Get Inspired with a Wedding Inspiration Board!

Styling and decorating a wedding is never easy, but taking the time to create your own wedding inspiration board can take some of the stress out of your big day and bring your dream theme to reality.

Brides have always cut out pictures and ideas from magazines and catalogues to help them settle on the style and theme of their wedding.  But inspiration boards (also called story or mood boards) are the best way to pull all your ideas together to create a unified theme.

When you select your flowers, for instance, you can show the florist your inspiration board to help her understand your overall concept.  She may be able to make suggestions that will suit your theme and make your wedding even more spectacular.

Inspiration boards also help you to gain a ‘big picture' view of what works well together (and what doesn't).  Sometimes, when you're planning every little detail, it's hard to see the forest for the trees.  An inspiration board keeps you focused on the overall look and feel of your wedding.

Getting inspired

Start by selecting pictures that evoke the wedding of your dreams.  Think wild and expansively - don't let yourself be limited by budget (in the first instance, at least!)  As you're looking for inspiration, consider questions such as:

• When did you meet? Describe the location, the feeling and the atmosphere.
• What is your most beautiful childhood memory?
• What family or cultural elements would you like to integrate into your day?
• Do you have any favourite colours? Favourite smells? Favourite destinations?

How do you make a wedding inspiration board?

From there, start to assemble your inspiration board, which can include fabric swatches, cut outs from magazines, family photographs, words and inspirations.  Then, colour copy the board and hang in a place that will remind you of what the day is about for you.

Alternatively, if you're computer-savvy, try making an inspiration board using any graphics program like Photoshop or Paintshop.  Polka Dot Bride suggests using an online tool called Mosaic Maker which helps you to upload your pictures and create a simple but effective board.  Other options include Photoshop (try the fantastic tutorial written by Mrs Lemon at Weddingbee) and an easy drag and drop board creator at Polyvore.

Remember, the board is the inspiration for every element of the day.  Australia Entertains features a number of wedding inspiration boards to give you some ideas and inspirations of your own!