Talking Point: Down To You?

THE HOT TOPIC THAT’S GRABBED OUR ATTENTION: THIS ISSUE, WE ASK: ARE YOU FEELING PRESSURED TO DIY?

- Faye Stacey

If a scroll through #weddinggoals has left you feeling your plans are inadequate, you’re not alone. But a crafty, Pinterest-perfect day is not the key to wedded bliss, insists

I’m fascinated with 5-Minute Crafts. The videos pop up on Facebook and YouTube every now and then when I’m idly browsing in the evening and I. Just. Can’t. Deal. The so-called ‘life hacks’ are downright bizarre. For instance, a quick check right this second reveals a feature on all the strange and useless things you can make in the comfort of your own home from concrete (oh, hold on, let me get my vat churning outside). I’m watching aghast as the person demonstrating pours the gloopy mess over a cluster of oranges to create an obscene fruit bowl. Other memorable moments include: the woman who whipped up a lip stain out of ink from a magazine and some balm; unbearably creepy hangers fashioned from Barbie legs; and the bed sheet that became a dress.

It’s a similar horror show in the wedding world. Why is it that the minute people get engaged they think they’re Neil Buchanan? Fair enough if you have an actual talent – I have a bunch of artistic pals whose skills have definitely come in handy on w-day – but if you never even took Higher Art & Design, why are you now attempting to transform a wooden crate into a table plan?

And it’s not just the havoc that can be wreaked with a paintbrush. Brides and grooms are desperate to put their stamp on their day and make it one of a kind, no matter how. We’d normally applaud such a mission, but how can we if it results in you weeping over a concave cake at 3am on the day you’re due to walk down the aisle?