Choosing a venue is a massive part of creating your dream day. Afterall, they book up first, set the stage for the day’s events and create the backdrop for all your photos! It’s so important, in fact, that over the course of planning, you’ll likely have not one, but TWO wedding venue walkthroughs. But what’s the purpose of each visit? What should you look for? What should you ask? It’s a lot to take in each time you’re on-site, but there’s always a way to keep it simple. Read on for my tips and tricks, and all you need to know about wedding venue walkthroughs!

The Initial Walkthrough

Your initial tour will give you a great idea of the policies, event spaces, and all the options, preferred vendors, and inclusions available for your big day. You’ll get to see where you’d be getting ready, along with how each space could be used, where things could be set up, etc. This wedding venue walkthrough should include the bride and groom, your newly-appointed planner (if you’re using one), and whoever is responsible for this piece of the budget. The goal? Find the perfect place with the perfect date available. Obtain a contract, an understanding of logistics, vendors and rentals, then… save your date! 

Do this:

• Ask for their open and available dates right away. If your ideal date is already booked, it’s good to know that before you fall in love with the space to properly weigh the pros and cons.
  
• Make note of ideas that come to mind while you’re touring each space. Are you picturing something in particular? Did you spot a way to incorporate a special item or activity? Make notes of all your inspiration in your phone, or write it all down!
  
• Snap a few photos on your phone to reference later when planning decor, etc. There are likely tons of photos on your venue’s website, but snap a few pics of your spaces from different angles, while it’s not set up and perfectly decorated for someone else’s event.

Not this:

• Don’t assume anything you can dream up is allowed (send off with sparklers, alcohol across the property, etc.)
  
• Don’t waste your walkthrough! Be present. Texts can wait! Use this time to get as much information as possible.
  
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions… That’s what your guide is there for! Ask away while you’re present, while questions are fresh, and while you have everyone’s attention.
  

The Final Wedding Venue Walkthrough

A month or so before the big day, you’ll schedule one final wedding venue walkthrough to iron out all the last minute details, ask any remaining questions, and make sure the spaces are what you remember them to be. The goal? Finalize all the details for the wedding day, and make sure all parties involved are on the same page. 

Do this:

• Take your time. If possible, clear an afternoon for this walkthrough so you don’t have to rush through this process. Now is the time to address any concerns, have any remaining questions answered, and, this being the FINAL wedding venue walkthrough, you don’t want to skip over anything!
  
• Confirm arrival and departure times so you can communicate that information to your wedding party and beauty team.
  
• Enjoy! This is the last time you’ll see your wedding venue before it’s showtime. Take it all in. Be excited. This is it! 

Not this:

• Don’t forget about the rehearsal! Yes, the wedding is the main event, but your families and wedding party will need to confirm the arrival time, schedule and plan for the rehearsal, too.
  
• Don’t assume everyone knows what they’re in charge of! Use this wedding venue walkthrough to review and finalize who is doing what, when it needs to be done and where things will be so there’s fewer chances of miscommunications.
  
• Don’t stress yourself out! There’s a lot of information to confirm and there will be a lot of finalizing going on, which can be stressful — especially this close to the wedding! But don’t forget, you’re in good hands! If there’s something in particular that’s causing anxiety, use this time to smooth it out. 

Bonus Tip: Bring your photographer to the final wedding venue walkthrough! They’ll want to see the spaces and lighting they’ll be shooting, along with hearing the schedule for the day’s events. They might even snap a photo or two to capture your excitement—and who knows? Those photos could end up being some of your favorites!

Whether you’ve had wedding boards on Pinterest since you were little, or if you’re new to the game, all that inspiration can be a bit overwhelming. Take a deep breath. I’m here to help with three simple steps to turn your Pinterest board into your dream wedding!

With the whole world right at your fingertips, I think we can all agree that the Internet has made wedding planning a whole lot easier. At the same time, tools like Pinterest, with all its resources and information, can be a lot… especially if you’re not purposeful with your pins. When it’s time to take those images and make them a reality, it can be hard to sift through the seemingly infinite images and come up with an actual wedding plan. That’s where these steps come in.

Once you’ve explored the ocean of possibilities, and I encourage you to dive in and explore to your heart’s content, it’s time to get started and turn your Pinterest board into your dream wedding.

Step 1: Categorize

It’s easy to be overwhelmed when you’re staring down hundreds (and hundreds) of inspirational images – let alone when you’re trying to find one in particular, or trying to narrow things down. Relieve your own stress and separate your wedding pins onto different wedding boards. Not only will it make things easier to find, but it will allow you to look at things side-by-side to compare the different options… which will make Step 2 a whole lot easier! Need some help getting things all sorted out? Here are some boards I’d recommend to get you started: 

• Catering & Food
• Cocktails & Drinks
• Color Palettes
• Decor
• Dresses
• Fashion Inspiration (shoes, jewelry, etc.)
• Flowers & Floral Design
• Hair & Makeup
• Invitations & Paper Elements
• Locations & Venues
• Wedding Party Attire

Step 2: Edit

Once everything is living happily in its place, start to pull the similar items together onto new boards (think “Bouquets” or “Boutineers” from “Flowers,” or “Champagne Bridesmaids Dresses” from “Wedding Party Attire”). As things start to fall into place, you’ll be able to see your genuine favorites start to emerge — like having 20 strapless ball gowns saved but only one long-sleeved fit-and-flare dress. Then it’s time for some editing… and a Master Wedding Board.

Go through your individual boards, pull out your top 2 or 3 pins from each one, and save them to a Dream Wedding (or Master) board. This lets you wean out anything that’s NOT a top 3 contender, and lets you start to see how everything will look together in one place. If something doesn’t match, swap it out for something more appropriate from the applicable board. It’s hard to make compromises for the good of the big picture, but in the end, you’ve pinned everything for a reason. It will all be worth it!

Step 3: Show and Tell

Now that you’ve narrowed things down and organized your inspiration, it’s time to take these boards on the road! Download the app (if you haven’t already), or have screenshots handy on your phone. Going to a bridal boutique? Your top 3 favorite dresses are at your fingertips, along with your preferences for hair, shoes, veils, etc. Visiting with a florist? Show them what you’re thinking with a few favorite arrangements. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, right? So showing your planners and vendor contacts what you’re thinking can certainly go a long way. 

Once you’ve shared a tangible way to see your vision, the experienced professionals can use their skills to make recommendations and turn your Pinterest board into your dream wedding. But don’t forget about the second half of this tip… it’s show and tell. I know it sounds simple, but if you want to bring your pins to life, you have to ask. Whether it’s wanting a certain style in a different color, the logistics of a champagne fountain or s’mores stations instead of a traditional cake, speak up! It never hurts to ask, and if it’s outside the wheelhouse of whomever you’re talking to, odds are they can point you toward someone else who can help.

Bonus Tips

Still overwhelmed? Here’s a few more tips and tricks (from a person whose been to a wedding or two):

• Pick up some paint samples. I know this sounds strange, but trust me. You’ll be glad you did! Call me old school, but I’m still under the assumption that technology can sometimes fail. So once you’ve chosen your color palette, head to your local hardware store and grab some of those paint color cards from the big wall — one for every color you want to incorporate into your wedding — then throw them into your wallet or purse so you can pull them out whenever you need. Digital images can be small or hard to see, and your phone can run out of batteries. This free resource is a great way to make sure everything matches and looks good together, even when your apps aren’t available.
  
• Start a photography board! Just what you need, more wedding pins, right? But seriously, if you see a style of photography you love (dramatic shots vs. candid, etc.), or a pose or moment you want to be sure you capture or recreate, having those images handy can give your photographer a better idea of what they’re aiming to deliver. Follow the steps above to see your unique style emerge, then compare your vision to different galleries and posts from the photographers you’re interested in. If your styles align, send an inquiry! You can secure your date, get excited about engagement photos, and check something big off the list as you turn your Pinterest board into your dream wedding.
  
• Trust the experts – they’re professionals for a reason! While it’s great to have your dream day encapsulated perfectly in the digital world, all the gorgeous pins in the world won’t make roses in season for your winter or Valentine’s Day wedding. Nor will the perfect dream photos match your actual real-life budget. This is where industry professionals come in! Most of us have been doing this for a while and know how to achieve the vibe you’re going for. Let the pins be your guide, then let your team help you make them your own. After all, you want your big day to celebrate YOUR union, not whoever posted the original pin!
  

Whether you’re inching closer to the big day, planning for the future or just getting your post-engagement feet wet, there’s plenty of memorable moments throughout this process. Don’t forget to look up from the inspirational images to take some of your own! This season of planning and anticipation doesn’t come around every day. Let’s capture the joy-filled moments together.