Creating A Wedding Mood Board: A Guide To Your Dream Wedding

A wedding mood board is a collection of images, colours, textures, and fonts that represent the desired look and feel of a wedding. It is an essential tool for couples to define their wedding style and for vendors to understand their vision. Mood boards can be physical or digital, with digital options including websites and apps such as Pinterest, Canva, Adobe Spark, and Milanote. Creating a mood board typically involves brainstorming a theme, collecting visual elements, and arranging them together with complementary colours and fonts. This process helps to establish a clear direction for planning and ensures that all the individual components of the wedding come together cohesively.

Brainstorming and establishing a clear theme

When creating a mood board, the first step is always to brainstorm and establish a clear theme. This will help you to decide on a mood or tone for your wedding and will inform the planning process, from flowers to dresses to decor.

Start by jotting down keywords or phrases that describe the feel of your wedding. For example, do you picture boho chic, southern charm, or modern and industrial? Think about the materials you envision, like wood, lace, brick, or velvet. What colours and fonts spring to mind?

It's a good idea to discuss your wedding dreams with your partner. Set aside some time to talk about your vision and non-negotiables, and write down your ideas as you dream of your day. Ask yourselves some questions, such as: What do we enjoy doing together as a couple? What type of wedding do we not want? Come up with a list of words to describe your wedding vibe, such as intimate, adventurous, carefree, nostalgic, silly, cheerful, cozy, laid-back, romantic, wild, vivacious, and warm.

Once you have a clear idea of the mood you want to create, you can start exploring your unique style on Pinterest. Search for design inspiration from homes and bedrooms, pin clothes and accessories, and look at different typography to find elements that resonate with you and your partner.

Remember, this is a chance to put all your ideas on a page, so don't worry too much about your budget at this stage. Focus on finding images and elements that reflect the mood and theme you want to achieve, and you'll be well on your way to creating a beautiful and cohesive wedding mood board.

Choosing a format

There are two main formats for wedding mood boards: physical or electronic.

Physical Mood Boards

A physical mood board involves cutting out images and gluing or taping them to a foam board, or pinning them to a bulletin board. You can paint the background of the board to express your theme. This format is great if you want to be able to touch and feel the pieces you're using to create your vision. You can play with colours and textures, and it's easy to swap things out if you change your mind. You can also add ribbons, fabrics and other textured elements that can't be appreciated onscreen.

Electronic Mood Boards

A more contemporary choice is to assemble a digital mood board using sites like Canva, PicMonkey, Adobe Spark and Milanote, which offer templates. Digital boards are simpler to make as they don't require any printing, cutting or gluing. They can also be easily edited and shared with your wedding team. If you want a modern vibe, this could be the format for you.

Hybrid Mood Boards

You can also combine the two formats. For example, you could print out your favourite inspirational wedding photos and pin them to a bulletin board, or print out your digital mood board and add it to a physical board.

Collecting visual elements

Sources for Visual Elements:

• The Internet: Search the web for images that align with your wedding vision. Websites like Pinterest, Unsplash, and Pexels offer a plethora of artistic and inspiring pictures.
• Magazines: Browse through magazines, especially those related to weddings, home, design, and style. Cut out or tear out pages with visuals that speak to you.
• Books: Explore artful books on home, design, and style at your local bookstore or library.
• Real-life Locations: Keep an eye out for stylish venues, including boutiques, museums, and cocktail bars. Collect physical elements, such as a restaurant's matchbook or silk ribbon from gift wrapping, that can add texture to your mood board.

Types of Visual Elements:

• Venues: Look for images of potential wedding venues or spaces that inspire you.
• Designs: Collect pictures of wedding designs, decor, or setups that catch your eye.
• Objects: Include visuals of objects or details that fit your theme, such as flowers, centrepieces, or other decorative elements.
• Attire: Search for images of wedding attire, including dresses, suits, or accessories, that match your style.
• Expressions: If you plan to include people in your mood board, consider the expressions on their faces and how they align with the mood you want to convey.

Digital vs Physical Mood Boards:

When it comes to collecting visual elements, you can create a digital mood board or a physical one. Digital mood boards are often easier to assemble, as they involve downloading and uploading images to platforms like Canva, PicMonkey, Adobe Spark, or Milanote. Physical mood boards involve printing or cutting out images and arranging them on a board.

Remember, the format you choose can also play a part in creating your desired vibe. For example, you might paint the background of a physical board to express your theme, or choose a digital format if you're going for a modern vibe.

Gathering colours and fonts

If you already have a colour palette in mind, add it to your mood board. If not, try to find colours that are common across the pictures you've chosen. Adobe Colour offers a wide range of palettes and can even help you create your own. You can also draw colours from your favourite photos and use them as a starting point for your palette. These colours can influence everything from your floral arrangements and fabric textures to your invitation design.

When it comes to fonts, choose one or two that complement your theme. For example, if your wedding is formal, you might opt for a classic font, while a rustic wedding might call for a more whimsical font. Websites like DaFont offer a wide array of free downloadable fonts in various styles, from handwritten to old school.

Another way to gather colours and fonts is by collecting textured elements that can't be fully appreciated onscreen. This could include items like a restaurant's matchbook or a piece of silk ribbon from gift wrapping. These tactile elements can inspire your colour and font choices and add depth to your mood board.

Remember, the colours and fonts you choose should align with the overall look and feel you want to convey. They should also leave a lasting impression on your guests, making your wedding day truly memorable.

Arranging the pieces

Now that you've gathered all your ideas, it's time to put them together. If you're making a physical mood board, cut out your chosen images, colours, fonts, and textures. Divide your board into sections, perhaps to play with different colour schemes or themes, and start pinning your images, colours, and fabrics to the board. You can also add ribbons, or textured elements like a restaurant's matchbook or silk ribbon. Play around with the layout until you're happy with it. If you're making a digital mood board, you can simply upload your chosen elements and play around with the layout until you're happy. Remember, there's no right or wrong way to make a collage!

If you're using a digital platform like Canva, you can upload your images and drag them into the template. You can also add colours from the colour palette you've chosen. If you're using a platform like Milanote, you can drag and drop your images, add colours, and describe your ideas.

Don't be afraid to update your mood board as your vision develops. Keep in mind that the format of your mood board can also play a part in creating your desired vibe. For example, you could paint the background of a physical board a colour that expresses your theme, or choose a digital format that matches your modern aesthetic.

Frequently asked questions