DIY will never go out of style. Never. But with so much involved in planning a wedding – choosing the dresses, the flowers, invitations, venue, food – do you really need to add to the list? But, of course, inevitably, one question will always come up – what can I do myself? DIY – the word that makes some squeal with delight and others shudder in fear. Now, I am the first one to jump at the chance to craft something special. I am a crafter at heart and a big promoter of anything I can “do myself”. But, over time and many projects, some finished, some not, I’ve learned a few things about why NOT to DIY. So today, I’ve come up with the top 5 reasons why NOT to DIY. Yes, I said it, to NOT do it yourself.

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{You Won’t Save Money} So many times we have great ideas, but we may not be able to implement them very well. We end up buying more than we need. And because we bought the supplies on sale back in January to “save money,” we can’t bring any extras back in June when we’ve finally completed the finished product. Or maybe that cute idea we saw on Pinterest or in Martha Stewart Weddings, didn’t come out quite the way we’d hoped. Thus, we’ve wasted money and are truly disappointed at the end result.

{You Don’t Have Time} This is a big one! We are all busy, busy, busy. And unless you are a really good time manager, you may run out of time with all the other bits of planning (and daily life) you’re trying to coordinate. There is nothing worse than having a project weigh on your mind for weeks, than realize a week before the wedding that those favors you had your heart set on are just not going to get done. Chime in with a sad trombone. Wah-wah-wah. (There’s an app for that, you know.)

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{You Won’t Get Help) This one is almost as disappointing as not having the time. We love our family and friends. They were over the moon excited for you when you announced your engagement. They were the first to chime in and offer to help with any of the planning or DIY projects you had in mind. But as time ticks on, everyone gets busy or even runs for the hills when they see the extent of what is needed from them. It happens. So be prepared. Save yourself some anxiety. Maybe a friendship or two as well.

{You Won’t Have the Patience} As you begin the designing (or “pinning”) of your DIY ideas, your excitement increases, and you dream of even more projects! Joy, right? Wrong. At some point, you may find yourself overwhelmed, tired, and just plain burnt out from all the planning. If you have to track down one more spool of tulle… well, you get the idea. As the big day looms ever nearer, your patience will be tested. Guaranteed. And of all the aspects of wedding planning, those DIY projects will probably be one of the biggest testers of your patience. The planning, the finding, the buying, the trying, the doing… yep, it’s going to test your patience.

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{You Won’t Like What You Created} This is the one that makes me sad. And yes, it happens. And yes, it causes tears. You’ve had a vision for months. You’ve seen it on a couple of the popular weddings blogs or in wedding magazines. You can’t wait to have it at your wedding – maybe a different color or slightly different style. You gather all your supplies. You gather your besties for a fun girls’ night. You dive in and the result… looks awful. It’s just not working. Disappointment, tears, frustration, and anger ensues. You’ve just wasted your money, your time, lost your patience, and quite possibly annoyed some family members and friends along the way.

So, does any of this sound familiar? This list is probably the same for any DIY project – whether it’s for your house or your wedding. We all love to add those homespun touches to our weddings, but remember to keep those DIY ideas in perspective. If you fall into one or more of these categories, stop and walk away. No one will think any less of you. Not everyone is cut out for the role as DIY diva. And that is OK. Don’t overwhelm yourself, keep an eye on your budget, and above all, keep it simple.

Tell us, did you DIY any part of your wedding? What did you love about it? What would you have done differently? Looking back, would you have done it at all? Any tips you stumbled across that you’d be willing to share with those dreaming about their DIY projects right now?

Happy Thursday!

xoxo