06/18/2026
One of the biggest wedding myths is that DIY automatically saves money. Sometimes it does. Often it doesn't. What many couples don't realize is that the cost isn't just the supplies. It's the time. It's the setup. It's the transportation. It's the storage. It's the cleanup. It's figuring out who is actually going to assemble, place, style, move, and remove everything on the wedding day. Most DIY couples do not feel a planner is worth the money. But, those same couples choose venues that do not have the staff to support the extensive set up. And, even those who do have an “in house coordinator”. Most do not set up. There is also the limitation of how much time there is to set up before the wedding. Finally, you can not be getting dressed and having photos taken if you are setting up your own wedding. I see this every day on social media- couples asking for help setting up and breaking down.
I recently worked with a bride who purchased a large amount of décor online because it seemed like a budget-friendly option. When we arrived to set up, the trees she had purchased wouldn't stay upright because they weren't properly balanced. There weren't enough decorative elements to complete the design. Pieces were missing. Nothing was organized. What looked simple online became a complicated puzzle on the wedding day. Fortunately, we made it work. The room looked beautiful. The bride was thrilled. But what she didn't see were the hours of problem-solving, adjustments, and experience required to make it happen. DIY isn't just about what something costs. It's about what it takes to execute it successfully. The question isn't whether you can buy it cheaper. The question is whether you can deliver the result you envision when the wedding day arrives.
Before you decide to buy it all, make it all and wish and hope for someone willing to set it all up. Consider the cost of that person who will set it up and take it down, the cost of having to iron those Amazon tablecloths, washing them after and trying to resell them for less than you paid for them. Consider the time involved in finding all those DIY components, making all of those DIY components after working all day and living your life. Consider whether you are really able to create those centerpieces, signage, etc. Weddings are time consuming, even without DIY. Do you have the time and the patience to do it all yourself?
