9 Things You Think You Can DIY for Your Wedding... But Shouldn’t
Listen, I love a good DIY moment —nothing feels more powerful than a glue gun and a dream.
But some wedding DIYs are a one-way ticket to regret city.
And I’m not talking about
“Oh, it’s a little messy, but it’s cute” regret.
I mean “Why didn’t anyone stop me?” regret.
So, before you start turning your living room into a wedding craft sweatshop,
here are 9 things you should absolutely not DIY—and what to do instead so your wedding doesn’t look like a Pinterest fail in the making.
1. Your Wedding Dress Alterations
Why You’ll Regret It: Because unless you’re a trained seamstress, you’re one wrong stitch away from turning your dream dress into an overpriced disaster.
Bridal fabrics are delicate.
One bad snip and poof—there goes your perfect fit.
What to Do Instead: Find a professional bridal tailor and read reviews like your wedding depends on it (because it kind of does).
If budget is tight, ask bridal shops for student tailors—some offer lower rates!
2. Your Wedding Cake
Why You’ll Regret It:
Oh, so you think you can bake a three-tier cake that won’t collapse, dry out, or taste like a sugar brick?
Bold.
Unless you’re a professional baker with experience in structural cake engineering (yes, it’s a thing), you’re playing a risky game.
What to Do Instead:
If a fancy bakery is out of budget, go for a small, professionally made cake for display (and cutting) and serve sheet cakes from a local bakery for guests.
They’re cheaper, easier, and no one will know the difference.
3. Your Own Hair & Makeup
Why You’ll Regret It:
Because wedding day stress + shaky hands + humidity = makeup sliding off your face before the first dance.
And don’t even get me started on the emotional breakdown that happens when your DIY curls refuse to hold.
What to Do Instead: Hire a pro (even if it’s just for makeup and you do your own hair).
If you’re on a budget, find a makeup artist in training—many do affordable bridal trials and need portfolio work!
If You Insist on DIY: PRACTICE.
And not just once—multiple times, in different conditions.
Test your makeup with flash photography, see how your foundation holds up after a few hours, and time yourself so you’re not rushing on the big day.
Same goes for your hair—practice different techniques and make sure it actually lasts.
Your wedding day is not the time for a trial run.
4. Your Wedding Photography
Why You’ll Regret It:
I promise, your cousin’s “fancy camera” will not make up for bad lighting, awkward poses, and the fact that they won’t know how to capture your mom’s teary-eyed smile at the altar.
These are your once-in-a-lifetime photos.
What to Do Instead: If hiring a pro is a stretch, look for new photographers building their portfolio—many are talented and offer discounted rates for experience!
5. Your Wedding Playlist (Without a Pro to Manage It)
Why You’ll Regret It:
Because you do not want to be that wedding where the music suddenly stops mid-dance because Bluetooth disconnected.
Or worse, your dad’s speech gets interrupted by a rogue ad.
What to Do Instead:
If a DJ is out of budget, hire a day-of music coordinator to press play, crossfade songs, and keep the vibes immaculate.
Even a responsible friend with a solid playlist and laptop is better than letting Spotify autoplay take over.
And ...while we’re talking about things you probably shouldn’t DIY
Can I just say this?
If you're planning your whole wedding without a wedding planner ...that is probably the biggest DIY of them all.
.
.
.
And not the fun kind.
It’s the kind that keeps you up at night wondering what you’re forgetting.
The kind where everything’s scattered - your budget, your guest list, your vendors ... all living in random notes on your phone.
---
That’s exactly why I made the Wedding Planning Bundle.
It’s not fancy.
It just gives you one place to keep everything ...so you’re not starting over every time or feeling like you’re forgetting something.
If you’re trying to do this all on your own, this would really help.
I dropped the link here if you want to check it out:
6. Your Own Florals (Unless You’re a Florist in Disguise)
Why You’ll Regret It: Flowers are living things that wilt, bruise, and demand constant hydration (much like you on your wedding day).
You don’t want to be trimming stems at 2 AM before your wedding, trust me.
What to Do Instead: Consider a mix of real and high-quality faux florals.
Fake flowers have come a long way, and no one will know (especially for decor like centerpieces).
7. Your Wedding Invitations (If You Have No Design Skills)
Why You’ll Regret It:
Because there’s a fine line between “handmade charm” and “why does this look like a middle school project?”
Plus, DIY printing can be a nightmare with ink smudging, alignment issues, and paper that just won’t fold right.
What to Do Instead: Use affordable printable templates, then get them printed professionally.
If budget is tight, go all digital—modern, budget-friendly, and eco-conscious!
8. DIY Ceremony Sound System
Why You’ll Regret It: Because nothing kills the romance like your guests straining to hear your vows while a gust of wind carries them away.
Or worse—microphone feedback so loud it scars your eardrums.
What to Do Instead: If your venue doesn’t provide sound, rent a simple sound system with a good microphone.
Even a small portable speaker with a lapel mic is better than shouting your vows into the void.
9. Your Own Wedding Timeline & Coordination
Why You’ll Regret It: Because you do not want to be solving problems on your wedding day.
Someone will ask where the cake is.
Someone will forget something.
And someone will come up to you with a crisis you do not have the brain space for.
What to Do Instead: If your budget is tight and you can't hire a wedding planner.
Hire a day-of coordinator (worth every penny) or at least assign a super organized friend to be the go-to problem solver.
Trust me, you don’t want to be the one handling last-minute chaos.
Final Thoughts: Let’s Keep the DIY Regret to a Minimum
DIY is great for personal touches, but some things are best left to the pros.
Your wedding should be a day of joy, not stress-induced tears, so be smart about where to DIY and where to delegate.
And if you’ve already started one of these doomed DIYs?
It’s not too late to pivot.
Consider this your sign from the wedding gods.
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Anddd before you go...
Lemme just toss this back in your face in case you missed it earlier
If you need a helping hand in the whole wedding planning shenanigans,
check out my Wedding Planning Bundle.
It is seriously the easiest way to get your wedding chaos under control.
The link’s right here again if you want to check it out
👇
(If you enjoyed this blog post, don't forget to *SAVE THIS PIN* so you can come back to it again later)
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