All posts in Eco-Friendly

The Organic Bride

An organic inspired wedding

Image courtesy of http://www.robholley.net

A setting September sun silhouettes a rustic barn strung with tiny lights around its entrance. Potted mums in a variety of shades line the inner aisles, and guests are seated on fabric covered hay bales. The bride is dressed in a simple gown, her hair swept up in a tousled style.  She carries a bouquet of her favourite wildflowers, a crown of flowers in her hair.

organic weddings

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The ceremony is simple and touching. There are no paper programs or orders of ceremony to ensure no excess paper will be wasted. At the reception, tables are covered with burlap toppers, pretty wildflower arrangements, and beeswax candles. The reception meal is healthy, made from local, sustainable and organically grown produce.

go green weddings

Image courtesy of http://www.etsy.com

An acoustic folk band fills the evening air with music, and the bride and groom toast each other with a crisp and fruity wine from a local vineyard. When it is time to make their departure, they ride horseback to the nearby cottage in the woods where surrounded by nature, they will spend their honeymoon.

eco-friendly wedding transport

Image: shutterstock

At every turn, the bride has used materials that are organic or recycled, ensuring that her love of nature is reflected in her wedding ceremony and reception as much as possible.

outdoor wedding ceremony

 Image courtesy of http://www.lover.ly

She looks radiant as she enters wedded bliss with her soul mate, surrounded by her loved ones and the great outdoors.

This depiction is fictional yet a realistic example of how beautiful, simple and elegant an organic wedding can be whether it takes place at a barn, a local meadow or your favorite wooded retreat. If weather doesn’t permit you to have the ceremony outside, then bring the outdoors in and enjoy the simple, natural pleasures the earth can offer.

Author Bio:

Francesca works and writes for a start up jewelry retailer called http://www.hotsytotsy.com/  selling a wide range of wedding jewelry, and occasion jewelry.

 

Flower Power! 5 Inspirational Floral DIY Wedding Ideas

besthomedecorators.com

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For all of you DIY ladies out there who love everything floral and want lots of it at your wedding, this post is for you.  We are here to give you 5 relatively easy floral DIY wedding projects that you can incorporate into your wedding ceremony and reception.

Flowers in Mason Jars

Mason jars are very popular on the wedding scene, and it’s no surprise that many people like to use them as vases for their flower arrangements. Use traditional clear mason jars as vases or get really crafty and dye your mason jars by using food coloring and modge podge.  You can also hang your flower arrangements in the mason jars on the chairs along the aisle of your ceremony. For a rustic look, wrap the mason jars in natural colored twine.

DIY wedding mason jar decoration ideas

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DIY wedding aisle floral mason jars

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DIY wedding floral mason jar decoration

Image courtesy of http://www.societybride.com/

DIY wedding floral mason jar decorations

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Floating candle & flower centerpieces

 Float tea candles in water filled bowls and vases. Choose the rose color of your choice and sprinkle the rose petals in the water.  You can also  sprinkle the rose petals on the tables around the bottom of the bowls or vases.  If you are having a winter wedding around the holidays, try putting cranberries & sprigs of ivy into your floating candle centerpiece. They turn out very well, add a great pop of color while looking festive.

DIY wedding centrepiece ideas

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DIY wedding floating candle centrepieces

Image courtesy of http://www.budgetbridesguide.com/

DIY wedding candle decorations

Image courtesy of http://www.simplegirlathome.blogspot.com.es/

Fresh Flower Crowns

If you’re a flower child, this is an absolute must to help you embrace your freer spirit.  All you are going to need are scissors, assorted fresh flowers, and floral wire. Babysbreath is cheap and always looks great. You’ll want to bend the floral wire into the shape of a crown to fit the size of your head, then wrap the wire around the base of a fresh flower leaving a tail at the end. Repeat using another fresh flower.

DIY wedding flower crown

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DIY wedding red rose crown

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DIY wedding flower crown

 Image courtesy of http://www.juurikasvu.org/smf/

DIY wedding crown ideas

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Paper Flower Boutonniere

Craft colorful paper flower boutonnieres out of crepe paper or tissue paper for the men in your wedding.  If you have a favorite flower, you can make imitation paper flowers that mimic the real deal.  Look at Pinterest to get some ideas as to what is popular and what seems to fit into your wedding theme.  Many people use paper flowers to decorate their white weddings cakes as well.

DIY wedding flower boutonniere

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DIY wedding boutonniere

Image courtesy of http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/

DIY wedding boutonniere ideas

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Place Cards with Flowers

I recently went to a wedding where they attached sprigs of lavender to each place card. The place card had my name written in calligraphy. It smelled lovely, and went along with the rustic theme and color palette of the wedding beautifully.  You could attach other fresh herbs to the place card, it is completely up to you. Dried flowers would also work nicely.

DIY wedding place card

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DIY floral wedding place card

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DIY wedding floral place cards

Image courtesy of http://www.charlottegeary.com/

DIY wedding flower pot place cards

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DIY floral inspired place card

Image courtesy of http://www.thestlouisweddingplanner.blogspot.com.es/

Hopefully these five floral DIY inspiration ideas will get you started on the right path to a lovely wedding day full of lots of flowers and love.

Weddzilla Team

 

 

DIY Wedding Ideas

cpch2_Be_Married_01_LRG

Image courtesy of http://www.corkeycreations.com/

For all of you crafty people out there, today is your lucky day! We have come up with a few awesome DIY wedding ideas for you to get started on and top tips for each.  These do-it-yourself ideas will not only wow your guests, but will also save you some money.  That sounds like a win, win situation to me if I’ve ever heard one.

Wine Cork Place Card Holders

One way to go about this, supply-wise, is to ask a bunch of your friends who are wine enthusiasts to save their corks for you.  You can also have cork stoppers ordered from an industrial retailer, who can personalize them for you with, “Mrs. X” etc.

To complete the wine cork placecard holders you will need: 1 wine cork per place setting, calligraphy pen, place cards and an x-acto knife.  Using the x-acto knife, slice off one side of the cork lengthwise, so it can lay flat on the table.  With the cork laying flat on the table, make a cut down the middle lengthwise, but not all the way through.  Write your guests name in calligraphy, or have someone with nice penmanship write your guest’s name on the place card.  You could even use the computer to come up with a nice design and print them out yourself. Once you have your place card, which should be a bit larger than the width of the cork, insert into the slit in the cork. It couldn’t be easier.

DIY wedding cork place card holder

Image courtesy of http://www.corkeycreations.com/

DIY wedding place card holder

Image courtesy of http://www.corkeycreations.com/

DIY wedding cork napkin

Image courtesy of http://www.corkeycreations.com/

Chalkboard Seating Chart/Signs

Chalkboard signs are big in weddings these days.  Instead of handing out programs, people are just putting everything typically in the program in large font on a large chalkboard. If you want to make your chalkboard to look a bit more fancy; have it framed. People are using chalkboards for welcome signs, seating charts and even to announce the dinner menu.  Checkout Pinterest for some DIY chalkboard sign inspiration, there are plenty of them out there! Chalkboard signs are just a matter of finding out how many things you want to make signs for, what size you want the signs to be and what font you are interested in using.

wedding chalkboard

Image courtesy of http://www.etsy.com/

DIY wedding chalkboard

Image courtesy of http://www.ellejaephotography.com/

Hanging String Balls

These look beautiful, and aren’t too difficult to make. Score! You can make the hanging balls out of old doilies, lace fabric scraps, or just plain string depending on the look you are going for.  Basically in short, you will be covering a blown up balloon with the material you have chosen and using glue to hold it all together.  Many people like to insert battery powered tea lights into the hanging ball to create lamps out of the hanging balls. They can be hung from trees, used as centerpieces, piled in a bowl, or placed along the aisle at your ceremony.

This is just the beginning to some things you can start doing yourself for your wedding. If you are the type of person that enjoys DIY projects, why not get involved in some for your special day? Just be careful not to take on too many projects at once, you don’t want the DIY projects to stress you out.  Take on a few and let the rest be done for you!

DIY wedding lighting solutions

 Image courtesy of http://www.curbly.com/

DIY wedding light decoration

Image courtesy of http://www.illuminatedgarden.com/

Good luck!

Weddzilla Team

Eco Friendly Weddings: Small Touches, Big Difference

Bridemaids holding confetti

The big things, such as transport, food, flowers, and of course, the dress, have been addressed in part one. Now it’s time to look at the small details, which can still make a big difference.

Paper

Wedding invitations, layers of paper and card, sent to guests and later discarded, can contribute to a lot of the waste generated by weddings, particularly if you have a large guest list. Whilst no one is asking you to send out invitation emails (although, if you don’t mind…), there are ways to send out pretty invites without the ecological implications. If you’re set on a paper invite, look for them to be made from recycled card, and add a small note to the bottom asking your guests to recycle it, rather than just bin it.

If you want to give a truly special invitation, consider something your guests can really keep and use forever. You can have invitation tea towels, magnets and bookmarks printed with your wedding details, all of which are practical and not as likely to end up on a landfill!

Favours

The eco-awareness doesn’t stop there, either. Once your guests arrive at your wedding, it’s only right to show your appreciation by giving them a wedding favour. Just make sure it’s a responsible one. Some couples choose to donate to charity in lieu of providing actual favours, and no guest can complain about that. If you want to give them a solid keepsake, buy potted plants (which can double up as centrepieces) so they can plant them at home and have a lasting gift, or give them packets of seeds. If you’re not the green-fingered type, make your own cakes or cookies at home for your guests to enjoy.

Naturally, your guests will want to give you gifts too, but what do you really need? You can always ask for donations to be made, or if you really want gifts, ask for what you need and ask guests not to use gift wrap, or make sure you recycle whatever is used.

Confetti

It’s also a nice idea to provide cones of flower petals for people to throw, instead of rice or confetti. Rice doesn’t break down that easily, and can cause quite the mess. It can also make walkways dangerous as it’s rather slippery to stand on. So by providing cones of biodegradable flower petals, you know you’re not harming the environment or risking any broken bones at your wedding! And those are two things any bride should want to avoid…

Are you having an environmentally friendly wedding? Is the term locavore all about you? Leave a comment and let us know how you’re keeping your wedding green.

 

Author Bio: Zoe is a writer and blogger for hitched.com.au and is also assistant editor of the UK site, hitched.co.uk, and loves talking about all things wedding related.

Say “YES” to Eco-Chic Couture Dresses & Accessories

Say "YES" to Eco-Chic Couture Dresses & Accessories~Photo Courtesy of Eco Chic Couture by Gwendolyn Gleason

Drezrehersal Tip…If you’re a Bride who takes great pride in caring for the environment then when planning your wedding you just might consider purchasing an Eco-Friendly Gown. Not just any gown, however  your very own custom couture gown. I know you’re probably thinking “Couture” usually comes with a high price tag. That’s not always the case and I’ll provide you a cost effective option to have your dream gown without paying the platinum price. Purchasing the bridal gown is a big step that takes careful thought, time & consideration. Of course most brides want their wedding gown to be like no other. Designing your own is often the way to go and pricing is comparable to purchasing one already made. So if you had the choice to spend the same  but guaranteed it’s a one of kind. What would you choose? And the bonus is you’re reaping the benefits of doing your part by saving the environment. “KUDOS”.

Eco-Chic Oh Yes…Reduce & Reuse. The key to an eco-friendly wedding that still exemplifies style. Focus on the 2 C’s Conscious & Conserve. Using accents or materials doesn’t just save money, it saves resources. What Does Eco-Friendly Really Mean? Environmentally Friendly (also eco-friendly, nature friendly and green) are synonyms used to refer to goods and services considered to inflict minimal or no harm on the environment. To make consumers aware, environmentally friendly goods and services often are marked with eco-labels

Eco-Chic Couture by Gwendolyn Gleason. Gwendolyn creates custom made one of a kind gowns, dresses and accessories for the earth conscious Bride! Not exclusively Eco-Chic but, ALWAYS in natural fabrics & no polyester! Gwendolyn is setting a new trend for brides-to-be and making them chic fabulous not only in their wedding gown, but accessorizing simply gorgeous feathered hair veils ,feather fantasy birdcage veils and tying it off with organic sculptured belts using remnants from the Eco-Chic Couture production. Definitely for the bride who isn’t shy about being different. Eco-Chic gown, dresses and accessories are made from organic textiles & peace silk thru textile finishing. Mastering inspiration from the portraits and the turn of the century.  Anyone who is a designer knows this is where is starts.

The beautiful Calla Lily mermaid gown shown in the photo below  is made with layers of organic silk on the bias.  This couture gown is a popular dress and was inspired by a Vera Wang design. Gwendolyn designed the Calla Lily eco friendly gown  with  cotton mesh interlining and “ALL SILK LINING”. Now as an event producer, I can tell you that next to the invitations, your dress will be setting the tone for your special day. It wouldn’t be a  memorable moment without having that one of a kind gown. So, I have a special treat for all you Weddzilla Brides-to-Be.

 

This is a Statement Indeed~ Photo Courtesy of Eco Chic Couture

 

 

Black Fantasy Feathered Birdcage Veil~ Sophisticated "CHIC"It's all in the details... Black Feather Organic Sculptured Belt~Adding Black & White to your Wedding Gown Super "CHIC"

 

Have your Dream Gown without Paying the Platinum Price. Eco-Chic Couture will offer a memorable moment discount: 20% off your custom wedding gown or dress and 10% off all Bridal Accessories. Use the Memorable Moment code (SO. CAL BRIDE). Discount is valid until Sunday, August 7, 2011.

Two Frequently Asked Questions:
 
1. What is the Average Cost for an Eco-Chic Couture Gown: The price range  for a short dress starts at: $1900 and for long gowns starts at $2800.
 
2. What is the turnaround time for an Eco-Chic Couture Gown: Turnaround time is between 4-6 months, and RUSH orders (for an extra charge) take between 2-4 months.
  
If you’d like to learn more about designing your very own Eco-Chic Couture Gown, please contact Gwendolyn Gleason at: (413) 374-1787 and she will be more than happy to assist you. Don’t forget, you can save an additional 10% for accessories and 20% off your wedding gown or dress, just as long as you call before August 7, 2011!
 
To Say I Do to an Eco-Friendly Wedding view my post from last month & view details on 6 drezrehersal  Tips… to get you started. 
 
Bonus Tip: Everyone has their own take on exactly what Eco-Friendly

is. We have been personally trained on the process and what counts as eco-friendly & green. We have also worked closely with the Green Council. Just because flowers & fruits grow from the ground doesn’t mean it is organic or natural! Many suppliers use un-natural solvents. 
 
Until next time live FABULOUS…

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