While some think that DIY wedding projects are picking up momentum with the economy changes, it's simply not true. DIY projects have always been popular and really gaining interest from brides since so many creative blogs have come along to share inspiration and step by step DIY wedding tutorials. Check out Stylish Events recent blog post of a culmination of 101 DIY Projects and Ideas!
Origami flowers are a fantastic DIY project that we found over at Style Me Pretty, where a bride took on this creative, detail oriented task. DIY flowers are a huge, fun trend right now that really showcase the hard work that a bride and her pals put into the wedding.
Photo provided by The Memory Journalists
Our pal, Alison at Alison Ulshoffer Events & Designs, posted this great DIY project by Betsy White. You can download the kit for free! They're great for favor and welcome bags as Alison suggested. Check out her original post. These are great and look so professional.
For those DIYers check out this exclusive event offered by Paper Source locations!
For those of you DIY fans, Cardgirl Invitations & Stationery has a great DIY blog, Cardgirl DIY resource for the do-it-yourself approach when it comes to designs, discount links and implementation ideas for your stationery.
While there are many fantastic, self sufficient soon-to-bes out there, our recommendation is don't bake your own cake. While your custom creations look great on the counter for a few hours, there are many other factors to consider on a wedding day. Bakeries know how to address or suggest alternatives to avoid potential hazards like heat, excessive wind and potential tier sliding issues. With your cake being such a focal point for the room, think about leaving it to the professionals.
If you're looking for ways to cut costs, or even DIY time, consider ditching the programs. While they add a nice touch of personality to your big day, the reality is that most people will glance at them and then toss them or use them as a fan if it's a warm day. If you want to include programs, consider only creating one program for couples. This could cut your costs significantly. Have your ushers hand them out as guests are seated and they can distribute accordingly.
When planning to create your own favors or centerpieces be sure to realize what you're taking on and recruit as much help as you can get. Ask your previously married friends about their experiences with DIY projects for their own weddings. This will help you assess how much time may be needed for each task taken on. Also have a plan b, in case of a last minute change (getting sick, working overtime, etc.).
Pacific Weddings, one of our favorite publications, is having a D.I.Y. Wedding Contest.
Budget Early and Spend Money on What Will Last - When I was getting married my husband and I paid for our wedding ourselves. We got married a little later than most of our friends and family and so our parents had spent their money elsewhere by the time my Prince Charming arrived. When we sat down to make our budget I knew what was really important to me because it was going to be the only record of my wedding – my pictures! I knew a great photographer I wanted to work with and knew I had to find a way to afford her.
Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists
If you aren’t interested in laboring over your chocolate, pay a visit to Leonidas, a new confectionary shop in Rocklin. They sell world famous Belgian chocolates that are flown in fresh from Brussels (weekly). You can find a wide variety of chocolates including dark, milk, white, creams, pearls, and many others. The quality and presentation is incredible. They offer 2 and 4 piece sets which would be perfect for favors or wedding party gifts. Go treat yourself to a sample. I promise, it's worth it!
These are the gift bags we created to put in the hotel rooms of out-of-town guests. In the bag we included personalized water bottles, personalized candy bars, personalized lifesavers, tissue, photo albums, and personalized hot cocoa. We bought fall leaves from the Dollar Tree (100 leaves in a bag for $1!), glued them on with Elmer's Glue and viola! We then tied on some ribbon in the color of the bridesmaids dresses and we were done!
To mark our tables we took a picture of ourselves, put in in a frame (again from the Dollar Tree!) and placed large, gold sticker numbers in the upper right hand corner. After the reception we gave away the 5X7 pictures to important family members (grandparents, aunts, etc.) and those who helped with the decorating. To the right of the picture you can see our favor, caramel apples. We attached a simple tag with some fall leaves and there you go!
Because we did most of our pictures before the wedding I knew that we were in for a very long day. So to help keep the bridesmaids happy and full of energy I created "lunchboxes" for each of them. SO simple and yet totally appreciated!
My favorite new reception trend - the Candy Buffet!! To add a unique, fun touch to your wedding, create a decorative assortment of treats. My personal favorite is colored candy (in varying shades of the wedding colors) displayed in apothecary jars and vases. Check out this great site, Candy Warehouse, for bulk candy that is organized by color. Where else can you find 68 types of candy in various shades of pink!?! I also love personalized M&M's. They come in 17 colors and can be customized with fun text like your names and wedding date.
If a full candy buffet isn't in your budget, consider setting up a small table with a single jar of candy. The kids love it! For my wedding, I used pink and dark pink personalized M&M's mixed with Hershey's kisses (purchased from Sam's Club).Money Saving Tip – Since personalized M&Ms are more costly, mix them with plain M&M’s of the same colors. Your guests won't even notice!
Photos courtesy of The Memory Journalists
