If you’re getting married, the temptation to cut costs and trim your budget may lead you to try out some Pinterest-worthy DIY projects, but wedding expert Deborah DeFrancesco warns brides and grooms to proceed with caution.

“I feel like DIY can absolutely set you up to cry,” she says. As the founder of the popular blog and podcast, Bitchless Bride, DeFrancesco understands the pressure couples are under to make their wedding their own, while also sticking to their budget.

“Weddings are so high pressure because there’s a lot at stake—you have a lot of money you’re playing with and it’s very easy to get wrapped up in DIY and saving money,” she says.

If you do plan to take on DIY projects for your big day, DeFrancesco offers her do’s and don’ts.

DO: Be realistic

Make sure you have a good understanding of the costs associated with whatever project you want to take on.

“DIY is not as cheap as you think it is,” she says. “You should take a look at how much you’re going to spend on everything DIY and include your time in there, because if you are not careful, you’ll end up going way over what you would have spent if you hired a professional to do it for you.”

Figuring out your skill level and how much time you’re willing to spend will help you keep your projects realistic and doable for your budget.

DO: Leave yourself enough time

On paper, your DIY project might look easy, but DeFrancesco estimates projects typically take at least double the time you allot for them.

“If you’re not a skilled crafter, you’re adding additional pressure to your already stressful day,” she says.

DeFrancesco advises couples to educate themselves on the project and do some practice runs so when the time comes to execute the full project, you’re realistic about how much time you need.

DO: Give yourself an out

Understanding your own limitations and knowing when to step away from your project will help you avoid a meltdown close to your big day, DeFrancesco says.

“If you feel like you got in over your head, then you have to give yourself permission to say OK, how am I going to fix this?” she says. “You either hire someone to help you fix it, you plow through, or you scrap the project and move on.”

DeFrancesco says you should try and complete all of your projects about a month before your wedding—otherwise you should reconsider how important they are to the day.

DON’T: Make your cake or arrange your flowers

Tackling big projects like baking your own cake and making your floral arrangements is better left to professionals, DeFrancesco says.

“I would not take that project on yourself, even if this is your craft, I wouldn’t have you do it,” she says. “It’s very unfortunate when it doesn’t work out and then you’re scrambling a day before your wedding.”