How to Storyboard Your Wedding

What is a Wedding Storyboard?

Your love story starts from the moment that you meet with chapters contributed by dreamy details like your first date, first kiss, and the proposal. Perhaps all those elements only write up the first chapter of your fairytale with the wedding serving as the ultimate event that kicks off the next chapters of your happily ever after.

The storyboard concept is similar to the process of putting together big screen productions. Simply put, it's a sequential road map of sorts with graphic representations that break down how each part of the script is expected to unfold from paper to screen. In the case of a wedding storyboard, it captured the sequence of events involved in putting together the big day with the ultimate goal being to create an experience.

A wedding storyboard outlines the breakdown of activities like the wedding dress shopping process, cake tasting, bridesmaids' fittings, and other planning elements that collectively make up the big day. The step-by-step guide is also meant to evoke a sense of sound, sight, smell, and taste which essentially describe the different aspects of a wedding.

Why do you Need a Wedding Storyboard?

Coming up with a wedding storyboard, on top of handling everything else that you have on your plate leading up to the big day, sounds like an added task. However, you'll soon find out that it's a worthwhile step that will definitely make the wedding planning process smoother and perhaps easier. There are also resources like Canva that can help you storyboard your wedding, and these are some of the reasons why you should have a visual representation of your big day.

Share your vision

A wedding storyboard serves as a visual aid that makes it easier to communicate your overall vision with others. For instance, explaining to a florist how you'd like a cascade of wedding flowers adorning your reception tables is one thing but you'll get precisely what you want by presenting a photo or illustration of your vision.

Your wedding storyboard will also go into detail by breaking down each element in terms of numbers, color, size, and other considerations that will get you the desired outcome. Providing the detailed guideline also addresses any potential miscommunications off the bat.

Make the planning process easier

With a visual guideline of how everything should look, feel, taste, and sound, the wedding planning process should be much easier. You'll also be more at ease entrusting different vendors to oversee the various planning processes without feeling the need to micromanage or annoyingly make frequent follow-ups.

In essence, the wedding storyboard captures the plan, details the starting point of each task, and also makes note of the expected outcome. Not to say that you won't need to check in now and then with different vendors, just that there will be fewer "revisions" or "redos" needed.

Saves on time

Working with a wedding storyboard also cuts back on follow-up time. With the A-to-Z related to each planning activity presented to each respective vendor, they are able to deliver precisely what's expected down to the last detail. You won't need to keep explaining different things because the storyboard vividly outlines every imaginable question a vendor would have.

A wedding storyboard also helps in terms of organization as well as discussing delivery timelines with each vendor. If everything is clear up front it minimizes the chances of dealing with delays brought about by miscommunication or misunderstandings.

How are Wedding Inspiration Boards Different from Wedding Storyboards?

Most brides are familiar with wedding inspiration boards, and in essence, they are powerful communication tools. They center around the big day and your indoor or outdoor party, and include visual guides detailing the design as well as the aesthetic you'd like to mirror for your nuptials. Several resources like Pinterest help brides easily curate personalized wedding boards.

The difference between a wedding inspiration board and a storyboard is that the first isn't detailed while the second focuses on breaking down every detail. An inspiration board can include several wedding dress styles that you are drawn to or different centerpiece designs that you think would suit your nuptials.

A storyboard outlines the tidbits down to the color, look, and feel that paints a clear picture of how your big day should look like. More than likely, you'll work on a storyboard after doing the groundwork and visiting different vendors to get all the information needed to guide your wedding decisions.

Don't Forget about Colors & Textures

When you get down to working on your wedding storyboard, it helps to collaborate on it with each vendor's input. You'll have time to add in your specific preferences and that's when you should remember to be specific about your wedding colors as well as how you'd like to incorporate texture into your big day.

Coming up with a wedding color palette involves working from a point of personal taste as well as having seasonal considerations in mind. You also want to pick a color combo that's cohesive and translates well on every aspect of the big day. Remember that colors are also what help create the mood or atmosphere you want for your nuptials.

Textural accents add depth, detail, and interest to the overall wedding aesthetic. The best way to introduce texture is in the form of patterns, geometric wedding decor, and linen choices. Think along the lines of choosing velvet linen for a luxe event and settling for rattan furniture when planning a boho-chic wedding. Here are other color and texture considerations when coming up with your wedding storyboard:

• Whether you choose a monochromatic color scheme or settle for ombre colors, make sure that the storyboard is also color-specific. However, if you can't find a tablescape image that captures your preferred color palette, make notes and include the specific swatches of pigment you'd prefer for each element.
• Metallic accents always add a touch of elegance to any wedding theme. Incorporate them in the form of chandeliers, wire baskets, vases, photo frames, and flatware that compliments your chosen color scheme.
• Floral arrangements also add pops of color and introduce some texture all around the wedding venue. Make sure to be detail-specific about the type of bridal bouquet you'd like, ceremony arch floral design, and reception table centerpieces.

Storyboard Your Wedding

I’ve just finished up a wonderful unit in my course from The Wedding and Event Institute on storyboarding and how to storyboard your wedding, and I’ve got to say, this was invaluable to me! Inspiration boards are one thing, but to actually break down your concept and go a little more in-depth into it was something else. It made me focus on aspects of weddings that I hadn’t given much thought to before like taste, smell, and sound.

Storyboards, much like the ones used in producing movies, should tell a story and detail step by step what needs to be taken care of at your event and how it will use the five senses (because the more sensory experiences you incorporate into your event, the more memorable it will be).

The two examples of wedding storyboards I’ve given you, here are pretty basic – what I would call ‘skeletal’ outlines because, like Christine Kerr (our instructor) said during the course: “some actions in a storyboard will be made up of a series of smaller actions. Here, it might help to create a sub-level storyboard for those more involved steps. ” I imagine that each of the steps outlined below could be broken down into multiple sub-levels and sub-levels of sub-levels with more and more details and information. And I love it because it’s all so visual!

Our assignment for this unit was to pitch two storyboards to a client who wants her wedding to be themed around ‘diamonds are a girl’s best friend.’ For the first storyboard above, I wanted to go outside of the box a bit so I thought about the shape of a diamond, the hardness of it, the lines, and the cuts. It’s a youthful, modern, and trendy take on the theme and I believe it’s one that would work wonderfully in an urban, industrial setting.

For the second storyboard I went way more traditional: pinks, gold, and a lot of  diamond-like sparkle!

One of the most interesting things I learned throughout the storyboard process is that you’ll learn to recognize the problem areas of your wedding because it forces you to think beyond just the appearance of it.

As Christine mentioned: “As each new step is put in your storyboard look for ‘holes’ and problems in the process. This is especially important between frames, or steps, that surprises (in other words: problems) could be hiding. This is why storyboards are so valuable. You can see each piece of the puzzle, and how all the pieces interact so you’re  more likely to spot problems.”

Going forward in the course I’m supposed to pick one of these concepts to run with. As usual, I have a hard time deciding so I’d love to know which of these two storyboards do you think I should explore further – the modern or the romantic?

Credits: Photo credits: modern: gem shapes //  Mirta ring // black dress from Green Wedding Shoes, photographed by Katherine Elizabeth Photography // fireworks // ceremony chairs from Elizabeth Anne Designs, photographed by Clary Photo // hexagonal ornament via Feathers of Gold // black and white vases from The Pretty Blog, photographed by Christine Meintjes // diamond lights via Eric Therner // lounge area via Style Me Pretty, photographed by Lisa Lefkowitz // faceted rock art // signature drink sign from Style Me Pretty, photographed by Paper Antler // Aqua Carpatica bottles // black caviar // turntables // Rivini raw edged silk dress detail via The Knot // Chanel perfume from Style Me Pretty, photographed by Art Haus Foto.

romantic: loose pink diamonds // ring via Studio 1040 on Etsy // tiara – unknown // lace hair blossoms via Twigs and Honey, photographed by Elizabeth Messina //  Schleibheim Palace interior // purse from Snippet & Ink, photographed by Rylee Hitchner // antique chairs from Restoration Harware // flower chandelier from Wed Lux, photographed by Iconica // gold shoes from Style Me Pretty, photographed by Kayla Adams // candelabra via Once Wed, photographed by  Jose Villa // glasses with glitter from Style Me Pretty, photographed by Simply Bloom Photography // pink cake via Style Me Pretty, photographed by Brumley & Wells // blush champagne from Camilla Styles, photographed by Chelsea Fullerton // musical bride via Smitten Magazine, photographed by Elizabeth Messina // pink ribbon from Lovely Bride // roses via Georgiana Lane.