Choosing to put together a DIY wedding means your guests are in for a real treat. It’s one of the best ways to guarantee your big day will be a true reflection of who you are—a complete testament to your creative skills, through and through.
It also means a longer to-do list.
We’ve compiled this ultimate checklist jam-packed with everything you need in order to plan and put together a wedding yourself.
- Establish a Budget
Even though you’re putting together the major elements of the wedding yourself, there may still be some aspects you’d like to hire a vendor for. If not, you’ll still need to purchase the food ingredients and the necessary elements to craft your décor.
Your budget should include:
the venue- the décor
- wedding attire (including suit and wedding gown)
- the reception meal
- wedding cake
- entertainment
When creating a budget, knowing how many guests you’d like there witnessing and celebrating your big day is incredibly helpful, as that determines the type of venue and food costs.
- Book Your Venue
Once you’ve established a budget and a tentative guest list, the next step is booking your wedding venue.
True DIY spirit may dictate that you host it somewhere in nature, or a friend’s epic backyard. Truly, you can host a wedding almost anywhere these days.
Once your venue is booked and the wedding day is set, use the venue to help inspire the decor you use. Play up architectural features, or intersperse plush elements like a rug, cushions, and silky fabrics into a gorgeous outdoor setting.
- Find Your Officiant and Wedding Party
Perhaps it’s a longtime family friend, or a trusted priest. An officiant who’s been a mentor to you as a couple is always an excellent choice.
Then, find your bridesmaids! You probably already know who they are…
- Start Researching DIY Projects
Hello Pinterest!
There are infinite ideas out there on how to create a gorgeous one-of-a-kind wedding. Use your theme, budget, and skills to help select the ones you’d like to include.
Don’t forget to involve your bridal party—they can help.
Once you’ve narrowed down the DIY décor, begin amassing the items you need in order to create these gorgeous pieces.
- Find Your Wedding Gown
Unless you’re incredibly talented, you’re probably not going to sew your own wedding dress. However, you can always find a vintage gown, and have it tailored to meet your specifications.
Check eBay and other sites as well as thrift stores.
Begin thinking of your bridesmaids and what you want them to wear as well.
- Plan the Reception
If you plan on preparing the food yourself, this is something you’re going to need to iron out beforehand. If it’s a buffet style feast, make sure you have the layout just right. People “eat” with their eyes, and a well-plated beautifully displayed smorgasbord of food is a detail that should not be skipped.
If you’re hiring a band or DJ, make sure they are available on your wedding day, and that your venue supports their setup.
If necessary, you may need to rent a PA. The DJ or band should be able to let you know exactly what they need, and what they’re able to provide themselves.
If you’re going to be the DJ, create an epic wedding reception playlist and make sure your venue has a sound system that pairs with your device.
Book your photographer—maybe you have a friend who’s willing to help out—and any other applicable vendors.
- Create a Wedding Website
Put together a wedding website that has all the necessary details of your big day.
Send out your save the dates about 6 to 8 months before the wedding, and include a link to the website if it’s live.
- Begin Crafting DIY Projects
You should begin crafting your wedding invitations and any décor items at least 4 months before the wedding day.
- Mail out the invitations 3 months in advance.
- Iron Out the Final Details
The last months leading up to the wedding are critical—especially for DIY brides.
You’ll want to:
- Finalize your hair and makeup look—especially if you’re doing it yourself
- Have a final dress fitting
- Break in your wedding day shoes
- Finalize ceremony details
- Finalize reception details
- Confirm details with any vendors—or your bridesmaids if they’re all lending a hand
- Write your vows
- Purchase wedding bands
- The Day Before the Wedding
The more hands on deck, the better. Be clear when delegating tasks and assign a role to everyone who’s helping.
Be detailed—let everyone know when they need to be there to help set up and then clear everything once the reception comes to a close.
Make sure you have everything you’ll need for the big day: your dress, undergarments, accessories, and envelopes with cash to pay your vendors.
Additionally, pack:
- A wedding day emergency kit
- Pain reliever
- Band-Aids
- Tampons
- Snacks
- Gum or breath mints
- A small sewing kit
Lastly, think of contingency plans that cover the most important parts of the day, just in case.
Conclusion:
Planning and putting together a wedding yourself is incredibly rewarding. If you’re organized, adhere to a timeline, and delegate tasks, it’s a lot easier and less daunting than it seems.