The economy is pretty tight. That means that people are trying to spend less money. And that also means that people are attempting to find DIY ideas for wedding receptions that will decrease costs. But doing it yourself is NOT worth the trouble unless the results are going to be utterly fabulous.

Check out this quick list of DIY suggestions that are fairly easy to tackle and look terrific:

1. Tackle the centerpieces. They can be a big expense, but they can also be completed quite simply with an elegant result. And there are many DIY ideas that can be taken on by even the most novice of crafters/DIYers.

Start with a simple bowl and a Styrofoam ball. Place the ball in the bowl. Now place nice, silk flowers evenly and throughout the Styrofoam ball. Throw in some longer greenery randomly to give the arrangement a whimsical look. Another option is to gather glass vases of varying sizes and fill them with different types of candy that comes in the colors used at the wedding receptions. Another option is unique to each reception. You could put together a centerpiece that is directly related to the bride and/or groom. One such arrangement we’ve seen consisted of antique vases (a variety, of course) filled with fresh flowers.

2. Favors for wedding receptions: Favors are a popular aspect of wedding receptions. There are several easy favor ideas that can be created by an amateur DIYer: CDs (compile them yourself), matchboxes (have them personalized), seed packets, etc.

When putting together CD compilations you can make an arrangement of songs that the bride and groom prefer or it could have some symbolic meaning that guests will catch (like a copy of the music played at the reception). Matchboxes can be very memorable because the personalization can include the wedding date, venue, etc. And seed packets…are fantastic and usable. It’s a perfect little gift.

3. DIYing the Guest Book: Guests books are very traditional. But some are very expensive and can seem like a wasted expense; especially when you consider how many times the book is perused post-wedding (not often; sometimes never).

One fabulous DIY idea for the guest book is to enlarge a copy of the engagement photo have it put behind a great matte and then propped up on a large easel by the door with a pen handy. Guests sign the matte instead of a traditional guest book. The bride and groom then take it home, frame it and hang it in their new home as their first family photo.

DIY projects really lend themselves to wedding receptions because the wedding is such an individual, unique experience. DIY projects actually add something personal to the mix that can make the event stand out amongst the crowd and solidify the day in the minds of the bridal party and the guests as a day to remember. And that’s in addition to the fact that it takes the costs down drastically!

Contributed by Rachel Hansen. For more tips on wedding venues, events and wedding planning visit Villa Sienna.