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Stop Whining!

I just read a post on another bride site with the words something like DO NOT DIY.  I will not give the exact title or website as a professional courtesy to them.

Complaints ranged from no time to I do not have a crafty bone in my body. Sniff, sniff get me a handkerchief.

Allow me to address some of the common reasons brides give for not doing any DIY.

• Lack of time.   When you wait til the last two weeks before the wedding and think you can get it all done what do you expect?  I wrote a post a few weeks ago that bears rereading here.  It deals with time management and reducing stress.  Ladies you forget.  I have seen you spend all day at the local mall trying to find the right shoes for a dress (and not your wedding dress either).  Or how many hours was it on face book and the computer last night?
• I do not have a crafty bone in my body.  Most of the DIY projects we have listed here come complete with instructions and have been chosen based on being doable by non crafters and costs.
• Lots of leftover supplies.  FYI most of the projects come complete with a supply list.  Sell left over supplies on one of the bride sites and help other brides.
• You do not like what you made.  This one is really simple.  Make a test one before you commit to 100 of them!!!!!  Let us say you have four favor containers you like.  Make just one of each of them.  What are we talking here?  A few pieces of card stock, glue?  This will allow you to view the final product and better still you will know how much time to allow for the project and cost.
• Lack of patience. Ladies be honest with yourself.  There is a reason you will never see an origami DIY project here.  So if your vision is a 1000 whooping  cranes flying through the air my hats off to you.   Let us not even talk DIY.  You have 100 wedding invitations to get together.  If patience is not a strong suit, break it down into manageable time frames.   Even if you purchased the invitations they still have to be assembled.  You heard me assembled.  Here is a good visual tutorial.   But wait!  Address those envelopes before you put anything inside them.  You can easily print them off on the computer or do fake calligraphy like here. Remember even if you pay someone to do calligraphy for you, you still have to write/type out the list.
• Lack of help. Who is it again that is getting married?  While moms are great helpers…  However, you are overlooking someone even more involved! You heard me, the groom.  There is not a reason on earth why the groom should not be involved in the process.  I am not suggesting getting the groom to help you pick out lace for the garter.   But why not have him assemble the invitations while you address them?Or already have them addressed so you can assemble together. ( Do a proof one he can look at as he does them.)  He is right there with you so you can make sure they are done right.  He could put stamps on them as well and seal them.   Make it a fun night.  Order a pizza put on some fun music AND while he is there to help, talk about songs for the reception, first dance etc while you do the invitations.  Just be sure to write the ideas down for later.

Make sure you have taken a completed invitation to the post office so you have enough postage on them.  Pick out the “cool” stamps to use while you are there.

In the end there is no right or wrong way to accessorize your wedding.  I hope I have shown you how to overcome the excuses and not  make your wedding a cookie cutter one.