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Everyone wants to save money. With Martha Stewart like images on Pinterest and the magnitude of online tutorials t’s no surprise that brides may want to go at it alone. What could go wrong, right? Well, unfortunately lots could go wrong..... very wrong....at the last minute costing brides money, time & their sanity. Here is my top list of 6 things that should never be a DIY project for your big day!
1. The Flowers Yes, we know that it seems easy to just order your flowers from a large discount store. How hard could it be to just grab a vase and put a bunch of flowers in it? Sounds easy, doesn’t it? But while this seems simple enough it turns out there is a real art to making sure that your bouquet flowers don’t die or fall out of your bouquet before you walk down the aisle or that your centerpieces do not start to droop before the end of the night. (You don’t want to be the bride that discovers her flowers have died before they were even put together). In additional floral designers know which flowers are seasonal & what flowers can be used to fit in your budget. In the end, once you have purchased the laundry list of things that you would need to make your own centerpieces, bouquets and boutonnieres along with the time, stress and energy spent creating your own wedding flowers, you could have easily found a professional florist that would do it all for you within your budget
2. The Cake There are numerous tutorials on the internet demonstrating how easy it is to bake your own wedding cake Many people also have a friend that is a really good baker and would be willing to make your wedding cake or cupcakes at little to no cost. Wedding Cakes are an art form. It takes years of study to learn how to put together a tiered cake that will taste as good as it looks. Even the most experienced bakers will tell you horror stories of cakes that have "fallen" , got decimated during transport or even last minute jobs that they accepted after receiving a panicked call from a "baker friend" that bit off more than they can chew.
3. The Hair and Make-up Even if you are a make-up artist or hair stylist, it is probably not a good idea to take on those tasks yourself the day of your wedding. When you wake up the morning of your wedding day, you don’t want to have to worry about a “bad hair day,” or worse, a “bad skin day”. This is a day you need to relax and be taken care of! Also makeup & hair for photography & day to day makeup is completely different. For example, using the wrong type of foundation can result in white patches on the skin in a picture. It is important to find a hair & makeup artist who can balance both in person makeup/ hair & photography.
4. The Photography
It is true that cameras have come a long way and it seems like everyone who has a camera these days will want to be your photographer. But I would urge you to reconsider! A wedding with a hundred or more guests is not the time to risk allowing a friend or relative that takes great snapshots to be responsible for capturing one of the most important events of your life. In addition, most photography enthusiasts do not understand the flow of the big day & may miss important moments that a skilled wedding photographer will not miss. This is the largest tangible memory that you will take away from your wedding, and you want to make sure that a professional captures the day perfectly.
5. The DJ or Wedding Band Working on a budget is smart, but before you try to cut corners on the music, remember that the DJ or Wedding Band plays a role in almost every facet of the reception. From providing background music to making announcements …the DJ is involved the entire day. An "inexperienced" family friend playing DJ or an itunes playlist will not know how to conduct a wedding. From Announcing the Bridal Party to Special Dances and Ceremony Music....a seasoned professional will know when to cue the music & make sure you have a spectacular day!
6. The Wedding Planner & Wedding Coordinator
There are a ton of little details that make up a wedding. From centerpieces to all the day of logistics wedding coordinators/planners are a must. While it may feel like a splurge to have help with your wedding please remember that most weddings cost upward of $25,000. Most people do not have experience in planning or coordinating a party of this magnitude & the last thing you want to do it be running around learning about how to run a wedding during your actual wedding or end up making very costly mistakes along the way. A seasoned wedding planner/coordinator wi.l make sure all the details are handled. We know who the best vendors are in your price range and can save you money in the long haul.
Please consider giving us a call if you need any assistance!