When you’re preparing for your wedding, do-it-yourself projects can be fun, fulfilling, and fantastic, especially when they turn out just as you’d envisioned. They also can be a way to keep costs under control. On the flip side, they can also make for stress and disappointment when they don’t. In most DIY instances, that is an expected part of the process, but we’d argue it’s not something you want to subject yourself to when you’re dealing with wedding elements.

Below are nine wedding tasks best left to industry experts. Go on, give yourself a break, and bring in a pro!

Photography. No matter how many of your friends and/or family members consider themselves cell phone selfie experts or even boast an enviable Instagram portfolio, they are no substitute for a professionally trained and experienced photographer. Your wedding portraits likely will be one of the few lasting, tangible records of your nuptials and the source of many of your memories. In other words, you should not be willing to take chances! Also, a professional photographer will take hundreds of shots for you to choose from when putting together your album. Will a friend be able to pull that off?

Videography. Like photography, videography may seem like something anyone with a good phone app can do, but, in reality, achieving quality results requires expertise, experience, and the right equipment. Skilled wedding videographers know how to capture key shots, deal with weather and light issues, and how to edit their footage.

Music. Again, many of us think our cell phones and our many self-made playlists are up to par when it comes to setting the musical stage for a wedding, but your choice of music may not be a fit for a multi-generational guest list. If money is an issue, forgo a band and hire a DJ, which is often more affordable. DJs, especially experienced ones, have a good idea about which songs get people moving —and which ones fall flat — and can play tunes that appeal to all age groups and interests. What’s more, they likely have a larger repertoire to choose from than the average listener. Finally, a DJ can serve as a wedding announcer of sorts, alerting guests to special dances, the throwing of the garter, and the cake cutting, which adds to your reception’s fun and helps keep the event moving.

Catering. Many families can boast great cooks, no doubt, but it wouldn’t be a good idea to rely on those folks to produce a wedding feast to feed a large number of people. Catering is a difficult, stress-filled, time-consuming affair, and one best left to a seasoned chef who’s handled large crowds and has experience directing under chefs and staff. They also know a thing or two about the proper way to store and transport food. What’s more, a good caterer will likely have a backup plan if something goes wrong, and they can help you accommodate guests with dietary needs and restrictions.

Makeup and hair. The trick to styling yourself for your wedding is to ensure the look lasts all day, which is likely not something we all know how to achieve on our own. What’s more, most brides sport a veil or, at the least, elaborate hairdos on their wedding day, so it’s best to go with someone who knows their way around a blow dryer, styling iron, and hairspray. Plus, part of the fun of your wedding day is sitting back while someone else fusses with your look. Let them!

Flowers. While it’s true that home gardens curated with love can be a sight to see, creating multiple floral arrangements — what with the cutting, snipping, and storing of the blooms — is a big job. There is the timing to consider, as fresh flowers must be handled and arranged pretty soon before the ceremony, likely the night before or the morning of. We strongly suspect that putting together boutonnieres, centerpieces, and a statement-making bridal bouquet is not how you want to spend the time right before your wedding.

Wedding dress. Although an amateur seamstress can make a beautiful dress, unless you are very certain of his or her skills and availability, taking chances with your wedding dress is definitely not a good idea. However, if you have your heart set on a dress of your own design, it would still be a smart idea to get those plans into the hands of a professional seamstress to create and alter your frock.

Wedding cake and groom’s cake. These items are often the visual centerpieces of your reception and will feature large in your wedding photographs. A professional, often working with a team of bakers and artists, can create the look you want and source the ingredients and supplies that will make your cake a feast for the tastebuds. Industry bakers also have the necessary staff to deliver and transport your cake and, in the event of an emergency, likely have backup cakes they can decorate in a jiffy.

Large-scale decor projects. True, it’s not uncommon for couples to set up their own centerpieces, signage, and other decorative touches for their weddings. And while doing their own decor may save them money, these DIY projects consume valuable time and add stress to their wedding day. They may not achieve the desired results, either.

Another factor to consider: Your wedding venue may restrict some of the brilliant decor ideas you had in mind, or they might require you to work with professional, insured vendors. Discuss your intentions with your venue contact in advance.

Putting together a wedding, even one that is relatively simple or small in scale, requires the efforts of experienced vendors who’ve done it all before and have the resources to pull it off in polished style. Your big day will be filled with many fun surprises, but it’s best that those surprises don’t revolve around food, dress, or cake catastrophes that could have been averted by relying on the pros.