We’ve all fallen into it. The beautiful photos, the step-by-step tutorials, the ease of spending your entire afternoon pinning to your heart’s content. Pinterest is a great invention. It has recipes, beauty tricks, and a massive collection of stunning, easy-looking wedding DIYs. And don’t get me wrong – some of these DIYs are great. But as a Raleigh wedding planner and professional in my field, I will share with you a little secret: DIYs can sometimes go wrong, but with a little help, these projects can go so right.
It seems like a joke, right? DIY’s are suppose to be easy. How can they possibly go wrong? I have been a wedding planner for many years, and I know from experience brides want to help. The Mrs. to be has a list of DIY and she is going to get all her bridesmaids together and make countless decorations, all charming and lovely. And that seems like it will take a weight off my shoulders as the planner. But part of what makes my job so amazing is getting to take this journey with them. DIYs can take a bad turn, and when that happens, it’s not pretty, but with my help it can be. I specialize in pretty. Here are some tips that will help you and your planner make sure your DIY’s are done right.
First tip: Don’t be fooled by Pinterest photos.
Those beautiful photos? Those are from professionals. Let’s all be honest with ourselves: We’ve all seen a pin, fallen in love, and headed right to JoAnne’s or Michael’s to pick up the materials. We come home with bags full of flowers, mason jars, glue, glitter – you name it. And then we sit down and try our best to follow the “ten easy steps” to make the perfect glitter mason jar centerpiece for grandma’s surprise party. But surprise, surprise – it’s not as easy as it looks. Three hours later we’ve got a table covered in glitter and a mason jar that looks like it came from Lisa Frank’s ’97 collection. How did this happen? Well, it’s because those carefully crafted pins often come from professionals.
When you’re looking through pins, think about your own skill level before deciding to complete a complicated craft project. However, don’t lose heart. If there is something you just can’t imagine your wedding without, remember, when hiring a wedding planner, you hired a professional. You have one of those individuals, at your disposal, that make those pins look so easy.
Tip 2: Communicate with your wedding planner.
I’m not all DIY-hate. As a florist myself, I am perfectly fine with my bride sharing with me projects she wants to incorporate into her big day. It’s charming to have a personal touch at a wedding. But communication is important when deciding and executing these projects. A couple of years ago, I had a bride drop many DIY projects on me on wedding day. I hadn’t planned the staff needed to do all the setup! My team and I barely got finished in time and a couple of details had to be left undone.
It’s my job to plan your wedding, down to every last detail, whether it involves rentals, designing floral arrangements, or ordering materials for your special day. I can’t emphasize enough that one of the keys to DIY-done-right has to be communication. I can save you time, money, and stress! Take advantage of that! Maybe you have no desire to do the DIY but really want a certain “something” – I may have something in my wedding planner stash that’s exactly what we need.
Tip 3: You’re going to be too busy.
Busy? You think. But I hired a wedding planner! She’s going to be busy, not me.
Brides are insanely busy. On top of a full-time job, kids, or family, you’re talking constant meetings. There are some things that a bride will have to be present for, like dress fittings, catering tastings, wedding cake consultations, photography sessions – the list goes on and on. If you’re a bride, you’re going to be swamped, stressed, and excited. The last thing you need is more to do. So choose a DIY project that can be done well in advance. And choose something that isn’t critical to the wedding. That way stress is eliminated. Never choose something that has to be done at the last minute – that defeats the purpose of having me!
The thing to take away from this post is that as a wedding planner, I want my bride to be relaxed. It’s my job to make sure your special day is perfect. Of course it’s my wish for you to be happy, and if you are really sold on a certain DIY, there’s no reason why we can’t make it happen. But it’s just as easy to let me make things happen for you. Remember, a wedding planner’s purpose is to make your life easier. Whether you DIY or not, I’m going to work to make your wedding exactly how you always envisioned it.
Check out our gallery and all social media outlets to see weddings designed by Poppy Belle Design. Contact us here to make sure your special day is perfect!