Happy fall, all!
As the leaves change colors here in the mid-Atlantic region, and the air turns chilly, many couples are gearing up to begin their wedding plans. While I am all about customizing and creating the perfect vision for your event, today we’re going to be talking about when to hire a professional over trying to do it yourself and why it’s important to consider leaving it to the pros.
I’ve worked with many different couples from various backgrounds but the one thing all seem to have in common is they want to save money where they can when planning a big event! This is easier than you think with the right tools in place and doesn’t always have to mean more work for you!
One thing to consider when thinking about creating your own elements for your wedding is time. I always recommend my 
couples remember that their wedding day should be about enjoying the moments. One drawback from doing things yourself typically means you’ll need to set it up yourself. While this might not seem like a lot of work right now, it can be very hectic to remember every detail on the day of – while also trying to stay present and enjoy the precious moments of your wedding.
These candy boxes were what my daughter and her now-husband did for their wedding. We were able to assemble them a couple of months before the wedding (a family activity!!), so we weren’t scrambling to do them those couple of weeks before the big day!
If you are the creative type that wants to create things for your wedding, I recommend that you focus mainly on paper products, favors, or small décor items. These items can be easily taken care of by yourself or a family member and don’t require a lot of placement or setup. Alternatively, I would not recommend trying to set up florals, draping, or any large items that require a lot of finesse. There is a reason these professionals are in business! Many venues require insurance and certifications for large items such as pipe and draping as this can be dangerous. Pictured here is a fun seating chart that one of my couples DIY-d! (this photo and cover photo by Brad Barnwell Photography)
While we’re on the subject…though your family members and friends would love to help out, I don’t recommend hiring them for photography, DJs, or even for sewing or creating your wedding dress. These items specifically can lead to a lot of stress leading up to and on the day of your wedding and while they may go perfectly it’s a big risk in terms of your relationships. I’d rather see you dancing on the dance floor with your loved ones than having something go wrong!
Ultimately, you may save a little money by working on certain elements for your wedding yourself. I am not opposed to certain DIY elements as some of them can be really personalized! However, I do caution you. Just be sure to weigh the time it takes and the stress they may cause. You may find it isn’t worth the hassle and you may enjoy the process a bit more if you can just trust your professionals to take over. If you need help finding reputable wedding vendors at a reasonable cost, my preferred wedding professionals’ list can help you! I would love to set up a consultation today to talk about your vision and help get you connected.
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Wishing you a wonderful week and a happy Fall!
