Do It Yourself or Doing Yourself In?

EWedNews.com recently printed an article entitled: "Do It Yourself or Doing Yourself In?" The article talks about the current DIY trend that many brides have adopted due to dwindling budgets. The editor, although agreeing that doing it yourself projects can sometimes save money, might not always be worth the effort. Here is the introduction to the article, as well as my response to the post:

Do It Yourself or Doing Yourself In?

By Paul Pannone

Questions are being raised, whether napkin holders made from spent toilet tissue rolls offer the same personal touch to wedding affairs; or if what was originally deemed cute may have crossed the line, over to tacky. Are things really that bad that a few dollars spent to retain the services of a professional won’t maintain your standard of living? Probably not but it may avert the risk of people talking negatively about you for decades.

My response to the article:
Knowing the need to always be changing my services with the times, I now offer brides a "DIY Planning Package." This package does not advocate the ridiculous projects mentioned in the above article, but gives an alternative to creative brides who have enough time on their hands to execute planning their own event. My DIY (Getting Started) Package includes a budget template, (with realistic estimates of what they should be prepared to spend on each area of their wedding,) as well as a list of my preferred vendors, and some suggestions on exactly what portions of their wedding decor, etc, they can do on their own. For example, I offer brides use of my wholesale account with a local floral warehouse, to go and hand pick blooms that they might put in a bud vase to decorate their cocktail tables. I do, however, caution that they will need to contract a professional florist to create more complicated arrangements, such as their bouquets. DIY brides might save money, contracting this package, but they will not receive the hand holding, unlimited consultation hours and attendance at vendor meetings/other major appointments, as included in my Total Event Planning Package. This type of bride needs to be aware that they will need to be able to invest more of their own time to research, in detail, the best products and services for their individual needs. Additionally, the "Print Your Own Invitation Kit" at Target might amount to a cheaper, per piece price; but add in what your time is worth to buy ink, find the appropriate template and wording, making sure paper is centered in your printer, and assemble each piece on your own and then decide whether the headache is worth it. Plus, unless you have your own letterpress at home, the difference in the quality of professionally printed at DIY stationary, is quite noticeable. In sum, there are some smart DIY ideas, (and ways to personalize your event,) but each bride needs to weigh the pros and cons of these projects, the effects on their time and levels of stress.