and kept at the right temperatures, to cleaning up the kitchen and taking the trash at the end of the night. Yes, you read that right, at most venues, caterers have to take the trash with them when they leave the venue. So don’t skip the caterer, this is one area we do not suggest DIY.
Photography: This is going to be a bold statement, but your Uncle Bob with his iPhone 13 is not a wedding photographer. Your wedding photos are your lasting memories of your big day. You want to make sure your photographer fits your budget, but also will capture all of the memories beautifully. Photography can range in price points, but unless you know a photographer, we recommend hiring a professional photographer that has a contract. Because even if Uncle Bog is a rockstar photographer, what happens if he lost the photos and doesn’t have a back up? Hire a photographer folks.
Extensive Decor: Creating your decor can be fun, especially if you are a DIY couple. But, who is going to set up your DIY decor on your big day? You definitely don’t want to be running around the morning of setting up all of your decor. You do not want to spend your morning running around setting up extensive wedding day decor. You want to sit back, relax, and have an extra glass of champagne. So, if you’re going this route, check in with your planner and see if you can get support for their team. At Elegant Affairs, we do offer set-up with some of our packages, which can make DIY happen. But, don’t rope in your wedding party, family and friends with your DIY set up.
Although brief, those are our biggest do’s and don'ts in the world of DIY. We love ourselves a good DIY project, but we also know that it needs to be realistic. Be sure to budget and price out every step of your DIY project and estimate the time that it will take. Because folks, let’s get real, time is everything. If the project is going to take 20+ hours, is it truly worth your time or is hiring a vendor a better option with the hustle and bustle of making a wedding happen. If you have any DIY questions, or you are a DIY bride but don’t know how to execute it for your big day, reach out to a member of the Elegant Affairs team. Happy DIY’ing couples!
Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 17 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.