Large bowl

Citric acid (try your local chemist, just tell the pharmacist what you want it for)

Baking soda

Dried lavender

Lavender essential oil

Food colouring

Almond oil (if you can't find this at your local supermarket try a health food store)

Molds (if you can't find specific bath bomb mold you could use chocolate molds for smaller bombs)

Waxed paper

1. Mix 1/2 cup of citric acid, 1 1/4 cups of baking soda and 1/4 cup of dried lavender together in a bowl.

2. Add 15 drops of your lavender essential oil, 2 tsp of water and a couple of drops of blue and a couple of drops of red food colouring.

3. Slowly add between 2 to 6tbsp of almond oil until the mixture with hold together.

4. Roll spoonfulls of your bath bomb mix into lightly oiled molds and leave to set for a few minutes. They will start to expand. Remove from the molds and allow to thoroughly dry out on waxed paper for a day or two.

5. Wrap a ribbon around the bath bomb from top to bottom and finish off with a bow, or display surrounded by little shells as above.

I've often read that the most stressful thing in life is to move house - well whoever came up with that statement had clearly never planned a wedding. Most days I'd happily take packing boxes and setting up utility accounts over all the drama and politics that come hand in hand with a wedding.

The mother-in-law is interfering and your sister doesn't like her bridesmaid's dress. Auntie Flo won't speak to you unless you invite her neighbour from across the street. Well why wouldn't you? You went round that time and had tea with her when you were seven after all! And if that wasn't stressful enough - you've decided to DIY. (Our tag line is not tantrums, tiaras and sticky tape for nothing you know.) So what's a crafty creative bride to do? Well, take a deep breath and put down the glue gun because we've got some top tips for making your special day, and the lead up, as stress-free and as fun as possible.

We're all better at some things than others. Be realistic and only take on what you know you can do well. The idea of putting together 20 floral centerpieces might seem like a good one, but if you've never done it before, stop. If you are planning on trying something that's new to you, do a test run with plenty of time to call in a professional if it all goes horribly wrong.

Enlist help. Get the girls together for a DIY craft day. If you know anyone with a specific skill or profession that might helpful, a hairdresser or musician for example, ask for it to be your wedding gift.

Make a list of everything you plan to DIY for your wedding, then look at the timing. The further out from your wedding date the more you can do which is why things like invitations and decorations that can be safely stored are a great option to DIY. You don't want to be up assembling and gluing at midnight before the wedding after all.

Remember things like fresh flowers will need to be done the night before, so if you think it might be too much, get a professional. Equally make sure you're not doing things too early. If you're making sweets or baking make sure they will still be fresh on the big day.

Don't forget get what this is all about, you and the person you love. So enjoy it!

• Lavender salt glow. Exfoliating sea salt scrub with coca butter. Unwind before the wedding or great for wedding favours and bonboniers. US$14.50 from Inner Earth Soaps.

• Lavender and linen printable DIY table numbers. The perfect finishing touch to your table decorations. Number 1-12 $10 from 'i do' it yourself.

• Lilac three piece party pom set. US$15 from Party Poms.

• Adorable white and lavender ring bearer pillow. US$22 from Emici Bridal.

• Purple passion bunting banner. US$30 from Giggleberry.

• White beach pebbles with customised engraving. US$14 each from SJ Engraving.

• Purple floral print guest book with four matching little books for bridesmaids. US$65 from Kate Blocher.

• Set of three porcelain sea urchin votive candle holders. US$125 from Element Clay Studio.

• DIY print at home paddle fan. Available in all styles in the 'i do' it yourself range. US$10

Via Apartment Therapy.