The Dos and Don'ts of DIY: Part Two- The Don'ts

Doing things yourself is a great way to personalize your wedding and save money, but what is appropriate for you and your family to take on and what projects will haunt your dreams and make your perfect wedding a disaster waiting to happen? Inspired by an article on theknot.com, here is a guideline to steer you in the right direction.

The Don'tsThe Cake- I think this one's a no brainer....it is SOOO easy to mess up a cake and SOOO difficult to fix it. There are so many stressers concerning taste, decorating, and transporting the cake that its just not worth it.

Photography- Photography along with videographery are the lasting impressions of your special day. Its important to get all of the shots that you need to remember every last detail. The only way to guarantee this is to hire the pros.

Coordinating- Your wedding is all about you! How can you be the guest of honor and the coordinator at the same time? Doing the coordinating yourself does not give you the oppurtunity to relax and be the bride. Instead of getting your makeup done, you will be wondering if your florals arrived on time. Not to mention that coordinators will be able to set-up and breakdown. Who wants to work on their wedding day?

Centerpieces- Okay, so I don't completely agree on this one. I think it is perfectly acceptible to do candle centerpieces and stems in vases. Anything that can be done before the wedding and set out by your coordinator is fine (especially if they supplement the big extavagant floral arrangements). With that said, you should leave large arrangements or anything else more complicated to the pros. Its just too much work for you to have to worry about.



Caterering- I think this one's another no brainer and most facilities will not allow you to do this. There is to much risk of contamination. Also, what it the food runs out? Who will be taking care of the serving and the bussing? Who will clean up and put away the left over?



Music-  Your entertainment is one of your most important vendors. Your DJ or band will make or break the party. They get your guests dancing and enjoying everything and they will make your wedding memorable. They know how to make announcements, direct your guests, and cover awkward moments. They will also be able to judge the crowd and cater towards their likes. If there's something that doesn't work, they can quickly change it and get the party going again. Not so with an iPod or a friend acting as a DJ.  Leave this one to the professionals.

For different ideas on the same topic go to
http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/diy-do-it-yourself-weddings/articles/diy-wedding-dos-and-donts.aspx