Joseph West Photography 

As many brides know, Pinterest, the image-sharing social network site, has gained widespread popularity. The favored site allows the users to share various products and images. For those who do not know what Pinterest is about, users create “boards” where they can “pin” specific pictures to each category of their “board.” Almost every image that is “pinned” traces back to a website where the photo originated.

In March of 2010, Pinterest launched its first prototype. Over the past six years, people have been searching for inspiration for all different types of things and events. However, before couples are even engaged, 70% of women are already pinning pictures to their wedding boards and starting to get ideas for their wedding day. Another 70% of brides are drawing their inspiration for their wedding day from Pinterest.  Out of that 70% of brides, 54% are using Pinterest to illustrate their vision to planners and other vendors. Pinterest is changing the way brides search for décor and receive inspiration in this digital age.

Jenna McElroy Photography 

Weddings generate 50-70 billion dollars a year with 2.4 million marriages performed. Again, those 70 % of wedding planning brides found ideas and pictures of what they liked and pinned them to their boards. Out of that 70% of brides, 51% became more realistic with their pins after they were engaged. The reason for a change in pinning behavior is brides may not realize just how much a wedding may cost as well as the reality of what their budget is once they begin the wedding planning process.  Unfortunately, when it comes to the financial aspect for couples, Pinterest sets brides up for unrealistic expectations more times than not.

With the rise of Pinterest, brides are more eager to DIY (Do It Yourself), especially once they learn just how much what they wanted actually costs. These high expectations couples receive after looking on Pinterest is based on a majority of professional photography which can lead brides and grooms astray. When couples begin the DIY process, they bring in family members to assist rather than pay for a professional. Brides search Pinterest and find scenarios they would like to recreate but cannot afford the price it would take to stay within their budget. These couples then take it upon themselves to save money and become DIYers. The projects can either turn out great or end up DIY fails, which is the most common case. To save yourself a headache, vendor shop and find a vendor who can see your vision but stay within your budget. Leave the DIY projects at home.

The Bird & The Bear Photography

After pinning a few décor ideas to your wedding Pinterest board, did you change your mind once you established a budget? Was Pinterest a major benefactor to your wedding inspiration? Did you find that Pinterest gave you unrealistic expectations?