Creating A Wedding Vision: Inspiration Board Basics

A wedding inspiration board is a fun project that helps you plan your wedding by collaging together images, colours, and textures that represent your desired wedding style. It can be created digitally on platforms like Pinterest, Photoshop, or Canva, or physically on a corkboard or posterboard. The purpose of a wedding inspiration board is to help you visualise your wedding style and communicate it to your wedding vendors.

Discuss wedding dreams with your partner

Before you start creating your wedding mood board, it's important to discuss your wedding dreams and visions with your partner. Set aside a date night to talk about your wedding plans and non-negotiables, and have a pen and paper ready to jot down your ideas.

• What do we enjoy doing together as a couple? Are we laid-back, or do we enjoy being the life of the party—or both??
• Where has been our favourite vacation, date, or place to spend time together? How did that location make us feel??
• What season makes the most sense for our wedding? Does the season impact the mood of the day??
• What type of wedding do we not want? What are things that don't feel like us??
• Can we come up with a list of words to describe our wedding vibe, such as intimate, adventurous, carefree, nostalgic, silly, cheerful, cozy, laid-back, romantic, wild, vivacious, or warm?

In addition to these questions, it's also important to discuss your financial situation and budget for the wedding. Be open and direct about any assets or debts, and ask each other questions like:

• Do you have any outstanding debts or obligations I should know about? If so, do you have a plan to address them?
• What is your credit score, and why do you think your score is at this point?
• What are your financial goals and dreams?
• What are your biggest financial concerns for the next 5-10 years?

By having these conversations and getting on the same page, you and your partner can ensure that your wedding mood board truly reflects your shared vision and dreams for your special day.

Explore your unique style on Pinterest

Pinterest is a great place to start exploring your unique style for your wedding mood board. It's an excellent source of wedding inspiration photos and a helpful tool for organising your ideas.

To get started, try searching for design inspiration from homes and bedrooms—spaces that you'd enjoy spending time in. You can also pin clothes, accessories, and fashion blogger outfits to explain your style and translate it into your wedding design.

Another idea is to search for different typography and design elements. Are you drawn to big, bold fonts or more classic elements? You can also look for colour palettes and patterns, using paint chips or fabric swatches to figure out your wedding colour scheme.

Don't forget to also explore interior design trends, as wedding decor trends often stem from what's popular in the interior design world. Spend time flipping through interior design magazines or rewatching movies with amazing sets to pick up some unique ideas.

Pinterest is a fantastic resource for gathering ideas and narrowing down your unique style for your wedding mood board. So, get searching, pinning, and exploring to your heart's content!

Choose images for your board

Choosing images for your wedding inspiration board is a fun and creative process, but it can also be overwhelming. Here are some tips to help you select the right images to convey your wedding vision:

Determine Your Goals

First, sit down with your partner and discuss some basics, such as the season you want to get married in, venue ideas, and your preferred colour palette. Dive into more personal details, such as how you want your day to flow, what things make you happy, and any specific details you want to include. This will help guide your image selection and ensure that your board aligns with your wedding goals.

Explore Different Sources

Start by creating a Pinterest board dedicated to your wedding inspiration. You can also use other social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to find ideas. Don't be afraid to go offline and look for inspiration in the real world. Browse through magazines and books, especially those related to home decor, design, and style. Visit stylish local spots, including boutiques, museums, and cocktail bars, and collect items like a restaurant matchbook or silk ribbon that can add texture to your board.

Curate Your Images

Once you've gathered a large collection of images, it's time to narrow them down and curate your selection. Choose images that truly represent your style and vision for the wedding. Aim for a variety of images, avoiding too many similar pictures. Keep your collection under 10 images to maintain a focused board.

Mix Digital and Physical Elements

Your wedding inspiration board can be digital, physical, or a mix of both. If you have a lot of digital images, consider using a platform like Pinterest, Canva, or Milanote to create a digital board that's easy to share and access. If you have physical items, such as magazine cutouts, fabric swatches, or paint chips, a traditional corkboard or poster board might be the best option. You can also combine digital and physical elements by printing out your favourite digital images and adding them to a physical board.

Look for a Common Theme

As you refine your image selection, step back and look for any recurring elements or themes. Is there a specific colour or type of flower that appears frequently? Identifying patterns and an overarching style will help you edit and organise your board effectively.

Pull colours from your favourite photos

A wedding mood board is a fun and creative project that helps you and your partner figure out your wedding style. It is a collection of photos that convey the look and feel you want to create at your wedding. It can be designed on platforms like Pinterest, Photoshop, or Canva.

Pulling colours from your favourite photos is an important step in creating your wedding mood board. Here are some tips to help you with this process:

Start by selecting your favourite images from your mood board. These can be photos from Pinterest, Instagram, or your phone's photo library. Look for images that catch your eye and reflect your wedding style and vision.

Once you have selected your favourite images, it's time to identify the colours that are used repeatedly. Pay attention to the colour combinations that you are drawn to and that reflect your desired wedding aesthetic.

To make it easier to identify colours in your photos, you can use a colour picker tool. There are several online tools and software programs that offer this feature, such as Snagit, Colormind, or TinEye Labs. These tools allow you to select a specific colour from your images by clicking on it or using an eyedropper tool. This can help you identify the exact colours that you want to include in your wedding colour palette.

After identifying the colours from your favourite photos, you can fill in the remaining boxes on your mood board template with those colours. You can also use paint chips, fabric swatches, or colour palettes from home improvement or craft stores to help you choose complementary colours.

Your wedding colour palette will influence many aspects of your wedding, such as floral arrangements, fabric textures, invitation design, bridesmaid dresses, and decor. So, take your time to choose colours that truly reflect your style and vision for your special day.

Take your board offline

Once you've created your wedding mood board digitally, it's time to take it offline. This is a crucial step as it gives you a point of reference throughout the wedding planning process and helps you keep your vision in sight. It's also a great way to communicate your ideas to your wedding vendors. Here are some tips to take your board offline:

• Print it out: After finalising your digital mood board, print out the design. You can add it to your wedding planning binder or even hang it up on your wall to keep you inspired and motivated.
• Keep a hard copy with you: When meeting with vendors, bring a physical copy of your mood board. This will help them understand your vision and ensure everyone is on the same page.
• Make it collaborative: Your wedding mood board should reflect both you and your partner's shared aesthetics and preferences. Work on it together and ask for their input and feedback. This will ensure that the final product truly represents both of you.
• Keep it tangible: While digital mood boards are convenient, most people still prefer the tangible format. Use physical items such as paint chips, fabric swatches, magazine cut-outs, and other objects that resonate with you. This will help bring your board to life and make it more impactful.
• Regularly review and revise: Don't be afraid to make changes to your offline mood board. Print out the latest version and review it regularly to ensure you still love every aspect. This will help keep the mood alive and allow you to make adjustments as your plans evolve.
• Share with your vendors: Your wedding mood board is a powerful communication tool. Share it with your vendors, including florists, decorators, and planners. This will help them understand your style and preferences, enabling them to create a day that's truly yours.

Frequently asked questions