Drawing Inspiration

One of the biggest mistakes I think that most brides make when planning their wedding is buying a whole bunch of bridal magazines and only drawing inspiration from things labeled "Bridal" or "Wedding." Only drawing inspiration from those things is limiting. It's what separates good weddings from incredible and inspired weddings. Here are a few ideas of where to draw from other than Bridal Shows, Bridal magazines, weddings themselves and vendors.

1. Magazines-other than Bridal ones
It seems like the first thing brides do after getting engaged (or maybe a little before to drop a hint) is buy Bridal Magazines. Bridal magazines are a great way to get started and act as a guide for planning your wedding. The articles are often helpful especially for those brides who've never helped in planning a wedding. But when looking for all around inspiration, there's no need to box yourself into a Bridal Magazine. What magazines do you usually read? That's a great place to start. It could be a fashion spread or even just an ad. Look for color combinations, textures, or time periods you are drawn to.

I found this spread in Elle magazine. I loved the color palette. I plan on creating a whole inspiration board for my friend Ashley's wedding to give her some ideas. I'll be sure to share it with you all!


2. Your favorite stores
I found this cute cuff bracelet in one of my favorite Lincoln boutiques, Rae'n. I first just loved the color combination, but soon it struck me that these cuffs could be a neat replacement for corsages used to honor host couples, cake-cutters, guest book attendants and the like. The stores you shop at probably reflect your style so they could be a great source for your style of wedding. You may even consider purchasing your bridesmaids dresses from your store rather than a bridal boutique. Take a stroll through your own closet. Do you have a signature style? Think of ways of incorporating it into your wedding fashions.


3. Food
It seems silly, but so many brides end up with very standard food (a chicken, a beef, green beans, mashed potatoes, dinner salad with Ranch or French, and rolls). Starting now, think about the foods that you love. Be open to trying new options. Think about the way the food looks as well. Not only do I love the way these Sprinkle's coconut cupcakes taste but I love the way they look. The coconut looks soft like snow or feathers. Consider heavy hors' d oeuvres with fun presentation. Mini Chinese boxes with lo mein, mashed potato bar with traditional and fun toppings, the possibilities are endless.


When you see something that inspires you or likes you, take a picture on your phone or with a digital camera. Keep all of your inspiration pictures together and see if a trend begins to develop.

I hope that this blog inspires you to pull your head out of the bridal magazine and take a look at the world around you. Hopefully these ideas get you started. Truthfully you can find inspiration from anywhere. Go out there and open your eyes!