Get Crafty
There was a time when a wedding was an extremely intimate affair, but in recent years weddings have become very public and more of a show. What should be the focal point of the wedding — the joining of two people in love — has been overshadowed by the emphasis on the wealth of the families who are throwing the celebration.
The Crafty Couple
Many of today's couples combine both private and public elements by customizing their ceremonies with personalized vows and special music and by getting friends and family members involved. They also add a bit of glamour with extravagant centerpieces and breathtaking flowers. Some couples combine these elements in creative ways by embracing their wedding day as truly theirs and hand-making many elements, from décor to favors.
Be careful not to spend too much time and money on a project. In some instances it may be easier and a lot cheaper just to buy something or pay someone else to do it. You are already very busy; don't stretch yourself too thin by taking on too many tasks that could easily be handed over to someone else.
Green couples really seem to be in touch with the DIY wedding by planting flowers or growing fresh herbs in pots to give away as favors, or by making handmade paper for their invitations.
Making beautiful handcrafted elements for your wedding as a couple is a wonderful way to bond and spend quality time together while planning your big day. It is also a great way to relax and de-stress in the midst of planning a large event. Chances are you are extremely busy, hustling around between appointments, fittings, and normal day-to-day living. Crafting is a way to slow down and concentrate on absolutely nothing but the task at hand.
You can make almost anything and everything for your wedding: announcements, invitations, guest books, centerpieces, favors, flowers, and other décor. If you or your fiancé are skilled craftsmen or woodworkers you may even make larger items such as an arbor, trellis, or huppah.
The Sky's the Limit
You can find inspiration in many locations. There are books and websites devoted entirely to DIY weddings such as www.do-it-yourself-weddings.com and www.diybride.com. DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com) also has a bridal section on its website. Michaels has a page devoted to weddings (www.michaels.com/weddings) that's full of creative ideas and supplies for making your own wedding invitations, pew bows, stenciled aisle runners, favors, and even your own veil and tiara.
The DIY Bride: 40 Fun Projects for Your One-of-a-Kind Wedding by Khris Cochran (the founder of www.diybride.com) is a fabulous resource with really unique and craftsy projects. Some top choices are the ribbon-bound guest book, the split bamboo centerpieces, the cupcake tower, the rhinestone monogram cake topper, the faux metal pew cones, and the vintage necklace tiara. Those are just a few of the very chic DIY bridal projects in this book. Some projects are already green; some can be made green with just a few adjustments, such as making sure all the paper and card stock is made from recycled or tree-free fibers.
