From DIY to Professional: Event Design Tips for Every Budget
Event design is an essential aspect of planning any celebration, be it a wedding, corporate event, or a birthday party. The right décor can transform a simple venue into a stunning setting that leaves a lasting impression on your guests. Achieving a beautifully designed event doesn't always have to break the bank. Here are options for designing your event entirely DIY, partially DIY with professional help, and fully hiring a professional designer, weighing the pros, cons, and costs of each.
There are many ways to make your wedding day special and unique. You can do it by selecting a venue, cake, or flowers. The flowers you choose will be the most prominent part of the wedding ceremony and reception décor. The tabletop centerpieces will be around for the whole event and they help set the tone of the celebration.
This is why choosing them carefully is crucial. You want to make sure that your chosen design matches your personality and style while also being in accordance with what you have in mind for your big day!
Top Things to consider:
What kind of look are you going for? What kind of designs have you seen that you liked? What did you like about them?
For our professional opinion after 10 years of planning weddings, we'd recommend hiring a stylist or a florist or planner who styles, especially if you have a tight turnaround with your venue, want to change up the room a lot between the ceremony and reception, or are planning décor that's in any way ambitious. When designing the perfect wedding, you need to consider many aspects—however, one of the essential elements is your wedding décor. When choosing wedding flowers, it's good to keep in mind that there are two types of flowers: fresh-cut flowers and silk flowers.
First Steps:
It may be best to start with your overall design plan, so you can map out what flowers, colors, and textures will work best for you. The following are some steps for creating a design plan for your wedding floral décor:
Start with the overall design plan - what flowers, colors, textures will work best?
Choose colors - be mindful of seasonality and trends
Choose flowers that go well together - consider the texture
Choose how many arrangements you want to have
Decide on centerpiece style (low vase? High vase? Tiered?)
What kind of statement piece do you want? (consider where your guests are spending the most time.)
Decide on what is a priority in your floral and décor budget.
Talk with your Venue
Before you start worrying about what time to drop off your decor, and who will place the cake topper on the cake, have a chat with your venue. Some venue coordinators and their teams will look after everything, while others are less hands-on; most are somewhere in-between. Tell your venue about what you have in mind, and go into detail, so you can find out what décor items are allowed at your venue.
Collect your Inspiration
Just as you will need to have an idea of your wedding day look for hair and makeup professionals, you will need photos of your floral and design inspiration. This is where Pinterest comes in handy. Start collecting photos of what you want the tables to look like and what you want your bouquet to look like. This will help the pro connect with your vision.
1. Full DIY Event Design
Pros:
Cost-Effective: DIY projects can significantly reduce costs, as you only pay for materials.
Personal Touch: Adds a unique, personal element to the event, showcasing your creativity.
Flexibility: You have complete control over every aspect of the design, from concept to execution.
Cons:
Time-Consuming: DIY projects can take a lot of time, from planning to crafting and setting up.
Skill Requirement: Some projects may require skills or tools you don't have.
Stress: The responsibility of ensuring everything comes together can be overwhelming.
Storage: You will need space to store all the DIY materials and completed decor elements until the event day.
Costs:
Materials: $200-$800 depending on the scale of the event and materials used.
Tools: $50-$150 for essentials like hot glue guns, scissors, cutting mats, etc.
Storage: Consider the cost and space required for storing DIY materials and finished pieces.
Tips and Takeaways:
Plan Ahead: Create a detailed plan and timeline for your DIY projects to avoid last-minute stress.
Utilize Online Resources: Platforms like Pinterest and YouTube offer tutorials and ideas for DIY decorations.
Test Your Ideas: Make prototypes of your DIY projects to ensure they look and function as intended.
Bulk Buy: Purchase materials in bulk to save money, and consider using recyclable or reusable items.
Example: Creating your own centerpieces, table settings, and photo booth props using materials like paper, fabric, flowers, and thrifted items.
2. Partial DIY with Professional Help
For each of the photos you see on Blogs and Wedding Websites, you should know it took a team of professionals to achieve that look. Many styled photos are the work of a decorator, florist, rental company and planner. Determine what you will need to create your look and contact the appropriate professionals. Most couples want to put some kind of unique spin on their wedding venue décor. Wedding stylists, day-of planners, and florists can all work on venue set-up and decoration on the day of your wedding. Not only is this service often more affordable than you might think, but the execution will be fast and flawless, you'll have use of the professional's props and set-up tools, and most importantly, you'll have zero stress about the venue set-up on the morning of your wedding. Professionals tend to liaise directly with the venue too, so you don't have to do a thing.
Pros:
Balanced Approach: Combines cost-saving DIY elements with the expertise of professionals.
Less Stress: Professionals can handle more complex or time-consuming tasks.
Customization: Allows you to infuse personal touches while ensuring high-quality execution for key elements.
Cons:
Cost: More expensive than full DIY but cheaper than hiring full professional services.
Coordination: Requires coordination between your DIY efforts and the professionals.
Costs:
Materials for DIY: $100-$400.
Tools for DIY: $50-$150.
Professional Services: $500-$2,000 depending on the scope and complexity of the services hired (e.g., florists, rental companies).
Storage: Space needed for DIY elements and collaboration with professional storage if necessary.
Tips and Takeaways:
Prioritize Key Areas: Identify which aspects of your event can be DIY and which should be handled by professionals (e.g., florals, lighting).
Communicate Clearly: Maintain clear communication with the professionals you hire to ensure your vision is realized.
Budget Wisely: Allocate your budget strategically, spending more on high-impact areas and saving on simpler tasks.
Use Contracts: Ensure all agreements with professionals are documented to avoid misunderstandings.
Example: DIY your invitations and minor décor elements, while hiring a local florist for floral arrangements and a rental company for linens and furniture.
3. Hiring a Professional Designer
The flowers that will be used in the ceremony (including bouquets, etc.) should be discussed with the florist ahead of time. A professional can suggest some arrangements that will work well with your theme, season, and desired look. Once the flowers are decided on, what about decorating? It’s important to choose some items for decoration that can be rented rather than bought outright. This is because some items like sofas or lounges may not fit into your budget for purchase but are great for renting.
Pros:
Expertise: Professional designers bring extensive experience and creativity.
Convenience: They handle all the planning, sourcing, setup, and teardown.
High-Quality Results: Professionals ensure a cohesive and polished look.
Cons:
Cost: Hiring a professional designer is the most expensive option.
Less Control: You may have less personal involvement in the details.
Budget Minimums: Many professional designers have budget minimums to ensure high-quality services.
Costs:
Design Fees: $2,000-$10,000 depending on the designer's reputation and the event's complexity.
Materials and Rentals: $1,000-$5,000, often included in the overall package.
Storage: Typically handled by the designer, but it’s important to confirm.
Tips and Takeaways:
Research Designers: Look at portfolios and reviews to find a designer whose style matches your vision.
Discuss Budget Upfront: Be clear about your budget to ensure the designer can meet your needs without exceeding your limits.
Involve Yourself: While the designer handles the details, stay involved in key decisions to ensure the event reflects your style.
Utilize Their Network: Take advantage of the designer’s connections with vendors to potentially save on costs and access exclusive resources.
Example: Engaging a professional event designer to create a comprehensive design plan, source all materials and decor, and manage the setup and breakdown of the event.
Budgeting for Wedding Décor
In Washington, D.C., couples spend $3,500 on wedding flowers on average. Some couples can spend as little as a couple of hundred dollars while others will spend upwards of $10,000. Wedding design or decorations include rentals like furniture, linens, and table settings. Wedding rentals can cost from $1,000-$3,000 in Washington, D.C., on average. Couples often choose to rent furniture as rental companies provide a wide selection of offerings. It means you can select colors and items that go with your wedding style and theme.
The floral cost has several factors. The types of flowers are the first factor as some flowers like roses and tulips are cheaper than others like orchids and calla lilies. The season has much to do with the price, as flowers like chrysanthemums will be more affordable during fall when they are in season. And the complexity of floral designs is a significant factor in floral cost.
Other factors include:
The setup on the event day.
The fee of your florist's services.
The total cost of transporting flowers from a farm to your wedding venue.
There can be additional charges for rentals like vases to display flowers on the event day. Your total floral cost will be determined by which flowers you choose, what floral designs you opt for, and how many floral setups you want. An experienced florist can help you cut down costs by choosing elegant but straightforward designs made out of a combination of low-cost flowers with expensive middle pieces.
Conclusion
Designing a beautiful event doesn’t have to be overwhelming or prohibitively expensive. Whether you prefer a hands-on approach with DIY projects, a balanced mix of DIY and professional help, or the polished touch of a full-service designer, there are numerous ways to create a stunning and memorable celebration on any budget. At Entyse Lyfe Weddings and Events, we’re here to help you bring your vision to life with expert advice and tailored services that fit your needs. Contact us today to start planning your perfect event.
