Planning your own wedding is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. For many couples, the idea of DIY décor feels appealing — a chance to personalise every detail while saving money. But as an experienced wedding planner and stylist in the South West UK, I often advise couples to take a step back and consider whether DIY is truly the most cost-effective and stress-free option.

From barn and marquee weddings to intimate countryside venues, there are many factors to think about before committing to a fully DIY approach. Here’s my honest advice about when DIY décor is worth it — and when it’s not.

1. DIY Isn’t Always Cheaper

One of the biggest misconceptions is that DIY décor automatically saves money. Many couples start out thinking they’ll save hundreds — or even thousands — by buying materials and making decorations themselves. But once you factor in the cost of craft supplies, printing, flowers, candles, greenery, tools, and time spent, the costs can quickly add up.

For example, creating your own centrepieces, signage, or table arrangements might seem simple on Pinterest, but the reality often involves multiple trips to craft shops, trial-and-error with materials, and wasted items that didn’t work out as planned.

Hiring a wedding stylist or coordinator, even for partial styling, can actually save money because they know the most cost-effective suppliers, can repurpose items creatively, and prevent expensive mistakes.

2. Who Will Set Up Your DIY Décor?

Another important consideration is logistics on the wedding day. Who is going to set up your carefully crafted decorations? Will it be you, your partner, or a family member?

Many couples underestimate how time-consuming setting up can be, especially for barns or marquees where you might need to arrange tables, chairs, table décor, signage, lighting, and more. Your friends or family might be happy to help, but on the day, they should be celebrating with you, not working.

After the wedding, someone also needs to take down and collect décor — another task that is often overlooked. Without a clear plan, couples end up packing, dismantling, and returning items themselves, which is stressful and takes time away from enjoying the day.

Booking a wedding planner or stylist to handle set-up and pack-down can take away this stress entirely. They can ensure your DIY items are arranged beautifully, removed safely, and stored or returned as needed.

3. What Happens to Your DIY Décor After the Wedding?

It’s easy to get caught up in creating DIY decorations, but have you thought about what will happen after the big day? Candles, flowers, signage, and table décor all need a plan:

Will you keep them as mementos?
Will you return rented items?
Will you donate or recycle any excess?

A stylist can help manage this process, making sure items are handled responsibly while allowing you to keep the pieces that are meaningful to you. You don’t have to give up your personal touches — they can be incorporated into the styling seamlessly.

4. DIY Can Still Work — With Support

DIY décor is not a bad idea, but it works best when combined with professional support. Couples can bring in personal items that are special to them — such as family heirlooms, handmade signs, or floral arrangements — and have a stylist integrate them with the rest of the wedding décor.

This approach allows you to:

Save on full styling costs
Keep sentimental or meaningful items
Ensure a polished, cohesive look
Free up your family and friends to enjoy the day

Essentially, it’s the best of both worlds: personal touches plus professional guidance.

5. Final Thoughts — Is DIY Worth It?

If you love crafting, have plenty of time, and a strong support team, DIY décor can be fun. But if your goal is a stress-free, beautiful wedding where you can focus on enjoying your day rather than decorating, you may find that hiring a planner or stylist is more cost-effective in the long run.

Especially for barn and marquee weddings in the South West UK, where logistics can be tricky, professional help ensures everything runs smoothly — from set-up to pack-down — while still letting you incorporate the pieces that mean the most to you.

So, is DIY décor worth it? It can be, but only if you plan carefully, budget realistically, and consider who will actually handle the set-up and take-down. Otherwise, your dream DIY project could turn into a stressful experience you’ll wish you’d outsourced.

💌 Need Help with Styling or DIY Set-Up?

If you’d like to incorporate your own décor items without the stress, I offer full styling, partial styling, and month-of coordination across the South West UK, specialising in barn, marquee, and countryside weddings.

I can: