Creative Ideas to Personalize You Wedding Day

These days everyone’s trying to save on wedding costs. One popular idea for budget-cutters is to make Do-It-Yourself Decorations. If you have the time, and creative bent, DIY is a great way to go. To make sure you don’t end up hiring someone to FIFY (Finish It for You), read on for self-starter tips.

Before you head out to buy items for your handmade centerpieces, a word to the wise: “Make sure you have someone to put out items on the day of your wedding,” says Danielle Bobish of Curtain Up Events in New York City. “If you don’t have a planner, someone you trust has to be there to set up, and to take care of last-minute emergencies.”

While it’s not advisable to create anything too complicated—like your own bouquet—there are many creative options for ambitious couples. Some of the most popular include decorating Gift Card Tables or Escort Card Tables.

You can purchase orchids, feathers, anything you like, says Bobish, and save a nice chunk of change on labor costs. “Candles are a wonderful way to decorate,” adds Bobish. “They’re inexpensive and always elegant.”

Another clever idea is to gather photos of friends and family and place them next to the guestbook or on separate tables. It’s a great conversation-starter, and it shows your loved ones that you’re thinking about them too.

Many couples who are having an outdoor ceremony make their own pew decorations, which can range from petals (real or silk) stored in cones, to parasols lining the aisle. Says Bobish, “If your ceremony is in a church or indoor venue, ask ahead of time about what’s allowed.” For more formal church ceremonies, you can purchase plastic pew tips, then place ribbon bouquets or silk flowers without taping or nailing anything into the pew.

One of the most popular DIY items is centerpieces, and, in addition to candles, Bobish knows couples who’ve used fruits, coffee beans—“the aroma is wonderful”—and simple flowers. The only precaution when making your own centerpieces, like every other wedding element, is to be sure you’ve scheduled enough time to finish the project.

Should you try your hand at any of the above ideas, or come up with a few of your own, there’s a good chance you’ll shave off a couple of thousand dollars at your wedding. Another plus: Your day will be even more personal.

-David Toussaint

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