Is a DIY Wedding Cheaper? Real Costs of Wedding Decorations You Need to Know

Everyone talks about saving money with a DIY wedding. You see Instagram posts of brides crafting lanterns from mason jars, painting wooden signs, or weaving floral arrangements from dollar-store blooms. It looks magical. But here’s the truth most blogs won’t tell you: DIY wedding decorations often cost more than you think - and take way more time than you plan for.

What You Save on Paper Isn’t What You Spend in Reality

Let’s say you want to make 50 centerpieces for your reception. You find a tutorial that says you need 20 stems of fake eucalyptus, 10 candles, and five glass vases. The tutorial claims it’ll cost $15 per centerpiece. That’s $750 total. Sounds great, right?

But here’s what that tutorial doesn’t mention: the eucalyptus is sold in bulk packs of 100 stems for $45. You only need 20, but you can’t buy half a pack. So now you’ve spent $45 for something you’ll never use again. The candles? You need pillar candles, not tea lights. The ones that look like the ones in the photo cost $3.50 each. You buy 10, but two break in transit. You end up buying 14. The vases? You thought thrift stores had what you needed. You visited three, spent two hours searching, and found three usable ones. The other two you bought online for $12 each because you ran out of time.

Now your cost per centerpiece is $22. That’s $1,100 - not $750. And you haven’t even counted the gas to drive to three stores, the time you missed at work, or the stress of realizing you have no idea how to arrange flowers properly.

Time Is Money - And You’re Running Out

Most DIY wedding guides treat crafting like a fun weekend hobby. But weddings aren’t hobbies. They’re deadlines with consequences. If you’re working a full-time job, you might get 8 hours a week to make decorations. That’s not enough for 50 centerpieces, 20 table numbers, 15 hanging lanterns, and a ceremony arch.

One bride in Perth spent 140 hours over six weeks making her wedding decorations. She estimated her time at $30/hour (minimum wage in Australia). That’s $4,200 in labor - and she didn’t even count the cost of materials. She ended up paying a local florist $3,500 to finish the work two weeks before the wedding because she was exhausted and behind.

DIY sounds romantic. But when you’re crying over a glue gun at 2 a.m. because your table runners are crooked, it doesn’t feel like a labor of love. It feels like a chore you can’t escape.

The Hidden Costs No One Talks About

DIY wedding decorations come with invisible expenses:

• Tools you don’t own: Hot glue guns, wire cutters, foam blocks, floral tape, spray paint - these aren’t in most homes. You buy them once and never use them again.
• Storage: Where do you keep 50 glass vases, 200 stems of silk flowers, and three rolls of burlap for six weeks? You rent a storage unit for $60/month. That’s $360 right there.
• Shipping and returns: You order supplies online because your local craft store doesn’t carry what you need. One package arrives damaged. You pay $18 to return it. The replacement takes 10 days. Now you’re scrambling.
• Waste: You buy 100 wooden letters to spell "Mr. & Mrs." You only need 12. The rest go in the bin. You buy 5 meters of lace for table runners. You cut it wrong and throw away 2 meters.

These costs add up fast. A 2025 survey by Australian Wedding Budget Tracker found that couples who attempted DIY decorations spent an average of $1,870 more than they budgeted - and 68% of them hired professionals to fix or complete the work anyway.

When DIY Actually Saves Money

It’s not all bad. DIY can work - if you’re smart about it.

Here are three realistic cases where DIY decorations saved money:

1. You already have the skills and tools: A friend who’s a professional florist made her own bouquet and centerpieces. She used flowers from her garden and bulk stems from a local market. Her cost: $280. A professional would’ve charged $1,200.
2. You’re making one or two key pieces: A couple in Brisbane hand-painted 12 wooden signs for table numbers. They bought the wood from a local carpenter for $10 each. Paint and brushes: $40. Total: $160. They hired someone for everything else. They saved $500.
You’re recycling or repurposing: A bride used her grandmother’s lace tablecloths as aisle runners. She bought vintage glass bottles from a flea market for $2 each and filled them with wildflowers from the bush. Total: $90. A florist would’ve charged $400 for a similar look.

The pattern? These people didn’t try to do everything. They focused on one or two meaningful items they could make well - and outsourced the rest.

What Professional Decorators Actually Do For You

When you hire a decorator, you’re not just paying for flowers and candles. You’re paying for:

• Experience: They know which flowers hold up in Sydney heat. They know how to arrange them so they don’t droop by 4 p.m.
• Access: They have wholesale flower suppliers, bulk discounts on lighting, and last-minute backup vendors.
• Time: They show up, set up, and take down. You don’t have to be there.
• Stress-free guarantees: If a vase breaks? They replace it. If the wind blows your lanterns over? They have a plan.

One Sydney wedding planner charges $2,800 for full decor. That includes delivery, setup, lighting, floral arrangements, signage, and cleanup. It’s not cheap - but it’s predictable. No surprises. No midnight panic.

Realistic Budget Breakdown: DIY vs. Professional

Here’s what a typical $3,000 wedding decoration budget looks like, depending on your choice:

Yes, you read that right. The DIY version cost more than four times as much - and that’s before factoring in the emotional toll.

Smart Alternatives to Full DIY

You don’t have to go all-in or all-out. Here are three middle-ground options:

• Hybrid Decor: Hire a decorator for the big pieces (arch, lighting, centerpieces) and make your own favors or escort cards. You get the personal touch without the overwhelm.
• Pre-Made Kits: Companies like Etsy sellers offer DIY wedding decoration kits - pre-cut, pre-measured, with instructions. You still assemble, but you avoid the guesswork. Cost: $200-$500 for a full set.
• Local Artisan Swap: Trade skills. Are you good at calligraphy? Offer to hand-write invitations for a florist in exchange for discounted centerpieces. You save money. They get exposure. Everyone wins.

Final Verdict: Is DIY Cheaper?

Unless you’re a professional crafter with free time, storage, and access to bulk supplies - DIY wedding decorations are not cheaper. They’re more expensive, more stressful, and often less beautiful than you imagined.

But here’s the real win: meaningful DIY. One small thing you make with your hands - a photo frame with your parents’ wedding date, a handwritten menu, a custom playlist you curated - that’s what guests remember. Not the 50 mismatched lanterns you glued together at 3 a.m.

Save your energy. Save your sanity. Spend your budget on what actually matters: being present on your wedding day.

If you’re still thinking about DIY, ask yourself: Is this going to make my wedding day better - or just more complicated?