What a whirlwind – from the time of the engagement until the time that you finally tie the knot, it can feel like a minute and an eternity. You know you’ve got a lot of decisions to make, so it can be a stressful time – and you’ve doubtless already heard some opinions on how it should go.
If you love DIY so much that you’ve got DIY elements planned for your wedding, this is the blog for you!
In part one, we’ll cover how to choose a wedding location and some other general advice on how to plan the perfect DIY wedding without becoming overwhelmed. Finally, we’ll close with information about our fantastic one-size-fits-all DIY wedding venue.
Read on for more information – and don’t forget to stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll cover how to perfectly time your wedding plans so you won’t feel rushed!
1. Choose a Wedding Location That Suits You
Before you choose a wedding location, we recommend that you perform a quick self-evaluation. What kind of person are you? Where are you happiest? For many Oklahomans, it’s the familiarity of a big barn. They’re spacious and can be decorated to go with nearly any theme imaginable. No matter what you decide, though, be sure that you choose an Oklahoma wedding venue that reflects your personality or can be decorated to reflect it.
2. Remember to KISS Before Your Kiss
You’ve probably heard the familiar acronym KISS, which stands for “Keep it simple, sister.” Although it can be tempting to try everything at once (especially if you love arts and crafts, which is highly likely since you’re a DIYer), keep things as simple as possible.
Keeping things simple serves two purposes: it prevents things from becoming visually cluttered and distracting, and it also allows you to have some breathing room. The easier things are to make or demonstrate, the easier it will be to find people to help with decorations, favors, and more. Speaking of which…
3. Decide What to Delegate and DIY
Early on, you’ll want to decide what you plan to delegate and what you’d like to DIY. Sometimes DIY brides get a little too hung up on doing it all themselves and bite off more than they can chew. It wouldn’t hurt to make the first few examples and then allow the rest of your friends to make the other 100. After all, “many hands make light work.”
You don’t have to do it all to have a successful DIY wedding. Sure, you could probably DIY the entire wedding, but do you want to be exhausted on your wedding day? Find people you can trust to execute your vision… and then be thankful that you weren’t up until midnight the night before the big event tying bows onto party favors.
4. Do It Your Way
This doesn’t mean you can’t seek advice from other people – whether it’s a community of soon-to-be brides or family members. Just don’t allow your entire wedding to be railroaded by well-intentioned family and friends who think, “That’s not how I’d do it.” (They may need a gentle reminder that it’s not their wedding!)
If you’ve got people pitching in to make it happen, you may want to concede a bit – which is fine. But before anyone gets a chance to tell you their take on how things should go down, rate the importance of each aspect of the wedding to you. Be willing to give a little on your vision for the less important details, and don’t back down about the more important ones.
What do you want the overall feel to be for your wedding? Check your decisions against that vision and see if they represent your vision or undermine it. All in all, it’s better to throw a wedding on a shoestring budget (read: sans “free financial help”) than to live with regrets about your makeup, your dress, and your wedding party for years to come.
Choose Us as Your DIY Wedding Venue
The best DIY wedding venues are a blank slate. They allow you to truly enjoy your wedding and plan it to perfection. No matter what time of day you choose for your wedding, it is sure to be memorable with the right wedding venue.
The beauty of Esperanza Ranch is that you’ve got everything you need for a memorable wedding – whether you want to get married in the rustic barn or lakeside, under the stars. You can string up romantic lights on the nearby trees and book a live band if you’d like.
The environment is so versatile for your guests as well. Parents of young children can tell them to stay in the barn during the event – and older teens and children who prefer not to be in loud or crowded environments can pop outside to hold a quiet conversation if needed.
Esperanza Ranch is a breathtaking locale for a DIY wedding, but pictures don’t do it justice. Schedule an appointment to see it in person today!
