Many couples personalize their weddings, making these events unique through minor details or building the entire day with distinctive touches from the ground up. Some try to achieve a customized look and feel through handcrafted projects such as décor, invitations, programs, favors, and other niceties. However, it is possible to go overboard, and it’s not a good idea for you and your partner to do the entire wedding yourself. With that said, here are some crafty ideas to consider when figuring out a DIY strategy for your wedding.

Can You Fit Crafting Into Your Schedule?

Whether your objective is to keep more Benjamins in your bank account or to weave in delicious details you can’t find anywhere else, you need to be aware of the amount of work each will involve. Crafting projects can require sizable chunks of time due to several key factors:

• Researching and learning techniques
• Purchasing materials
• Preparation and crafting labor
• Assembly and finalization of finishing touches 

Seasoned crafters can probably estimate how long their tasks will take, but novices may struggle more with this aspect of planning. Be sure to thoroughly research each venture and budget in extra time for your learning curve and unexpected problems that arise. Writing for Gay Weddings & Marriage Magazine, Renee Clancy suggests the following start times to better ensure the completion of your undertakings:

• Décor projects: six months prior to your date
• Invitations: four months before
• Favors: four months in advance

Select Your Projects Carefully

Despite the temptation to fabricate every little detail yourself, it’s important to let reality sink in before you commit to any DIY endeavors. Ever the source for savvy listicles, BuzzFeed published a 2016 piece with lots of advice for those about to wed. For one, it’s best to prioritize and limit yourself to one or two undertakings that you can reasonably finish. Secondly, considering steering clear of do-it-yourself projects if you have a long guest list. It’s also wise to do a test run to ensure that you’re capable of replicating the steps and that the item you produce will stand up to your wedding-day conditions. One person in the article related a horrific story of painting décor on a full set of mason jars only to have the paint peel when filled with cold beverages.

You Can’t DIY Everything

With so many tools at your fingertips, you may wonder if there are any aspects of your wedding you shouldn’t attempt to do on your own. Thankfully, plenty of guidance in that department exists, including a 2017 InStyle article that gives a breakdown of DIY projects to avoid for your big day. Among other things, writer Dobrina Zhekova strongly advises against assembling your own floral arrangements, prepping any sort of food, or baking your own cake due to the amount of work and special equipment needed.

Wrap Up in Advance and Ask for Help

Many couples end up with last-minute to-dos the day before, but sometimes those minor details can add to your stress levels. Make sure you’ve wrapped up any DIY crafty projects a few days ahead of time, or at worst, two days before the big day. Also, don’t forget to select a day-of-coordinator or appoint a dependable friend or relative to help look after those fine details so you’re not spending the day before your wedding tying bows or wielding a glue gun.

Making something special with your own hands can be a joyous and meaningful way to leave more of your mark on your wedding. Nevertheless, your project will need careful planning for successful execution. Judiciously selecting which items you’ll make and budgeting plenty of time for completion are both prudent moves to ensure organized, high-quality results from your crafty ideas on your wedding day.