In a land of DIY inspiration I have found that a lot of people question what I mean when I say "Handmade Wedding". Over the next few weeks I'm going to delve a little deeper into what is a handmade wedding, how a wedding planner or coordinator can assist you with your handmade wedding, and the ins and outs of making your wedding handmade.
So let's start with the basics...
What is a handmade wedding?
The simple answer: A handmade wedding is one where some, or all, of the details are handcrafted by you, your friends, your family, or others (such as Etsy). The more detailed answer: Handmade weddings fall on a spectrum. You may tackle every element from food to stationery to decor to attire (for the record I don't suggest this!) or select a couple of specific elements that reflect the two of you (such as the guest book you create from concert ticket stubs collected throughout your relationship). When you choose to take on handmade details you are choosing to craft your wedding in a way that is deeply personal and reflects you and your fiancee. The key and distinguishing feature of a handmade wedding is that you have infused your personality, interests and shared history through hands-on creativity to make a celebration that is uniquely yours.
Why do you say Handmade and not DIY?
When I begin working with my couples I frequently hear "I want to do x,y,z... but I don't want it to look like I did it, do you know what I mean?" Absolutely! Take a minute and think about this word: DIY. What words come to mind? Unrefined? Casual? Unprofessional? Now take another minute and think about these words: Handmade and handcrafted. What words are you thinking of now? Artisan? Polished? Elegant?
You (or your friends or family) may be taking on the details yourself, but it doesn't mean that these elements need to lose any sophistication. As we'll discuss later on, by carefully selecting what you want to take on, and following my other tips that I'll explain over the next couple of weeks, you will add another level of personalization and beauty to your celebration.
Why have a handmade wedding?
Couples choose to have a handmade wedding, or handmade elements, for a variety of reasons. Many of them are just plain crafty. They like graphic design or scrapbooking and want to take on invitations, they love woodwork and want to make a ceremony arbor or they simply found a great idea online and know they can bring it to life.
For some it's budget related. They don't want to spend $4+ per guest on a slice of cake and know that the cookies their friends can bring will be just as delicious. Or they love the tissue poms that are popular for tent decor right now, but would prefer to put in some man-hours themselves and save on the overall cost.
Others just want to include personal touches throughout their wedding. They want their guests to leave their wedding and think "that was precisely the kind of celebration we thought they would have." They want their wedding to reflect them as individuals, and as a couple, and for that to be apparent in every detail. As you can imagine, I planned my own wedding and about 90% of it was handmade, but the detail I love the most is a linoleum cut of a wheat sheath that my dad carved for us. I used it on everything from the invitations to the program to the escort cards to the ketubah. It was a beautiful element that meant so much to both of us.
Lastly (and it's a term I use loosely as there are many more reasons couples would want a handmade wedding), many couples revel in the process of preparing something that they will keep forever (even if it's just in memories and photos). Whether they hand write their invitations or compose every word to their marriage ceremony, it's a special time to take a breath and really enjoy the planning process instead of focusing on checking items off the never ending to-do list.
Is a handmade wedding one specific style?
Two years ago, I probably would have said yes. Handmade weddings typically trended towards the shabby chic and rustic farm look. These days, I would say absolutely not! Whether your wedding is classically elegant or a backyard bbq we can find ways to infuse handmade elements and that personal touch into your big day.
Okay, so I'm having a handmade wedding and doing a lot of stuff myself... why would I need a coordinator or a planner?
I thought you might ask that... stay tuned for my next post!
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