Choosing to do-it-yourself can be overwhelming and many couples go down this path in order to ensure they have exactly what they want and to save some money. Although it’s a ‘DIY’ wedding, it doesn’t actually mean you have to do everything yourself!

Having experienced a DIY wedding within my own family, here’s some ideas that can make it amazing!

1. Enlist the creative people within your family if you can and give them specific jobs to manage such as making the confetti or designing your invitation.  If you know the biggest challenge you will have is releasing control, make sure you’re all in agreement to ‘check in’ with each other to avoid misunderstandings.
2. Plan well ahead so that not too many things need done the week before and for those things needing done in the week leading up to your special day – allocate jobs to trusted friends who will be only too happy to play a part and support you.  Take the pressure off yourself as you want to enjoy your day.  I hear this from every couple, “I don’t want to be stressed out running around before the ceremony – I want to enjoy the lead-up”.
3. Choose one or two important items for your wedding where you will spend the money on eg:
   
   • Good food – a wonderful buffet managed and prepared by an outside caterer.  Your guests will still be talking about the food years later!
   • Photographer – choose someone who will be flexible, unobtrusive and can demonstrate first class portfolio or whose photos you can relate to in terms of their style.  Have a list of ‘must have’ photos as a minimum and let their creative flair do the rest!

One rule of thumb or words of caution, research ideas and resources and stick to your plan or you’ll drive yourself and everyone else crazy if you chop and change your mind.  It puts added pressure onto people and the last thing you want is to be saying, ‘thank goodness it’s all over!’