Cover photo: A tablescape from a butterfly/spring-inspired wedding by Jaclyn Watson (Jaclyn Watson Events). Photo courtesy Andy Madea Photo
It’s easy to feel like social media is the main pipeline for inspiration these days—even when our feeds start filling up with creators copying each other. For event pros, Pinterest and TikTok can be useful up to a point, but for truly creative and innovative designs, it’s important to gather inspiration from a wider realm in this vast, intricate world.
We asked some of today’s prominent event pros how they stay inspired. If you need a refresh on your own creative process, here’s what they recommend.
What do you do when you're in a creative rut or dry spell?
David Merrell (AOO Events, Inc., CEO/Creative Director, Los Angeles, CA): Of course I do get them. Everyone does. Many times, it is about clearing your mind. If your mind is heavy or weighed down, the ability to create is stifled. Clear your mind ... there are many ways to get there ... in that open space, new thoughts will fill it up.
Jaclyn Watson (Jaclyn Watson Events, Planner/Designer, Hyde Park, VT): When I hit a creative rut or dry spell, I don't panic—I pivot! First, I take a breather, maybe step away from my desk, and walk outside to clear my head. Then, I dive into my treasure trove of inspiration—flipping through old mood boards, revisiting favorite films or magazines, or even just scrolling through Pinterest for a fresh perspective. Sometimes, a change of scenery does wonders, so I might hit up a local art show or grab coffee at a new café to shake things up. And if all else fails, I reach out to my fellow creatives for a good old-fashioned brainstorming session—two heads (or three or four!) are always better than one when it comes to reigniting that creative spark!
Jordan Heller (Suncoast Wedding and Event Leaders (SWEL), Owner/Event Planner, Sarasota, FL): I turn to my creative partners when I cannot come up with something new. Sometimes one piece of inventory can create a whole theme—a chair, a textile, a costume donned by a musician, and so much more. Creating cannot be done in a vacuum and it takes a whole team to complete a vision.
Kawania Wooten (Howerton+Wooten Events, Creative Director and Principal Consultant, Bowie, MD): When I find myself stuck in a creative rut, it's usually a sign that exhaustion, stress, or overthinking has taken its toll. To break free, I block a few afternoon hours in my schedule, turn my phone on “do not disturb,” and allow myself the opportunity to unwind with some salty snacks paired with a few large glasses of a robust, bold cabernet or a super Tuscan. Without fail, this simple ritual awakens my creativity and rekindles my inspiration.
Keith Willard (Keith Willard Events, Owner/Planner, Fort Lauderdale, FL): I have a spaghetti session! This is something I do with all my clients. The ground rules are that there are no rules. Get rid of the idea of costs, availability, time constraints, etc. Then we start small ... usually I focus on decor and then build that out to enhancements like menus, place cards, door hangers and so on. I then work on what would be amazing for someone to experience when they arrive to check in to the hotel or arrive for the wedding. Experiences are thrown in there, crazy locations, games, transportation... it gets pretty crazy. I then take all those ideas and filter them down to those the couple really likes. The process continues until we have three or four amazing unique moments that are specific to this wedding.
For me personally, I like to get together with other professionals and do the “I wish” game. I wish that there was a projector that could mimic being in the Caribbean ... the smell of salt water, the wind, the light. Or I wish that there was a device that allowed me to know where everyone in the wedding party was at any moment. That then leads to the "you know what I just saw?" moments.
So in a nutshell of what I do when I'm in a creative rut: I change my location or change who I am talking to or call a friend that I haven't spoken to in ages. I let my brain relax and focus on something else.
Lenny Talarico, CSEP, CHE (Lenny Talarico Events, Owner, Las Vegas, NV): I scroll some of my favorite industry colleagues' work to help ignite the spark. ATOMIC Design is a gold mine for creative scalable solutions to incorporate into an event. I love the furniture companies who offer unique products; Revelry, Luxe Events, and of course Modern Event Furnishings.
Melissa Brannon (Uncommon Events, Founder/Event Planner/Designer, Philadelphia, PA): Work through it. Give it time. Don't become frustrated. Meditate to clear the mind.
Robin Selden (Marcia Selden Catering & Events, Managing Partner & Executive Chef, Stamford, CT): Step away from the project immediately. Move on to something else and come back to it when I've been recentered and re-energized.
Samuele Gallorini (Gallorini Giorgi Events, Wedding designer, Florence, Italy/Dallas, TX): I visit local markets, artisanal and antique shops, watch movies, and walk in the nature that surrounds my house.
Sarah Chianese (Mangia and Enjoy!, Owner, Springs, Colorado/Hudson Valley, NY): I have never found myself in a creative rut or dry spell; instead, I am sometimes overwhelmed by the plethora of ideas that race through my mind, so it is editing I struggle with more. For my colleagues who have asked me what to do when they are in a dry spell, I suggest they travel. If they can't travel in person, the fortunate thing about this age is the world is at our fingertips between our computers, social media, and industry magazines.
Sebastien Centner (Eatertainment Events & Catering, Creative Director, Toronto, Canada/Miami, FL): Great question. Day to day it's hard to just “turn on” your creative thinking since there are so many menial tasks to get done, and distractions, so I like to carve out some “alone time” where I can just sit with whatever creative project I am working on and follow a bunch of different thought paths to see where they lead.
Shelly Tolo (Tolo Events, President, Seattle, WA): I try to be patient as I know something will eventually inspire me. Sometimes it just takes scanning through page after page of Google images, as I might find just one small image that piques my interest to get back on the right track for what I'm designing.
Teri Jakob (UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, Associate Director, Special Events, Harrisburg, PA): I will usually focus on a different area and not try to force things. If I concentrate on the other details, by being curious and open, something will trigger for me. I also talk to my industry friends. I don't know what I'd do without them. Creative people understand each other like no one else. Conversations with those involved or reading about the project are also often helpful. I work with fundraising events, and I find it important to tie my program theme to the purpose and mission. Sometimes it's a creative play on words or something that brings meaning to what we are doing. One year, during planning the annual Tea for Mammograms, I was stumped for a fresh idea. While researching the technology, I learned that when doing a self-breast exam, a person could feel a lump the size of one centimeter, but the new machines could detect a lump as small as one millimeter, or the size of a small lemon seed! Well, that did it: “When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Pink Lemonade!”
This article is part of a 5 part series.
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