DIY... To Do or Not to Do?

As you know, I'm a very DIY-type of girl. I love making jewelry, cards, crafts in general, and cooking gourmet meals. This very well may stem from my aversion to spending money and my desire to have control over end results, but I intend to take full advantage of this personality trait as I move forward with wedding planning. That said, we need to bring anything and everything to Panama and there will be 200 people which leads to a bit more planning. I love challenges! Wait, let me clarify that.... I love wedding challenges, as long as they have nothing to do with immigration or my sister!

What are your DIY inspirations? Obviously, I intend on going with the basics:

1. Invitations - an Etsy seller will design them and the rest will be up to us.
2. Wedding programs - Did you include them? Thoughts? I'm considering making them into fans, given the Panamanian heat, but suggestions are welcome. Are they necessary or overkill?
3. Table numbers, escort cards, etc... Ideas are more than welcome!
4. Clutches or jewelry for the bridesmaids' gifts... Any other ideas for gifts for these lovely ladies (preferably which won't cost an obscene amount of money)?

Other ideas that need to be fleshed out a bit:

• A photo booth and scrapbook-type thing for the guestbook. It'll be difficult convincing Mr. Tango's family to forgo the traditional guestbook, but that's all the more reason to make it amazing!
• Lighting: We want lots and lots of lights - white paper lanterns, candles, Christmas lights, and more. Lucky for us, Bees have created some wonderful guides!

  

  
• Reception decorations: We will want to add some color to the pure white linens the venue provides us with. Ribbons on the tables? Flowy fabric hanging?
• A card box: Panamanians give cash, not gift-registry items. I love the birdcages, but the Mr. doesn't.... I think we'll likely end up decorating a card box instead. (Sigh, I guess the compromise starts now!)
• Ceremony decorations: We need to create something for us to stand under for the ceremony. Mr. Tango and I prefer the square-looking ones to the arches, so we may have to do some light construction work! Also in the works - creating an aisle, chair decorations, and anything/everything else!

What about you? What's your favorite DIY project?