Standing Up to Pinterest Pressure and Saying “I Don’t” to DIY
by Vrej Sarkissian, CEO of L.A. Banquets
Browsing through the news a few days ago, I came across a story about moms who cite Pinterest as a source of stress in their lives. As a virtual place to share and find beautiful images of parties, food, and craft projects, Pinterest should be a haven for relaxation. But as moms try to replicate that level of fantasy perfection, and do it all themselves, they find the reality doesn’t often match their pinned perfection.
And it’s not just moms. Every day I see brides who suffer from “Pinterest stress” too. Overwhelmed by all the “inspiration,” brides are driven to anxiety, or worse, jealous competition. Brides convince themselves they have to plan the most fabulous, unique, Pinterest-worthy wedding Pinterest has ever seen. Often without regard to what their budget allows.
Many of these stresses stem from the sheer number of wedding related do-it-yourself projects brides undertake. From handmade centerpieces to home preserved jam wedding favors, wanting to DIY aspects of a wedding to achieve a uniquely personal look is a natural inclination. Not everyone has Martha Stewart skills and patience for crafts though, but Pinterest makes many brides feel that handmade and DIY is the true mark of a great wedding.
For brides who aren’t naturally handy or creative, DIY can pose a real challenge and endless headaches. I’ve seen brides try out calligraphy for the first time with 350 invitations to hand-letter. The result is usually spilled bottles of ink and ruined sheets of expensive paper. And besides taking up a lot of time, DIY projects don’t always save any money. Especially if a frustrated bride or couple ends up finding a vendor to take over a failed DIY project.
Wedding planning is difficult enough without adding the extra stress of trying to create a Pinterest-perfect DIY wedding. I say this to all the brides out there: There’s no shame in saying “I don’t” to DIY. Stand up to the Pinterest pressure and create the wedding you envision, not the one Pinterest says you need to have. Your guests won’t appreciate all the little handmade touches if you’re too exhausted to celebrate.
Just remember Pinterest is a tool to help you plan, not the point of your wedding itself. Stay true to what you want and need, and be aware of time and patience limitations when it comes to DIY. Save the elaborate projects for your vendors and save yourself the headaches. Don’t worry if your wedding doesn’t match up to the Pinterest fantasy, because the real thing will be so much better.
