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Even if you're not generally the DIY type, when it comes to your wedding there's a lot of pressure to make the day feel special and unique and "you." So it's easy to see how many brides fall into the trap of, "I'll just DIY a few little details." That's how you wind up swimming in a pool of regret with glitter in your hair and your wedding just weeks—or days—away.
Which is all to say, if you're not feeling compelled to DIY for your wedding, just DON'T. There will be plenty of other things to keep you busy. Trust me. But if you'd like to try some light DIY, here are three projects most brides will be able to manage—and two that 99 percent of brides should never attempt.
DO DIY…
- INVITATIONS AND SAVE-THE-DATES__
Wedding Chicks is my favorite place for online stationery freebies. If you can get invites like this for $0, it almost doesn't make sense to pay for them. You can download and print them at home, but I'd go to a print shop, where the pro-grade facilities will be able to handle heavier stock than your at-home printer.
- TABLE NUMBERS
Again, there are so many freebies available that it's almost silly to buy. Here's a slideshow with 16 table number ideas from Martha Stewart Weddings; most of 'em are as simple as download and print. (The first ones are the ones we used at our wedding, pictured above.)
- PART (OR ALL) OF YOUR CENTERPIECES
Whether it's pots for petite plants or standalone candlesticks, Darby Smart has tons of easy-to-manage centerpiece projects. You'll get concise step-by-step instructions—plus, you can order your supplies in one place. (SO much easier than hunting down random specialty paints, or whatever.)
DON'T DIY…
- YOUR WEDDING DRESS
There are exceptions, of course: Cynthia Rowley stitched her own bridal shift and wedding dress designer Heidi Elnora DIY'd four wedding dresses for herself. But unless you're already someone who sews her own clothes—and you already have some intricate gowns under your belt—this job is best left to the pros. Because if your homemade dress is a mess, you'll have a tough time rustling up another wedding dress at the last minute. (Generally you have to order a wedding dress at least eight weeks in advance, and you'll need time to have it fitted too.)
- YOUR WEDDING CAKE
Almost anyone can bake a cake. But pretty much no one should bake her own wedding cake. This, according to my friend Seton, who walked down the aisle with frosting under her fingernails after getting three hours of sleep the night before because she was up making her own wedding cake. Assembling a wedding cake generally involves tiers and dowels. Plus, if you want the whole thing to be fresh, you'll be stuck in the kitchen in the days leading up to your wedding. You know, when you should be relaxing and enjoying yourself. (Professional wedding cake maker Wendy Kromer served mini pies at her own wedding—that should give you an idea of what a headache it is.)
__Will you DIY anything for your wedding? Have you seen a bride suffer a DIY-induced meltdown?
