Creating A Vision: Wedding Inspiration Board Ideas And Guide

Creating a wedding inspiration board is a fun and useful way to help you plan your wedding. Also known as a mood board or vision board, it's a collection of images, colours, and textures that represent how you want your wedding to look and feel. It can be a physical board, like a cork board or poster board, or a digital board, like on Pinterest or Canva. The process of making a wedding inspiration board usually involves collecting ideas and images, curating and refining them, and then putting them together on your chosen canvas. This can help you to organise your thoughts and make decisions about your wedding, as well as communicate your vision to your wedding vendors.

Choose your canvas

When it comes to choosing your canvas for your wedding inspiration board, you have a few options. You can go for a physical or digital format, each with its own advantages.

If you enjoy crafts and working with your hands, a physical canvas such as a cork board or a poster board is a great choice. This option allows you to piece together all your ideas and move things around as needed. It is also perfect for adding physical items like fabric scraps, magazine cut-outs, and paper samples. When meeting with vendors, you can bring the board or simply snap a few photos of it.

On the other hand, a digital canvas may feel more seamless and easier to share. You can instantly save ideas that you come across while browsing the internet, which is helpful for bookmarking specific vendors or products. Additionally, digital boards can be easily shared with your partner and vendors, and you can keep them on your phone or computer, or even print them out. Some popular applications for creating digital inspiration boards include Canva, Milanote, Google Slides, and PowerPoint.

Ultimately, the best type of inspiration board is the one you'll actually use. So, whether you choose a physical or digital canvas, make sure it's easy to refer back to and fits your personal preferences.

Collect inspiration

Now that you've decided on your canvas, it's time to start gathering ideas. Don't worry about whether they "work" together at this stage—simply save anything that speaks to you. Take your time with this process, collecting ideas from a range of sources over a few weeks. This will help you to identify what you're naturally drawn to.

Look at photos from travel blogs, browse through fashion magazines, visit an art museum, or check out the flower section on your next grocery store trip. You can also scroll through your camera roll to find anything that sparks a feeling.

Don't get caught up in what is or isn't trendy, and remember that inspiration can come from anywhere, even if it's not strictly related to weddings. For example, you might come across some beautiful skincare packaging with a font or colour palette that you'd like to use. Add it to the board!

At this stage, it's important to trust the process and not overthink it. There will be time to curate everything once you've finished gathering ideas.

Look for a common theme

Once you have added a few dozen ideas to your wedding mood board, take a step back and try to identify recurring elements. Look for a common theme throughout your ideas. Are there any specific colours that keep showing up? Or perhaps a certain type of flower or decor detail that you've saved repeatedly? Look closely for patterns, similarities and an overarching theme throughout your ideas. Then, make a list of the recurring details to get a few buzzwords that describe your style. You might be surprised by what you find.

If you are using Pinterest, you can make collections within your Pinterest board. Organise your pins into categories and you will find a colour palette that is consistent among the collection. You can also use The Knot's quiz as a jumping-off point.

If you are using a physical board, get paint sample chips for your colours and add fabric swatches. It will be much easier to have these physical items in front of you.

If you are using a digital board, Milanote is a free website that allows you to add links, colour swatches, etc. You can also share a link with your wedding coordinator easily.

Edit and organise your ideas

Once you have gathered a plethora of ideas, it's time to edit and organise them. This is a crucial step in ensuring your wedding inspiration board is well-curated and intentional. It is advised to remove some of the ideas from your board. This is to ensure that your board does not become too overwhelming for you and your vendors, and to help you focus on a cohesive design or theme. Start by removing anything that is a duplicate, and then take off anything that you are not genuinely passionate about. Remember, the end goal is not to create exact replicas of the ideas on your board, but to find your overall style and vibe.

It is important to keep your distinct vision in mind and choose items that help you build that picture. If you are using a digital board, such as Pinterest, you can create a new, secret board and get specific by creating sections for each aspect of your big day (food, dress, tablescapes, etc.). If you are using a physical board, cut out your chosen images and start arranging them. Play around with the layout until you find a composition that you like and that makes visual sense.

You might want to create multiple inspiration boards for different wedding categories, such as stationery, fashion, and decor. However, it is recommended to bundle everything together into one board for the best flow and cohesiveness.

Share your board

Sharing your wedding inspiration board with your vendors is an important step in the wedding planning process. It will help your vendors to understand your vision and ensure everyone is on the same page. Here are some tips for sharing your board:

Choose a Format

You can share your board in a digital format or as a physical board. Digital formats such as Canva, Pinterest, or a simple collage of photos are convenient for sharing online and can be easily sent to your vendors. Physical boards, on the other hand, allow you to work with tangible objects and can be a fun craft project. If you choose to create a physical board, consider taking photos of it or creating a digital version to share with your vendors.

Provide Context

When sharing your board, give your vendors some context about your choices. Explain the overall theme or vibe you are going for, and point out any specific details or elements that are particularly important to you. This will help your vendors understand your vision and ensure they can provide you with the best service.

Be Open to Feedback

While your inspiration board is a representation of your wedding dreams, be open to feedback and suggestions from your vendors. They are the experts and may have insights or ideas that you haven't considered. Collaborating with your vendors will help you refine your vision and create a wedding that is even better than you imagined.

Update and Iterate

Your inspiration board doesn't have to be set in stone. As you plan your wedding and work with your vendors, you may find that your vision evolves. Be open to making changes and updates to your board. This is a living document that can change and grow as your wedding plans progress.

Share with Others

In addition to your vendors, consider sharing your board with your wedding party, family, or friends. They may have feedback or suggestions that you haven't considered, and it can be a fun way to get them involved in the wedding planning process.

Frequently asked questions