Inspiration is ephemeral: gossamer, fleeting, it comes to mind like a flash of brilliance but can leave just as quick. But if you’re fast enough, or talented enough, you can grab hold of it and harness it into something beautiful.

Neil Lane is a celebrated designer, collector, curator, and bridal authority. With an eye for style and elegance, Lane is an avid collector of rare jewels, sculptures and fine art. He is the official ring designer for ABC’s The Bachelor franchise, and his signature couture designs have appeared on some of the world’s most glamorous celebrities and red carpets. As an expert on all things wedding-related, we wanted to hear his thoughts on how inspiration comes to him, and how you can move from inspiration to action when designing your own wedding.

My whole life is about collecting. I wouldn’t have been able to become a designer if I didn’t have my collection to inspire me. Ever since I was a little kid I was collecting things… even things without value such as pebbles and bits and pieces of glass. This evolved to collections of art, antiques and the awareness that certain older objects are highly valuable. I had an eye for special pieces, it came naturally to me. Currently my house is filled with unique art including paintings and wall murals and most Saturdays I’ll invite people over to mingle and talk about art, new ideas and where they draw inspiration from. Whether it be others in the art industry, entertainers, or friends, I hope everyone finds inspiration in the things I’ve collected.

Weddings can be viewed as a compilation of items that represent your love. From the flowers, rings, dress, decor, ketubah and the venue, your wedding should be filled with items that inspire you to love and celebrate love. I think inspiration comes from everywhere. My inspiration has come from all my experiences throughout my life and continues to grow and expand just as I do. Whether I am wandering through museums for desired color palettes, flipping through home design books for ideas about fabrics, walking through my gardens or simply sitting in a beautiful restaurant, inspiration is all around. 

As a child I was inspired by the shining glitter of the glass on the floor in the street, the forms of trees & their shadows and cars moving in action. It is important to take note of such items, big and small, that conjure creativity. These memories and the emotions they evoke, will help to develop ideas that you would want to reflect on your wedding day. 

The wedding planning process, similar to the art process, is both emotional and creative. I’m always looking for that emotional aspect when creating art such as my Ketubah designs. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, therefore not everyone may see your exact vision. You may see something one way while another person sees the same item completely differently, but that’s the beauty of art- it’s magnanimous. Anyone can look at it and walk away with a whole different feeling.

Many wedding trends have emerged following the pandemic. People want to celebrate so they’re doing everything and anything! The Covid-19 pandemic taught people that they can celebrate no matter their budget. If they can splurge, they’re going to splurge! If they can’t, they’re still going to make something wonderful and unique. Whether it be a destination wedding, backyard wedding, or even a zoom wedding, anything and everything goes today. No matter what you choose, dig deep for inspiration and make sure your wedding day is a reflection of the things you love.