Have you ever gone onto Pinterest and looked at what seemed like countless pins regarding weddings? I'm betting you have. I know I certainly have. Even before going into the wedding planning profession I saw pins for wedding dresses, flowers, favors, save-the-dates, and more. Every time I logged in my eyes were bombarded with frilly tulle and twinkling sparkler send-offs.

This site has proven to be both a blessing and a curse to those of us who spend our time and energy ensuring that our brides (and grooms, of course!) have the best day of their lives; without a care in the world except walking down the aisle without tripping over their feet or their words. I'm going to try to explain to all what I mean when I say it's both a blessing and a curse.

When I'm working with a bride I like to be able to visualize exactly what she's envisioning herself. Pinterest has made this extremely easy for us! You saw a centerpiece idea you're absolutely in love with and want to incorporate it? Awesome, please show me! I've been able to consult with brides via their own Pinterest pages, and it's truly wonderful because I feel like the brides are able to get more involved than they ever had before. It has also been a great tool for organization when it comes to those ideas. Long gone are the innumerable folders and binders you'd have for a solitary wedding. You can now assemble the ideas all in one. Did I mention the fact that you can have co-pinners? That means that all parties included on the "board" can put up ideas for all the others to see as well! I have found this to be extremely helpful in both my personal and professional planning.

While those reasons are all fabulous reasons regarding Pinterest and it's usefulness to wedding planners, I must mention that there are negatives as well.

There are times where a bride will have a vision, and while that vision may be stunning it might not fit into her budget. Unfortunately, Pinterest has made this dilemma happen more often than it ever has before, and while wedding planners are sometimes known as miracle workers we can only work miracles that are actually doable.

Those utterly remarkable outside weddings cannot be achieved with a $15k budget. I can make something beautiful indoors for $15k that can look outdoorsy, but when it comes to an all-outdoor wedding in the prime of wedding season it's just not obtainable. There are costs to everything you'd be renting for that day; chairs, tents, tables, linens, silverware, service-ware, air conditioners, etc. Pinterest has made it seem like these ideas would be a piece of cake to attain, and when we have to tell our clients it isn't we're often the ones at fault. There are also limitations when it comes to time. If you want to get married in what we call the "wedding season" you need to try to book your vendors at least a year in advance. AT LEAST. I booked my caterer 15 months in advance for my own wedding, and fortunately he had one spot available for my day. My event is at the very end of wedding season. Pinterest has a knack for encouraging couples to pick something they absolutely love only to have it unavailable during the time they've picked for their wedding day. I know what you're thinking; what do you mean unavailable, Megan? Everything is available all the time for wedding planners! I'm here to tell you...that is very wrong. I can get orchids all year round, but if you want them to be as cheap as possible (meaning they're in season) I highly suggest you set a date between May and September.

Luckily, if you're a professional and good at your job, you know how to make the best of the situation anyway, but that doesn't negate the fact that it bums your clients out that their budget, time frame, and vision don't coincide. These particular reasons are the ones that I personally feel are the lead cause of wedding planners' distaste for Pinterest.

For me I think that the pros outweigh the cons rather exponentially. I like to think of the cons as adventures that I get to go on with my clients. If I think of it that way it's much easier to enjoy the whole experience. You get to work with your brides and grooms in a way that you never did before. I think it's going redefine what wedding planning is; if it hasn't already.

Don't let this article hinder you from using Pinterest as a means of inspiration. I'm simply trying to encourage others to be mindful of their expectations when a budget and time frame are in place. Trust me when I say I know how difficult this is. There are visions I have always had that have had to be put to rest in my own planning process, but when those had to go I found a new one. That is turning out to be even better, and more of us as a couple, than the original one had. Remember, planning your wedding is supposed to be fun, so enjoy it! This is, hopefully, the only time you'll be getting married after all! ;)