As a private events coordinator, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing countless weddings, each with their own theme and personality. Some brides have known the color of their bridesmaids’ dresses and flowers since the day they turned six and met their first crush. Others can have a harder time deciding on décor. While the level of detail involved in planning can certainly be overwhelming, making decisions based on what you like will result in a wedding celebration that perfectly reflects your personality, taste, and the new life you’re embarking on with your significant other. Below are some suggestions for jumpstarting your creative side and putting you in touch with your own unique taste!

Patterns and Fabric

Browse the aisles of your local fabric store until you find fabric that catches your eye. Ask a salesclerk to cut a small piece from about four or five different swatches. At home, place these pieces in an area where you’ll see them frequently, then put them away for a few days. When you bring them out again, you’ll have stronger feelings about one in particular. After you’ve picked your favorite, think about what has drawn you to it. Some points to consider:

Does the pattern have bold lines and sharp angles? If not, are the designs soft and swirly? Are the colors bright and loud, or light and airy?

Are there polka dots or stripes?

Does the material feel smooth and silky? Or flat, like matte cotton?

Does the overall pattern look contemporary or retro?

These individual elements are the ingredients that will come together to create the atmosphere for your entire wedding day; holding onto that original fabric sample will help as you begin to plan colors. As a side note, it’s also helpful to decide early on whether you prefer gold or silver, as most pieces of wedding décor will have one of these two colors as accents.

Sentiments and Heirlooms

Another tool for sparking your creative energies is to reflect on something both you and your fiancée enjoy together. Perhaps you both love a certain brand of wine or champagne. Again, you’ll want to ask yourself what about that brand draws you to it: What color is the label? Is it modern or vintage? Brainstorming words that speak to your love of that particular brand—for example, classy, luxurious, joyous, happy, traditional, or mature, to name a few—will help refine your sense of style.

Or perhaps you both have an affinity for hummingbirds. Are you drawn to their metallic and shimmery feathers? Do you love that there are so many colors on one tiny bird? Make a list of words that describe what you like about these birds, such as enchanted, magical, vibrant, weightless, or cheerful, and in no time you’ll see the beginnings of a theme developing, one that ultimately gives shape to your entire wedding celebration.

Rather than trying to visualize the bigger picture of what you want your venue to look like, focusing on making choices about each piece as they come your way will help break the task into more manageable chunks. After you have a few decisions under your belt, the bigger picture will start to cohere, and your confidence will result in a wedding celebration that’s a perfect reflection of you and your significant other.