How to Use Pinterest to Plan a Wedding

You may already use Pinterest to get and post inspiration on topics such as home décor, fashion, recipes, travel destinations and just about anything imaginable under the sun.

But did you know the popular social media site is also a goldmine of resources when it comes to planning your wedding?

Launched in 2010, Pinterest is the fasting growing social network on the web. In January 2012, Internet research marketing company comScore reported the site had 11.7 million unique users, most of them female. In simple terms, “Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes. Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests,” according to the website.

So how do you use Pinterest to plan a wedding?

If you’re new to the site, you’ll need to register an account. You can receive an invitation from a friend who’s already registered, or request an invitation directly from the Pinterest site. You can also create and access an account by linking Pinterest to a Facebook or Twitter profile. (When you post or “re-pin” an image to your own board, you have the option of notifying your Facebook and Twitter followers.)

Once you’re set up, you’re ready to create your own boards, which are categories of pins you’ll want to save. Pinterest gets you started with some standards like “My Style” or “Books Worth Reading,” but you can also create your own. For your big day, for example, you might want to create boards around gowns and accessories, food and favors, vendors you’re investigating, etc.

Then, you can search for photos, videos and articles around those themes either by typing a subject into the search bar, or by clicking on “Weddings and Events” under the “Everything” drop down menu at the top of the page. Once you find what you’re looking for, you can “pin” those photos to your boards.

One of the many cool things about Pinterest is that many photos also contain comments, tips or instructions on how to create the look that was captured in the picture. They also contain links to the original sites they were taken from, so you can visit those sites for more information. You can also interact with friends (or total strangers) to get ideas for your wedding day based on the photos you choose.

With so many positives around this site, including easy navigation and a totally user-friendly vibe, it’s hard to find any fault with Pinterest. But if you haven’t already discovered, it’s easy to get sucked in to the Pinterest universe. Before you know it, two hours will have passed and you’ll have seen hundreds of pins around cake themes, favors and wedding day hairstyles. With that in mind, stay focused on what you’re looking for and set limits.

Until then, happy pinning!