Photo by: Jessica Lauren Photography
Every time you come online as a bride, you’re hit with the “fact” that for
your wedding to be the best experience that it can be, you have to hire
a professional to organize it. There is a narrative that a DIY wedding
means a wedding that’s hectic, chaotic, and just plain overwhelming.
Well, as a NYC makeup artist and bride that did it herself, I’m here to
tell you otherwise! What’s more, I’m here to give you 5 specific pieces of
advice that helped me have the fairytale wedding of my dreams
(almost!) all by myself.
Before we get into it, I’d like to give out a few words of caution.
Firstly, I need you to be ready for some stress. A DIY wedding is
possible, but it does come with its fair share of decision-making,
problem-solving, and just overall confusion that will, naturally, cause you
stress.
This is normal and now that you know about it, you’re ready to handle it,
The second thing is the fact that you’ll need help. We’ll get more into
what kind of help in just a minute, but just know that a helping hand is
something you’ll need to rely on during this process.
Thirdly, and this is not for everyone, you may need to spend some time
learning a few new things to be able to do everything as smoothly as
possible. As I said, this may not apply to you, so let’s keep on going and
find out!
1. Handle the Creative Side of Things
What I mean by “the creative side of things” is the wedding-related
items you’ll most definitely need.
Think of things like invitations, itineraries, name cards, table numbers -
anything that needs to be printed on paper or sent out via email. There
are a few ways you can do this, but the simplest one is Canva.
Not only does it have a ton of already-made presets you can use, but it
also offers a space for you to customize every aspect of your project
and make it fit your vibe perfectly.
Don’t be afraid to play around with fonts, colors, and other elements
until you reach perfection. Also, remember that you can also always use
Pinterest as inspiration and deliver a masterpiece every time!
Make sure you invest in good-quality printing paper to round up the
professional, put-together look and feel of everything.
2. Use the Internet Wisely
When I say “the internet” I specifically mean social media. What I used,
for example, was the Facebook marketplace. As a NYC makeup artist, I
have heard other DIY brides talk about it, but I didn’t know what to
expect.
Fortunately for me, however, the place was swarming with brides trying
to ‘get rid” of many amazing bridal pieces they used for their weddings,
so there was quite a selection!
I ended up finding so many things that were just perfectly aligned with
my vision and the prices were incredible, so I was able to stay within my
budget, too!
Aside from the Facebook marketplace, you can also look for other local
(or even national) resale sites to find the items you need. Furthermore,
you can hop on Etsy, eBay, and even Amazon and find great things at
great deal prices.
Photo by: Alexis Brooke Photo
3. Think About Alternatives
Broadening your horizons and stepping out of the “wedding comfort
zone” can do wonders for your DIY wedding journey.
For example, a centerpiece for many means a flower arrangement
paired with candles or something like that. However, that’s not the only
option! Using pinterest, you can find so many amazing
centerpiece alternatives that will look just as good, if not better, than a
flower arrangement.
A simple glass vase, for example, filled with pearls or gemstones and
some tealights by it, can add such a romantic feel to every one of your
tables. Another option is to use silk flowers or even greenery from your
garden and mix and match until you have the very thing you’re after.
4. Hire a Day-of Coordinator
Okay, this is where the “big guns” come out.
A day of coordinator can help you keep everything and everyone in
check and make the big day go as smoothly as possible. Mind you,
there is a difference between a day-of coordinator and a venue
coordinator, so make sure these two people are not the same person on
your day.
Although a day-of coordinator isn’t an absolute necessity, they really will
help all the fruits of your labor shine in their brightest light and
showcase your dedication to everyone attending.
As a NYC makeup artist and a HMU in general I’ve seen so many big
days go wrong because no day-of coordinator was around. This is
exactly why I feel like this piece of advice is one of the most valuable
ones I’ve got to give.
Most importantly, a day-of coordinator will help you feel relaxed and
taken care of during your wedding, which is the most important, most
valuable thing you can invest in!
Photo by: Calvin Gavion Photography
5. Do What Makes You Happy
You read that right. Do exactly what you want. For example, if you like
the mauve napkins but a friend says pure white is better, go with your
own choice, regardless! It’s your day and things need to look exactly
how you have envisioned them.
In a nutshell, the only person you have to satisfy is yourself and that's
easy when making choices by going with your gut.
As an NYC makeup artist, I’ve been a part of many weddings, (both
perfect and otherwise), so when the time to organize my wedding came,
I used my own experience to come up with the 5 tips above, which
made everything so much easier for me.
I hope my perspective will help you on your DIY wedding journey and I
can’t wait for you to live out your fairytale soon.
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