Look, we need to address the elephant in the reception hall: weddings have gotten totally out of hand. Somewhere between “I do” and Instagram, we lost sight of the plot. The typical wedding now costs almost as much as a good car, and frankly? Half of it ends up being stuff nobody remembers anyway.
But here’s the thing – your wedding can be stunning, memorable, and totally YOU without requiring you to remortgage your future or cry into a glue gun at 2am for six months straight. Let’s get into the DIY ideas that actually work. And trust us, these actually doable and budget-friendly ideas!
Begin Where It Actually Counts (Spoiler: It Isn’t Chair Covers)
Before you go spiraling into Pinterest hell, take a deep breath. What people remember about weddings is:
💍 Was it fun?
💍 How was the food?
💍 How you gazed at each other during vows. That’s pretty much it.
So if you’re going DIY, focus your energy there. Skip the hand-calligraphed place cards (nobody cares) and invest that time into things that create actual moments.
The Ring Reality Check
Let’s address the engagement ring situation because this is where a lot of couples blow their budget before they even start planning. Here’s some truth: a lab-grown diamond engagement ring looks identical to a mined diamond because, wait for it… it IS a real diamond. Same carbon structure, same sparkle, but about 40% less money.
Or go rogue with a Moissanite ring – these things have more fire and brilliance than diamonds, cost a fraction of the price, and are so durable you could probably use one to cut glass (please don’t). Plus, telling people “it’s Moissanite” is a great conversation starter about how you’re spending money on your actual life together instead of marketing hype.
The money you save here? That’s your honeymoon fund. Or your house deposit. Or 200 tacos for your reception because tacos are always the right answer.
DIY Wins That Won’t Destroy Your Sanity
Flowers from a Wholesaler + YouTube Tutorials = Magic
Hit up a flower market or wholesaler 2-3 days before your wedding. Grab buckets of seasonal blooms and some floral foam. There are thousands of YouTube tutorials showing you how to make bouquets and centrepieces that look expensive. The secret? Greenery. Loads of it. It’s cheap, it’s lush, and it makes even basic flowers look editorial.
Your Friend’s Backyard
Venue costs are what make most couples weep. But someone you know has a gorgeous garden, a barn, a cool loft, or a backyard with potential. Offer to handle clean-up, get proper insurance, and boom – you just saved £15,000. String lights fix everything, by the way. It’s basically wedding magic.
The Playlist
Unless you desperately need someone to hype up the Electric Slide, a carefully curated Spotify playlist and some decent speakers will do the job. Get your most opinionated music-snob friend to help you. Tell them the budget for speaker rental. Done.
Food Trucks or Family-Style Catering
Who wants another plated dinner anyway? Food trucks are trendy, instagrammable and often less expensive. Or opt for family-style serving – large platters of food on tables that people share. People feel less stuffy, they talk more and it feels more like a real party than a corporate dinner.
What’s Actually Worth Paying For
Here’s where you DON’T DIY:
Photography
You can’t redo this day. A good photographer is worth every penny.
Someone to Coordinate
Even if you’re doing a DIY wedding or can’t afford a full-service wedding planner, having someone who is in charge on the actual day so you can avoid wrangling vendors while also trying to get married will be priceless.
Good Food
You can get away with a lot but you cannot serve poison.
The best DIY weddings are those in which you stop pursuing perfection and start chasing joy. So make what matters, skip what doesn’t and remember: Your wedding should be the start of your marriage, not the thing that almost ends it before you begin. DIY smart, not hard.
About the Author
Harshita Ameriya is an experienced gemstone jewellery writer with a B.A. in Gems & Jewellery Design and a Graduate Gemology certification. Her expertise in gemology enables her to deliver insightful, accurate content on fine jewellery, from gemstone engagement rings to lab-created diamonds.