How To Approach Pinterest When Planning a Wedding

Ever since Pinterest launched in 2010, engaged people have become obsessed with what is now commonly known as the Pinterest Wedding. And while it has definitely increased the scope of DIY wedding inspiration, it has also created a Pinterest Wedding Standard that tends to pressure couples into decorating their weddings accordingly.

This has created an interesting dynamic, since the Do It Yourself wedding photos of beautiful favors and painted mason jars do have their appeal, both in aesthetic and in potentially money-saving hacks; however, the Pinterest Wedding is not for the faint of heart, nor is it as original as it once was. Nowadays, weathering wedding planning with Pinterest around can be very conflicting. To help you out, listed below are some general rules to help keep you focused on what's really important. (Hint: it's NOT the burlap table runner your photographer will cry about when you show him.)

Pinterest Rule #1: Don't Fall For the Money-Saving Lies

"Make your own wedding favors!" they say. "It will save you so much money!" they say. This is not always the case. Those itty-bitty jars you're going to fill with handmade jam are only $2 each, but you have 150 guests. You're already at $300, and you haven't even bought the ingredients for the jam yet, the ribbon you're going to tie around it, or the cute labels you're going to hand print and stick on! And did I mention how much time you're going to spend making these? Uh, don't you have a wedding to plan? On top of spending $XXX on your wedding favors, you now have to shop for and prep these darned things! How much is your time worth? Is it really less than the cost of professionally crafted, shipped-right-to-your-door favors from Etsy? A better question: do you really need favors at your wedding at all?

Here's the other problem with DIY projects: it's hard to stop at one. Not only because one handmade item cries out for another to join it for the sake of a cohesive decor theme, but because the idea of DIYing these projects is addicting. (Note that I did not say assembly.) On top of your favors you will want to DIY the paper flower bouquets, the assorted flavor cake-pops, the painted Chinese lanterns, the hand-embroidered ties for the groomsmen, and the freaking glitter-stuffed balloons you want to mail in your invitations for some reason.

...The point is, you're going to spend a lot of money DIYing things, thinking all the while that you're sure saving so much money! Listen to me: that is nonsense.

Pinterest Rule #2: You're Going to Spend So Much Time REMAKING Your Projects

Unless you're an expert crafter, DIY won't look as good as the professionally taken pictures. You just have to realize that the bloggers who create and post about these things usually aren't the Do It Yourself type like you're thinking--they're professionals who Do-This-Stuff-For-A-Living. If you end up attempting these things the week of your wedding thinking it'll be a cinch, you're going to be surprised and overwhelmed when you find that your version of the project that you followed to a T looks nothing like Pinterest's picture! You will have to try again! And...probably again. After the third time, one of three things will happen:

1) You will succeed and have a good product after spending more time and resources than you thought you'd have to.

2) You will have failed miserably and throw up your hands and finally say "Fine, I'm hiring a professional."

3) You will have a dreadfully embarrassing cake as shown above and below, you will be dirt poor from all of those late-night runs to Michael's, and you will then have to use your embarrassing cake at your wedding because you cannot afford another. Now that's #pinterestworthy!

Please take a moment to enjoy these other Pinterest vs. Reality photos.

Pinterest Rule #3: Substance, Not Just Decor, at Your Wedding, is important

Want to have a memorable wedding your guests will look back on with appreciation? Give them great food and drinks. Of course, you want your wedding to be beautiful, and it is YOUR day, so ultimately you should make your wedding look the way you dream of it, but if your main concern is having a wedding that will impress your guests, invest in things your guests, not just your photographer, will appreciate.

Pinterest Rule #4: Pinterest-Inspired no longer guarantees original

In fact, finding decor ideas on Pinterest and imitating them for your wedding isn't original at all, and some are so insanely overdone that your wedding vendors secretly cry about them together. (Read: burlap-anything, twinkle lights and mason jars. Seriously, PLEASE STOP WITH THE MASON JARS.)

Pinterest Rule #5: Telling Your Photographer What You Want with Your Pinterest Boards Limits Creativity

If it's on Pinterest, it's already been done! Pinterest is an awesome resource for IDEAS, but don't get swept up into trying to make your wedding an imitation of your Pinterest Board. Your photographer will not appreciate being asked to copy someone else's staged photos; instead, allow your photographer to create new photos worthy of their own Pinterest Posts!

Pinterest Rule #6: Be Inspired By Pinterest, Not Pressured Only to Copy It.

Hopefully throughout this post you've not come away with the idea that Pinterest is The Worst, because that's not at all true. Pinterest is a wonderful resource to use when planning--let's be real--anything! But it is not the end all be all of ideas. Let it start you off, however, remember that you too can come up with original ideas to make your wedding beautiful, memorable and photo-worthy. The last thing you should be concerned about is whether your wedding is adequate based on your ideas' exposure to Pinterest. You too can pioneer Pinterest-Worthy decor!