Although a relatively new concept in Sri Lanka, DIY weddings are slowly but surely gaining in popularity. Here are some things to think about before embarking on DIY projects for your wedding.

Written by Rihaab Mowlana

While its biggest advantage is usually economic viability, DIY projects allow couples to put a personal stamp that truly reflects their taste and style on many elements of their wedding. 

Nevertheless, DIY is also quite a bit of work. 

Here’s all the stuff you need to know if you're planning a DIY wedding.

Things to keep in mind

• Sri Lankan weddings are usually done in a much larger scale compared to our western counterparts. If you are having a large wedding, DIY projects will not be feasible.
   
• It is easy to underestimate how long DIY projects might take. Try to work on something you can do weeks or months in advance to avoid last minute hassles.
   
• Ensure materials / products you will use are easily available and/or accessible. Always have back up.
   
• Is the wedding being held in a location that is more than 30 minutes from home? Any more than that and you will be incurring a risk of things getting left behind at home, among many of the other issues that will invariably creep up on you. 
   
• Can your DIY projects be delivered effectively without any issues to the location? Is it something that is easy to pack? And would the contents of the package survive falls?
   
• Is it cost effective? Will you be spending much more than you would if you were getting your table decor done by professionals? In which case a DIY won’t make sense - time wise and effort spent. Budgeting would be a great idea.
   
• Is your DIY project(s) realistic and over ambitious? Are you planning on making 25 centrepieces that require a lot of work in a matter of days with a limited or nonexistent workforce? Know your limits and play to your strengths.
   
• Most importantly: Weddings are very stressful. Make sure you don't bite off more than you can chew.

“Personally, I simply love weddings! So obviously I put in months (years!!) of planning to ensure my big day was just the way I dreamed it. I've always been a fan of DIY projects because it also allows you to add that TLC factor to your wedding and it allows you to sometimes do cool/simple stuff that you would otherwise end up outsourcing and spending unnecessarily on when you can just do it yourself! It's also a great way of helping you to feel involved in your own big day without parents and vendors taking over everything. 

I ended up designing most things for my wedding i.e: from the Monogram we used as the theme of our wedding to designing the wedding invitations, to writing out all the invitations, to personalising thank you cards,  to gift wrapping wedding favours,  to even little things like hand making photo props we used at our pre-wedding shoot! It was loads of fun but DIY projects are not for everyone, especially because weddings are so incredibly stressful as it is.... you don't need anything else to worry about! 

Today, as a wedding planner, I always encourage my brides to at least pick one thing they would like to get done themselves (with my help of course).  And of course the key to pulling off successful DIY wedding projects is to be organised and get started as early as possible to avoid major bridezilla meltdowns!”

Melissa, Owner - Magical Weddings & Events 

Things you can DIY

Invitations

Save the dates and invitations are the first glimpse people get into your wedding’s theme, and so DIY invites can be incredibly personal, not to mention cost effective. Whether you're assembling them yourselves or have decided to design it and print, the options are wide and allows for your personalities to shine through.

Also - place cards, cake boxes etc.

Dance lessons

A lot of couples dish out a lot of dough on dance lessons. But why do so when you can easily do it yourself? Most couples end up looking uncomfortable and awkward waltzing to strictly choreographed numbers. Who says it has to be so? Gather your bridal party and come up with something that embodies your personalities and you can bet the end result would be perfect - be it wacky moves or the more traditional ones to go with your perfect song/s. 

Non-traditional bouquets

Traditional bouquets cannot be made in advance because there's only so long flowers will stay fresh (unless you're using artificial ones). Nevertheless, more and more people are personalising their bouquets and ditching the flowers. Instead, they're using anything from seashells to buttons to feathers and everything in between. Just keep in mind though, depending on the materials you're using, tossing the bouquet might not be the best idea!

Decor

There's no question that decor is an area that requires a lot of forethought and planning. You need to be realistic about what you can and cannot do. Thankfully, us Sri Lankans are blessed with family and friends who will find time and rally to help out. Some florists, for instance, charge exorbitant rates for centrepieces and other decor. So if you DIY, you will definitely save a lot of money. All it takes is a little creativity or inspiration from the plethora of wedding websites and magazines available to create something meaningful.

Drinks

Why go for expensive champagne when you can have personalised cocktails and mocktails created by and named after the two of you? Not only will the process of experimenting with and creating the perfect drink that personifies who you are be a lot of fun, but it would also be much cheaper and give guests something to talk about long after the wedding!

DIY grey areas

Makeup

This is quite honestly a grey area in terms of DIY projects, and depends solely on your expertise. If you're confident enough, you could do your own makeup at your wedding. Many brides have done so before and been satisfied. You can have a trial or two in the presence of your bridal party, and take some photos to see how you look. But this is one thing you will have to rethink several times and weigh the pros and cons before committing to it. 

Dress/sari

You may decide to repurpose your mother's or grandmother's wedding outfit, or create a new one, but unless you're a seamstress, we suggest you leave the dress to the professionals. Irrespective of the outfit being designed and created from scratch, or an old one being modified, leaving it to the professionals will ensure that no unwarranted mishaps occur. 

Entertainment

Leaving the entertainment to a family member or friend has a lot of disadvantages. Their music selection might be limited to a specific genre from a specific time, they may get distracted or sidetracked, the iPod might not work, ditto equipment. Hiring a professional will ensure that the atmosphere of the event is exactly what you want it to be. They will be able to read the vibe of the crowd and cater to them accordingly. So if you're using someone you know, it's always better to have back up. Just in case.

Things you should leave to the professionals

Planning/ coordinating

The last thing on your mind on the day of the wedding should be the planning and coordinating. In fact, it should be the day you sit back, enjoy and take in (things that would be impossible if you were trying to multitask on the day of). So no matter how hands-on you have been throughout the wedding planning process, on the day of the wedding, you should probably leave the planning and coordinating to professionals or a trusted family member. 

Photography

Lately, every Tom Dick & Harry with a professional camera calls themselves a photographer. Yes, some of them are quite good, but wedding photography and, say, nature photography are entirely different things. Unlike a professional, your talented photographer cousin might find themselves socialising and missing important moments. A professional wedding photographer on the other hand will be focused on you, and will be the most knowledgeable about the angles and lighting. Besides, a photo album is forever, and is definitely a worthy investment.

Hair

Doing your own hair is always trickier than doing your own makeup, especially if you're planning on something more elaborate than just letting your hair down. The last thing you need on your wedding is a bad hair day, so letting a professional work on your hair while you sit back and relax will also help calm your nerves.