2011's Hottest Sustainable Wedding Trends

If you're at all interested in having a sustainable wedding (and who isn't?), this is a great article from RecycledBride where brides buy and sell gently used wedding dresses. Fire and Ice by Planned Spontaneity Many of my clients have helped set these trends! How are you creating a sustainable celebration? Are you using any of these ideas? Do you have other ideas you're using? Please share your ideas in the comment section at the bottom of this blog. At Planned Spontaneity, we specialize in creating celebrations that fit with your personal values. We've used many of these ideas and more to produce beautiful, fun, sustainable celebrations. As public awareness grows about sustainability, the wedding market is seeing dramatic shifts in the values and purchasing habits of brides, grooms, and their guests. Excessive spending and wasteful extravagance are out, while eco-friendly choices like paperless invitations, cocktail-length wedding dresses, and locally sourced menus and gifts are in. Weddings in 2011 are all about simple elegance, creative DIY projects, and attire and decorations that can be used again after the big day. "A sustainable wedding is one that includes elements which have a positive social and environmental impact. It's incredibly exciting to be at the forefront of sustainable wedding trends and to observe how couples all over the world are making beautiful, ethical choices for their celebrations," says Tracy DiNunzio, founder and CEO of Recycled Bride. "This year's sustainable wedding trends are going mainstream, with more couples than ever incorporating eco-friendly elements into their weddings." Eleven Sustainable Wedding Trends for 2011 Moonstone Engagement Ring Turtle Love Committee 1. Diamonds are no longer a girl's best friend: Inspired by the sapphire ring that Prince William gave to Kate Middleton, alternative gemstones are all the rage for engagements in 2011. Brides will express their individual style -- and avoid conflict diamonds -- with rings made of colored stones like sapphires, emeralds, and rubies, and sparkly diamond alternatives like moissonite and synthetic diamonds. 2. Chalkboard chic: Stylish slate signs will take the place of paper wedding programs, seating cards, and menus. Chalkboard signs can be made to look elegant and fancy or sweet and rustic, and can be created inexpensively at home using scavenged picture frames, chalkboard paint, and a little creativity. Reducing paper waste at your wedding never looked so stylish! Nutshell Catering 3. Weddings go local: Farmer's market menus and locally sourced favors and gifts are hip as can be this year. By doing their wedding shopping locally, couples minimize their carbon footprint, support their local economy, and delight guests with unique details they won't find elsewhere. This trend caught fire after Chelsea Clinton's locally lovely wedding in Rhinebeck, New York, and will continue well into 2011. 4. The "staycation-moon": The popular staycation trend meets the honeymoon as couples skip the expense and carbon footprint associated with honeymoon travel in favor of romantic hometown adventures. Picture a week of museum visits, local theater and sporting events, park picnics, bucket-list adventures, and romantic dining -- no luggage required! 5. Intimate weddings: Weddings with small guest lists create less waste, offer more warmth, and give couples tons of flexibility when choosing a location. Intimate wedding celebrations range from elegant multi-course dinners in hotel penthouses to backyard barbecues featuring local bands and brews. 6. Cocktail wedding dresses: Short wedding dresses are all the rage, and just about every major bridal designer has debuted a knee-length collection for 2011. A cocktail-length dress can be worn again, and many are just as formal and elegant as a long gown. Look for tons of short and sweet styles for sale on Recycled Bride right now. 7. Paperless Invitations: Electronic wedding communication is easier and prettier than ever, with companies like Glo offering stunning, interactive online save-the-dates, reply cards, invitations, and more. E-mail invites are less expensive than paper and help to reduce wedding waste. Tea Length Wedding Dress by Recycled Bride   8. Greener Gifting: Registries have gone green, with tons of new options for brides and grooms who want to receive ethically-made gifts and support the sustainable economy. Two of our faves are the Green Bride Guide Shop and The Knot's Gift Registry 360, which lets couples create one centralized registry with products from any online retailer they choose. And green donation gifts, like Bluebell Giving Cards, will be popular as both wedding presents and guest favors. 9. Face Forward: Long veils are sitting on the sidelines this year, as brides forgo them in favor of birdcage styles and unique hair accessories that can be worn again. Expect to see 2011's brides in headbands, vintage hair clips, flowers, and chic tiaras. 10. Flexitarian Feasts: Another trend inspired by Chelsea Clinton's veggie-conscious wedding is reducing the amount of meat on the menu. This year, more couples will offer vegetable- and grain-based meal options for their guests in an effort to save money and save the Earth.   11. Wedding Recycling: More brides, grooms, bridesmaids and guests than ever are shopping and selling on sites like RecycledBride.com. Smart users enjoy the financial, environmental, and social benefits of wedding recycling, and discover the joy of sharing, saving, and passing on treasured wedding items to other happy couples.

About Recycled Bride: RecycledBride.com is the world's largest wedding marketplace. Members buy and sell everything from designer wedding gowns to reception decorations, bridesmaids dresses, shoes, and wedding gifts. Reselling new and gently used wedding items on Recycled Bride lets users minimize their carbon footprint and maximize their budgets. Recycled Bride is owned byRecycled Media, Inc. and was founded in 2009 by Tracy DiNunzio in Santa Monica, California. An eco-conscious business, Recycled Bride donates a portion of its advertising revenue to Global Green USA.

Real Weddings: Claire & John

Anda Marie Photography

Claire and John's wedding in October was inspiring in more ways than one! Not only was it beautiful and creative, but they also went out of their way to include their community and friends.  Every person at the reception felt special and loved! 

'62 Thunderbird
Anda Marie Photography

Motif Painting by Debbie Sisko
Anda Marie Photography

Claire and John both have a passion for classic cars.  Check out the '62 T-Bird that was their sweet ride after the ceremony! 

Motif Painting by Debbie Sisko
Anda Marie Photography

They used a

gorgeous hand-painted motif throughout their celebration!
Their coolest DIY project was the centerpieces! The mother of the bride created silk arrangements to go into the pumpkins carved and glittered the week before the wedding!

Anda Marie Photography

They even had a traditional Greek wedding dance!

Anda Marie Photography

Anda Marie Photography

Roster of resources and professionals:
Wedding Coordination: Planned Spontaneity (of course!)
Photography: Anda Marie Photography

Ceremony Venue: St. John Vianney Catholic Church
Reception Venue: Best Events Banquet Hall in Janesville, WI
Ceremony Music: Fran Preyer

Anda Marie Photography

Cake: Buttercups
DJ: Dave Drake of Complete Music
Motif painting: Debbie Sisko

  

Anda Marie Photography

 

I Love My Tree Skirt: A case for repurposing your wedding gown

I love my tree skirt made by
Just for You

As Christmas approaches, I have the joy of decorating my tree. My tree skirt was made from the hem of my wedding gown.

My Mother's Gown

When I got married, I wanted to wear my mother's gown. Alas, that was not to be. I'm about 6" taller and of a more "solid" build... Even adding gussets wouldn't have made her beautiful 1950 satin gown look flattering on me... 
Reminiscing about this gets me thinking about the fate of wedding gowns after the big day! So, while I'm reminiscing, I'll offer some options for what is probably the most sentimental garment you will ever wear:
• Hang it in the back of your closet...indefinitely. 

Heritage Garment
 Preservation 

This is what I did for the first eight years- seriously. I know this isn't usually considered an "official" option, but after the wedding, a bride might not want to make another wedding related decision for a while.
Pros: This is the lowest stress option. The only action it requires is putting the dress it on the hanger after your wedding. (Don't keep your dress in a dry-cleaning bag, it can mildew.) If you haven't decided what you want to do with it, this usually doesn't rule out other options!
Cons: It could get eaten by moths, stains may set in, it could get damaged, it takes up space that you might have other uses for. You probably won't be able to sell since the fashion won't be current after a year.

Lake Mills Cleaners

• Have it professionally cleaned and preserved. This is what my mother did- and it almost worked out!
Pros: Passing your wedding gown through the generations can be a beautiful, sentimental memento. Any parent would cry seeing their daughter wearing the heirloom dress on her wedding day. Having your gown professionally cleaned will remove any hidden stains that may show up with time and preserve your gown for your future daughter to wear.

Heirloom Textile Art

Cons: There's no guarantee you will have a daughter. If you do have a daughter, there's no guarantee she will want to wear your wedding gown. If she wants to wear your gown, there's no guarantee it will fit her...(harumph). 

The Patchwork Bear

• Sell it
Pros: Okay, the pros are obviou$.  You may have some visions of paying off some wedding debt, or at least making back some of what you spent on your gown. Here are some resources: Just for You in Verona, does bridal consignment. On line, look at PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com, e-bay and Craigslist

Custom Apparel by
 Kay Warnke

Cons: It might not be as easy you think, and it could be a drawn-out process if your gown doesn't sell. The website, PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com says about 40% of their gowns sell on their site.  If you don't have that kind of energy right after your wedding, you can sell it through a consignment shop.  Most consignment shops will only take the current fashion, and they have to take their cut which will decrease your profit!  You probably won't get quite as much for selling your gown as you hoped. 
• Donate it
Pros: You get the large gown out of the closet with minimal fuss or stress.  Someone else gets to wear it!
Cons: This isn't a good option for you if you're sentimental about your gown. Imagine going to a halloween party and seeing someone wearing your wedding gown... and they've slashed the skirt... and dyed it purple. For some of my more offbeat sisters, this might actually go in the "Pros" column, but probably not for most.

• Make or have heirloom items made from the fabric! 

Just for You

This is my favorite option! I had a tree skirt made from the hem of my gown.  It's beautiful! I hope to have other items made as I decide what I want done. "Just For You" in Verona made my beautiful tree skirt. Some items you can have made are tree skirts, ornaments, doll dresses, stuffed toys, christening gowns, hankies, stockings, decorative pillows and quilts!

Pros: You can enjoy your beautiful gown as often as you use the heirloom items. If you have more than one child, you can have several things made and they can each have something. The gown doesn't become a white elephant taking up space either in a box or hanging in your closet.

Cons: Once you start cutting up your gown, there's no going back. You can't buy it back, get it out of the box or let your daughter wear it. 

Wedding Traditions and beliefs-Repost: Marriage Folklore and Superstitions

There are a ton of traditions surrounding weddings. Here are a few lesser known facts that I find interesting. 


• The opulent white wedding gown that is worn only once started with Hollywood-influenced weddings in the 1940's.

• The diamond engagement ring is a result of the De Beers ad campaign- "A Diamond is Forever". 

• The tiered wedding cake, however, is a descendent of a very old tradition!  Originally, the guests brought small cakes and put them in a pile at the wedding! This community-based custom evolved into the tiered wedding cake.  More recently, we've seen a departure from tiered cakes to more sculpted cakes!  A far cry from the heap-o-cake baked by everyone in town!


Familiarity with traditions and their histories can help create a more meaningful  celebration that resonates with your values.  I'm not saying you should or shouldn't follow any specific wedding custom. I am saying that if you are familiar with the origins of the traditions you choose to incorporate, they impart meaning that will personalize your celebration and make it even more memorable. 

Here's a list of some other wedding superstitions and beliefs for you to peruse. Enjoy!

Marriage Folklore and Superstitions: Explore Lesser Known Wedding Beliefs