DIY regrets or patting yourself on the back?

Outside

I pat myself on the back. I was thrilled with the way my day turned out!

If you have the time and patience? Go for it. But if you know you aren't a creative person, buy on Etsy. You still get the cute homemade creative look but no time or materials wasted

My DIY bouquets/ coursages and boutonnières turned out great! My DIY wine bottle decorations did not. They're in the recycling bin.

I wish I had bought off Etsy for the things I DIYed or wanted to DIY. I'm a crafty person but I ended up spending a lot on things I wanted to DIY and then never got to actually doing it so I have all these craft supplies that I don't know what to do with now. The things I did DIY didn't really turn out as well as I had hoped, unfortunately. Many times (though not always) it ends up being just as expensive as purchasing it ready-made and 10x more time consuming. You really have to be serious about devoting time to any DIY projects and have patience to get it right. If you don't have a lot of time and/or aren't already skilled in crafting I would just purchase what you need instead! Saves you the headache!

I was a heavy DYI girl. I had same major fails to and either restarted or just bought what I was trying to make. I was able to make or make changes to our aisle runner, jumping broom, guest book, my bouquet and the BM bouquet, throwing bouquet, all of the boutonnieres for the guys, the cake stand (I restarted this like 7 times), Our hourglass for the sand ceremony, The arch way for the ceremony. Its alot more but I really cant remember.

If you know your not "crafty" I wouldn't try to make a lot of stuff. Keep it simple the rest you could buy.

The most important thing to do before a DIY project is price out material cost and compare it to the cost of the final item. Then you figure in amount of labor and time. Most people don't do this and end up spending as much or more as buying something and it wastes so much of their time. Time is money, so you are technically almost always losing money on DIY.

However, I am very crafty and took on a few things after doing the math. I also enjoy doing crafty things while watching tv so don't consider it that much of a timesuck. I'm making direction, bar, guest book, and menu signs because black foam board from the dollartree is super cheap. Just have to buy tracing paper and a gold paint pen.

Had totally planned on one DIY: making silver star magnets as favors. Buy magnets and silver stars and hot glue gun the mofos together. Boom, done.

Check: none of the craft stores nor Amazon had silver stars.

Thought about spray painting wooden stars, but...looked like a PreK project.

A friend tried to talk me into renting a kiln and making ceramic ones.

Oh, hell, no.

Etsy FTW: got them from a vendor in the U.K. for less than the clay would have cost.

I admire crafty people, I wish I were crafty. But I know my (very small) limits!

Sometimes making it yourself can be just as expensive as having it made but in my case I am such a controlling person that making it myself gave me a sense of control and calm. I actually enjoyed making my centerpieces and my bouquets, very relaxing and therapeutic for me. HEY...the flowers don't talk back..

I'm knitting roses for my bouquet. I'm having a small wedding so I'm thinking that a dozen roses should be enough for my bouquet, my MOH, and small ones for the guys' jackets. I was planning to do some for centerpieces but I think I'll just stick with my bouquets. I do plan to get blank corn hole boards and my dad and fiance are going to help me paint them (we're having a football themed wedding/tail gate party). Mom is going to help me with corn/corn husk centerpieces. I would DIY everything but I'd go crazy. Everything else I'm ordering off Etsy or getting from Hobby Lobby. They have a surprisingly nice wedding isle.

I did most of my signs by myself and I think they turned out good. I also made shotshell boutonnieres , a z, and a memorial frame

I did most of my signs by myself and I think they turned out good. I also made shotshell boutonnieres , a z, and a memorial frame

My only regret is how long it's taking. Lol

I thought I would DIY a lot of stuff. I think I'll somewhat DIY a seating chart, but other than that I'm not doing anything. For one, I think a lot of DIY stuff looks really DIY and I don't want that look. Second, the amount of money/time/effort it would take to get the supplies and create the items isn't worth it.

Pat on the back.. though I spend SO much time on all of it. Can't wait to see it all come together.

Yeah it does take time. I was pretty much exhausted last night when I was done with my last flower, but I love looking at them and cannot wait until I can put everything together for the big day!!!

I am not a crafty person but so many of my friends are and have offered to help! Buying what is more expensive to make than buy and the friends are coming to our rescue!

Currently working on easles and signs today. Made them last night. Staining today. Hopefully finishing the signs tomorrow!

More signs drying in the sweltering sun.

I think my DIY was a Big undertaking but...it all turned out beautifully.