Weddings aren’t cheap. And while we’d love to work with you in-person as your wedding planner and DJ, we know that isn’t possible for every couple. Tons of couples every year opt for a DIY wedding – and that’s great! We love that DIY weddings have an extra personalized touch and are truly a labor of love. However, there are some things about DIY weddings that may slip under your radar. To help make sure you DIY your wedding in the best way possible, we’ve created a list of some of our top Dos and Don’ts. 

Do:

Choose an aesthetic venue.

When DIYing your wedding, one of your goals should be to make as little work for yourself as possible. One of the best ways to do this is to choose a wedding venue that already fits your aesthetic. A nice-looking wedding venue will save you so much time and money by not requiring much decor! 

Opt for minimal or faux flowers.

Sure, a bouquet looks like it’s just a bunch of flowers, but it takes years of training to make a flower arrangement look good. If you’re DIYing your own florals, go for simple arrangements like bud vases or candles and greenery as centerpieces. Or if you really like the look of fuller florals, there are some really high-quality faux options on the market now, like Something Borrowed Blooms! 

Skip the favors.

Okay, this is one that we recommend to ALL couples, not just those DIYing their big day. Too often we see favors left behind on wedding days that end up in the trash. And even those who take them home often end up donating them. If you opt for a wedding favor, we highly recommend making it something edible, but in general, this is something you can skip. Not only will it save you money, but time as well. 

Invest in a Cricut.

If you love wedding signs and stationery as much as we do, you’ll want to invest in a Cricut. This computer-controlled cutting machine makes creating custom signs and cards a breeze. While there is an up-front cost for the machine, you will definitely get your money’s worth when creating items for your big day. Plus, these are easy to find second-hand, and some libraries even offer them for rent!

Give yourself plenty of time.

DIYing your wedding day takes a long time. Remember, each of these tasks is usually someone’s full-time job! Plus, you’re most likely learning to do some of them for the first time. Give yourself grace and lots of time to put together all of your items. The last thing you want is to be stressed the week of your wedding to get everything finished.

Don’t:

DIY your catering.

Most venues require a licensed and insured caterer to prepare and serve food, and for good reason! DIYing your wedding catering is a huge health risk, and if something were to go wrong there could be major consequences. If you’re looking to cut back on your catering budget, opt for something simple like a spaghetti dinner or even BBQ!

Expect to hang anything from the ceiling.

Similarly, most venues will limit who can hang things from the ceiling, if at all due to both the risk to their building and the danger of using a ladder on-site. If you’re DIYing your decor, it’s unlikely that you’ll be allowed to hang things that high up. Instead of draped greenery from the ceiling, opt for tall centerpieces to give a similar effect.

Replace your DJ with a Spotify playlist.

We constantly hear stories of couples who thought that they could just plug in their phone with a Spotify playlist instead of hiring a DJ and severely regretted it. Don’t be that couple! Your DJ does so much more than just play a list of songs – they make announcements, time songs just right, adjust music if things are delayed, and even make cuts of songs that you want to be shorter! This is one role that you want to make sure is filled by a real professional.

Skimp out on photography.

The first thing you should do as a couple is figure out which vendors are the highest priority on your wedding day. If you’re DIYing most of your wedding, a photographer should be pretty high on that list. After all, this is one thing you can’t DIY. Photos are often the only tangible evidence that a couple has of their wedding day, so it’s important to go with someone who does a great job. Make sure that you not only love the style of their photography and edits but also that you get along with them as a person. Your photographer is with you the longest on your wedding day, so make sure it’s the right one!

The Wedding Duo Dos and Don’ts

Every wedding is totally unique, and you can celebrate however you like. That’s especially true for DIY weddings, where the sky is truly the limit. However, with 15+ years under our belt as wedding vendors, we’ve seen a lot of what works and what doesn’t. We hope this list helps you create the perfect DIY wedding you’ve always dreamed of! And if you’re looking for some help with DIYing your big day, check out our virtual consulting sessions!