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When I started reading wedding blogs, I immediately started hoarding images on my hard drive. It’s the modern-day equivalent of obsessively stockpiling bridal magazines and creating folders full of cutout photos. I kept on trying to figure out how they might go together, but I really had no idea.
Then I discovered the “inspiration board” via Snippet & Ink and Style Me Pretty and I just had to make one. First, I had to figure out our wedding colors and themes.
For the theme, I took into consideration the spectacular location and the unique culture of Montana. I wanted something that wouldn’t be too “YEEHAW” or kitschy, but wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb from the setting. I came up with “rustic elegance.” I imagine our theme evoking the Northwest Montana aesthetic (wildlife, cowboy culture, homesteading, classic Americana) by using the patina of age (old cans, mason jars, faded wood, burlap).
For colors, I chose wine burgundy accented by a bright sunflower golden-yellow and a deep chocolate brown. It’s a pretty standard fall color palate, but I absolutely love it.
The board below is revision four of what I originally created:
I’ve heard that my grandmother is concerned that “rustic” and “elegance” are mutually exclusive. To me, at least in Montana, I think they go hand-in-hand. What do you think? Do you have any suggestions as to how I could refine my wedding inspiration?
Image credits: 1-1, 1-2 (custom invitation) , 1-3, 1-4, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 4-1, 4-2, 4-3
My (most recent) attempt at rustic but classy:
http://flickr.com/photos/grumpypixie/2380619383/
Although mine has a little bit of funky thrown in to appease the fh.
My recent board was inspired by the bouquet from Snippet & Inks recent western board (which might fit your theme better).
http://snippetandink.blogspot.com/2008/04/board-175-ranch-romance.html
Your board is beautiful! The red you used is my favorite shade. We had elegant bbq as our theme and we had positive reviews (and other people using the same term to describe our wedding). And maybe your grandmother comes from a wedding-planning time when those were mutually exclusive, but that’s not the way it is anymore. I think it’s all in how you handle it, and from your inspiration board, I think it will carry well.
Very pretty! I think the best way to keep a rustic wedding elegant is to just keep it simple… have you shown your grandmother your inspiration board? How can you argue with that, it’s beautiful!
I think the combination is great. Grandmothers are so much more used to traditional weddings–not the cool combinations of today’s weddings.
I think it’s gorgeous!
That’s beautiful!!
Beautiful! You and I have a lot in common, Miss Cherry Pie! My fiance proposed on a hiking/free heel skiing adventure at Tuckerman Ravine in New Hampshire. We are also doing a “rustic elegance” wedding… ours in a renovated barn on the Vermont countryside. I saw that you included jars (we are using mason jars to hold our votives), but I also wanted to suggest galvanized pails rather than vases for your flowers. We love the effect. Just a thought!
Thanks everyone!
And Sarah M, that is a great idea. I will add it to my list!
this is exactly what i want my wedding to be like!
Do you mind if I ask how one actually makes an inspiration board?
Phrazina: I saved a bunch of photos and screenshots to my hard drive and then opened them all up and selected the ones I liked best. Then, I collaged them using PhotoShop.
If you don’t have PhotoShop, you can use A.viary.com or Photoshop Express. There are also a number of online tools that will create a photomontage or collage for you and all you have to do is upload your source images. Search for “online photo montage” or “online collage” and you can find some!
To choose which images work best in your inspiration board try to select those that represent all the major aspects of your wedding, like setting, color, food, dress, ambiance, etc. .
Hit up the library for MS Weddings from Spring 2006 through Spring 2007. That’s when I happened to be receiving it, and I remember a crazy-cool barn wedding being featured. I also remember similar sentiments from the bride’s family, i.e. “a barn? Are you serious?” Needless to say (given the source), it was drop-dead gorgeous.
Oh gosh, they are not separate entities! Rustic elegance is beautiful and easily achieveable. Candles, branches, and beautiful colors–totally doable. Grandma will see!
If you haven’t seen NetterB, you must! Go check out her bio on the knot. Totally rustic, and elegant. 
I loves me some snippet and ink and I got married in July. **Sigh**
Glad to see another Seattle bee! I’m down here in Tacoma, went to school in Pullman and therefore met some Montana chicks in college. What a beautiful place!
Your wedding ideas sound in sync with how my wedding was (though mine was in Texas). I wanted a combo of earthy and rustic contrasting with elegant and refined- think old worn wood vs. crystal and granite rock vs. satin. I loved how it turned out, and I certainly don’t think the two are mutually exclusive. If you wanna see it this is my bio:
http://community.theknot.com/cs/ks/user/page.aspx?username=VideoBride
[...] bride blogs that I read every morning, Weddingbee being one of them, for wedding inspiration. Like Ms. Cherry Pie in her post about her inspiration board, I discovered inspiration boards via Snippet and Ink and [...]
[...] Some of my other favorites are the “Muddy Water Mississippi Wedding” board and the “Wide Open Spaces” board, both from which I borrowed images to create my own inspiration board and color palette. [...]
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Miss Cherry Pie, Seattle/Polebridge, Montana Age and Occupation: 25, Marketing Communications Specialist Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Nurse Practitioner Engagement Date: August 26, 2006 Wedding Date: September 2008 Blogging Since: April 1, 2008 Venue: A tiny town just outside of Glacier National Park About Me: I think of life as a journey and I love the places it's taking me! I went to school to study Magazine Journalism, ended up with a second major in Japanese language, and now work at a company that makes software for libraries. I love writing, computers, photography, and the great outdoors. I spend most of my time playing Guitar Hero and Rock Band or geeking out online with Mr. Cherry Pie. I'm happiest when I'm on the road, especially traveling abroad, or just nesting quietly at home with my sweetie, who is a fabulous cook and bakes a delicious rendition of a certain cherry-filled dessert!
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