tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post7013546713094171947..comments2024-03-18T20:54:10.729-07:00Comments on Heart of Light: The dark side of DIYRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819528155575569595noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-6954605751888644092012-09-08T07:39:23.390-07:002012-09-08T07:39:23.390-07:00a new follower. This post is making me laugh... be...a new follower. This post is making me laugh... because it is so trueMarleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17954401385021005375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-22891105798796840132011-02-28T11:45:47.859-08:002011-02-28T11:45:47.859-08:00!!! Just found you through your APW post today, no...!!! Just found you through your APW post today, now stalking (urmmm sorry!) through all your archives, and this nearly made me fist-pump at my desk at work. I've been looking for some kind of "here is what is actually involved with pulling off a DIY wedding" for a bit and this is great. THANKS!Rachaelhttp://rachael-maddux.tumblr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-90416700535516509662010-08-17T12:43:58.197-07:002010-08-17T12:43:58.197-07:00Oh goodness. Reminds me of the wedding I baked cak...Oh goodness. Reminds me of the wedding I baked cakes for about a month ago where we ran out of buttercream, had to make more with the cake already mostly frosted...and it was a different color. Fail. But still delicious :)bridgetwhoplaysfrenchhornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00944714770867649886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-66908566523675313932010-08-13T10:55:55.670-07:002010-08-13T10:55:55.670-07:00In fairness to the church lady, as a wedding photo...In fairness to the church lady, as a wedding photographer I have seen MANY bridesmaids and groomsmen pass out during very short ceremonies. It was good advice to give, trust me :)Stacy, LAmour de Parishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12194436345782825272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-62119240329521207712010-08-13T10:41:31.566-07:002010-08-13T10:41:31.566-07:00Thanks, everyone! I'm honestly impressed that ...Thanks, everyone! I'm honestly impressed that you made it all the way to the end of the post! I think it's the longest one I've ever written. <br /><br />Obviously I love DIY stuff, but I hate to give the impression that it's a "snap your fingers and it magically appears" situation, so this was an attempt to be honest about it. <br /><br />I see so many gorgeous blog weddings where there are a million details (candles lit, hand sewn bunting strung, mason jars hung in trees) and all I can think is - "who the hell ran around stringing all that bunting right before the wedding? and who had to take it down afterwards?" Logistics are tricky.<br /><br />@ stephanie - I'm so relieved that you were happy you did your mom's wedding, because I would have felt terrible if I'd inspired you and then it was disastrously stressful! So sweet of you to do it so your mom could stay relaxed. <br /><br />@ Alicia - hello, fellow Scrippsie! So nice to see you here!Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10211797571405802312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-35559248861106648662010-08-12T20:36:31.720-07:002010-08-12T20:36:31.720-07:00i remember some of these moments when i did my sis...i remember some of these moments when i did my sister's wedding years ago. the most memorable was ordering the champagne that no one drank....weirdCharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03851293154388793520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-74141739443959721382010-08-12T16:44:51.655-07:002010-08-12T16:44:51.655-07:00Wow do I love this post! That's exactly how I...Wow do I love this post! That's exactly how I felt at my wedding. Then, as if to add to the mess, or photographer didn't photograph anything that I made! I still haven't talked about it on my blog because I don't know what to day without pictures! This post made me feel much better... thanks!homesprouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15855282294746811345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-88972139278413127572010-08-12T14:50:14.919-07:002010-08-12T14:50:14.919-07:00oh rachel, you are a girl after my own heart (whic...oh rachel, you are a girl after my own heart (which i already knew). you are me, or i should say, i am you! this is exactly how i would handle this type of situation. i love DIY, i love planning, i love organizing, i love crafting, but as the time disappears, so does my patience, and get snappy. and frantic. and the best anyone can do is stay out of my wayyyy! it's something i have been working on, but when you feel like you have so much pressure on your shoulders (pressure you put there yourself, because you wanted the very best for your sister!), it's extremely hard not to have a few moments you later wish you could take back! <br /><br />my sister actually recently got engaged and i will be helping a ton in the planning - so this was perfect timing for me to read this. i think i'll have to continue to reread throughout the process, just to keep checking myself! <br /><br />thanks SO much for sharing :) you're the best!diane @ a spot of whimsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10483139618821684237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-64365014201944956532010-08-12T14:36:27.315-07:002010-08-12T14:36:27.315-07:00This post is hilarious!! Your descriptions are so...This post is hilarious!! Your descriptions are so realistic sounding. It is almost as if we were there! Love it! You are an awesome sister to do all that you did, and you are exactly right about DIY. The work is overwhelming and that IS why things like that cost so much. All the work that you are saving yourself from is what you are paying for! That being said, truly loved the story and thanks for sharing!<br /><br />JulieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-25715913016245056152010-08-12T12:59:45.949-07:002010-08-12T12:59:45.949-07:00i just stumbled upon your blog via my best friend&...i just stumbled upon your blog via my best friend's blog (lily from bigbang) and adore it! i look forward to following you and your adventures!<br />xo<br />kateWelcome!https://www.blogger.com/profile/16551774983627074597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-85771562363748095232010-08-12T12:39:28.750-07:002010-08-12T12:39:28.750-07:00This is a wonderful and honest post! After 80 wed...This is a wonderful and honest post! After 80 weddings, I still find myself getting snappy, frantic, or crying at some point. Weddings are high-stress, high-pressure events, and I'm a sensitive girl. It can take it's toll at times. I think you nailed it when you said a coordinator is key to bringing together all the DIY details you've worked so hard on- the bride and family of the bride should definitely be spared the mini-crises that inevitably occur on the wedding day. It's seriously not worth it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-39159857722746197062010-08-12T09:32:31.956-07:002010-08-12T09:32:31.956-07:00Oh, the title made me giggle. So so so true. And s...Oh, the title made me giggle. So so so true. And somehow no one talks about it; or if they do, they don't admit to snapping at people or having mini-meltdowns. (I definitely did both. Sorry, family; thanks for still helping me.)Kristyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17468276901563947172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-62531771175804546652010-08-12T09:21:27.670-07:002010-08-12T09:21:27.670-07:00this was easily one of my favorite posts to read.....this was easily one of my favorite posts to read...i only wish i had gotten some credit in helping pick out the dress ;)<br /><br />and i couldn't help but picture you in the car pulling a Dawson. i'm sure it was tragic at the time, but such a fun(ny) story for me to read years later. xCupcakes and Cashmerehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03924696385489623992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-1399543906009303812010-08-12T09:03:57.144-07:002010-08-12T09:03:57.144-07:00Oh boy, am I with you. We DIY'd everything for...Oh boy, am I with you. We DIY'd everything for our wedding except the food/cakes. I wrote the ceremony, embossed and assembled every one of the invitations myself, we chose every single song that was played and the order they were played in, we did the flowers & decor, my mom made table runners, etc. One thing I always recommend since then is people who are going to do their flowers should do a practice run. We were only putting roses in fish bowls, how hard could it be? I discovered the day before my wedding that I'm terrible at arranging flowers. Luckily my matron-of-honor was excellent at it. And as it turns out, I was much better at forming bouquets than she was. It all turned out in the end, but there are definitely those harried moments. Also glad to know someone can be as crazy as I am when it comes to planning.Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16881407681016424407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-22421876372424899742010-08-12T08:38:24.485-07:002010-08-12T08:38:24.485-07:00Your recap is AMAZING! I planned and executed a la...Your recap is AMAZING! I planned and executed a large majority of my mom's wedding last year and am really glad I did it. The budget was super tight but I still wanted it to be as nice as possible. I am pretty sure I wound up getting pretty snappy with people that didn't seem to take it as seriously as I did, but in the end everything worked out and my mom and stepdad were really, really happy...and relaxed. To me that was the best gift I could give them; to have their wedding day be as low stress for them as possible. <br /><br />(And I have to say that part of the reason I decided to take on the challenge of the DIY wedding was because of reading your blog. You're very inspirational!)stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05236399150738812466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-70538298970024558712010-08-12T08:35:23.934-07:002010-08-12T08:35:23.934-07:00Your title cracks me up! It's so true. My firs...Your title cracks me up! It's so true. My first job was at a wedding resource center (place to get info on locations, photogs, florists, caterers, order invites, etc.), and I don't know how many brides I had come through in the early stages saying they would do everything themselves. Sure, sweetie. Once you know just how much is involved, most opt to outsource as much as they can, or ignore it and go crazy. I'd MUCH rather actually enjoy one of the biggest days of my life, TYVM. :)<br /><br />Your sister is incredibly lucky she had such a support group to help her out!Trudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02719492306614576123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-90841879978107351202010-08-12T08:16:01.784-07:002010-08-12T08:16:01.784-07:00love this! so true--i find myself in the same boat...love this! so true--i find myself in the same boat perpetually. kindred spirits!Jezkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03603236717193949071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-61403833789152598612010-08-12T07:28:43.056-07:002010-08-12T07:28:43.056-07:00hahahaha. "Helpers need to be told what to do...hahahaha. "Helpers need to be told what to do, preferably with a scale diagram with exact measurements of chair spacing. People expect me to know EVERYTHING and I start to get a little snappy" reminds me of the night before our wedding when people are due to arrive for our welcome bbq any minute (i still have not showered) and my best friend asks (after a string of other people having just asked me a string of other questions) where i want the ice that i just sent her to get, and i look at her like i am the devil. and the next day where, even though i wrote out detailed instructions on What Is Left To Do (detailed enough to be handed off, i thought) but i still have to manage the work. "how many jars of roses per table?..." and so on. sigh.jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15103047512463828864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-55509292641275260302010-08-12T06:32:36.980-07:002010-08-12T06:32:36.980-07:00you are a goddess!! sounds so incredibly hard, and...you are a goddess!! sounds so incredibly hard, and i do not think i could pull it off... but i know this wedding had to be so beautiful.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07303487463979785469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-49904279860876801862010-08-12T06:10:34.295-07:002010-08-12T06:10:34.295-07:00Wow. You are brave!!!! And I'm so glad I'm...Wow. You are brave!!!! And I'm so glad I'm not the only one out there with. Thanksgiving file. I have one for my son's bday too.Danielle (elleinadspir)http://www.elleinadspir.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-68141200780594197412010-08-12T06:01:47.868-07:002010-08-12T06:01:47.868-07:00I love DIY and the spirit of DIY that blogs promot...I love DIY and the spirit of DIY that blogs promote, but it's refreshing to finally see someone being up front and honest about just how hard DIY can be! We did a lot of things for our wedding ourselves, but our saving grace was letting someone else run the show on the big day. I wouldn't even have known where to begin, and now? I'm so grateful I chose to leave some things in someone else's fully capable hands.Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01899277351488775904noreply@blogger.com