“Just Be You” Inspiration Board #1
I have a wedding mantra. One that I believe has kept me sane and grounded during this crazy journey that is planning a wedding. Any time I feel the WIC pressure, I say this to myself: “Stop trying to be anti-traditional and just be you.” This mantra has encouraged us to make wedding-related decisions based on what we truly want our day to be like. It has propelled us to follow our hearts – even when our brains have told us different. But through all of this focus on making decisions based on what we want, and not what the rest of the world/wedding industry/guests expect to see, I have sincerely neglected the visual inspiration that goes along with it.
The Internet is flooded with perfect-looking wedding inspiration boards… with perfectly matching colors… and perfectly styled tables… and beautiful white dresses… and pristine bridal parties. These boards are beautiful, don’t get me wrong. But I want to see an inspiration board where there isn’t exactly one set color scheme. Or one where the bride isn’t wearing white. Or one that doesn’t showcase perfectly designed tables with professional-looking centerpieces. These boards were what made me think I needed to have a perfectly styled wedding with all the traditional trimmings. Which in the end, was NOT what my partner and I wanted. And again, don’t get me wrong; those inspiration boards are awesome — but ultimately, for us, those perfect boards steered our wedding into a direction that 1. we didn’t want and 2. couldn’t afford. So I wanted to mix it up a bit. And that’s when I decided to come up with “The ‘Just Be You’ Inspiration Board Series.”
Board #1 plays with lots of colors, inspiring you to not feel the need to tie yourself down to a palette with 2 or 3 distinct colors (this will also save you money and frustration). This board also focuses on alternatives to traditional catering, transportation, attire, and dessert. Check it out:
What do you think?
The further along our engagement goes, the more I don't see myself in a white wedding dress. I love the pops of color and am really feeling the fabric boutonnieres!
i’m also having difficulty finding what i’m truly searching for in inspiration boards. i like yours. but i’m looking for vintage harley/ 50′s art pottery/ Tiffany blue black, tangerine… with some lemon… maybe pops of pink… or… yeah. lol how do you stick with 2 colors? or just one inspiration for your theme? or one era for your antiques? so many beautiful things in this world. i hope my wedding is one!!
Vintage dress, check. Taco truck, check. Public transportation, check. Full of awesome? Check.
I like it. It's been a really long time since I was a bride-to-be, but as (full disclosure) a cog in the wedding-industrial complex, I always enjoy most working with the weddings that really reflect the personalities of the couple coming together and don't try to be a magazine shoot. Or, at least, not a wedding magazine shoot.
And if I ever get to have an actual wedding to who I'm with now, I'm wearing a lime and sky blue zoot suit that I can seriously dance in, and my daughters are carrying pinwheels instead of flowers.
This board def screams Be Yourself and have fun while doing so! I love the bout, the bridesmaids, the train, and the shoes and floral stockings! The pink dress and blue suit are so fun and speak 70s to me, which def was a Just Be Yourself era. I love posting out of the box weddings as well and push sites like RocknRoll Bride and OffBeat Bride because not only are they fun but they feel like they have less pressure and they just go with the flow. Weddings should be about You and your spouse…not what mom and dad think a wedding should look like or what your snobby sister thinks it should look like! LOL!
Wooooooooo Gold Line! And, love the inspiration. The colors are great!
I agree with your post…do you and your wedding will feel like you. Not like Ken & Barbie's. I do create inpspiration boards but not all of mine are traditional because I'm not. Don't get me wrong, I am not totally knocking folks who like white gowns and perfectly photographed tables so that they can get on a blog. I base my boards on what I feel, what I think might appeal to the "non-traditionalist " or the " multicultural" bride or the bride who wants more than just a white dress. When creating a board I might think of the bride who's parents imigrated her from another country and she wants to honor her families cultural tradition. I encourae brides to not be afraid of color, or going outside the box, go with what makes the both of you happy. You want to look back at your photos and see how unique and special your wedding day was. It should be as unique and specail as the couple.
It is your day, your way…my wedding was colorful and had lots of non-traditional elements to to represent my Latin, Caribbean, and Dutch heritage. It was perfect for us. I love this post and I really wish more brides would just do them…don't let a wedding planner (if you have one) tell you what you should do…it's a new world..be brave be you and do you! xo Naomi
Sorry for the two part message!
You mean I don't have to stick to 2 colors???? *sigh of relief* Thank you for your inspiration board – I'll have to start thinking of my own, starting with a bluegrass band and no color limit
Is that first one a wedding dress? I want to get married in THAT! I don't suit white at all, too pale lol
I absolutely ADORE this board! Especially the Metro. The Blue & Red Lines are my preferred transportation to go Downtown
Everything about this screams vintage, unique, & fabulous!
That's what's great about the mix of bridal blogs out there – so much different inspiration to choose from! But it can be really overwhelming, and taking time to think about what you really want is so important. This inspiration board is clearly a genuine collection of what's inspiring you and that's fanastic!
LOVE THIS. When the only inspirational images of weddings we see are expensive, white, and poufy, the WIC wins. Kudos for helping to create an alternative image of what a wedding can be!!
Sound advice. We have so many clients who spend too much time worrying about what others will say if they and everything isn't perfect. I always tell them to be themselves and enjoy the event.
Understated, elegant…vintage with a modern twist. The white and light blue is absolutely calming! I love it.