Words by R&R Weddings & Events

DIY weddings have been a popular choice amongst modern couples for a long time for many reasons, one of the main ones being ‘cost’.

It’s tempting to try to save money in certain areas by ‘doing it yourself’ as opposed to paying a professional but without careful consideration, your DIY attempts could end up costing you more in both time and money.

Our Book Of Love directory babe, Rebecca Revill, is an alternative wedding stylist at R&R Weddings & Events and she has put together her 9 essential tips for anyone planning some DIY wedding styling so that you can keep on the right track!

1. Pick the right venue.

Picking a venue can be stressful but can really make your DIY wedding start with a bang. Try and find the venue that matches your style, that’s laid back, and also happy to help you. It’s also a good idea to share some of your plans with the venue to be sure that your DIY ideas will be supportive. For example, some venues might no permit you to stick things to walls etc.

Prepare a list of questions that you need to know. You want to make sure your venue is going to allow you to do the things you want, and you don’t want any hidden “no no’s” when you come to planning. Some venues can be very strict on what suppliers you’re allowed to use. They may only allow you to come in the morning - on the day of your wedding - which is never a great start for a DIY wedding!

For example, if you wanted a full ceiling of hanging Disco balls then your questions to the venue might be…

Can we hang stuff from the ceiling?
Is there a weight limit?

Can we drill into the ceiling?

What attachments are we allowed to use?

Will there be suitable ladders to use?

Do you supply hanging materials to use?

2. Make a schedule.

It’s good to get a schedule in place. It may seem a little OTT but I would recommend getting some kind of timing plan in place. Doing a DIY wedding is a lot of work and you want to enjoy what you are doing - without making it too stressful for yourself.

I usually do the big jobs first… like ones which take the longest to make. Then closer to the wedding day, you can start the smaller jobs, which will allow you to have more time for other wedding planning needs.

3. Research your materials.

Be careful about what materials you use. Research what you are going to need by watching YouTube and ask DIY stores for help. It’s easy to waste time and money buying materials that turn out to be unsuitable for the job. I’ve learned the hard way and advise you to double-check before you buy anything.

4. Set a budget.

Getting your costs in place for your wedding is probably one of the most important things you’ll need to do. Planning a DIY wedding may seem like it’s the cheaper option, but there are still costs involved, so be prepared for these.

It’s important to mention that even though you might have your heart set on a DIY wedding, you should research other options too because sometimes, it may cost you more to make something than to hire it for the weekend.

5. Consider your style.

Create a mood board, journal or scrapbook which includes colours, inspiration, texture and materials that you love. That way, you have something to refer to when making your wedding styling decisions and you can ensure your styling stays consistent.

6. Make an impact.

Think about the areas where you can make the most impact and be sure not to waste time on stuff that doesn’t really need to be done. A few things at weddings may get overlooked, if you concentrate on things that aren’t essential, you could end up wasting your precious time and money. For example, a DIY ceremonial backdrop will make more impact than if you spent lots of time making decorations for the restrooms. Of course, if time and budget is not an issue then by all means you can make decorations for the less important areas!

7. Ask for help.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. One of the nicest things about a DIY wedding is the collective effort when friends and family get involved. Find out who’s up for helping and then delegate the tasks to take the pressure off you. Remember, if you’re doing everything yourselves then you’ll need to rope in help setting up and on the day and cleaning up afterwards too. Asking for help will save time and stress on the day and give you the chance to chill a little bit more before the wedding.

8. Repurpose.

Be clever with your designs. The glory of a DIY wedding is that a lot of things can be repurposed on the day, making them sustainable too! For example, you could repurpose your ceremony backdrop to be used as decoration for the reception. Another tip is to create double-sided signage to save on costs. Have a really good think about where items can be used twice to serve another purpose. It may need planning for on the day to get someone to move it, but it will save you a lot of money and will give your DIY creations a new lease of life!

9. Have fun.

Don’t forget to have fun with it! Take your time, enjoy the process and feel proud of yourself when it all comes together on the day!