If you’re newly engaged of course you are going to want to get some design ideas from Pinterest. Maybe you’ve had a secret wedding board for years, or you are new to boards and pins. As useful as Pinterest can be, it can give you some unrealistic expectations. Here is some advice for navigating the crazy rabbit hole that is Pinterest.

Focus on using it for inspiration, don’t just copy everything you see. Sometimes you will go to a wedding and you just know they used Pinterest the entire time. All the elements are trendy, and few things fit the couple’s taste. Pinterest is great for looking for color combinations or deciding an invitation style, but you can easily take it too far. You want your wedding to have unique elements, planning is a time for you to be creative!

Don’t get your hopes up. I know this is hard to hear, but Pinterest makes you want things that you wouldn’t have even known about before. It is heartbreaking to have to tell a bride that the bouquet she fell in love with on Pinterest is made up of fall East Coast flowers, when she is getting married in Southern California in the spring. You can also go way over budget when you add all your Pinterest dreams together. Do your research and find out how much you would spend to make something you pinned a reality. If it’s something you want to make a priority-go for it! But if it is more of a fun extra, I recommend holding back.

Stay organized. Make sure to write notes on everything you pin, especially if you are sharing this board with your event planner, designer, or coordinator. If you love the type of flower but not the color-say it! This way you there is no confusion over what you like about the picture. You can also make separate boards for each part of the wedding. Have a ceremony board, a reception board, a fashion board, whatever you think will help you keep track of your inspiration.

Limit your time on Pinterest. Take a step back to remember what the day is truly about. Know that once all the planning is done and every flower is arranged, you will be married! Make sure to take time for your fiancé during this process. As pretty as all the Pinterest photos can be, they can get distracting. And taking a break from Pinterest doesn’t mean you have to pause wedding planning all together. You can work on writing your vows or share responsibilities with family members asking to help. Spending time with your loved ones throughout the process will only make this time more special. Good luck and happy pinning!

Blog Post by Sammy Lepse

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