WISCONSIN WEDDING BLOG

Welcome to WedPlan Madison's Blog, created to share Wisconsin wedding inspiration, tips, and ideas, real weddings, styled shoots, and vendor spotlights in Madison and surrounding areas. Check it out and get inspired! Follow us on social for all the latest posts. 

Where do you go for the most up-to-date, creative, one-stop-shop for all your wedding inspiration, besides WedPlan of course! Pinterest! Pinterest has become a resource filled with inspiration for every wedding you could dream of, from rustic to elegant, and everything in between. But while Pinterest may seem like the perfect way to plan your dream day, it can be overwhelming and sometimes information overload. Is there a secret to utilizing Pinterest to make it the ideal platform to find inspiration, resources, and more? The podcast I Do Not Know What I'm Doing with host Shannen Oesterreich interviewed our own Lindsey Kaney of Wedding Planner & Guide to discuss everything Pinterest. Read through Lindsey's recommendations below or skip to the end of the article to listen to the Podcast.

Emily Megan Photography, Temerity Photography, L&H Photography

YOU JUST GOT ENGAGED AND HAVE A PINTEREST BOARD FOR YOUR "DREAM WEDDING" THAT YOU "VE BEEN MAKING FOR YEARS. SHOULD YOU LOOK BACK AT THE BOARD OR START FRESH?

I would encourage the pinner to start a new board for a clean slate. But don't delete the many ideas you have collected over the years from the previous board. Instead, look back through and decide if any of the inspiration gathered work for the event you and your significant other are planning. The vision of your wedding will most likely be different now than when you first started pinning. There will undoubtedly be ideas that can be resaved into the new board. And moving them to a new board will keep your inspiration more organized and easier to navigate.


WHAT AREAS OF WEDDING PLANNING DO YOU THINK PINTEREST IS MOST HELPFUL?

Pinterest is the go-to for inspiration. It is a fantastic visual reference tool from big concepts like figuring out your wedding style, to deciding what color palette or what floral accents you like. This platform offers an immense range of ideas and concepts for you to look through and can be helpful throughout the entire planning process.

Katie Ricard Photography, Emily Schmidt Photo, Tim Fitch Photography, Lampstand Photography

DO YOU THINK PINTEREST CAN DISTRACT YOU OR BE A BURDEN WHEN IT COMES TO PLANNING THE ACTUAL WEDDING?

Yes, I believe Pinterest can become a distraction if the pinner becomes too caught up in making every detail match their mood board vision. I encourage listeners to enjoy their Pinterest boards. But also, invest time in searching out professional vendors who can take your ideas and make it a reality. Then trust them to do their part. Remember, the most important thing on your wedding day is the promises you and your significant other are making to one another. Everything else is really just part of a big celebration honoring that.

HOW WOULD YOU SUGGEST THAT YOU CUT THROUGH THE CLUTTER WITHOUT WASTING TIME? i.e. - pinning something that links to an unrelated website or getting tons of things popping up due to a popular search term.

If your initial search presents you with a multitude of pins unrelated to what you want, rethink the search term you are using or add an additional keyword to help fine-tune the search. The most specific you can be during your keyword entry, the better the results should be.

If you find a pin that is linking to an unrelated site, decide if you are trying to reach that specific endpoint or if you just need the imagery. If you like the imagery for inspiration, then pin it. If you are looking for more context, then I would keep looking so clicking back to an unusable link doesn't frustrate you in the future.

Claire Staley Photography, Copper Antler Photography, East Elm Photography

WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE SEARCH TERMS, DO YOU THINK IT'S BETTER TO USE SOMETHING MORE SPECIFIC OR START WITH A BROAD SEARCH?

It really depends on where you are at in the planning process. If you are looking for simple starting points, board searches can be beneficial and present a diversity of ideas. For example, if you are interested in seeing how a burgundy wedding could look, just typing in 'burgundy wedding' will present all aspects of weddings showing that color palette.

If you are further along in the planning process, then more specific searches will become needed. For example, if you are looking deciding what florals you'd like with your burgundy wedding. Entering in burgundy wedding bouquets will present a more refined offering.


WOULD YOU SUGGEST CREATING DIFFERENT BOARDS FOR DIFFERENT AREAS OF YOUR WEDDING PLANNING (SUCH AS ONE FOR DRESSES, ONE FOR FLOWERS, ONE FOR HAIRSTYLES), OR WOULD YOU RECOMMEND KEEPING THAT ALL ON THE SAME PAGE?

I would recommend keeping everything under one board but creating separate sections within that board. This allows you to keep everything in one area while still keeping it organized. And don't be afraid to delete pins if you decide something isn't going to work for you. Keep your vision clear and prevent yourself from rethinking it again.

LK Bridal Studio, Emily Schmidt Photo, L&H Photography, Laurels and Stars

WHEN IT COMES TO PINNED DIY PROJECTS, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A BRIDE SO THEY KEEP REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS?

If you plan to create DIY projects for your wedding. Give yourself LOTS of time to get the projects done. And be realistic about who busy you are. Life has a tendency to become busy, especially when you are planning a wedding. Decide what DIY projects mean the most to you and make them a priority. If you get those complete and have tome for the others on your list, great! If you have difficulty completing those, reach out to a vendor to complete the others for you. I promise it will save you stress.


WHAT TIPS DO YOU HAVE TO UTILIZE PINTEREST TO FIND ACTUAL VENDORS, AND NOT SO MUCH A VISION BOARD?

Here is another area keyword searching comes into play. Pinterest can be a fantastic resource to locate vendors for your wedding, but it is important to include location information in your search to help narrow down the results to professionals in your area.

Kina Wicks Photography, East Elm Photography, Laurels and Stars

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE ON SHARING YOUR BOARDS WITH VENDORS, SUCH AS PHOTOGRAPHERS OR FLORISTS?

I recommend sharing your inspiration boards with your creative wedding vendors, but please do so with the understanding that they are professionals with experience and vision of their own. If you like their work and connect well with them, trust them to take your inspiration and create something beautiful for your event.


IS THERE A POINT AND TIME THAT YOU SHOULD STOP LOOKING AT PINTEREST IN THE WEDDING PLANNING PROCESS?

Once you have a good handle on all of the details for your wedding, stop pinning to your wedding board. Stay confident with the choices you have made and don't second guess yourself.


Be sure to follow WEDDING PLANNER & GUIDE on PINTEREST for oodles of wedding inspiration!