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11 of the Best Wedding DIY Inspirations
- Georgia L
- 6 days ago
- 13 min read
You may not be planning a full DIY wedding and you might even have a planner or stylist on board, but that doesn’t mean you can’t save a little money while adding something truly special. A few thoughtful “do it yourself” touches can create unique, luxury moments your guests will never have seen before.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through 11 of the best DIY wedding ideas and exactly how to bring them to life. No more scrolling through inspo posts wondering how on earth to recreate the look. We’ve got you! From fresh new trends to timeless classics with endless opportunities for personalisation, these DIY features will help you craft a day that feels beautifully, unmistakably you.
Skip ahead to your favourite here. Our fave is number 6!
1.Travertine Stone Table Numbers 2. DIY Pressed Dried Flower Table Numbers 3. DIY Dried Flower Displays 4. DIY Wedding Jar Lighting 5. Wedding DIY Outdoor Hanging Tea Lights 6. DIY Wedding Hanging Halo 7. DIY Wedding Upcycled Displays 8. DIY Wedding Family Tree 9. Unique DIY Ice Buckets 10. DIY Wedding Back Drop 11. DIY Wedding Seating Plan Wall
DIY Travertine Stone Table Numbers
Travertine stone table numbers are having a moment in the wedding world and for good reason. Natural stone pieces like travertine lend a subtle luxury, organic texture and timeless elegance that complement both modern minimalist and rustic-chic. Because each slab has its own pattern and tone, they feel bespoke and high-end, without needing over-the-top decoration. Their weight and durability also mean they sit firmly in place, photograph beautifully, and feel expensive.
Brief 'How To' Summary
Source travertine slabs, tiles or bricks from any building merchant or even a garden centre. Note that thicker material will stand upright without needing extra support.
Cut/ Smash slabs if needed by either using tools such as a hammer and a chisel or simply brute force against a hard surface.
- Tip: Place a towel over the stone before hammering to keep any shards away from your face
Use sand paper to smooth any edges you deem unsafe.
Optional - Treat with outdoor stone sealant to protect from stains or moisture.
Source numbers or table names - either personalised from Esty or even house numbers from the building merchant work well.
Add your numbers with stone adhesive.
You can expand on this trend by using different stone materials and items such as marble style tiles for sophisticated clean lines. For thinner tiles consider adding a support to the back for it to stand upright.
DIY Pressed Dried Flower Table Numbers
DIY pressed dried-flower table numbers are a rising wedding favourite, as more couples embrace romantic, sustainable, and whimsical design details. Combining the soft elegance of dried blooms with the nostalgic charm of pressed botanicals, they bring natural texture and beauty to every table. Low-maintenance, versatile in colour, dried flowers offer a stylish, eco-friendly and long-lasting well beyond the celebration keepsake.
You can use floating photo frame for a super easy DIY with a stylish finish or even use acrylic for an even more personalised look.
Brief 'How To' Summary
Source your floating photo frames or acrylics sheets from a variety of homeware stores or even buy in bulk off amazon.
Use a heavy item to press your flowers. Placing the flowers in the back pages of a large book for 3-4 weeks works perfectly.
Once your flowers are dried and pressed place them decoratively inside the photo frame.
- Tip: If using acrylics place on the first sheet and use an acrylic adhesive on all four corners to seal the second sheet on top.
Source self adhesive numbers or table names. Etsy is great for this.
Add the numbers to the top layer of your photo frame or acrylic
DIY Dried Flower Displays
DIY dried-flower bouquets and arches are really having a moment in wedding design, and it’s not hard to see why. With weddings leaning more toward sustainable, rustic, and boho-elegant aesthetics, couples are choosing dried blooms and preserved foliage for their texture, longevity, and the romantic feeling they bring. Bouquets made of pampas grass, bunny tails, wheat, dried roses and those muted neutral/pastel tones pop in photos and last far beyond the ceremony. Meanwhile, arches incorporate dried elements like pampas, grasses, palm spears, and preserved eucalyptus to create dramatic backdrops that endure and look stunning in pictures.
Brief 'How To' Summary
Source your preserved blooms from many specialised online store or even local garden centres .
Create your centre pieces using either vases or floral foams.
Or use floral wire to connect the flowers to create a garland that can be used for a table runner
For tying bouquets together materials like raffia paper or jute twine work perfectly and compliments the final rustic look.
DIY Flower Arch
Gather your materials such as dried flowers, an arch frame (new or second-hand), cable ties, plus either floral foam or chicken wire for securing blooms.
-Tip: Chicken wire is flexible and bends easily around arches, while foam gives fuller, statement displays. Caged foam is easiest to work with.
Prep your chicken wire by cutting a large sheet, roll it into a long strip (like a pool noodle), and secure the shape with cable ties.
- Tip: You will need wire cutters.
Prep your base by attaching your chicken wire or caged foam securely to the arch with cable ties.
Create your display starting with fuller blooms (like baby’s breath or pampas) to create the shape, then layer in smaller or colourful flowers for detail and texture.
DIY Wedding Jar Lighting
Upcycled jars used for mood lighting have been a wedding favourite for quite some time now. Although this trend isn’t the newest, it remains popular for its simple DIY process and versatile results. From unique, hand-painted designs to classic, clean, and sophisticated styles, these jars can be used to guide guests around your venue or as feature table décor to add a splash of colour to your event.
Brief 'How To' Summary
Collect and source your jars, asking family and friends to contribute with any any large jars they use day to day.
Remove any labels by gently heating them with a hair dryer. This loosens the glue so labels can peel off easily in one piece.
Clean the jars with hot, soapy water, paying extra attention to any remaining adhesive.
DIY Hand Painted or Crafting
Source your materials, ensuring they’re suitable for glass such as, rubbing alcohol wipes, glass paint, clear seal spray, and glass glue for decorations.
Prepare your jars with a final clean using rubbing alcohol to ensure the surface is ready for decoration.
When painting, apply several thin layers for the best finish, allowing each layer to dry for 30 minutes to an hour depending on the paint type.
If covering the jar with a full base colour, lightly sand each coat with fine-grit sandpaper to achieve a smooth, professional finish.
To protect your design, once the paint is fully dry, spray the jar with a clear sealant to prevent cracking or fading before the big day. Allow to dry completely
Wedding DIY Outdoor Hanging Tea Lights
Outdoor lighting isn’t just a practical way to prevent accidents in the dark, it's also the perfect finishing touch to your décor and atmosphere. Mood lighting is essential for setting the scene at any event, but especially at weddings, where a warm glow instantly adds romance to any outdoor space.
Brief 'How To' Summary
The simplest way to create this look is to source candle holders or lanterns that already include a handle for threading string or wire through.
Source ready-made lanterns from any homeware or craft store.
Choose your hanging materials. String or wire is best for heavier lanterns, while ribbon works beautifully for lightweight candle holders. All can be found at local craft stores.
Depending on your materials, gather appropriate cutters. Wire cutters for metal, or fabric scissors for ribbon and string.
Thread the string or wire through the lantern's built-in loops and tie a secure knot, ready to hook onto tree branches or venue fixtures.
Tip: Vary the length of your strings or wires for a whimsical, layered effect.
Create Backdrop Feature
Source a large frame or arch if you’re creating a free-standing backdrop for your hanging candles. Get creative with vintage clothing racks, or build your own wooden frame using plywood.
Tip: If someone else will be assembling this feature on the day, pre-prepare each lantern by securing the string with adhesive but leaving the ends untied. This avoids transporting fragile hanging glass and allows your stylist or helpers to quickly adjust lengths and knot them at the venue.
Decorative Hanging DIY Jars
If you’re adapting the decorative jars mentioned above, you’ll need to DIY the hanging feature. There are many creative methods using knotted or looped string hangers (with plenty of video tutorials available), but the simplest method is below.
Source a strong glass-safe adhesive and string from a craft store or online.
Take two long lengths of string, lay them perpendicular to each other to form a cross, and secure the centre point with adhesive.
Once dry, attach the glued centre of the cross to the bottom of the jar using the glass adhesive. For added stability, you may also glue the lengths of string that run up the sides.
Most jars have a small lip or ridge near the top. Cut a new piece of string the length of this ridge (or double the length to wrap twice). Apply a line of adhesive along the ridge and wrap the string around it, ensuring the original support strings sit securely underneath this new layer.
Tip: Make sure the end of the wrapped string is firmly secured with plenty of adhesive to prevent peeling.
DIY Wedding Hanging Halo
This is one of my personal favourites!
We’ve already touched on how important lighting is for creating a romantic ambience. Hanging halos add instant luxury, class, and sophistication to your wedding day. Whether you choose the simplicity of cascading fairy lights or customise your halo with greenery and faux florals to match your overall theme, this feature always brings a dramatic and elegant touch.
Brief 'How To' Summary
Source battery-powered hanging or drop-style fairy lights in your desired length(s) from local homeware stores or online.
Choose your base frame. Smaller wire or wooden wreath frames can be found in craft stores, or for a larger structure, you can get creative with a hula hoop.
Gather all additional materials needed for your chosen frame and design: cable ties, wire cutters, ribbon in your theme colours, adhesive glue, faux greenery, and faux florals. Most can be found in craft stores, though dedicated faux-floral suppliers often offer higher quality options.
-Tip: Consider the height of your venue space when choosing the length of the hanging lights.
Wrap your frame with your chosen decorative material. Fabric generally adheres best with adhesive glue, while wired items (such as greenery or florals) are most secure when attached with cable ties or floral wire.
Attach the strip of fairy lights to the frame using cable ties, ensuring the battery packs are both easily accessible and subtly hidden.
Adding Florals and Greenery
Add a second layer of greenery or garland around the base of the halo for a fuller look and to help disguise the frame.
For hanging florals, wrap the ends of long garlands around the base several times and secure at a few points for stability. You can leave the garlands to hang long and delicate, or drape thicker garlands softly for added drama.
Use floral wire to attach individual faux flowers to the hanging garlands.
- Tip: You can also pre-attach florals to the garlands in advance for ease, however results are best when added to the complete look.
DIY Wedding Upcycled Displays
Get creative with your wedding displays! Presentation plays a huge role in shaping the atmosphere of your day, whether you’re aiming for luxury, rustic charm, or something quirky and personal. Decorative shelving is perfect for showcasing favours, desserts, or arrival drinks. While standard shelving units work beautifully with minimal effort, repurposed or upcycled items such as old ladders transformed into tiered shelves can create a truly unique statement feature.
Brief 'How To' Summary
Source the furniture you’d like to upcycle. Charity shops and second-hand marketplaces are ideal. Select pieces based on your desired style and the level of DIY you plan to take on.
Choose your paint according to the finish you want. Chalk paint is best for a vintage, distressed look, while oil, water, or acrylic based paints provide a smoother, more modern finish.
Clean thoroughly using a lightly damp, soapy cloth, making sure to get into any grooves. For tougher grime, add white vinegar or use a furniture safe degreaser.
Once dry, fill any holes if needed, then sand the surface. Start with a coarse-grit sandpaper and finish with a finer grit for a smooth result.
Wipe down the piece with a lightly damp cloth to remove all sawdust.
Apply primer if required. Some paints are 2-in-1 and don’t need it, and chalk paint often works well without primer, especially for a distressed look.
After each layer of primer or paint, use a lightly damp cloth to remove any re-settled dust. Sand particles can stay airborne and settle between coats.
Tip: For the best finish, apply multiple thin coats of paint rather than one thick one.
Tip: For a layered, distressed style, apply the darker chalk paint first, followed by the lighter paint. Once dry, sand selected areas to reveal the base colour.
For a luxury touch, apply gold leaf to edges or carved areas using gilding size (the correct adhesive for gold leaf).
Finish with a sealant if needed. Always check the paint’s instructions. Clear varnish, wax, or protective sealant paint can all be used depending on your chosen finish.
DIY Wedding Family Tree
If you’re looking for an easy yet deeply sentimental DIY feature, a wedding family tree is the perfect go-to. Whether you choose to create a tribute to loved ones who are no longer with you, a traditional family tree, or a timeline of marriage memories through the decades, this display becomes a beautiful talking point for your guests.
Weddings celebrate not only the love between you and your partner, but also the people who have shaped your lives and this feature highlights exactly that.
Important: If you plan to use an actual tree at your venue, always ask for permission before hammering in nails or hooks.
Brief 'How To' Summary
This feature is incredibly simple to achieve.
Collect your items: photo frames, small wooden plaques for signs, paint, string, and nails or hooks for attaching the frames.
Hammer nails or secure hooks into the tree (with venue approval) and hang your photo frames and sign. And that’s the whole concept. Beautifully simple.
Free Standing Options
If you prefer not to use a real tree, or your venue does not permit it, you can easily create a free-standing version. Here are a few ideas:
Attach photo frames to a wooden pallet and prop it upright for a rustic display.
Hang each “layer” of the family tree from a sturdy branch (from your own garden), using nails or strong string for a natural, rural look. Attach each layer together to create one hanging feature by using sturdy rope knots or threading the rope through a small, pre-drilled hole.
Use ready-made craft wreaths and attach photos inside the centre, then hang with ribbon or string. You can decorate further with faux greenery if you desire.
Add sturdy strips of ribbon or string across the inside of a large empty photo frame and use small wooden clips to attach photos.
Repurpose the decorative ladder idea from earlier: style the shelves with framed photographs to create a tiered, eye-catching display.
Unique DIY Ice Buckets
Any DIY wedding will need a way to keep drinks chilled — but why not turn this practical feature into a memorable display? Using quirky, unexpected vessels for your “help yourself” drink stations shows your guests just how much thought you’ve put into the details. Even if you choose traditional ice buckets, you can still elevate the look by displaying them on multi-height wooden blocks, inside rustic crates, or arranged along a vintage wooden bench for added interest.
If you want something more unique, consider using repurposed items such as wheelbarrows, freestanding bathtubs, canoes, plant pots, or even DIY decorative boxes. With the latter, you can panel the outside and add greenery or faux florals to transform a simple storage box into a statement piece.
Brief 'How To' Summary
Source the objects you’d like to use as ice buckets. Second-hand marketplaces and charity shops are ideal for finding unusual, characterful pieces.
If you plan to upcycle or decorate your chosen item, gather any craft materials you’ll need such as paint, faux greenery, or decorative trims.
Before decorating, fill the object with water to check for leaks (skip this step if the object is clearly waterproof).
If leaks are present, fill holes with an appropriate sealant or attach a waterproof liner to the inside using adhesive suitable for the material.
Tip: Add flower heads or petals to the ice on the day for an extra-special, eye-catching touch, turning your ice buckets into beautiful display features.
DIY Wedding Back Drop
Décor is so vital for a wedding as these are the features we don't see every day and that add the whimsical, romantic and luxury feel to the space. Adding a backdrop or a decorative corner offers picture opportunities for your guests to share their memories, as well as adding warmth to your space. From ready-made garden arches and DIY decorative walls to vintage-style clothes racks (one of my favourites I’ve mentioned previously), the options are endless.
Brief 'How To' Summary
Find your desired frame such as garden arches, trellises, brass free-standing rails or wooden frames from second-hand marketplaces, charity shops or online.
Source your draping materials such as taupe fabric, greenery garlands, fairy lights or even string for a macramé design. Draping is a staple for creating a beautiful backdrop.
Source all attachment tools such as cable ties, wire, twine, hooks or a staple gun for wooden frames.
Gather any additional decorative features you desire such as florals, hanging décor, signage or lanterns.
Add any items that can safely travel already attached to your frame, such as fabric or securely fixed garlands. Cable ties or wire are great for securing items such as fairy lights, greenery and florals.
Always create your full design at home first as a visual guide. Take photos and note down attachment points for anyone helping set up on the day.
Test the stability of your frame before decorating, ensure it stands securely on its own or add weights if outdoors.
If using fabric drapes, steam them before attaching for the best finish.
When working outdoors, consider wind by using extra ties, weights or thicker fabric to avoid movement.
DIY Wedding Seating Plan Wall
A striking seating-plan wall is a beautiful wedding feature that adds real wow-factor. Although it looks advanced, it’s surprisingly achievable with a little planning. This display can be fully personalised with your colours, quotes, florals, signage, or even favour offerings. The examples shown use florals, which add an elegant, romantic finish, perfect for any wedding.
Detailed “How To” Summary
1. Plan Your Design
Use a measuring tape to visualise the height and width of your wall. Consider how many shelves you’ll need based on your guest list, then sketch a front-view design including shelves and measurements.
Sketch the back view as well, adding measurements. The structure will use two foldable triangular stands (similar to a photo-frame stand) and a wedge that slots between them for stability.
To ensure the wedge stays secure, incorporate slot joints into your design.
Tip: The back view may need separate drawings showing the angles and shapes of the stands so your cutter can clearly understand each piece.
2. Cutting Your Plywood & Gathering Supplies
Many timber merchants will cut plywood to your measurements if you provide clear sketches. If your design includes an arch top, check beforehand that they can cut this shape.
Once your plywood pieces are ready, gather your tools:
Screws suitable for the plywood thickness
Hand drill
Four hinges (to attach the foldable stands)
Prepare additional decorating materials such as sandpaper, pencil, primer, paint, and sealant.
3. Prep the Wood
Sand all edges to make them smooth and reduce the risk of splinters.
Using your measurements, lightly draw guide lines directly onto the plywood to mark the placement of the shelves.
Repeat the markings on the back so the screw positions align with the shelf locations on the front.
4. Assemble
Secure each shelf by drilling screws from the back of the board into the edge of each shelf, using your pencil guides.
Attach the hinges to the inside edge of each triangular stand, then secure the stands to the back of the wall.
Once the stands are positioned correctly, the wedge should slot cleanly into the slot joints, locking the stands in place and preventing them from spreading apart.
Happy Crafting
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