| | | Craft it yourself | | Straight from the heart, the latest CIY (craft-it-yourself) wedding trend could have you reaching for the needle and thread. By Amy Collins-Walker | |  | The latest CIY (craft-it-yourself) wedding trend could have you reaching for the needle and thread
Credit: courtesy nochintz.com | | | The craft-It-yourself (CIY) homespun wedding is in the spotlight as people increasingly desire a day that speaks of their personality and history – a day that is a true expression of themselves and not something of the cookie-cutter variety.
‘Our lives and the pairings we make are unique and so a wedding between two individuals marks one of the few life transitions where you are able to set the tone and share something heartfelt about who you are as a couple,’ explains Jennifer Farmer of Etsy Wedding, a popular bridal blog. ‘Homespun touches are an affordable way for couples to add details that reflect their unique personalities.’
Made by Hand
A nod to a time when handmade items were a necessity, modern craft has a vintage aesthetic and cool cachet that has shrugged off the dowdy associations of the past. While it does seem that everything old is new again, this time, instead of sporting a tragic pair of ’60s flares, the very best of the past is being cherry-picked by couples intent on creating their own unique celebrations.
‘The common denominator is the desire to create and utilise things that have character and that were made with love,’ says Jennifer. ‘I started blogging about the artists and crafters on etsy.com because the torrents of money people spend on disposable or mass-produced items could often be redirected into custom, artisanal objects that allow couples to express the subtle nuances of their personalitie,’ she ads.
The CIY movement
CIY also encourages people to think laterally and avoid drawing inspiration from obvious or typical sources. A scrap of beautiful fabric, your favourite painter or even a child’s toy could be your muse – your starting point can be anywhere and that is the beautiful simplicity of it. The craft resurgence can perhaps be attributed to the deep-seated satisfaction that comes from working with our hands and from creating something entirely from scratch. ‘Pride of accomplishment is a huge part of its appeal and as “status” goods become both more expensive and globally similar, saving money and creating something unique factor in,’ explains Jennifer.
From bomboniere to place settings, flowers, attire and stationery, the sky’s the limit on the CIY front. And homespun touches come in many different forms including hosting your wedding at home, hiring a friend as your photographer, caterer or entertainment, or even making your own wedding dress or cake – the possibilities really are endless.
Tips for DIY wedding craft
• Think about the unique things that are characteristic of you and your partner to be certain your day is a true reflection of yourselves
• Use all of your resources – family and friends probably have talents you don’t even know about
• Explore the online space. The internet is a treasure trove of crafty finds
• If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to outsource
Inspiring blogs
• ETSY WEDDING etsywedding.blogspot.com
• GREEN WEDDING SHOES greenweddingshoes.com
• 100 layer cake 100layercake.com/blog
• STYLE ME PRETTY stylemepretty.com
• ONCE WED oncewed.com
• meet me at mike’s meetmeatmikes.com |
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