Why DIY?

So, why a DIY wedding?   In short, do-it-yourself weddings bring the focus back on the soon-to-be just married couple and they tend to be a bit more personalized.

For those who would like the slightly longer version:

It's YOUR Day -- Reclaim It

"Too much of weddings is focused on the guests."
"That's not what it's about. It's your day. You do what you want. We'll follow."

The above words of wisdom was uttered by my little sister and mother during a conversation on my upcoming wedding.  While I didn't necessary mention any frustrations, it sounded like the women in the family were tapped into my struggles and hit upon a very important train of thought.

Whether economy or the ever-changing shift in trends, many brides are looking for ways to make their wedding more memorable and less bank account draining.  They are opting for the DIY or even paring down the budget-busting bash for a more simple, yet still spectacular, moment to be shared with friends and family.

This is not merely a shift from large parties to smaller gatherings.  It is a shift in focus from what brides feel they have to do or provide for wedding guests and more about what they want to share on their big day.

However, this isn't the only reason why my husband-to-be and I chose to march down the DIY wedding aisle together.

It's My Wedding Day and I'll Personalize How I Want To

Around the time my man proposed to me, I stumbled upon a video produced by the fine folks at The Onion.  In this video, there was a bride and groom gushing about how their wedding was going to be unique and show their personalities.  At one point they mentioned having a bluegrass band play 80s music because the groom was fond of the bluegrass sound but the bride was infatuated with the 80s.  They even presented the idea of "sprinklers" as a unique, specialized element to their personalized wedding.

It was funny for it is every wedding.  It's sad for it is every wedding. 

While browsing venues online and then in person, the two of us were shown wedding pictures and sample venue set-up photos.  While the colors of the pomanders or chair sashes changed, it felt like we were seeing the same decor stuck on repeat. I was starting to wonder how many times this person with the same wedding scheme had been married.  It was the same wedding at six different venues -- just maybe the color scheme had changed.

While this sounds like a hundrum wedding, it wasn't what really put a thorn in my side.  It was the fact that most of those sashes, hanging paper lanterns, runners and even centerpieces had been used by numerous brides -- and they were charged top dollar for these reused decorations and recycled themes.   To me, that is not getting the more bang for your buck.

I believe some of the most memorable weddings were those that were comprised of important elements of the bride and groom -- a mutual blend of their personalities and the life they are embarking on.

Our decision to do a DIY wedding wasn't exactly budget, although it played a huge role in it for by nature I am budget-conscious, nor was it because the groom and I are beyond crafty -- far from it.  It was an effort to inject our unique lifestyle and personality into our day rather than passing it off onto a professional who will just apply a "tried and true" style to OUR wedding*. 

Will it be original? Eh, probably not.  It will probably be ideas that were hatched by someone else but modified, tweaked and renovated by us.  We will pick and choose what we want, expand upon some ideas and possibly even Easy-Bake our own innovative ideas.  It will be a slow-going process but one we are excited about.

Is going with the "Acme" wedding bad? No. It has a purpose. Whether you are short on time or would rather focus on other aspects, hiring professionals is an excellent way to go.   

While we may be making up for our lack of pristine elegance with creativity and personalization, it will be a reflection of us -- and thus, memorable.

*Note: I said OUR. The groom has jumped in full-speed, developed ideas and has picked up an Xacto to help slice and dice our STD envelopes.  This is a joint-endeavor -- as both of us believe it should be.