The Kiwi DIY Bride

It’s a bit of an oxymoron, isn’t it? “Kiwi DIY” and “Bride” just don’t seem to gel the same way as “American DIY Bride”. We fall in love with an item on Etsy and then have our dreams dashed by the horrendous shipping costs, or the most perfect tutorial online is courtesy of items from Home Depot - it’s time to put a stop to that right here and now and embrace our Kiwi ingenuity.

Being a DIY Bride in New Zealand doesn’t have to be hard, it simply calls for a little more creativity and organisation. Some would think I am making things harder on myself by not utilising a wedding planner for our out of town wedding, yet here I am breaking the boundaries (We will see how that goes later down the track), and I want to show you how too.

Once you have the big things out of the way (see previous post here), it’s time to start thinking of a theme. Hopefully you will have a rough idea of what this is going to shape up like given you’ve already booked your venue, and your Pinterest board is probably chocka! If not, you can check mine out here.

At the top of my list to recommend is making your own stationary. I invested in a monthly subscription of Adobe Photoshop to make Save the Date cards myself, and invites are currently in production thanks to a huge helping hand from my Sister in Law to be, Lucy, from Magill Designs (now we have got the hang of Glyphs). If you don’t have a Photoshop expert at hand, YouTube is fantastic reference point for step by step tutorials. I'm using this subscription to make name and table number cards, seat reservation signs, programmes, menus, photo boards, Thank You cards – the list is endless!

If you have lots of time on your hands, you could make paper folds and envelopes yourself, but I will be purchasing these things. Etsy and AliExpress have great options, but if you want to support local like myself, and want a hassle free option that is similarly priced, head along to PINCPocketfolds. Remember to keep it simple, and you won’t have any issues at all.

Thrift shopping is another fantastic way to uncover relics and items for your wedding. From rustic, to chic, to glamorous there are so many perfect pieces just waiting to be dug up. Look at the bigger picture when it comes to some items, would a coat of paint or some floral decoration bring it back to life? For Christchurch Brides, Ferry Road/Woolston area have some absolutely fabulous shops to get you going. Dig around your Grandparents homes too, you might get lucky! I’ve also found some bargains on Trademe, and often save searches so I’m first to jump on bargain “Buy Now” auctions.

Don’t get me wrong, I definitely know how to appreciate a beautiful bouquet of flowers, but for the budget conscious Bride, this can save you a small mountain of cash. You can put your bouquets yourself, or even with your Bridesmaids the night before the Wedding. Christchurch Brides, Moffat's are your go-to flower wholesaler for in season blooms, and the options are endless when it comes to tying them together. Lace, ribbon, hessian, small family heirlooms are just some ideas in this department.

Have you considered making your own Wedding favours? Homemade treats or preserves, scented candles, little succulents – the list is endless. Another fantastic idea is to simply donate the estimated cost of the favours and donate to your favourite charity. It’s a great way to give back and well received by guests.

All in all, anything goes when it comes to DIY. With time on your side, you can afford to chop and change things to better suit your theme and make your day all the more special. My key piece of advice? Accept all the help you can get, and enjoy the biggest party you will ever hold!

If you have any ideas, or want to ask any questions, do get in touch – I’d love to hear from you.