Is a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Wedding Right for Me?
Written by Julianne Cuomo, our Director of Celebrations.
With the growing popularity of Pinterest, Etsy, and other websites inspiring creativity and handmade projects, it’s no surprise to see a trend among brides wanting to have “Do-It-Yourself” weddings. Some brides want to do everything themselves, while others will choose to keep a few tasks DIY and let their wedding planner handle the rest. This blog post will answer some of the most common questions brides have regarding DIY weddings.
Visit our Pinterest boards to get inspired for your DIY wedding!
What are the Pros and Cons of a DIY Wedding?
Photo courtesy of DJAMEL Photography
In some ways, creating the details of your wedding yourself can be a huge money saver, but it comes at the cost of your time. If you decide to do all of the planning and decorating yourself, be prepared to spend a huge amount of time executing the details. However, if saving money is more important to you than your time – more power to you! The trick to pulling it all together is getting organized, staying grounded, and maintaining your overall vision.
The best part of making things yourself is that you’re automatically inserting a piece of you into your wedding! Not only will your personality fill the room, but you will have the ability to keep most of the items you created to add to your home décor later, which will be constant reminders of that magical day!
What are the Pros and Cons of Hiring a Wedding Planner?
When deciding how much of the planning and decorating to do yourself, think about the time frame for your wedding, as well as the size. If you have less than 6 months to plan a wedding that will have over a hundred people, it may be wise to invest in a wedding planner so that you can enjoy the process more. Or better yet… find that perfect venue, with a professional Certified Wedding Coordinator who can guide you through the planning stages and execution of your special day, at no extra charge. Like right here at Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club!
Pros of Hiring a Wedding Planner:
- To save you time. A professional wedding planner knows the ins and outs of the business and can eliminate some of the initial research on vendors, reception venues, etc., as well as answer questions about how best to plan a wedding.
- To get extras and possible discounts from vendors. Many wedding planners have already established relationships with the best vendors, and therefore may be able to pass the benefits of this along to you.
- To relieve stress. Having a wedding planner can help you feel more relaxed as your wedding gets closer. You have a professional ready to make sure your special day goes off without a hitch!
Cons of Hiring a Wedding Planner:
- An extra cost. If you don’t have it in your wedding budget to hire a wedding planner, it may be hard to swallow the cost of one. Most wedding planners charge a percentage of total budget ranging from 10-20%, and others charge a flat fee or by the hour.
- Loss of control: If you have a hard time letting other people take over, a wedding planner may not be for you.
What if I Want to Do Part of My Wedding Myself but Need Help with the Rest?
There are three basic levels of involvement a wedding planner can have, depending on your personal preference:
Photo courtesy of DJAMEL Photography
- Full Control: The wedding planner will plan and coordinate your entire wedding from start to finish. This includes everything from coming up with the overall vision to booking the photographer.
- Some Control: The wedding planner will help you plan your wedding by giving you vendor recommendations, decor suggestions, and even assist you with some tasks that you need extra help with.
- Control Only on the Day Of: The wedding planner will act as a “day of” coordinator by making sure your wedding day runs smoothly from beginning to end so that you don’t have to worry about the final details such as the cake delivery or making sure the DJ arrives on time.
Regardless of what you choose, the most important thing is that you’re happy on your wedding day. Check out our Pinterest boards to get inspired for the details of your wedding!