Feel like using some of your creative energy? Use it to DIY your perfect wedding right from your own home. You can make everything from decor and invitations to custom fashion pieces and accessories all by yourself. The cost of a wedding can quickly spiral out of control and become overwhelming, so if there are ways to cut down on the budget for the big day then we recommend trying it. It’s true that DIY takes some extra time and effort, but there’s a huge payoff. You’ll be saving money and your wedding will have a unique, one-of-a-kind feel that you can’t buy in a store. Even brides who aren’t very craft-inclined can make DIY wedding magic using our tips.
Do Your Own Makeup
We’re sure you have masses of amazing makeup already stashed around your bathroom, so why not utilize what you’ve already got rather than hiring a makeup artist? We live in the age of the internet, and you can learn how to do literally any beauty or makeup look from YouTube tutorials. Test-drive your look before your big day to make sure you have everything you need and master the techniques you’ll be using. Otherwise, enlist a makeup savvy bridesmaid or girlfriend to help you out. After all, no one can say no to the bride!
Do Your Own Hair
If you’re a simple type of gal, we recommend doing your own hair and saving money on an expensive stylist. After all, you’ve done your own hair thousands of times before, so why not today? As long as you have a flat iron, a curler, and plenty of hairspray and bobby pins, you cannot go wrong with doing your own ‘do’. Obviously, the easiest bridal hairstyle to do at home is loose, simple curls which you can achieve with a curling wand. We love this look with middle parted hair and perhaps even two small braids pulled back on each side. You can also learn how to do a variety of ornate looking braids and up dos online. Again, do a test drive before the big day to make sure you have all the products and techniques down. Remember, practice makes perfect.
Whiten Your Teeth At Home
Weddings are all about the details. We know you’ve got your beauty routine planned out to the very last detail, but don’t scrimp on the small stuff. You absolutely must whiten your teeth before the big day. Since professional teeth whitening can be super expensive and it can take months to get an appointment, why not try an effective, at-home teeth whitening system kit, or try some teeth whitening strips?
A Store-bought Dress Isn’t Always the Best Dress
If your mom, grandma, aunt, or friend is handy with a needle and thread, enlist them to make you a custom, one-of-a-kind wedding dress. Since most people aren’t lucky enough to have a friend who knows how to sew couture-level wedding gowns, check out the wedding pictures from the women in your family and see if any of them would be willing to gift you their vintage wedding dress. Vintage is always a yes, and we’re sure one of your female relatives would be honored to loan you their retired wedding gown. If their gowns are outdated, never fear. Even with minimal sewing skills, you can rework an old dress to create a modern, magical gown. It’s just a matter of getting rid of those shoulder pads, tailoring the silhouette, and perhaps letting out a hem or two. Get creative!
Raid your grandma’s jewelry box
As the old adage goes, you need something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue to ensure a happy marriage. With vintage accessories from your mother, aunts, or grandma, you can knock out both borrowed and old. We love vintage gold jewelry, especially when it comes to earrings and necklaces. They’re funky and unique. If the jewelry you find at your grandma’s house is a little worse for the wear, never fear. Pick up some polish at your local craft store and get scrubbing. Those pieces will be restored to their former glory in no time.
Create a Fresh Hair Piece
Flower crowns are just so perfectly lovely for a garden wedding. They look wonderful holding down a veil and they give you that magical, fairy princess look. Who isn’t on board for that? A fresh flower crown is actually one of the easiest DIY accessories. You can use the same flowers from your bouquet to keep with your color scheme and avoid a trip to the backyard or to a florist. Simply select three flowers to begin and loosely braid the stems together, adding more flowers along the way, the same way you would with a French braid. Once the flower string is long enough, pin the ends together into a crown shape, and finish off the crown by sticking leaves, flowers, and ribbons into the braid. Easy, classic, and gorgeous.
So there you have some top tips for brides on a budget looking to get creative and add that personal touch to the most important day of your life. Whether you want a mix of DIY and store bought for your big day, see the bride’s one year guide to planning a wedding for some excellent planning tips. We wish you all the happiness in the world as you plan your perfect day!