Avoiding Pinterest Pitfalls when Planning your wedding
Pinterest can be such an amazing tool for planning a wedding. It can also be a time waster, comparison monster and creativity spoiler. Here are 3 tips on how to use it to your advantage, and leave the pitfalls behind.
#1. Have a clear idea of what Pinterest actually is...and is not.
Let me clarify that a little. Pinterest is not a place you go to see the realistic and fully attainable. At least not for me, or anyone that I know. It is a place where people show off their best and brightest ideas and moments. As a photographer I have started to look at these images we scroll through and wonder to myself, "What is just outside the perfect frame?" You see a glowing bride with silky skin, and wish your skin looked like hers does, only hers has been airbrushed. You see the perfect bouquet, and you have no idea what the venue looked like. You see an amazing venue and you have no idea how long the couple scrimped and saved to get it. The point is, don't fall victim to feeling like everything about your day has to be perfect in order for it to really be a perfect day. Prioritize. Strive for the things that are most important to you and let some of the other things go. Promise? Okay.
#2. Know what you are looking for
The last time it was counted in 2015, there were over 50 billion, yes, BILLION pins on Pinterest. If you don't know what you're looking for, you are just about as likely to get distracted with the "Which Kardashian are you?" quiz as you are to find something that will actually help you plan your wedding. So before you get on your phone and pull up the app, take a few minutes and with a good old fashioned pen and paper, and brainstorm categories that you need more info or inspiration on. I even suggest that you start a new and separate Pinterest account, just for wedding stuff. Then log in, and set up a board for each subject you brainstormed, and try to stick just to those topics. You'll probably get reminded of a few more topics along the way, and that's okay. Just don't get distracted. Maybe even set a time limit for yourself each day or for each category. Remember that finding inspiration is only half of the battle. The other half is the execution which takes time. If you spend too much time in the planning phase and not enough time in the doing phase, you'll be set up for extra stress when the time crunch sets in.
#3. And probably most important: Don't let Pinterest rob you of creativity and showcasing your own style and personality
This amazing couple got married on the hottest day in September. They also had a winter wonderland theme, complete with fake snow for their exit. Lesson? You do you!!!
True story: I was at a wedding as a guest a couple of years ago. Another guest rushed up to the bride and said, "Your wedding looks just like Pinterest!!!" I am sure the guest was well meaning. Probably intending it as a compliment, like wow, everything looks great and so put together, but the look on the brides face said something different. I think in that moment it registered to her that Pinterest had overshadowed her own vision and that her special day didn't reflect her in the way she hoped and dreamed it would. Don't fall into the same trap! Don't let Pinterest rob you of creativity and showcasing your own style and personality. Take some time to start looking for inspiration from within. Think about your relationship with your fiancé and what makes it unique and special. What do you love doing together? What was the first song you danced to or the first flower he gave you? Use inspiration from real life and then look for creative ways to implement that inspiration. Modify the ideas you find on Pinterest and make them your own!
Looking for other tips and tricks? Check out this blog post:
