First... yes, you can have a successful DIY event. Now, having said that, you MUST know some of the following facts in order to "pull off" a successful wedding reception. I have read thousands of posts and threads from brides who talk about their DIY event, and most don't really know the first thing about accomplishing a successful event. I've made the following comment about a hundred times on the chat boards: "You must do your homework".
What does that mean, you ask? For example... let's say your aunt Betty knows how to arrange flowers. OK, so she worked at Walmart in the gift department and can put flowers in a vase with some credibility. So you have your florist for the reception. If aunt Betty is going to pick up all the flowers and vases, and arrange them, then put them all on the tables at your reception, so that they look just like a professional florist product, then you have pulled off a successful "flower DIY". Anything less, and your guests will notice, and talk about it later.
Here are my concerns: Aunt Betty must make sure to pick up all the flowers, in all the colors you desire, at the proper time, so they don't wilt. She needs to arrange them properly and cut the stems just so, so that they retain water. The arrangements need to be balanced, and pretty before being placed on the tables. On and on and on... and that's only with flowers and aunt Betty.
Each of the areas of your wedding need to have this much of your concern, in order to pull it off. Food, transportation, venue, invitations, decorating, photography, music, cake, dress, hair and makeup and on and on. Each of your DIY "people" need to know SOMETHING about each area of their endeavor, in order to pull it off. Is cousin Bob going to shoot pictures with his "Hasselblad" or does he have a point and shoot K-mart camera? OK, so he has a HD Canon, and a couple of cool pictures in his album. Is that good enough for you? Are disposable cameras on every table, enough to pick up the slack? Anything less, and your guests will notice, and talk about it later.
Is you FH's, best friend, who was the house DJ at their college fraternity, going to "spin" for your reception? Does he have a good library of tunes? What equipment will he use. Home stereo gear is not what will provide adequate sound to more than 40 to 50 people in a small room. Does he know that? Were you thinking of using an iPod instead? Does your homework include making sure the tunes on this iPod will have dancing music that all of your guests will enjoy... of just your favorite country songs? Will you have someone who will keep an eye on the iPod, so all of your guests don't try to cue up their favorite song while you're not looking? What about the 3 second pause between each song, or the order of the play list.
So many brides comment on the "super" discount they got from their BFFs brother who used to DJ, so they don't need a "real DJ" for this reception. Guess what... you DO have a real DJ, but maybe one who doesn't have any skills, knowledge or cares about giving you the best reception possible at the super price. I hear from brides all the time who say: "we're getting a really great DJ for $400", and they think that's the norm. It's not - you're either getting a gift from someone who knows the business, or you're getting an amateur, who may very well ruin your event. This doesn't just apply to DJs, mind you. This applies to each vendor or vendor "stand in" you are considering for this "memory" you are producing. Anything less, and your guests will notice, and talk about it later.
Yes, you are the “producer” (event coordinator) in a movie (so to speak). You are running the show, and need to surround yourself with "talent" who can help you “pull off” this event (have I said that before?). You as the producer need to appoint a "director" to tell everyone where to take their places, and when the "action" phrase is called out, will roll each scene the way you want. If you've rehearsed beforehand, then your odds of pulling it off greatly increase. Have you “done your homework”? Anything less, and your guests will notice, and talk about it later.
I know most of the brides reading this have thought about this "fairytale dream" since they were a little girl. They want their "Prince Charming" to ride in and sweep them off their feet and live happily ever after. Far too many brides expect this fairytale to come at a MUCH cheaper price tag than fits with reality. I always tell brides to "be realistic" in their expectations. In this economy, that "fairytale" will cost in the neighborhood of 40 grand ($40,000). Anything less, and your guests will notice, and talk about it later. So, if you have a budget of $5000, the image in your head will need to be adjusted. Sorry that statement is so blunt... but it's reality.
The only way to cut costs, is to alter your dream, to something more realistic. Cut the number of guests, lower the quality of food and/or drinks. Hold your event in the local VFW or church basement (or your back yard). Do your DIY homework. I feel so bad when I ask a bride to come back to the wedding chat boards, with the results of their $5000 wedding, and they never show up again... I think there's a reason for that!
