The whirl of engagement excitement is settling and now the reality of wedding planning is sinking in. There are so many different aspects to consider that weddings have the potential to get overwhelming really fast.  Not all of us have the $50,000 dollar budget we see on wedding shows, but it is very possible to have a wedding just as beautiful on half the budget.  The great thing about weddings is the Do-it-yourself or DIY options available to cut costs dramatically.  Here are five DIY tips for your dream wedding.

PLAN ACCORDINGLY

It’s never too early to start gathering ideas for your wedding.  When you’ve selected a date create a Pinterest account just for your wedding.  If you see something you like PIN it and make final decisions later.  Also, decide on a theme.  This will make adding details much easier and give the ceremony and reception a more cohesive look.  Finally, create a budget and a timeline to keep your various projects on track and your stress level down.

ASK FOR HELP

DIY wedding projects are a perfect opportunity to bond with family, friends and your future husband.  Get your bridal party together and make a party out of a DIY project.  This is a great time for everyone to get to know each other before the big day.  You can also create a special memory with both your mom and future mother-in-law.  DIY projects don’t have to be stressful at all.  You can do them in front of the TV with your fiance a few nights a week.  You’ll get tons of work done before you know it!

WEDDING COORDINATOR

Although it is totally possible, taking on the entire wedding process by yourself can be a daunting task.  If you don’t have the desire or the budget to hire a wedding coordinator for the entire process, consider contracting one for the wedding day only.  This way you are able to take care of all the arrangements yourself and on the wedding day have someone who will ensure the smooth facilitation of the ceremony and reception.  ENJOY YOUR DAY!

DIY DO

There are many opportunities for DIY at your wedding. Here are a few things you can make yourself to add character to your event:

Invites: You can make custom invites and menus for a fraction of professional costs.

Centerpieces: The great thing about centerpieces… they don’t have to include flowers!  Vintage bottles, candles, photos or anything that fits the theme of your wedding can be a centerpiece.  It also adds a personal touch if you include items you love or have significant meaning to you as a couple.

Bouquet: Making your own bouquet is an option for those who want a smaller bunch of flowers.  Since tradition mandates the bouquet toss during the reception, some may want to allocate that budget elsewhere.  Make the bouquet the day before to  maintain freshness.

Favors: Have some fun here, the options are endless!  This is your opportunity to really let your personality as a couple shine.

Place Settings: You can buy place settings at wholesale to save costs.  You also don’t have to have an extensive number of knifes, forks, plates, glasses, etc.  Simplicity is elegant as well.

DIY DON’T

Yes, you can technically make your entire wedding DIY but there are a few things that are better left to the professionals if only to help you keep your sanity.

Food: Attempting to make enough food for 100 guests can get messy fast. You will save some major headaches by leaving this detail to the professionals.  The good thing about food is that you can have a tasting session before your day to make sure it is up to your taste bud standards.

Photography:  Photography is of the utmost importance on your wedding day.  All your hard work and planning culminates on this one day so making sure you have a photographer who knows what he/she is doing is invaluable.  A professional will know what shots to take and when so you can be confident that your day will be well documented.

Flowers: Due to the delicate nature of florals it might be best to leave this one to the professionals.  True, flowers can get pricey but try choosing flowers that are in season.  You can cut costs dramatically this way and tie the ceremony together in a subtle way.

In many ways DIY projects are more fun than letting a professional plan everything for you.  You can still have that professional touch while incorporating the personal details that DIY allows.  Weigh your options and really look at your budget, see where DIY might be the better route. Remember, the most important thing about your wedding is to have fun and make it your own.