THE DIY BRIDE's Top 10 Tips for a One-of-a-Kind Wedding

by aisledash staff, Posted Sep 10th 2010 10:00AM

The Taunton Press

1. DO be decisive. Nothing will sabotage your DIY experience more than being wishy-washy about your projects. Once you get a solid theme or project idea down, stick with it, or you'll waste precious time and resources (and drive yourself crazy).

2. DON'T do too many projects. Once you get rolling with DIY projects, it's easy to get carried away and want to do everything by hand. Resist that urge! Pick the projects that are most meaningful to you and stick with those. Weddings bring enough stress without the pressure of added responsibilities.

3. DO start early. Most DIYers vastly underestimate the time needed to complete big projects and end up stressed, over budget, and completely burnt out. My handy little tip: Expect each project to take double the time you expect to complete it and budget that into your calendar.

4. DON'T be afraid to try something new. If you're dying to try beading earrings for your 'maids, go for it! Part of the fun of crafting is trying new things and learning new skills. Play with new craft goodies and have fun experimenting.

5. DO get help. DIY ≠ DIA (do it alone). Enlist friends and family to lend a hand with the big stuff. There's no better way to get the party started early than with some craft nights with your nearest and dearest. Pour your favorite beverages and get cozy with your crafty selves.

6. DON'T forget to let your personality shine. Your wedding is the ultimate expression of who you are as a couple. Don't be shy about celebrating your quirky awesomeness!

7. DO shop around for supplies. Spending a few hours comparison shopping can save you hundreds of dollars on tools and materials. Look for store coupons, sign up for retailers' newsletters (a good source for advance notice of sales and discounts) and always check shipping costs when shopping online, because that can often make an online purchase more expensive than if you bought locally.

8. DON'T skimp on quality. No matter what your budget, spend wisely on the best quality tools and materials your budget allows.

9. DO forget perfection. The beauty of DIY items is that you made them by hand. Little flaws are absolutely okay. Embrace the fact that you're not a machine!

10. DON'T forget to enjoy the process! It's easy to get caught up in wedding-planning stress. Remind yourself about what's really important and take frequent breaks from planning and crafting to save your sanity. There are no prizes for suffering in weddings or crafting. If a project isn't working for you, skip it!

Khris Cochran is the author of both The DIY Bride: 40 Fun Projects for Your Ultimate One-of-a-Kind Wedding and The DIY Bride Crafty Countdown: 40 Fabulous Projects to Make in the Months, Weeks & Hours Before Your Special Day and the editor of the wedding blog DIY Bride

Tags: DIY, wedding blog