Should you Buy, Hire or DIY wedding decor?

When you’re planning your own big day, it’s very normal to be overwhelmed by all of the different options for wedding decor out there, and also whether you should buy, hire or DIY it! Naturally, it can get quite stressful if you don’t know how to approach the subject, but hopefully this post can give you a bit of an overview of what you need to consider. Take a look at these tips that can help you choose what to buy, DIY or hire for your wedding and in turn level up your styling.

If you do need a bit of help figuring out everything you need, we have a FREE wedding decor checklist available to download when you join our members section, sign up here

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What to buy for wedding decor

Although weddings are expensive enough as it is before you even consider the decor, there are some things that are just easier to purchase. We also recommend buying ready-made decor if you feel like you simply don’t have the time to commit to making it, or if buying it pre-made will work out cheaper than buying all of the paintbrushes, packs of card and buckets of glitter that you would have to buy to craft it yourself. It might also be a good idea to prioritize the things you want to DIY and then buy the decor you need to complete the aesthetic after that if you run out of time - just bear in mind that if you’re getting anything custom made then you may need to consider turnaround and delivery time.

It can be costly to buy a lot of stuff, but if you opt for this, then we recommend buying something you can use later in your home or things you can easily sell to other couples after the big day (check out our post The Best Places To Buy And Sell Used Wedding Decor for inspo on that).

This could include…

  • Beautiful glassware

  • Vases for your floral arrangements

  • A generic wedding sign that you could re-sell

  • OR a cool quote sign that you could also hang up in your home

  • Fake flowers or greenery

  • Wall hangings

  • Lanterns

  • Bunting

And plenty other non-traditional and unexpected things too!

What to hire for wedding decor

Unless your venue is already providing a lot of things for you, then another option you may need to consider is wedding decor hire. Not only can it be way less costly than buying/making, but it can save you a lot of fuss and time, especially if the hire company will come and set up everything for you. The downside of this option is that you may not be able to customize the props and items to your liking because you will have to return them the same way you received them, although some companies do offer this option for an extra cost too.

This is usually the best choice for items that you need lots of like…

  • Linens

  • Furniture

  • Tables

  • Backdrops

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

  • Chairs

  • Centrepieces

  • Photobooth Props

  • Candy Carts

  • Lighting

Photo by Shelly Pence on Unsplash

Photo by Shelly Pence on Unsplash

Try to find local companies who do package deals if you need a lot of items, and ask your venue if they have any recommendations!



What to DIY for wedding decor

There are a number of things you can make yourself for your DIY wedding - everything from your table decor, to your signage, to unique wall hangings and backdrops.

With the right tutorials and guidance, you could end up saving yourself a huge chunk of your budget and your DIY items will have a personal touch you wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else! If you make them with your significant other or bridal party then this also gives you great memories of wedding planning, and some of them could even end up as keepsakes from your big day too. As previously mentioned, just weigh up the time and cost and whether it is actually worth it to make rather than buy.

Take a look at some of our DIY tutorials below for inspiration…

How To Make Your Own DIY Wooden Wedding Sign

How To Make DIY Glitter Mason Jar Centerpieces

Make Your Own Agate Place Cards

How To Make Your Own Guest Book

And check out our DIY Tutorials section for even more!

Also take a look at our Etsy shop for printable signs that you can either make with vinyl using a cutting machine, print and frame or get professionally printed… we have lots of quotes and styles no matter what kind of wedding you are planning!

And if you want to get serious with your DIY-ing, you could also consider getting a cutting machine, check out our post The 10 Best Cricut Wedding Projects for some inspiration.


We hope that has helped answer any questions you have about what route to go when planning your wedding decor!

Let us know in the comments which parts of your day you are going to DIY, Hire and Buy!

Sarah Doddsdiy wedding, wedding hire, wedding decor1 Comment