diy wedding

Hey Jessica!

Congrats and good for you doing all those DIY's, it's definitely not an easy task! I would always suggest hiring as many professional vendors as possible, but you of course also need to be conscience of your budget. In regards to food, I don't know what your venues rules are so definitely check into that, but most will probably require some-sort of professional catering, whether that is a restaurant or wedding specific caterer. Whichever option you choose, be sure and figure out who is handling the trash, bussing and cleanup/breakdown of everything at the end of the night. There are generally very specific rules that each venue has in regards to trash and cleanup procedures, and if it is a restaurant who is catering, they very well may not take care of any of the trash or bussing at your event. This could leave you filling your car with bags of trash at the end of the night and not having anywhere to dispose of it properly! Also in regards to DIYing your wedding, be sure that you have a specific group of people who will 100% for sure be there to setup and teardown all of your decorations! It is easy for people to volunteer, but they really need to understand and commit to the time and effort that it will take on the day of the wedding. Also allow plenty of time for both setup and teardown, they always take a longer time than you expect! Hope this helps and you have a wonderful wedding!

We are doing everything ourselves. I love DIY so that was never a question when it came time for wedding planning. FH is not very crafty but has pitched in. We are having it catered though.

I would definitely DIY your decorations, decorations, etc. but I wouldn't DIY the food. Make a menu of what you were planning to make and price it out and find a caterer that's similar in price. You don't want the liability and if you're having it in a venue, they most likely will not allow food inside unless it's cooked in a licensed kitchen by a professional.

DIY is great. Most wedding coordinators suggest only up to about 60% of the wedding - more than that becomes really overwhelming. As per the food: I would really re-thing this area. Most actually wedding venues have preferred or required caterers . So that's one area that's really difficult to DIY. But I really do not suggest DIYing all the food yourself/family DIYing. Even for people who are professional chefs, it becomes really overwhelming when you have so much else to attend to the last few days including transportation, picking up permits, dealing with any perishables, let alone last minute communications/changes!

The best way I've seen DIY food done is through a potluck reception. I know this is frowned upon in some areas, but apparently it's incredibly common in others! If you go this route, just expect everything to be a lot more casual.

We're paying 90% ourselves. When we were first planning, we thought to ourselves: We'll do as much as we can ourselves, and ask for as many favors as possible, and piece everything together because it will be cheaper than a package somewhere.

WRONG

We quickly abandoned that idea. It's just TOO MUCH stress and strain and work to do it all yourself. You can do bits and pieces, but not everything. Scale everything down. Limit your DIY projects, seriously. I don't want my family working my wedding.

Pick and choose your areas of savings: we didn't hire a florist, instead we did DIY fresh flowers for centerpieces from sams club, and silk bouquets / bouts for the wedding party from etsy (store: Qfloralstudio). We did our own decor from Amazon and Etsy, and kept it minimalist. We didn't hire a DOC. We purchased DIY alcohol. We got my dress and bridesmaids dresses from Azazie, groom/ groomsmen tux rentals from The Black Tux. Videographer from Thumbtack. Budget photographer from WW. We hired a professional DJ family friend at a discount. A good friend got ordained and will be the officiant, and we wrote the ceremony ourselves. That is more than enough work for us, and we saved a LOT of money. The wedding is shaping up to look like we easily paid double than what we did. And sorry to be blunt, but IMO, there is absolutely, without a doubt, no way in he// I would go without this next one: the caterer -

Our single biggest expense was a budget caterer who has delicious food and handles purchasing all food, all prep, cooking, serving, transportation, setup, cleanup, insurance (all totaling $4,000), linen rentals and all plates, glassware, barware, servingware ($1,000), and provides alcohol insurance and bartenders ($500). We found someone who literally does everything, and was willing to work with our budget. We will have 110 guests. I seriously have no idea what we would do without this vendor to pull it all together.

Another note - we originally thought package prices were way too much, but once we pieced some of these things together ourselves... we realized in some cases our way cost more or it reallyyyyy close to package prices. With so much more time and stress on our end. Maybe I would've gone with an all-inclusive place if I could do it again.

It's just not possible, not practical, and not fair to YOU or your family/friends to do that much yourself. Remember, your time and sanity are worth something $, they aren't free!

That's what we are doing. We are paying for everything. I am getting married next August and I already started picking items up. I got a sash, my veil, a head piece for my maid of honor, ring pillow and small bag for the flower girl. But next month I'm going to start picking up pieces for bouquets, boutonnieres, and decorations.

I have done my centerpieces my bouquets myself. I am still looking for catering and cake but if I can’t find one to fit in my budget I will be doing it as well. Thanks everyone for the input, it really helped

Wedding Favors

Boutonnieres I made

I am pretty much doing everything. I have done all of the planning. Although I am not having a bridal party. We were going to have a maid of honor and a best man & just recently nixed the idea. I made the boutonnieres, some flower arrangements. Ordered my invites online. Made my own wedding programs (which are not necessary). I did the favors by myself. We are having a taco bar. I am going to spend July 4th with my husband preparing the meat & toppings. I making a fruit tray & veggie tray & a sweet cheese ball & a savory one. I have a few people who will finish up at the wedding, with making tea & lemonade and preparing the tortillas and arranging the food table. I will also be having wings, meatballs and chips & salsa. We are making a playlist for the wedding and I have a friend who will kind of man that and we will have microphones when needed. My friend is making my cake, a friend is doing photography, my cousin will perform the ceremony & my step-brother is doing the videography. We have spent about $3,000 (that will include food cost for about 100 guest). I didn't have a wedding for my 1st marriage of 20 years. I wanted to experience that but as cheap as possible. I have been blessed with people doing some of the most expensive stuff. I am stressing slightly about food but my husband & I love to cook and I don't mind spending the day preparing for our wedding with him. (Oh & I have been blessed to have a co-worker whose daughter was married last weekend let me use her alter that is homemade & all of her table decorations and more things.) And!!! I was going to do my bouquet & my husband's boutonniere BUT my best friend insisted on a live bouquet and now we have had a major disagreement & now I just ordered my bouquet & boutonniere at a local florist for $95.

I know some people do a cake and punch wedding to help save money, just another suggestion.

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How has your planning been coming along since, Jessica?

We are DIY'ing everything possible but food. That is being handled by professionals.

I love being a DIY bride. I didn't do EVERYTHING DIY we hired a caterer and DJ and Photographer but all the decorations and flowers were DIY. Its been nice being able to see my vision come to life. I also made my garters and veil and bridesmaid and MOH gifts! See below for some of my things I've made

The planning is going good. I did my center pieces they are mason jars wrapped in burlap and lace. I have done my bouquet and one one my ladies. I will have to get a picture of the jars.

It should be fine as long as you make a list of everythi g you want done and know for sure who will be doing what it should all go well.

I'm in the same boat as far as paying for everything. I am DIYing my decorations and so forth, but not doing the cooking. That's a little too much and I want to enjoy the day.