Many people dream of having a unique and personal wedding. Do It Yourself (DIY) weddings are becoming increasingly popular as they offer couples the opportunity to express their own style and creativity during their wedding. However, organising these is not always an easy task, so we've put together five tips to help you think ahead:

The first steps: choose the "I do" tasks

Once you've put together a big pile of all the tasks you can think of, then immediately "be picky" and choose the ones you really want to do yourself and that reflect your personal style of wedding. Don't burden yourself with things you don't enjoy or that cause stress. Pick the few things that are most important and focus on those. And that brings us to the next tip:

The art of focus: choose and delegate wisely at your wedding

DIY weddings don't mean you have to do everything yourself. Be willing to delegate tasks to friends or family members who are happy to help. You can also accept offers of help if someone offers to help. Don't try to do everything yourself, as this will only add to your stress. Give them deadlines and check in occasionally to see how they are getting on with the task.

Know your limits: distribute tasks by ability

Don't try to do things you don't know or understand. Simply use the skills you already have. For example, if you are not a good seamstress, don't start learning to sew your own wedding dress now. Weddings are about taking your time and being creative about how you apply your skills, not about learning new things at the last minute - you won't be satisfied anyway.

Skills for acceptance: how to manage changes at your wedding

Life, including weddings, always has surprises and not everything always goes perfectly. If something doesn't work out as planned, you have three choices: you can accept the status quo and just get on with it; you can start all over again, which could lead to a perpetual cycle of dissatisfaction; or you can accept 'defeat' and move on. The wedding day is a day of love and joy, not a day of mistakes and perfection.

Joy in the making: fun and creativity at DIY weddings

Make a decision out of joy and don't forget to ask yourself: "Is this something I enjoy and will have fun with?" If the answer is no, then don't do it. Your wedding should be a joyful and fun experience, not a burden. Don't take on tasks you hate, instead, enjoy planning and creating. Ask for help, because you might as well put together a good friendly programme of decorating and conversation.

DIY weddings can be a wonderful and memorable experience if you approach them with cleverness and passion. Be brave, delegate, keep it simple, be willing to accept mistakes and above all enjoy creating and collaborating with those you love. Remember: this is your wedding and you decide who you say yes to or a firm no to their ideas. Your wedding is guaranteed to be one of the most memorable days of your life!

If you like alternative venues, see what a wedding in an old distillery can be like!