Pinterest is amazing! It allows you to plan meals, DIY projects, parties, weddings, and more. I know I have seen people posting on boards for their future weddings before they even have a man to marry. That being said, I am not sure how people functioned before Pinterest.
Craft stores made more money because people were making ‘mood’ boards instead of just finding ideas online. Or people spent waaay too much money on wedding magazines. Just remember mood boards and magazine ripping took time. It is important to not ‘like’ or ‘repin’ everything you see. Be selective. Be purposeful. Use Pinterest to help you plan, not to overwhelm yourself.
Pinterest for Wedding Planning Tip #1
Whether it is an actual craft project or a project on Pinterest, it is important to get a feel for the event you are planning. Think about colors, textures, styles, and themes. Get them all in one location so you can weave the elements that are important to you throughout your event.
I think the first question I thought I needed to answer was color. I had been picturing navy and grey but one of my MOHs is getting married after me and had already chosen those colors. I wanted to be different. I wanted a play on black and white, but since we will be by the lake I wanted a more laid back feel. I decided on graphite and off-white, with limited pops of bright violet.
Creating a board for my interests was great because it allowed me to see that I needed to be very specific in the colors I chose, because graphite and off-white are very different from grey and cream.
The other thing I realized when I started planning was that my previous wedding board was a little bit of everything. I had calligraphy examples, invitations, rings, reception ideas, wedding gifts for family members, and more that I liked. Now that I was actually planning, this single board was too cluttered.
Pinterest for Wedding Planning Tip #2
You can never have too many wedding boards. Be specific. Do a board specifically for a category, like centerpiece ideas, lighting, or guest favors. This will help you stay organized and be able to use your boards as a resource while you plan each part of your wedding. Pinterest boards are also a great reference when it comes time to work with vendors for your big day! And some might even ask you if you have started one or if you could.
Pinterest is NEVERENDING! This can be both good and bad. Seriously, you can find anything you are looking for, and often things you aren’t looking for. At one point I started looking at all these gorgeous pictures of ballrooms and venues; I forgot that I had already chosen a tented wedding! I had boards full of tall, plush centerpieces. There is nothing wrong with that, except if one good wind comes through the tent or my tables aren’t perfectly level it could be a nightmare.
Pinterest for Wedding Planning Tip #3
As you move forward with planning and make decisions, delete items that are no longer relevant. Or if you are a Pinterest hoarder, move them to another board.
While I am on Pinterest I am constantly reminding myself to be realistic. I mean, we have all seen those ABC or Bravo specials where huge celebrities or reality stars get married in lavish settings surrounded by thousands of dollars of décor, food, and entertainment. That is not in my budget, but to be honest, half of the things I see on Pinterest are not in my budget either.
Now that I am in the event industry I have learned that venues, planners, and experts work to stage a table or two to take photos for marketing purposes. So all those perfect photos you see are not always realistic, and may not even be from a real wedding. Also, remember that if you see an open air tent, it might be in California, not in “Wait 5 minutes and the weather will change” New Hampshire!
Pinterest for Wedding Planning Tip #4
Be realistic. Remember, Pinterest is GLOBAL! All of the photos on there are not weddings done in your geographic area. I am jealous of the areas that only have five days of rain all year, but usually they have scarier bugs! If you are not sure what realistic is, just ask your trusted vendors. They know the geography, weather, and other quirks of our great state. I spend a lot of time helping my clients figure out a balance between their vision and what is possible with the budget.
Pinterest is fun and creative, but don’t get lost. I swear sometimes I get nauseous when I scroll down the page for too long! Use it as a tool to help you plan. And remember, if you are surfing the web and love an idea, pin it! You do not need to just search within the site.
Do you have one wedding board with everything on it or do you separate your wedding needs? Do you find Pinterest helpful or overwhelming?! Let me know what you think.
