Happily Ever After- A DIY Disney-Inspired Vineyard Wedding in Pepin, WI

It’s been over a year and I’m finally blogging about Andi and Zack’s amazing wedding day at Villa Bellezza last November! A lot of things stand out in my mind when I reflect on their wedding day. The unseasonably warm weather, the gorgeous venue, the bride’s stunning long-sleeved gown from the Wedding Shoppe, and the live band and swing dancing lessons at the reception, to name a few. But what sets this wedding apart from many that I have done is that it was truly a DIY feat! So many details of this day came together from the hard work and creativity of this couple, and it is great inspiration for those of you out there who are considering DIY projects for your own wedding. So here’s a few important “dos” and “don’ts” of a DIY wedding, as well as some gorgeous inspiration photos, to help you decide if you’re ready to craft the way to your big day!

Do: Make use of the skills and passions you already have

If you are not already someone who enjoys crafting and creating, a DIY wedding is NOT for you. While DIY décor may save you money in the long run, it will cost you in time, so that time had better be enjoyable! To borrow a line from Marie Kondo, ask yourself “Does making things spark joy?” For this talented and creative couple, it certainly did.

Their creativity and knack for making and creating led them to decide to DIY much of their décor, including signage, table numbers, a copper stand and arch and luminary aisle décor. The biggest undertaking they had was DIYing all of their floral, from bouquets to boutonnieres to large overhead centerpieces! For the floral they went with silk flowers in a variety of jewel tones.

They also DIYed some of the attire! Turns out the bride is somewhat of a seamstress and not only did they make bowties for the bridal party, but also (my personal favorite) a fabulous teal jumpsuit for the groom’s personal attendant.

Their creativity stretched even beyond making things and into making music, and as a surprise to all of their guests, they pre-recorded a duet for their first dance. Their voices blended so beautifully and it was such a special way to share their gifts with their guests and each other.

Don’t: Take it on all by yourself

If you choose to DIY your own décor, and ESPECIALLY if you DIY your own floral, you will have more to bring to and from your venue than the average couple. Plan ahead of time to make sure you have extra help to unload, set up and tear down your DIY décor. Hiring a great wedding planner will help with this for sure (a-hem), but you may also need to enlist friends or family, especially when it comes to transporting your décor on the day!

You might also want to consider getting friends, family or bridal party together ahead of time for a crafting party! Provide pizza and wine and your crafternoon is sure to be a good time!

Do: Pace yourself

DIY projects almost always take longer than expected, so it goes without saying, do NOT save until the weeks before your wedding day! Start working on your décor as soon as you have a plan, and do not be afraid to drop any projects and source from elsewhere if it piles up and gets overwhelming!

Don’t: Sweat the small stuff

Things happen and weddings don’t always go 100% to plan. On Andi and Zack’s day, for example, they were prepared for cold, late fall weather. While their day was unseasonably warm it was also unexpectedly windy! Several of their pieces they had worked so hard to make, for example the luminaries that were meant to line the aisles, simply started blowing away. Luckily, I had brought a backup copper arch that held up better to wind than their hexagonal one and we did find some indoor spaces to set up a few of the luminaries. Andi and Zack were so willing to go with the flow and handled these last minute disappointments so well!

Do: Take the opportunity to highlight your shared interests

From the Disney couple table numbers to the Star Wars cake topper, these Disney fans did such a great job highlighting their shared love of all things Disney in a sweet and subtle way. One of their favorite parts about a trip to Disney World together was the fireworks show at Magic Kingdom. And so, they chose music from that spectacular show, which opens with the words “and they lived happily ever after”, to play for their recessional song. The best word to describe that moment? Magical.

Don’t: Create work that isn’t necessary

Pinterest is both a blessing and a curse for wedding planning. There are SO many amazing ideas out there, but when it comes down to it, a lot just simply aren’t necessary. For example, if you are lucky enough to have a venue as gorgeous as Villa Bellezza, you may not need a ton of décor. The venue speaks for itself! Also, think about the things that are most important to helping with the flow of day and prioritize those projects over the ones that are more just fun to look at. For example, table numbers and seating charts are pretty important as they help your guests easily find a place to sit, versus a big sign with your new last name.

DIYing the details of your wedding day can either become one of the biggest joys OR one of the biggest stresses of wedding planning. I hope you find yourself as inspired as I was by Andi & Zack’s day to make, create and celebrate.