7 Tips for Creating Your Wedding Moodboard
Newly engaged or planning a wedding!? You likely fall into one of three camps:
Your wedding Pinterest board has been done for approximately five years
You’re officially engaged so technically speaking, you can now start your wedding moodboard
Even the thought of the above gives you anxiety. You have no idea where to start!
Regardless of which camp you fall into, you may wonder why is a moodboard important? In this blogpost about vision boarding, I bring up the Law of Attraction which is the ability to attract into our lives whatever we are focusing on. Images can be used as tools to send messages to the universe about your hopes and dreams. Sounds a little woo-woo, so let me bring this back to wedding planning. Photos are powerful. When it comes to planning a wedding, a moodboard is the #1 tool for drawing inspiration and clearly communicating your wedding style to vendors. This in turn allows your vendors to collaborate to bring your wedding day vision to life!
Here are 7 quick tips that will help you create a curated moodboard for your wedding and get you closer to that vision.
1 - KNOW WHERE TO START WITH WEDDING INSPIRATION
As a platform, Pinterest can be overwhelming. Simply start saving images that are beautiful to you. Be consistent and only pin the stuff you truly love, and look for their ‘More Ideas’ feature. Over time, Pinterest will get to know you better through their algorithm, and suggest better and better content to you.
Once you know more specifics of what you’re looking for, avoid vague search terms such as ‘wedding flowers’ and opt for keywords that match the exact thing you have in mind, e.g. ‘minimalistic and contemporary wedding table flowers.’
If browsing Pinterest doesn’t work for you, that’s okay too! Add the 'Pin It' button to your browser (instructions here), which will allow you to quickly and easily pin images from other websites as you find inspiration along the way. Here are a few other inspiration sites I love:
2 - DUMP PINTEREST FOR INSTAGRAM
While it can be argued we don’t need *more* reasons to scroll IG, your feed is likely already curated with images relevant to you, your style, and your aesthetic. Instagram’s Save feature comes in handy if you stumble upon imagery you love. Save everything you love in one spot or separate folders -- e.g. wedding flowers, wedding bands, wedding dresses.
3 - GO BEYOND SOCIAL MEDIA FOR INSPIRATION
The opposite of everything I’ve said above, right!? But it’s really easy to go down a rabbit hole and be influenced by what everyone else’s wedding looks like. Don’t limit yourself to what you see on social media. Look to the architecture around you, scenic views, music, books, magazines, and photos from your travels.
4 - SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY YOUR VISION
This might sound counterintuitive, but by limiting the number of images to the select few that *truly* speak to you, you’ll prevent yourself from feeling overwhelmed and leave more space for imagination. I find it helpful to create one overarching ‘Our Wedding’ board that’s limited to 10-20 images max of your *overall vision*, making sure they’re both aspirational but also realistic for your day and budget. Try 1-2 images for each of these elements:
Venue vibe (e.g. the indoor or outdoor spaces you’re using or envisioning/whatever elements made you fall in love with that venue, images there that speak to the season — fall, winter, spring, summer)
Florals (e.g. either the floral palette, or a few images you’re drawn to for table flowers, a focal flower installation, your bouquet, etc.)
Table settings (e.g. flower-full or candle heavy, tablecloths or bare wood, modern flatware or traditional)
Furniture (e.g. tables, chairs, lounge furniture)
Lighting (e.g. market lights, candlelight, pendants)
Fashion (e.g. your dream dress or tux)
Hair/makeup (e.g. an overall look you’re digging)
Paper suite (e.g. an invite, menu, or escort cards)
Photography (e.g. an image that evokes the style you’re drawn to, and a moment you’d love to experience on your day)
Something unique to you (e.g. that icecream truck you’d love to have, or dream signature cocktail)
These images should be less about specific details you’re aiming for, but images that evoke how you want your day to *feel* overall.
Once you’ve locked that in, you can always create sub-boards (aka a ‘Section’ within a board if you’re using Pinterest) for each element, following the same practice of limiting each to 10-20 images.
5 - TIDY IT UP
Once you’ve really honed in your initial vision and start making decisions, delete anything off your board that no longer speaks to you or fits with your day. Ask yourself:
Do I love this image?
Why did I pin this in the first place?
Are there other images on my board that are super similar?
If you were to share your board with others, they should be able to pick up on your vibe and style immediately. By keeping your boards as curated as possible, you avoid confusing yourself and vendors about the intended design direction.
6 - SHARE YOUR MOODBOARD WITH WEDDING VENDORS
Share your moodboard with all of your design-centric vendors (e.g. planner, rental company, florist, cake, hair/makeup). Explain specific things you like *and don’t like* about certain images. Then leave it to the pros to take it from there! Your wedding day should be uniquely you, meaning the moodboard should only act as initial guidance as your vendor team seeks to up-level it way beyond that.
7 - JUST WALK AWAY FROM ALL WEDDING INSPIRATION
My *biggest* piece of advice if you want it? If you’re prone to indecision or feeling overwhelmed, walk away once you’ve reached this step. Shut it down -- no more Pinterest browsing, no more Instagram scrolling. Delete the apps if you need to! I did this myself when planning my own wedding and it was the best way to bring about peace of mind. Stay confident in your decisions and don’t second guess yourself. You have so much more to focus on looking forward to, like marrying the love of your life!
LET’S CHAT
For more planning tips, head back to my blog for posts like tips for finding your perfect wedding florist. I am currently accepting wedding inquiries for 2022. Schedule a complimentary floral consultation here. I’d love to hear more about your day!
Anastasia Andenmatten is a floral design studio based in the San Francisco Bay Area with a modern approach to customizing florals for weddings, businesses, and events.