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.

Chocolate Spotlight: TerraSource Chocolates

One of the coolest businesses I know of is TerraSource Chocolates, owned by Josie Pradella.  Terrasouce offers organic, vegan, fair trade chocolates using locally produced fruits and spirits. Terrasource is one of those businesses that's founded on the principle of doing well by doing good.  

Two-piece favor boxes are perfect for weddings.  They are made from specialty paper containing native prairie seeds grown and harvested in the midwest. Your wedding guests get to enjoy handcrafted vegan dark chocolates sourced with local, organic and fair trade ingredients, then plant the box paper to plant a native prairie garden appropriate to the midwest bioregion.

Another fabulous product Terrasouce offers is "Share Squares" which are used to raise funds for Solar Cookers International. Through the Share Squares program, Terrasource Chocolates was able to send 60 solar ovens to Haiti in 2010.  These solar cookers are not only used to prepare food, but also to purify water. The Share squares are packaged in compostable cellophane and the tags are produced from high recycled-content paper.  Share Squares are dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free and delicious. 

Finally, Josie  is a co-founder of Dane Buy Local which is a network of locally owned businesses, who support one another and our community. She works to engage other businesses to find common areas that they can work together. 

Here are a few testimonials.

"These are bold, new chocolates with great "local" flavors. I love them!"
- Rick Richards

"Dark chocolate is good for your health - these chocolates are good for your soul."
- Sara Richards

Here are some specs:

Phone: 608-221-0588 or toll-free (877) 808-9217
Email: josie@terrasourcechocolates.com 

Website: TerraSourcechocolates.com

Business Associations Green America Greener Business certified member, co-founder of Dane Buy Local,

Good Works: Share Squares Solar Cookers for Haiti, TerraSource is also uses organic ingredients, eco-friendly packaging and uses fair-trade practices

Address: TerraSource Chocolates LLC, P.O. Box 14114, Madison, WI 53708-0114
Pricing: Check out the online catalog for pricing on the various products.

Entertainment Spotlight: Playlist Event Music

When Beth Tucker and Chris Long were married in 2004, they wanted someone who would simply play music they chose on professional equipment, but that service didn’t exist! Like many people, they chose to create a playlist and do their own music.  Of course, they didn't simply run their MP3 player through a boom box.  They're both tech savvy and used good MP3 managing software and professional sound equipment. Soon, friends who had enjoyed Chris and Beth’s reception were asking them to provide music for their own receptions, and Playlist Event Music was born.

Their goal is to make sure you’re happy and comfortable with your wedding music. Their style is to keep it simple, high quality and dependable.  This way, they’re able to provide an excellent musical experience while keeping costs down.  This also helps them stay small and flexible.  They typically don’t need as much space as a more main-stream DJ. When I asked Chris what he liked best about being in this business, he lit up and grinned, “We’ve had some really cool clients.”

What they do:
• Play the music you and your guests request on a professional high quality sound system. (This isn't simply running your iPod through a boom box!  They have high quality redundant computers and a professional sound system.  

• Their website includes private pages for clients and guests to make requests before the event. 

• You can request anything from main-stream wedding reception music to that funky local band your best friend is in to all twelve and a half minutes of Grateful Dead’s “Fire on the Mountain”.  They trust that you know your crowd and will take direction from you.

• They’re happy to make announcements and keep things running smoothly, and they’ll do it exactly the way you request.

• They'll run the garter/bouquet toss and other games as you request them- no surprises.

What they don't do:

• They do not offer lights or smoke machine.

• They will not take over your reception

• They will not "ambush" you with wedding reception games like a bouquet or garter toss.

Their take on “Dance Party” music is very flexible: "Some crowds love the chicken dance, some hate it! The key is to know your crowd."  Chris does acknowledge that in the beginning of the evening, they can be good ice-breakers.

Advice for couples regarding reception entertainment: "Check in with your band or DJ before the event. It’s all about communication!  Never work with a DJ who doesn’t seek out your input in advance."

Specs:

Style: Low-key personality playing your favorite music.
Experience: In business since 2004
Location: Based in the Madison area, but happy to travel
Price: $200 for setup/takedown plus $100 per hour of music

Website: PlaylistEventMusic.com Check out their Reviews page!
E-Mail:  info@PlaylistEventMusic.com
Phone: 608-770-7977

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. 

Repost: Offbeat Bride | The dowry tradition and how it relates to today's bride

If you're wondering about financing your wedding, check out this lively debate over at Offbeat Bride, and be sure to read the comments!  The focus is on whether or not the brides parents should pay for the wedding, and all that it implies..
 Offbeat Bride | The dowry tradition and how it relates to today's bride
Before I let you go, here's my own take on the subject...
It's lovely when parents are willing and able to help finance a wedding. When a bridal couple accepts financial help, it should be in a posture of gratitude, not with an air of entitlement. Financial help should also be accepted with a clear understanding of what the expectations are.


Your wedding should fit within the framework of your your personal values. Here are some considerations that may effect how you allocate your resources.
• You may highly value staying out of debt. 

Photo courtesy of Sharp Exposure Photography

• One of your values might be your sense of community which might lead to a larger guest list (and potentially greater expense).  
• Your heritage and traditions might be an aspect of your wedding that brings you the most joy.
• You might also value having a green wedding or supporting locally owned businesses!  
• Having a fair-trade celebration might be very important to you.
You might have a really different set of sensibilities than your parents, and it will be important to communicate your plans, hopes and desires with them before they share financial stake in your wedding celebration.  The last thing you want before your wedding is conflict over how much input your parents have after they've bankrolled your wedding!


I recognize that money can be one of the more difficult topics to discuss.  We tend to have a lot of emotion wrapped up in the meaning of how we choose to spend or not spend our money. If the topic is too daunting to discuss, consider talking it over with your fiance, or getting help from your officiant, pre-marital counselor or life coach, whoever you can depend on to help you move forward with integrity and clarity. 


One final thought: Did you know that weddings tend to run significantly over budget?!? I have heard weddings generally run 30% over budget, but I'm having trouble verifying the number... A professional wedding planner can help you stay within your budget and prioritize what's important to you.  Contact Planned Spontaneity.  I can help you celebrate in a way that reflects your style and personal values within your budget.

Green Spotlight: Paolo Verde Consulting Services

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Paul Abramson "Green Paul" of Paolo Verde Consulting Services at a Dane Buy Local event.  Paul has a passion for working with event planners to reduce the waste footprint of their event!  He offers solutions for people who care enough to "walk the sustainability talk" every day.  He's written this article on "Green event plans" I'd like to share with you.  

Here's Paul:

Kermit The Frog put it best - “It’s not easy being green.”  As you plan your celebration, you are empowered to make choices that you believe in, and in the end, one of the joys of your wedding will be the memory and the impression you make on your guests and family

Marilee Karamanski, of Planned Spontaneity Event Planning and Consultation, told this story:  A wedding couple intended to keep their reception’s waste footprint small by using washable serving ware.  Using a rental service they priced rental of reusable plates and cutlery. 

Guess what? The cost was so high throwaways were the only affordable choice even though reusables truly fit their desire for a greener event!  What a disappointment. 

Solving this challenge is where Paolo Verde Event Waste Reduction Planning comes in.  When considering Green Options keep these 3 things in mind (2 out of 3 begin with “THINK” :

1)      THINK: A “green reality” requires thinking outside-the-box in addition to your clever event ideas.  To reduce waste, consider one area of your event you would consider doing differently from a glammed up, story-book wedding party.  Decline to use throw away trimmings.

2)     THINK of Budget Trades:  This is where you decrease the amount you spend in one area, so you can spend more in another area. If your love of outdoors and wildlife tops your priority list, and you want to work for a pollution-free world, you can trade the money you'd spend on on such things as rental china.  Borrow service ware from a church, and use the money you would have spent on rentals or nice disposables to hire a well-dressed person to wash borrowed dishes. 

3)     GREEN EVENTS are a new way of throwing parties.  If you seek the alternative to a wasteful gathering get specialized help.

Breaking it Down:
• Consumer society programs us to expect immediate, low-cost solutions to every need.

• Reducing waste generated at a party is a goal.  

• Getting there takes learning of what we truly can do to achieve it. 

• On average the cost of doing the “green thing” is 15-percent higher than going with more convenient, non-renewable solutions.

Info:

Company: Paolo Verde is Madison, Wisconsin’s Zero-Waste Event / Event Waste Reduction Specialist. 

Phone: 608.279.8339  

E-mail: phabramson@gmail.com

I should have hired me!

Welcome back from summer!  This humble event planner took the summer off of blogging. With all my spare time, I've been running “Mamma Camp”!  My children and I have had a wonderful summer, and my youngest is now mere weeks away from being a school kid- no longer a preschooler.

This month, I had the pleasure of hosting a birthday party for my little five-year-old daughter.  Here's why I should have hired me... Between July 14 and August 14 we had 3 vacations totaling 20 of the previous 31 days away from home- rendering our home a disaster area full of dirty laundry and camping gear.  As party day (August 14) approached guests were invited and the house was cleaned. But...

As one dear friend was dropping off her child, she found me in the kitchen and asked how I was doing.  I replied, “I am now demonstrating why people should hire me.”  I was in the kitchen doing food prep as the guests were arriving. Sometimes life gets chaotic and you shouldn’t have to do it all alone!  The hostess should be able to greet guests and enjoy their company!  It’s the event coordinator, who should be in the kitchen, hanging coats, checking appetizers and making everything run smoothly in the background.

By the way, if you’re a party planner in the Madison area, contact me!  Maybe we can trade services for our personal parties!