50 Times People Decided To Make Something For Their Wedding Themselves Instead Of Buying It And Proudly Shared The Results
As any soon-to-be-married couple knows, there's a lot that goes into planning a wedding. It’s a stressful venture that includes the preparation of countless details before saying "I do," from figuring out the guest list to finding the perfect dress to creating beautiful décor. When it comes to the latter, many design-savvy and frugal couples opt for the handcrafted decoration route to add a personal touch to the occasion and save a few bucks along the way.
But for most of us who haven't picked up a glue gun or a paintbrush after our school years, this adventure can swiftly turn from satisfying to daunting. So in a bid to settle your nerves, we introduce you to one enlightening corner of Reddit known as 'DIY Weddings'. The moderator invites community members to share their tips and tricks with the whole group, no matter if "you are on a budget or are just a craftaholic." And boy, do they deliver!
We at Bored Panda have gathered some of our favorite posts from the group to give you a dose of inspiring ideas to easily and elegantly pursue for the big day. So continue scrolling to admire the handiwork, be sure to upvote your favorite creations, and then let us know your own suggestions for the perfect handmade decorations in the comments!
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I Made Myself Embroidered Bridal Sneakers That Match My Bouquet!
How did you do that?? They're stunning - people would pay BUG BUCKS for those sneakers!! Bravo - absolutely gorgeous. And I'll bet they didn't cost much either!!
This should be higher up on this list (I am WELL AWARE they are first on the list!)!
"Green Confetti" In More Ways Than One
This is fantastic in so many ways: you can use them in nature without polluting, it doesn't waste paper/plastic/other resources, a lot of people are gonna really like them because they're so unique and such a fun idea, and they look sooooo beautiful with all those nerves, that is such a cool pattern, where each one is completely different.
I went to a wedding where they made us throw confetti and then we had to clean it up immediately because the church was having an event the next day. 🙄 And it was windy so the confetti kept blowing around as we tried to sweep it.
I Started Making Crepe Paper Flowers A Few Weeks Ago And I Think I Might Be Making All The Flowers For My Wedding Next August!
I'm desperately looking for an artsy hobby and think I found something to try out!
I too am looking for an artsy hobby, and this might be one I could actually afford. LOL 👍😃
Load More Replies...A friend made crepe paper flowers for our wedding, and they turned out fabulous! Highly recommend. Yours are absolutely stunning!
If your that talented and have the time on your hands I say go for it.
You have such a talent - there are lots of brides who would love someone to do a bouquet for their wedding.
Ever since the 'DIY Weddings' online group graced Reddit in 2013, it has grown into a refreshing outlet. It's the perfect place for craft aficionados and beginners hoping to save some expenses from their budget to find inspiration, share tips, and be let in on some tricks that ensure decorations look stunning. Maybe it's not the biggest subreddit, but its nearly 25k members provide a steady stream of content that’s, more often than not, created with their own effort.
The community members mainly focus on easy-to-do projects that can be quickly achieved and look visually appealing. From beautiful accessories to beautiful elements that make the celebration look put together, the forum has something for every taste.
My Sister Folded 1000 Paper Cranes For Our Arbour
I think there's a belief in Japanese (?) culture that if you fold 1000 paper cranes and make a wish, it will come true.
Load More Replies...Absolutely. She might hate paper-cranes now, though ;-)
Load More Replies...😢 How beautiful. Is this what it’s like to have a sibling who actually cares about you? Mine is my lifelong abuser (I’m 40 and we still both live at home.. long story.) I wish I knew how a kind gesture/love felt coming from a sibling.
Your real family are the people who love you. I don’t have a sister & always wanted one- I would love to be your sis 💋
Load More Replies...In middle school I made a few hundred paper cranes. My mom gave me a large garbage bag to corral them in. My dad went downstairs saw the bag and thought, “Why did someone put a bag of garbage in the basement?” and threw them away. 20 years on and I’m still semi-destraught. 🤣
Beautiful and amazing! Unfortunately the sister now suffers from crippling carpal tunnel.
My Dad Passed Away In 2015. He Was Able To “Walk” Me Down The Aisle Because I Used His Favorite Shirt As A Cover For Our Ring Cushion
So much more classy than me. My dad ‘walked me down the aisle’ because the champagne he left from the year I was born was in my tummy and his speech to be read by my groom was tucked in my garter 😂🙈
My dad had an accident when I was 18 that left him disabled, with a catastrophic brain injury… we took care of him at home for 21 years; he died last year. I wish I’d been able to do something like this… what a beautiful idea. Though I’m 40 now and not exactly anywhere near getting married XD I do have my dad’s ashes (my mom didn’t want them, and she won’t let me tell our family/friends/people irl that he’s dead) so I DO always have him near me, at least :)
I’m so sorry that your mother wants you to keep his death a secret, that’s awful! I’m sure she’s dealing with her own issues but you deserve to have the full support of everyone in your life and they can’t support you if they don’t know. Hugs ❤️
Load More Replies...Hair Trial Finished- My DIY Hairpiece Was A Success
As someone who has very curly, frizzy, unruly hair, I am jealous of OP’s gorgeous hair! XD
We've heard a million times that weddings can be incredibly special, but planning them is a stressful venture for any soon-to-be-married couple. In this equally exciting and chaotic journey, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But allow me to let you in on one little secret: there’s no such thing as a perfect wedding! All nuptials encounter plenty of ups and downs, twists and turns, and inevitable disasters, both big and small. Whether it’s a mistake in planning or an unexpected situation caused by a guest who simply had one drink too many, there’s bound to be some drama.
We Did It! Officially Married Today! Made My Dress And Had A Friends Cousin Do My Hair. It Was Perfect
They both look so cute 🧡 I love this instead of a white dress!
Load More Replies...Pretty dress and couple. You just know this couple will have fun life together.
Why does the dude look like a dapper AJ from random encounters on youtube? I'm not complaining, he just looks awesome.
Really Proud Of My Self-Made Wedding Dress For Our Legal Wedding!
Curious about two questions : (1) What did you wear at the illegal wedding? (2) And did you and the groom leave the illegal wedding in a get-away limo?
when they mentioned specifically legal, my first thought was that they were LGBTQ+ and couldn't *legally* get married, and maybe had a "fake" wedding before. This is also me assuming all of this lol
Load More Replies...Can't Get Over How Lovely My Crown Turned Out. And Yes, It Is Made Of Zip Ties
I would have never guessed zip ties!! It looks like it should be heavy. But no headache. Beautiful
Ooh i did the same thing (different pattern) for a school activity. Plenty of people had fun taking pictures
However, the reality is that weddings aren’t cheap. According to online wedding publication The Knot, the average cost for a wedding in 2021 was about $28,000 ($34,000 including the engagement ring), roughly the same as in 2019. But in 2020, the cost was around $19,000 because the pandemic caused weddings to downsize.
"At the beginning of the pandemic, weddings came to a sudden halt (as did everything else!) and couples were forced to postpone, and some cancel, due to not being able to host their original guest count," Erica Estrada, San Francisco-based wedding planner, and designer, told Brides.
"It was an extremely sad and, quite frankly, stressful time for so many with many losing large amounts of money that had already been paid toward executing their wedding day."
My Sister Wanted Lit LED Table Numbers So I Put These Together For Her! The Bases As 3D Printed To Hide The Wires. My Daughter (Their Niece) Sketched The Bridge Where They Got Engaged And I Then Laser Engraved The Sketch Into Clear Acrylic So It Would Glow. Really Happy With How These Turned Out!
If they kept these. She could add a photo from each anniversary to them.
My DIY Wedding Dress! I Barely Know How To Work My Sewing Machine So I'm Pretty Happy It Actually Fits. Just Don't Look At The Seams Or Hem..or On The Inside
I learned from my grandma, if its look ugly as hell on the inside, that means it will be a beautiful dress on the outside~
I absolutely love this! You did a wonderful job! Love the fabric!
Well, it's gorgeous! No worries, most seams have a few surprises here and there. I sew, and I'm not sure I could do any better.
I Finished Crocheting My Bouquet!! I Am Over The Moon About It
Crochet is an amazing craft; if you can visualise it, it can be crocheted!
Same, my daughter is learning and I couldn't even cast off with tbe first knot.
Load More Replies...Absolutely beautiful... I've crocheted for over 50 years, and I'm very, very impressed. You have a real talent.
Umm no. They look like something you'd buy at the thrift store. Gimme a break.
As a result of those uncertain times, some vendors are raising their costs. "Flower farms lost acres and acres of product for the weddings that were not allowed, then causing an increase in florals to pay farmers and an increased demand of flowers once weddings began to resume," Estrada explained.
"Just like any other profession, most wedding vendors work in this industry full-time and having months with no weddings and the turn of the industry for the foreseeable future, price increases to make a living may be the only way many will be able to sustain during this time."
I Started Practicing For My DIY Wedding Cake :)
You know what they say, practice makes perfect and I'd say you're there. 😊😊
Some advice? Practice your decorating on foam pieces if your worried. That's ALOT of actual cake to eat while practicing. It's pretty though! I used to professionally do cakes btw.
My Mom Wanted Her Dream Californian Rustic Beach Wedding On A $100 Budget
My Fiancé And I Made This Cape Together! Please Excuse The Dirty Ass Kitchen
That is stunning I bet you like spectacular when you walk down the aisle
No wonder so many brides and grooms are seeking smarter and cheaper alternatives when it comes to their looks and decorations. But while these couples are taking matters into their own hands, there’s a lot to know about hosting the DIY wedding of your dreams.
Tackling the planning for your big day on your own takes a lot of work, time, and effort. Of course, all of this will be worthwhile when you walk down the aisle, but entering this chaotic arena will be easier if you’re aware of a few tips and tricks that can make the whole process much more manageable.
Photographed My Dogs For My DIY Table Numbers
Found on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYweddings/comments/e4itsu/you_guys_seemed_to_like_my_doggie_table_numbers/ AND https://imgur.io/a/HUYtc8V
Load More Replies...Can’t Wait To ‘Tie The Knot’ Under This Macrame I Finished Tonight!!
Gorgeous... and you'll have it forever as a memento... just lovely!
Our Original Invites vs. Our "Change The Dates" :)
Definitely. This really seems like the kind of couple we all want to be friends with.
Load More Replies...I made masks for three weddings in 2021. A challenge, but I enjoyed it
I'm glad you guys changed the date though. ALOT of people didn't and alot got very sick. Congrats btw
Start by creating a wedding mood board. According to a blog post on Junebug Weddings, "They help guide decisions and keep your holistic vision in mind while also visually describing your desires to your wedding team."
Moreover, they serve as an inspiration and become especially handy when DIYing items yourself. "Have you found a centerpiece that you want to recreate? What about a backdrop that you absolutely have to have? Tackling these items will be much easier when you have images to refer to."
Decided To Be My Own Florist With Mostly Ebay Flowers/Items, Using Thrift Shop Glasses As Vases For My Table Centrepieces
I helped a friend with her wedding, which was on a really tight budget. She found her vintage dress and all the vases for centerpieces at a thrift store and we went to Costco for the flowers. Her Aunt made the wedding cake (which was to DIE for!) and her sister & I did all the cooking, it was basically an appetizer buffet for 50 people. I had antique tablecloths and several different dishware patterns, her Mom & Aunt added their china and sterling silver to the mix as well. Nothing matched, but it totally looked intentional and was stunning.
Lovely, Romantic, SWEET color choices for your flowers. Your flower/item choices really give a 'Timeless' quality. Such a wonderful pairing with the wedding/love bonding ceremony.
I Posted A Few Months Ago While I Was Working On It... But Here’s The Finished Product Of My DIY Arch Florals. All Silks, Because We Got Married In Hot Weather. Really Happy With How It Turned Out!
I agree - and away from each other. Aren't you generally supposed to look a bit like you're in love with the person you're standing beside? LOL!
Load More Replies...Thank you so much to the gentleman for wearing beautiful shoes to make his entire look classy! I really hate it when men wear a tux or classy suit, all tailored to perfection, then finish the look with no socks and brown shoes or Converse or trainers! Remember that in your wedding album, you will look very awkward is 20 years or so. Then try to explain to your high school son why he is not going to wear his favorite "kicks" to a formal event. Just a pet peeve of mine, but understand many, many people have similar opinion.
Our DIY Tiny Wedding In The Redwoods
By far my favorite!! So simple, so pretty. The trees, the sky, even the dirt all looked lovely with the setup of flowers and arch. Just lovely!!
In a bid to keep your sanity intact, consider asking friends and family for help. "Your wedding party and family members are there to make your special day just that–special! Get together and make DIY projects fun with movies, snacks, and wine. This way, you’re crossing things off of your list quicker and making them more enjoyable for yourself."
Finally Married The Love Of My Life On 08.29.20! I Loved All The Compliments I Received On My DIY Veil, And Our Photographer Captured This Incredible Shot To Highlight It!
I adore this out of focus shot <3 It captures a more natural moment and the veil hitting the light is like a artwork of your life with each flower representing special moments you have had together and the adventures and life journeys ahead of you <3
You're absolutely correct! Her veil makes such a bold statement, while being a overall simple piece of art that she has crafted. It looks so delicate and beautiful blowing in the wind, and the wildflowers are so feminine. I love the fabric she used. I'd love to have a simple A- line dress made from it.
Load More Replies...This veil is what my overdress was for my wedding, excellent taste!
Wip Centerpiece For A Sunflower/Honey Bee Wedding! One Ring From A 12” Embroidery Hoop, Fake Flowers From Joann’s, And Some Scrap Wood I Had For The Base! Oh And Lots Of Hot Glue!
My Paper Dahlia Finally Looks Dahlia-Y! (Left: Attempt N-1)
You'd have to look closer than I'm able, I still would be able to tell without touching!
When it comes to decorations, handcrafted pieces can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. And they can be extremely satisfying to make! "Events are all about creating memorable experiences for yourself and your guests," Virginia Frischkorn, founder of Bluebird Productions, told AD It Yourself. "We love DIY’ing a few elements as the level of investment needed when you get your hands dirty creates really rich memories."
"A great DIY project can be the perfect special touch to bring yourself and your partner even more so into the fabric of the celebration," Alicia Fritz, founder of A Day in May Events based in Traverse City, Michigan, agreed with this line of thinking.
Couldn’t Be Happier With How Our DIY Sola Wood Flowers Turned Out For Our Wedding!
I've never heard of Sola Wood, so I had to look it up. What an awesome idea!
I wore that same mauve pink dress 2nd from left at my sister's wedding last year.
My New Husband And I Under Our Swingset- Turned Wedding Arch!
I hope so too, but I think it's Cheers
Load More Replies...DIY Cheese Wheel Wedding Cake Toppers (Wip)
We hope this list will inspire you to pick up a few tools, try out some of the projects featured in the list, and have a blast while you create something beautiful and feel an outpouring of love. We’d love to hear your thoughts about these examples. Which DIY projects were your favorite ones? Did any of them motivate you to craft something for yourself? Feel free to let us know all about it in the comments below!
This Is The Bouquet I Made With Mostly Michael's Flowers For My June 20th Elopement. :)
I made my bouquet from Michael's flowers too. (Eloped also) After our cruise ship set sail I realized I left the bouquets at home. Cruise ship reached out to a florist at our wedding locale. They had a bouquet of calla lillies waiting for me at the dock when we arrived in port.
I Did It!! My Box Of 250 Hand-Dyed And Painted Sola Flowers
From Google: "Sola flowers, or wood flowers, are made from – you guessed it – wood. But don't worry, they're not stiff and board-like. They're actually pliable and soft, and they make a wonderful substitute to traditional floral decor."
Load More Replies...We seem to have a blue/black dress thing happening as i see zero blue or gray. Just warm pinks golds and creams.
"Sola flowers, or wood flowers, are made from – you guessed it – wood. But don't worry, they're not stiff and board-like. They're actually pliable and soft, and they make a wonderful substitute to traditional floral decor." --Kel_how
Load More Replies...Diyed Our Elopement!
Oh wow! I'd love to have a piece of that cake. It looks phenomenal!
My Favorite Detail From Our 9/28 Wedding: I Made Embroidery Hoops For Favors And All Of Them Say A Variety Of Mean/Rude/Curse Words
These are beautiful! The curse word part is throwing me off but I’m guessing perfectly fits the couple’s vibe (in a good way). These seem very personal and funny. I like that some of the ‘curse words’ are OK, I GUESS, MAGIC, GOSH, YUCK, NOPE. So it seems like choices for all kinds of family members in there.
I Crocheted A Garter! I Thought My Eyes Were Going To Fall Out Of My Head 😂
Hope you don’t throw that to some man, it’s too beautiful & special!
Commenting to show appreciation for the hard work put into this beautiful crochet garter.
Tall DIY Floral Arrangements
This is a nifty idea, so the centerpiece doesn't block your view across the table.
In Love With The DIY Invitations My Artist Fiancé Created
Made Centerpieces For My Wedding With Flowers That I’ve Dried!
Knitted My Own Veil, Nearly 3 Months In The Making!
If she knitted it with lace-weight silk, merino wool, or alpaca, it should be incredibly lightweight. There's a popular tradition among knitters of making a "wedding ring" lace shawl for their wedding. It's a large shawl that's so light and scrunchable it can pass through a wedding ring.
Load More Replies...Beauty, and they can use it like a blanket after, seriously talking
While it's not my personal taste, it's so amazing!! Especially coming from someone (me) that hasn't the first clue of how to even begin knitting 😆. This has 'family heirloom' written all over it, and I mean that in the best way! Other comments about using it as a baby blanket/for christening/ etc etc- such wonderful ideas! Regardless of what the bride decides to do with it, I'm sure it will be a very special piece that's held dear! ☺️
I Crocheted These Cake "Toppers" For My Wedding A Couple Months Ago
I hate that movie. Lol it scares me. Hahahahaha
Load More Replies...This Might Be My Most Successful Wedding DIY To Date!
Hand Embroidering My Table Numbers To Hang In The Centerpieces! 3 Done, 17 To Go
Can someone explain why wedding tables have numbers? Is it a tradition to plan table sitting? It's not common in my country. Is there someone who take people to their designated table?
Typically yes, there is a specific seating arrangement for weddings. I'm assuming this post is an American wedding as they usually have seating arrangements. Guests either find their assigned seats themselves or escorts take them. Hope this helps :)
Load More Replies...Here Are The Diyed Elements From Our Wedding
I Baked My Own Wedding Cake! (Florist Did The Flowers To Jazz It Up) But Thrilled 😍
It looks great, but the only thing I would suggest is that you actually cover up the cake part with icing!
The "unfinished* look is very trendy right now. Kind of rustic looking, I think. I also think that it is beautiful and I'm sure it matches the style of the wedding.
Load More Replies...Love the drip but alot of the icing isn't covering the cake otherwise yall did amazing 😊
First Attempt At Making A Fresh Floral Bridal Bouquet, Any Suggestions For Improvement?
Yes hydrangeas dry out very quickly..try to get those vials for the ends if you haven't already
It looks very professional! My suggestion would be to test it by treating it like you will your bouquet - eg, refridgerate it overnight, carry it in a box in the car, have it out of water for several hours, toss it, etc, to make sure it's going to last the day, and if you need to make any changes.
I understand it is toxic. But as the Norwegian name is "brudeslør" ("bridal weil"), I think it is very neccesary to have those flowers in the bouquet... Who eats the bouquet and how hard is it to keep it away from the eaters?
Load More Replies...No upgrade or changes. Have a wonderful day and exciting future. Don’t forget to do some things spontaneously.
Ditch the baby's breath and use a greenery instead. Worked for a florist and her intense dislike of baby's breath rubbed off. Plus the green would break up all the white and look much nicer
Floral Arrangement For My Ceremony Fireplace - And How I Made It!
Didnt meant to hit send there.. we made all out centerpieces. They are flower arrangements made out of old book Paige's and cup cake rapper. Took us about a month to finish them all but it saved us a lot of money. And they smelled great
Load More Replies...Great job!! I wish I had the talent of all the folks on this thread! I can sew pillow cases, curtains and crochet a granny square blanket going around and around! My mom made my clothes, her own clothes, my wedding dress plus!! I just got the gene where you can make something in a rectangle or square. The best thing I've made was my son a bright orange and blue sesame street blanket (kind a basic very basic quilt) and a matching fringed pillow!!
Hmm...can’t Say That I Was Expecting To Sew Matching Face Masks And Pocket Squares For My Wedding... I Like How They Came Out Though!
First Attempt Making Sola Wood Flower Boutonnieres :)
DIY'd The Cover For My Wedding Planner And Could Not Be Happier 😍😍😍
I cannot upvote the gooses enough lol, even if it was just a wedding planner it's beautiful 🥹🥹
I think it just means, "Kiss the bride"
Load More Replies...My Dino Table Number Holders Turned Out Great!
Things to remember, it's your wedding, not your mother's
Load More Replies...I'm suddenly envisioning a Dinotopia-themed wedding and omG how gorgeous would that be?!
OMG! I am in love with your idea and we need to become best friends, please and thank you!
Here’s My Finished Bridal Bouquet That I Made Myself For Our 09/26/2020 Wedding
The rarest of all roses. What a huge flex to have on your island.
Load More Replies...Started With Our Centrepieces
Sam Gamgee, who was Frodo's companion, inherited the house that first belonged to Bilbo, who left it to Frodo, since Bilbo didn't have kids, and Frodo was his nephew. Frodo had no kids, and he left the home to Sam Gamgee and his family (he married Rosie Cotton, and they had a bunch of kids). So, the home that was first described in The Hobbit would be the home to the Gamgees.
Load More Replies...Finished These Bridesmaids' Hoop Boquets!
I Made My Own "Neon" Sign!
You can get clear tubing with an opaque backing that you bend into shape with a heat gun. Then you run LED lights though it. Way easier (and cheaper).
Load More Replies...Wanted A Bouquet That Would Last For My Small Legal Ceremony (In 25 Days!) And Formal Ceremony Next Year, So Tried Out Sola Flowers For The First Time. Love Them So Far! Feedback Welcome!
My favorite colors in the wooden flowers. They're so beautiful and delicate looking.
Those are so beautiful you did an amazing job 👏 I wish I had bundles of those for decor around my house
Progress On Veil, Floral Crown Altered
Trialled A Hanging Dried Floral Arrangement Over The Weekend. Will Tweak Things A Bit For The Next Ones But I’m Pretty Stoked With How It Turned Out!
It's like a flower chandelier! It would look lovely with candles on the rim (OK, real candles would be a fire hazard but you could use LED tealights).
DIY Sola Wood Flowers
My second wedding I carried a single rose in the dark pink of your rose in the center. My Mom accompanied me and that was also the color of her dress and she carried a single pale pink rose.
The Base Of Our Welcome Sign! Just An Old Pallet, Some Timber Stain And Some Artificial Flowers
Excited To Finally Put My Paper Flower Backdrop Together.. Still A Work In Progress
A Few Short Weeks Away, My Alter Is Complete
I love that people take the time and make the effort to create these personal and meaningful things!
These are ALL wonderful, imaginative and creative. There are a lot of hours in these solutions, true labours of love. And most of them seem environment friendly!
Elopement? Is this an US thing? In UK, it's a midnight flit in a hurry to Gretna Green.
I wish I had photos of my friend's diy bouquet, made of pages of Alice in Wonderland. They looked amazing and she also added things on her shoes to match. Another friend had her sister make a bouquet of fake flowers.
I loved every one. So much talent and dedication and eco friendly too, brava to the brides, and their companions.
I love that people take the time and make the effort to create these personal and meaningful things!
These are ALL wonderful, imaginative and creative. There are a lot of hours in these solutions, true labours of love. And most of them seem environment friendly!
Elopement? Is this an US thing? In UK, it's a midnight flit in a hurry to Gretna Green.
I wish I had photos of my friend's diy bouquet, made of pages of Alice in Wonderland. They looked amazing and she also added things on her shoes to match. Another friend had her sister make a bouquet of fake flowers.
I loved every one. So much talent and dedication and eco friendly too, brava to the brides, and their companions.
