I “heart” fair trade gifts! They are great for weddings, the bridal party, birthdays and even your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day.
What makes fair trade jewelry so special? Well, the jewelry is hand-made by artisans in developing countries who participate in organized fair trade programs that help them earn a fair wage and work in safer conditions. Plus, many of the items are made from reclaimed materials (such as glass).
By purchasing gifts through fair trade programs, you are supporting a great cause while giving a thoughtful, one-of-kind gift. What’s not to love? Happy Valentine’s Day!
More brides are greening their weddings with recycled invitations, handmade wedding favors . . . even smaller guest lists. But when it comes to choosing an eco-friendly wedding gown, brides feel they may have to sacrifice the dress of their dreams to make the earth-friendly choice. Not anymore . . . thanks to Justin Alexander, brides can look beautiful in white while going green.
When I first discovered this nature-inspired collection of eco-chic wedding gowns, I thought . . . romantic, elegant, inspired, and simply beautiful. PURE, the latest collection in the Justin Alexander bridal line, uses organic fabrics and natural trims like wood beads to create a uniquely gorgeous collection of earth-friendly wedding gowns.
When planning an eco-friendly wedding, it’s also important to support green vendors whenever possible. You can read Justin Alexander’s green initiative to learn more about how they incorporate sustainable practices into their business. Making the “green” choice has never been more beautiful!
Photos courtesy of Justin Alexander, PURE Collection
Breathtaking views. Earth friendly elegance. A dream green wedding come true for Brigit & Josh! This wonderful eco-conscious couple was married on August 16, 2009 at Gorge Crest Vineyards in the Columbia River Gorge (SW Washington, just across the river from Hood River, OR). Ahhhh . . . I can imagine breathing in the fresh air as I’m writing this.
Special thanks His and Her Photography for providing this eco-lovely “picture perfect” portrait of a green wedding. With a love for organic and ethical weddings, Drew and Jai are environmentally conscious photographers dedicated to helping couples make more sustainable choices as they plan their special day.
So enjoy the gorgeous photos, and be sure to read the amazing “green wedding” details below (kindly provided by Drew, Jai and the happy couple)!
In the words of Josh, the groom, about the sustainable aspects of the wedding:
“I would say that the guiding principles behind our wedding were local, understated, and family-oriented. We tried to do our best with regards to the environmental impact by making things simple where embellishment wasn’t needed and making informed decisions on as many purchases as possible. The guest count was ~70 people. I should admit that we tried our best, but I am sure there are things we could have done more responsibly. I have no illusion that our wedding was ’sustainable’ and hope that what we were able to do can serve as an inspiration or starting point for others. Onward!”
Eco-Wedding Details
- Makeup: By His And Her Photography. Jai (both photographer and makeup artist!) uses mineral make-ups that are non-toxic, not tested on animals, and made from natural minerals.
- Rings: Brigit’s engagement ring is an heirloom from ~1915 bought at Maloy’s Antique Jewelry. Josh’s Wedding Ring was custom made by GreenKarat from 100% recycled Platinum.
- Flowers: Mostly from the Hood River Farmer’s Market, reusable Mason jars used for many of the vases, composed by Lavish Flora.
- Altar: Natural wood, rental that will be used again.
- Ketubah: Now framed in a wooden frame made from reclaimed barn wood.
- Food: Menu was almost entirely local, seasonal, and had a number of organic ingredients.
- Transportation: Carpool shuttle to and from hotel.
- Dress: Handmade in Portland by Olivia Luca from organic cotton and fair trade silk.
- Save the dates: mixture of recycled paper and FSC-certified
- Invitations: Made from recycled cotton rag and silk. Hand assembled by us.
- Programs: Mulberry unryu tree-free paper and 100% recycled milkweed paper, hand assembled by our families.
- Photography: Portland based storytelling photography duo, digital and film-free, handmade wedding album, His and Her Photography.
- Party favors: Homemade blackberry jam made from hand-picked berries
- Gift bags: Reusable organic cotton bags, Full Sail Beer, locally-made chocolate (Moonstruck), homemade organic banana bread.
- Registry: Locally-owned shop in Portland, Kitchen Kaboodle
Special Note: From time to time, I will be reviewing and selecting eco-conscious wedding businesses, companies, products and vendors to promote on my blog. These companies are not paying for the post (like on many blogs). I select them because I truly believe they are making a difference in our united front to create more eco-friendly and ethical weddings at any level.
Photographer Brian Tropiano is my first green wedding favorite of 2010. Take one look at his photos, and any couple would be lucky to have Brian as their wedding photographer. It gets better!
Brian has created a “Give Back” program, which launched this month, where 5% of profits from every package booked will be donated to two charities. Half of the funds go to the International Justice Mission, a human rights agency special to Brian, and half of the funds go to the organization of choice for the bride and groom. Learn more . . .
All of the beautiful wedding photos in this post are courtesy of Brian Tropiano Photography.
I love that Brian is encouraging couples to give back as part of the wedding planning, and allowing them to choose a cause they are passionate about. Eco-conscious couples may choose to offset the carbon footprint of their wedding, or support local charities in their own community. Either way, it’s a wonderful way to celebrate your love for each other, humanity and planet Earth. Thanks Brian!
How exciting! The finalists have been chosen for the 2010 Clay Hill Farm Green Wedding Giveaway. These eco-conscious couples have told us their stories, and now it’s your turn to get inspired and cast your vote.
Our friends at Clay Hill Farm wish to thank everyone who entered. And, we would also like to thank you for helping to spread an inspirational and important message about your shade of green! Now, we ask that you take a moment to read the stories of our finalists and cast your vote for your favorite. Every vote counts, and will ultimately decide the winner. Click below to read each couple’s story, and cast your vote for the winner of the Clay Hill Green Wedding Giveaway!
When planning your green wedding perhaps it was easy choosing eco-friendly wedding favors and earth-friendly wedding invitations. However, it can be confusing when it comes to selecting eco-friendly and ethical wedding jewelry.
That’s why I teamed up with the socially-minded people at Brilliant Earth to bring you some pointers for selecting conflict-free diamonds, sustainable and ethical wedding jewelry.
Look Beyond the “Limited” Definition of Conflict-Free Diamonds
Keep in mind that the Kimberley Process only addresses the narrow UN definition of conflict diamonds, and does not address other human rights abuses. Look for a jeweler that offers diamonds that are mined without violence, human rights abuses, child labor, or environmental destruction.
Something Blue & Beautiful in Nature
If you are thinking of wearing the stunning beauty of blue sapphires, consider ethical origin sapphires. They not only add unique radiance to your wedding accessories, they represent a priceless commitment to the earth.
Helping the Planet Shine a Little Brighter
New metal mining is damaging to the environment and can generate huge quantities of chemical waste. Remember, reclaimed gold and platinum can be recycled repeatedly and still look as good as new, so you can help conserve the earth’s resources without sacrificing an ounce of shine.
Preserve a Treasure from the Sea
Conventional pearls come from mollusks that are often overharvested, a process that damages marine ecosystems. Keep the unique pearl-producing oysters from becoming extinct, and insist on an earth-friendly Sea of Cortez Pearl instead.
Fair Trade Gold—Worth a World of Good
Unfortunately, much of the gold out there is mined with inhumane labor conditions and environmentally destructive methods. Look for gold jewelry made from one of the first truly fair trade sources of gold from Oro Verde. In addition to paying a fair wage, the fair trade gold cooperatives ensure the use of sustainable environmental practices, restore ecosystems damaged by other mining companies, and promote the well-being of the local community.
Coloring a Better World
With all eyes on you, it’s the perfect time to show your true colors and your dedication to the environment with beautiful colored gemstones of ethical origin. Opt for glowing emeralds, dazzling garnets and bright citrines from regions that practice low impact mining which eliminates the need for harsh chemicals and minimizes ground waste.
Saving the Coral, Saving the Oceans
Planning a seaside wedding? Fabulous! Please remember to stay away from the coral. Countless species of marine life depend on coral for their survival. Look for fine jewelry made from recycled metals and ethical origin gemstones instead of coral.
As you can see, there’s a lot to consider when purchasing the wedding rings you will be wearing on your hand for a lifetime. Isn’t it worth the time to ensure you are wearing a symbol of your love for each other and the world?
Photos courtesy of Brilliant Earth.
In the “old” days when brides thought of eco-friendly wedding invitations printed on recycled paper, perhaps they had visions of brown paper with frayed edges. Today, recycled has never been so beautiful!
And, we are delighted to announce (just in time for the new year) that we have launched a new collection of environmentally friendly wedding invitations designed by eco-conscious (and eco-fabulous) designer Jennifer Stambolsky from Earthly Affair.
Fresh, elegant, modern and eco-chic, this beautiful collection is printed on 100% post consumer recycled paper, which means no trees were harmed to create this lovely collection of eco-friendly wedding invitations.
My personal favorite design is the two little lovebirds perched on a branch (featured above). The popular Shade design was recently featured in the premiere edition of Eco-Beautiful Weddings (below).
How are these wedding invitations eco-friendly?
- Use 100% recycled PCW paper, which means no new trees are used and averts waste from landfills.
- Envelopes consist of 100% PCW paper, are FSC-certified, made with green energy, processed chlorine free.
- Offset CO2 emissions resulting from direct shipments through carbonfund.org.
In addition to this lovely new collection, we offer seeded wedding invitations that grow wildflowers when planted (so earthy), and elegant letterpress wedding invitations which use tree-free paper. Earth friendly, eco-elegant and everything you’ve been dreaming about for your green wedding!
I had to open with this eco-gorgeous and green asparagus wedding bouquet. Simply divine on so many levels! Next, allow me to thank the incredibly talented green wedding photographer who captured these gorgeous images (and is kind enough to share with us) Caroline Ghetes Photography (who also happens to offer a fabulous eco-friendly package). This green wedding was originally featured in the gorgeous new Eco-Beautiful Weddings magazine (winter 2010). And you can see why!
Meet the eco-couple: Carina & Jeff who were married in a lovely earth-friendly wedding in August in Charlotte. From the horse and buggy ride to the beautiful array of environmentally sensible décor and accessories, this green wedding is one of my eco-friendly favorites from start to finish!
Congratulations! Now that you are happily engaged and on the path to wedding bliss, you may wish to invite your friends and families to an engagement party, or simply let them know the big news in an elegant and stylish way. The good news is there are several beautiful and environmentally friendly engagement announcements to choose from. Perhaps you are thinking about planning a green wedding. The “green” engagement is the perfect place to start!
How are these engagement announcements green?
- Both the announcements and envelopes are printed on 100% post consumer recycled paper. No trees are harmed in the production of these invitations.
- The environmentally friendly paper used is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). In addition, the paper is manufactured carbon-neutral and with 100% renewable electric energy.
- Printed with vegetable-based inks, which are less harmful to the environment.
- Printed with digital printer that uses clean, sustainable wind power to run the equipment.
As we enter a new decade, it’s the perfect time to reflect on your goals for the coming year. For many, 2010 will represent the year of “green.” We love that! And we hope it will be reflected with an increase of eco-friendly weddings.
Here are three simple things you can do to green your wedding & green your life. By making just a few eco-friendly choices in 2010, you can truly make a difference.
For your green wedding. . .
- For wedding favors, look for handmade wedding favors made from sustainable or organic materials. Or, consider tree favors or seeded favors that can be planted in your honor.
- For wedding invitations, choose from tree free papers, letterpress, 100% PCW recycled paper, seeded invitations, and look for vegetable or soy-based inks.
- Look for local, eco-conscious caterers who offer organic menus, and use locally-grown foods from local farmers. Back to Earth Organic Catering is one of my favorites!
Photo Credit: Back to Earth Catering
For your green life . . .
- Kick the plastic water bottle habit (In 2008, we consumed 50 billion plastic water bottles). Buy an eco-friendly reusable bottle and simply refill it throughout the day.
- Use earth-friendly cleaning products. This is a habit I started earlier this year. I wasn’t sure what to expect at first, but I was pleasantly surprised that the cleaning quality was as good (if not better). Bonus: no “choking” on fumes.
- I’m sure you already recycle all paper, but be sure to recycle the cardboard / paperboard from packaging of cereal boxes, food packaging, etc. Many of these boxes are already 100% recycled, so please continue the earth-friendly cycle of recycling. They easily fold down flat so you can stack them in your recycling bin.
Photo by: Thiru Murugan
Great eco-idea: Instead of party streamers, create a New Year tradition of planting a tree in celebration of each new year. The nice folks at TreePeople.org provide a helpful Website on choosing the right tree for your area.
Happy New Year!
