DIY Your Wedding Favors But Not Centerpieces
DIY can save real money on your wedding, but only if you pick the right projects. The trick is choosing tasks that fit your schedule instead of ones that compete with it in the final week.
Why favors work as DIY
Favors are small, repeatable, and forgiving. You can batch 100 jar candles, bundled seed packets, or printed matchboxes over several weekends starting 2-3 months out, and a few uneven ones won't be noticeable at the reception. Because they don't depend on same-day freshness, you can finish and store them weeks before the wedding, freeing up your final week entirely.
Why centerpieces backfire
Fresh flowers wilt fast, so centerpieces usually have to be assembled the day before or morning of, right when you're also handling seating charts, vendor calls, and rehearsal logistics. A 10-table wedding can eat 6-8 hours of cutting, arranging, and transporting, hours you likely don't have. Hiring a florist for just centerpieces, while DIYing bouquets or boutonnieres, is a common middle ground.
Sort tasks by timing
Before committing to any DIY project, ask when it must be finished. If it can be done weeks ahead and stored, it's a safe DIY candidate. If it must happen within 24-48 hours of the ceremony, outsource it or recruit a dedicated helper who isn't part of the wedding party.
Key Takeaways
- Start DIY favors 2-3 months before the wedding to spread out the work
- Skip DIY centerpieces if they require fresh flowers assembled the day before
- Split the difference: DIY bouquets or boutonnieres, outsource table florals
- Ask 'when must this be finished' before taking on any DIY project
- Reserve wedding week for logistics, not for last-minute crafting
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Source: www.theknot.com