Ask The Experts: 10 Tips for a Stress-Free DIY Wedding by Laura Strutt

As you know here at Boho Weddings we are BIG on DIY weddings, so today I have invited the author of the Haynes DIY Wedding Manual and real-life DIY bride, Laura Strutt, to the Blog. As well as working with Haynes on this wonderful hard back book, Laura also writes her own Blog Made Peachy, so she is a DIY expert! DIY weddings are great fun and can also be incredibly cost-effective. They are incredibly popular at the moment but they do need some careful consideration before taking them on. Today Laura talks you through some practical points  and shares some handy advice for creating a handmade wedding.

‘Hosting a DIY wedding is a wonderful way to get really creative in your wedding planning and preparations, it is a great opportunity to stamp your unique style onto your special day. However, with DIY wedding comes a lot of hard work, here are a few handy hints to help you get from planning to celebrations without the heartache!’

1 Get Researching!

Having a clear vision of the style of wedding you want to create will help you to work out what elements you will be able to DIY. There are lots on resources available for brides-to-be, from magazine to Pinterest boards, be sure to check through the Boho Wedding Real Brides section for some fabulous inspiration!

2 Create a Schedule!

No one really likes deadlines, but setting yourself a few goals along the way will help you to achieve the creative DIY tasks that you want to include in your day in a logical fashion. Consider what elements need to be completed first – like invitation and guest lists – to ensure that these are worked on in the early stages, before making a start on the finishing touches like Thank You gifts and favours.

3 Make Lists!

Most brides, DIY or otherwise, will likely tell you that her notebook containing all the notes and lists for her wedding was the most crucial tool in planning for the big day. Use a notebook to keep a track of what you need to make, supplies, tools and costs alongside information about your wedding day vendors, venues, quotes and contact details. Having all this info to hand will prove a huge time saver when you’re juggling all the different elements of a DIY Wedding.

4 Be Realistic!

I don’t want to rain on your handmade parade, not at all. But, it is important to remember that you can only do so much. Take a look over the list of the elements that you want to DIY and decide if you have the time, resources and skills to achieve them. While it might be a lovely thought to pick out your blooms from the local flower market and hand tie your own bouquet on the morning of your wedding, consider if you have the time to add this into your wedding morning preparations – from the second you wake up, time on the big day will fly past faster than you think.

5 Skill Sourcing!

As a DIY bride this is the perfect opportunity to discover the creative skills of your friends and family – find out if any of your nearest and dearest have a creative flare and are able to take on any of the DIY projects that are perhaps a little out of your skill set – do you have an aunt who is a whizz on the sewing machine that is happy to make you a dress? You’ll be surprised how many folks will be happy to help out. Just remember, this can put a lot of pressure on people, so be cautious when you dish out huge tasks like catering or photography onto your chums.

6 Work Smart!

With weddings there are a lot of DIY elements that will involve mass production of items, like Save the Date and invitation cards, favours and place names. Working on these in a production line fashion will help you to get through a whole heap of makes efficiently and effectively. Begin by making one, to check you like the look of the finished item and that you have all the supplies to hand, before clearing the desk and starting your own production line.

7 Share the Load!

There is often the misconception that DIY means ‘do everything completely by yourself at all costs’. This needn’t be the case, be sure to get the groom involved, this is his day too – while he might not be an avid card maker, he might be passionate about music and can get busy creating a wedding playlist. Why not ask your bridal party, friends and family to lend a hand with some of the more labour intensive DIY projects that you are undertaking – after all, isn’t that what bridesmaids are for?

8 Space & Storage!

DIY weddings can quickly take up a lot of space with the creative clutter of craft supplies, makes in progress and also the finished pieces. If possible, dedicate a small space in your home to accommodate your DIY supplies, this will make it easier to get your hands on what you need when you have time to work on wedding makes. Stowing the finished makes neatly in plastic or cardboard boxes or crates is a great way to protect these precious items, and will make transporting them for the big day a lot easier.

9 Don’t get Hung up on Perfection!

Of course, you want your wedding day to be perfect, but putting too much pressure on the concept of perfection is a surefire way to wind up in a pickle. If you know that you simply won’t be able to cope with handmade guest place cards that aren’t exactly identical in your neatest handwriting, perhaps consider a different option for this.

10 Have Fun!

If you’ve chosen a DIY wedding chances are part of this reason is because you love to get hands on and make things. There is always a lot of pressure in the run up to a wedding, and creating vast quantities of DIY projects to deadlines can become stressful, so remember that not only are you making things for your special day but you are making memories too! Try to keep some perspective on the tasks and remember to have a fun along the way!

‘Laura Strutt is the author of The DIY Wedding Manual £18.99 www.haynes.co.uk she created her own DIY wedding when she got married in 2012 and shares daily craft projects, how-to guides and handmade style on her creative lifestyle journal www.madepeachy.com‘

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• Photo credits: Haynes DIY Wedding Manual and www.kerriemitchell.co.uk