Dream Green Weddings™ eco-blog

Pre-Owned Wedding Dresses are a Greener Shade of White & So Eco-Chic for 2010!

Heather Teague — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:56:41 +0000

They may come in white and ivory, but they can be considered “green.” One of the fastest-growing trends in eco-friendly weddings is buying pre-owned wedding dresses. While this is not a new concept, it’s growing in popularity thanks to greener wedding trends that seek to reduce waste generated by weddings.

Not only are more brides going green, they are also trying to save more green these days (who isn’t?). Also, more brides are selling dresses. The result? The selection of pre-owned dresses is amazing . . . designer dresses galore. PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com is one of the great Websites out there helping brides to find the wedding dress of their dreams.

I personally like how they organize the dresses to easily search by best deals, dresses they love, hottest listings, designer, size, price and more. And the selection? Wow . . . thousands of gorgeous wedding gowns to shop.

Don’t forget the shoes and accessories! Usually only worn once for a few hours, pre-owned shoes and veils are also a great option for green brides!

Please note: all the photos featured here are courtesy of PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com, and may not be available at the time of this post.

A Symbol of Luck, Love & Happiness—Bamboo Wedding Favors Add Eco-Friendly Elegance to Any Wedding!

Heather Teague — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:45:47 +0000

One of the biggest trends in eco-friendly wedding planning is to avoid buying wedding favors made from plastic or other non-sustainable materials. That’s why I love bamboo! Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth and releases 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees. Because of this, planting bamboo is a great way to reduce our carbon footprint and help fight global warming. (Source: Wikipedia.org)

From flooring to furniture, and now wedding favors, bamboo is being featured in more and more products for the green-conscious. Not only is bamboo a sustainable natural resource that requires less energy to harvest, it is a symbol of luck, love and happiness. Talk about the perfect eco wedding favor and decoration!

Check out our bamboo wedding favor section with real bamboo trees, as well as super cute favors made from bamboo wood!

Calligraphy Leaves a Lasting Impression on Your Guests, Not the Earth.

Heather Teague — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:45:36 +0000

Modern calligraphy is a beautiful form of artistic expression that is gaining in popularity, especially with eco-conscious couples planning weddings with less environmental impact (please no labels!). In fact, the more handmade and hand-crafted goodness a bride can add to her wedding, the less impact it has on the environment . . . and the more memorable and special it is for her guests.

Some of the most beautiful custom calligraphy I’ve seen comes from Amanda B. Young, founder of SWOONOVERIT Calligraphy Studio (and very popular blogger: read her wedding blog here). Amanda provides calligraphy services for envelopes, signs and even hand-painted shirts. My favorite is her hand-drawn custom maps. So adorable! And, so affordable! Amanda works closely with her clients to provide reasonably-priced calligraphy services. After all, it’s the little details that can make a big difference.

These Eco-Sandals Are Made for Walking . . . Down the Green Wedding Aisle!

Heather Teague — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:44:04 +0000

Okay. You’ve got the dress. You’ve finally decided on locally grown in-season flowers. You’ve selected an organic caterer. You’ve ordered the invitations on recycled paper. Now, what are you going to wear on your feet?? Let’s just say earth-friendly has never been so eco-cute!

Have you heard about these adorable Mohop sandals that are environmentally friendly? So eco-unique. With one pair of wooden sandals, you can lace any ribbon to create your very own unique, custom-fit pair. Plus, your bridesmaids can wear sandals and mix and match laces in their own style with colors that coordinate with their dresses. Fabulous!

Featured recently at the Elegantly Green Wedding Showcase in Boston, Mohop sandals are individually hand-made by Annie Mohaupt in Chicago. How are they green:

Woods are sustainably-sourced domestic hardwoods (essentially, woods from family owned American farms and lumberyards, that plant more trees than they harvest)
The soling is composed of natural rubber and rice husks (that are normally disposed of)
A high-end 100% fabric is used instead of real leather (which is typically tanned in an extremely toxic process)

So get creative! These beauties are re-wearable in many colors and lace options!

Green with Envy Weddings

Heather Teague — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:31:42 +0000

I was so excited to discover this wonderful green event planning duo—Carlee Gerardi and Laura Rankin, founders of Green with Envy Events. What really impressed me is how Carlee and Laura create a perfect balance of style and sustainability . . . not to mention beautiful and creative weddings (truly a dream green wedding come true!).

These talented ladies share a passion for producing one-of-a-kind events and a love for the environment. Their core belief is that celebrations should leave a lasting impression on the guests, not the planet. Fabulous!

Green Wedding Checklist

When it comes to planning weddings, brides love checklists! Well, here’s a wonderful green wedding checklist created by Green with Envy Events to help you reduce the overall environmental footprint of your special day. From food to flowers to favors, it’s easy to sprinkle shades of green throughout the celebration.

Picture perfect memories from Green with Envy Events . . .

Photo Credits: Joanne Dunn, Mark Hills, Mike Newton, Nick Brown, Stephanie Williams

Happy Valentine’s Day! Show Your “Love” with Eco-Friendly “X-O” Organic Soap Wedding Favors.

Heather Teague — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:37:17 +0000

This is one of my favorite wedding favors-organic Shea butter ‘X-O’ soaps. Perfect for a green wedding! Handmade with pure, natural ingredients, these organic Shea butter soaps come in the shape of an ‘X’ and ‘O’. Eco-fabulous! And, they come packaged in an adorable little gift box, adorned with a lovely ribbon and personalized label. Plus, the packaging is made from recycled materials. Customize with your choice of scents and color for the soap, as well as the box and ribbon. Talk about love at first sight!

Eco-friendly outer packaging made from 100% recycled materials
Cruelty Free – Never tested on animals
Paraben Free – Use only natural preservatives
Toxin Free – No harsh chemicals or ingredients
All Natural – Use all natural ingredients
Organic – Products made with organic ingredients
Certified Vegan – Products are Certified Vegan

Be My Fair Trade Valentine! Little Gifts that Make a Big Difference.

Heather Teague — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:40:18 +0000

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!

Purely Beautiful & Naturally Elegant Eco-Wedding Gowns. The PURE Collection by Justin Alexander Defines Eco-Chic.

Heather Teague — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:25:03 +0000

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

Real Dream Green Wedding: Brigit and Josh

Heather Teague — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:06:42 +0000

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

A Green Wedding Photographer Who Shares the Rewards of Giving Back

Heather Teague — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:43:44 +0000

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!