Photography and videography are some things best left to the professionals because when it comes down to it, the average Joe and Jane doesn't know squat about what makes a good capture and how to edit all the pieces together to allow the viewer to concentrate on the content - your wedding.  When engaged, we look at countless options for recording these precious moments, and depending on our budget and taste, we make a selection and go with it. Lots of people want to try their hand at recording and capturing their own wedding day because it's less costly and can add that personal touch that we enjoy seeing later on down the road. 

Where should the two worlds of professional and personal meet?   Enter Wedit.com.  

For around $500, the company will send you 5 hand-held flip cameras on the Wednesday before your wedding day.  They are yours to use and record as you see fit, and after your wedding day is over, you send the cameras back to the company.  They take the footage that you and your guests captured and edit it all together and create a professional video for you to have back.  Pretty cool, right?   Below is a sample video. 

I love twinkling little lights!  I am a firm believer in spraying everything with net lights, string lights, lanterns, canisters, you name it especially for a wedding!  While string lights on their own are pretty and do the job, you can definitely take them to the next level by adding decor onto each bulb.  You often see party lights at the big box store where there is an added flower or animal or whathaveyou on each bulb.  Generally, this will increase the price from a standard string light price to about 5 times the amount!  Boo!  Instead, why not create something to go on the bulbs.  Origami anyone?  Check out the inspiration pictures and directions below!

 This linked picture below will take you to directions for how to turn a styrofoam egg carton into flower string lights!  Easy peasy and cheap-o!

This linked picture below will take you to a website with step by step animated directions for origami! 

And below is a picture linked to one of the cheapest sources for string lights.  50 foot roll for $3.99!

This DIY project could be done for a tiny fraction of what you might pay for decorative string lights in a retail store.  So get folding, gluing, and lighting!  I think these could be used all year round!  I might just make some for fun today! 

Last minute changes made right?  Flowergirl sticks her chocolatey fingers on your table numbers?  Or the oncoming thundercloud encourages you to move your seating area under a tent?  You may need an updated sign or two to help you fix these and other problems, and by using chalkboard signs, all it takes is a wet sponge, a piece of sidewalk chalk, and a steady hand! 

You can buy chalkboards ready to go, or you can purchase chalkboard paint which can go on just about anything!  We purchased some back a ways at Menards, and the chalkboard paint could be tinted 16 different colors!  We used a sponge roller to apply the paint to plywood for our signs.  I believe you can also buy it in a spray can, although something tells me the nozzle would get gummed up, but who knows? 

Below I'm going to show you some examples of chalkboards that were used in a wedding and also where you can buy some amazing chalkboards! 

Look at these ways to use chalkboard signs:

Here are some chalkboards ready for purchase from Etsy.com:

So grab a paint can, make an order, and get those chalkboards here pronto.  They give a beautiful rustic charm to any wedding while providing a practical way to convey messages and information to your guests at your wedding! 

While I like to linger on the web for limitless hours, when I'm in the real world, I try to maximize my time and get the biggest bang for my buck.  If you've ever been in a time crunched situation, cough-cough - wedding planning, then you can relate.  I love DIY projects.  Even more love goes to DIY projects that can get done in one sitting!  Simple steps and power-tool free, these wedding DIY projects might just be right for you...

How about this tutorial which is set up to make a rouched tree skirt but could easily be modified to make a base layer of lovely rouched fabric for your centerpieces?  Just slap some candles and/or flowers on top, et voila!  Your guests have something pretty to look at while they toast you.

Or how about this pretty little idea for a bridal or wedding party headpiece.  All it takes is some grosgrain ribbon, spray starch, and a hot glue gun!  Wahoo!

This idea rocks my little world...take any kind of glass container, line it with tissue paper, pop in a battery operated tea light and presto!  Beautiful lighting!

There you have it - three totally easy, totally cheap, totally beautiful ideas to make your wedding decor shine with some craftiness on your part!  So enlist the help of a friend or family member, and get cracking!  What other DIY projects have you created for your wedding?