Coming from a crafty family, I can’t wait to dive into preparations for the wedding. From the decorations to the favors, I plan on having a hand in it all.
I know we’re not all Martha Stewart, but there are some simple crafty ideas that I’ve found that can really put the personal stamp on such a special occasion. For most of these ideas, time is the most important variable. The crafts themselves are relatively simple, but if you wait until the last minute to throw them together, you may end up causing yourself undue stress.
I’ll be keeping my guests cool with these “handy” paper fans. There are countless websites that offer free templates for these simple keepsakes. All you need is some medium weight paper like Vellum, some painted handles (wooden paint stir sticks work great!) and an open source font database. You can print just about anything on these fans. They can double as your ceremony program, or deliver an uplifting message from the two of you to your guests.
The theme of our wedding is “We together, Created Us” which will be printed on the fans, with our names and date on the reverse side. Once your message has been printed, it’s time to cut out your fans and paste your colorful handles to the bottom. I’ll be adding a little extra touch to mine, by gluing a single imitation pearl to the base of the handle.
Another great Do-It-Yourself idea is the decorating! You have such an opportunity to express yourself as a couple and save a few pennies here. Since my wedding will be outdoors in the evening, I’ll be using simple strings of white lights throughout the party tent and surrounding foliage. Paired with these delicate paper pom poms in the colors of your choosing, I hope to create a whimsical summer feeling for my reception. 
We’ve made the decision to streamline the cake conundrum by opting for homemade donuts instead. The same thing can be done with a cupcake tower in place of a large overpriced wedding cake. We’re hoping to whip up a couple dozen homemade donuts and frost them in bright vivid colors.
We’ll still have a wedding cake for the cutting ceremony; however it will be much smaller and it too, will be homemade. A friend of mine had a cupcake tower at her wedding and in hopes of discouraging early nibblers as well as pests of the insect variety; her mother hemmed an insect net with beadwork and flowers creating a beautiful centerpiece until it was cupcake time!
I think I’m most excited about my next little project: The Wedding Favors. I wanted something that was original but practical. I chose to create little terrariums that my guests could take home and display in their home.
These little keepsakes require very little to make: miniature fishbowls (I found votive holders at the local dollar store that work great!) a bag of sand, decorative stones, and miniature succulents like cacti and aloe. Arrange your items within the fishbowl to create a sophisticated little desert scene. I’ve seen people get really fancy and have the bowls engraved with the date and their names. With something like this, you can go as big or as small as you’d like, customizing every detail to your taste and your wallet!
Lena M. Sack is a 25 year old student of life currently working her way through Massage Therapy School. By day an Executive Assistant for a magnet company, by night,
writer and artist, Lena's latest mission is planning a dream wedding with her wonderful fiancée, Michael.