Wedding DIY isn’t everyone’s forte, but having some form of personalization is a meaningful addition for many couples.
By: Meghan Ely
Photo: Danielle Coons Photography / Stationery by Momental Designs
Custom handmade elements are perfect "Easter eggs" that you can weave into your overall decor and theme, from your invitation suite to attire and more. Our pros will walk you through the best tips and tricks for creating meaningful handmade touchpoints for your wedding.
"A thoughtful and unique handmade element to include in your wedding would be a watercolor portrait of your venue on your wedding invitation or details card. As a wedding guest, seeing something like this is a unique way to see a special preview of your venue! Other handmade elements include a unique custom favor of the bride and groom's favorite treats." —Liney Castle, Twickenham House and Hall
"If you're having a destination wedding and are extra artsy, we love the idea of creating a handmade map of the resort where your guests are staying and including it in their welcome bags, along with a hand-lettered itinerary of the week's events to come. Many couples who choose to have a destination wedding have traveled to other amazing locales together. Show off your favorite travel memories by handmaking table numbers with framed photographs from your trips for your reception décor." —Jen Avey, Destination Weddings Travel Group
"Calligraphy is the perfect way to add handmade elements to your wedding day. Whether it be on your invitations or the signs throughout your ceremony and reception, employing a talented calligrapher will elevate your wedding experience." —Colton Simmons, Colton Simmons Photography
"One of the most manageable projects you can tackle is creating unique chair markers for your reception dinner. Regardless of your seating arrangement style, consider decorating your newlywed chairs with subtle signs, bows, or greenery to make them stand out. You can also get creative with bouquet wraps with beautiful ribbons or other adornments." —Kevin Dennis, Fantasy Sound Event Services
"The wedding stationery is the perfect opportunity to easily incorporate hand-made, artisanal elements into the wedding. Save-the-dates, invitations, and day-of stationery can include materials and artwork that are made by hand instead of mass-produced. Incorporating handmade papers, wax seals, and hand-painted detailing are details that can be discussed with the stationery designer or even something that the couple can do together as a DIY project.” —Kelley Nudo, Momental Designs
“Handmade elements aren't just beautiful; they're meaningful. They add warmth and personality to your wedding day, and every piece tells a story about your journey together. One of the best elements I saw recently was each table number at reception was pictures of the couple at the same age as the table number. What a fun, unique, and interesting way to tell your story and engage your guests! Unique things like this can really add the cherry on top of your beautiful wedding.” —Craig Peterman, Craig Peterman Photography & Videography
"Hand-sewn accessories are an excellent option for giving your attire a handmade touch. Veils, sashes, or jewelry can be used to customize your wedding attire and not only add a unique addition but also make this day truly special for you." —Colton Simmons, Colton Simmons Photography
Even if you're hoping to leave the design aspect up to the professionals, there are many ways that you can incorporate handmade elements into your big day — whether you opt for something subtle or a bit more showstopping.
Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding PR and wedding marketing firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.
