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Weddings

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Welcome to my blog, where I share highlights of everything from my client's wedding days and portrait sessions, to recent features and our adventures around the world. 

Hi, I'm Alicia.

Pinterest: Friend or Foe?

May 4, 2017

I’m about to make a huge confession… I was married pre-Pinterest! That sounds like it “dates” me, but we were only married in 2011 and it wasn’t until a few months later that the site really began to take off. It’s quickly become a go-to for all things wedding related (well, just all things life – decorating, fashion, recipes) and is a huge source of inspiration for most brides. But it can also cause a lot of anxiety over “keeping up with the Joneses” so the question needs to be asked… Pinterest, friend or foe?

FRIEND
Unique ideas. 
Pinterest is home to 50 billion (yes, with a “B”!) pins which means it’s full of unique and creative ideas that most brides wouldn’t even be able to dream up on their own!

Fresh content.
New content is added to Pinterest every second, which means you can always find something new!

Easily shared. 
Unlike binders and magazine clippings of the past, you can send bouquet ideas to your florist within minutes of finding something you love! Collaboration could not be made more simple with this tool.

Organized. 
For the Type A bride, Pinterest is a dream! You can have one board for your cake, another for your bouquet, etc – each of which can be easily reference at any time from your phone or computer. 

This Washington, DC wedding photographer discusses the pros and cons when using Pinterest to plan your wedding. This Washington, DC wedding photographer discusses the pros and cons when using Pinterest to plan your wedding. This Washington, DC wedding photographer discusses the pros and cons when using Pinterest to plan your wedding.

FOE
Idea Overload.
The downside to having 50 billion pins to sift through is that there are literally thousands of idea out there for every theme or color palette. This can quickly overwhelm a bride and made it hard to narrow down what elements are important to your day.  Eventually, you start to lose that personal touch. 

Pushes your budget. 
You know all those unique and creative ideas that are your “friend”? Well, they cost a lot of money to implement and before you know it, you can find yourself stretching your budget further than you’d like for your dream wedding. 

FOMO.
Eventually, you will max at your wedding budget and will have to decide what stays and what goes — having to say goodbye to those dream pins will be really hard for some! 

Unrealistic expectations.
As a Washington, DC wedding photographer, I often mistakenly assume that “everyone” knows what went in to an artist getting a particular shot. But most brides don’t (and shouldn’t!!) and that unfortunately sets them up to be disappointed when their day doesn’t look exactly like the one they saw on online. Many shoots have a team deciding the perfect time, place, and location for each individual shot and on a wedding day we don’t always have that luxury. Your photographer only has the conditions available to work in so if you have, say, a dark, wooden reception area, we cannot make it look like you’re outside at golden hour! We will bring our own lights and manage the situation, but just remember that we capture your day as it truly unfolds. 

This Washington, DC wedding photographer discusses the pros and cons when using Pinterest to plan your wedding. This Washington, DC wedding photographer discusses the pros and cons when using Pinterest to plan your wedding.

Comparing these two lists, I think it would be crazy to say “don’t use Pinterest!” when wedding planning as it’s clearly an incredibly helpful tool. I would just advise future brides to temper their expectations and realize that their wedding, while inspired by Pinterest, should not strive to be an exact replica; it should be a reflection of who you and your fiance are as a couple. Be sure to hire vendors whom you trust and they will deliver you a wedding day that you love. 

Bridal Business

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