Cool Shower Idea! (Cut the Paper Please!)

Hello Me Heartys! (I set my facebook page to pirate yesterday (which was fun for 10 minutes), and I can't stop with the lingo!)

Just thought that I would take a sec to pass along a super cool idea that me sisters-in-law to be did for my shower. They threw me a "Display Shower." Now perhaps you have all heard of this, but I have...ehem...not.

For those of you who, like me, had not heard of one: A Display Shower is a shower where the guests bring their gifts UNWRAPPED and put them out on a table for the duration of the party with a card attached, so you know who it is from. Why do I LOVE this idea? Let me count the ways:

1. We don't waste paper, time, or MONEY on silly wrapping that will be thrown away in two seconds.

2. I don't have to sit in front of 50 people sweating while I open gifts, and worry that they are bored out of their minds, and just want me to open their gift so we can get on with it.

3. I get to spend more time chatting with the folks who came out to celebrate with me on this special day.

4. Everyone can peruse the gift table to see who gave me what, instead of craning their necks, and yelling, "Who is that from?" "What is it?"

5. We don't waste paper, time or MONEY on silly wrapping that will be thrown away in two seconds.

This one was such a no brainer! And everyone came up to me thanking ME for the idea that saved them all time and money! I gave credit to my girls, of course!

Also-they added to the green theme by giving reusable shopping bags as the favor, and by buying recycled thank you cards for me to give everyone! (Check out this cool idea: They had everyone fill out their name and address on an envelope to be entered in a door prize! Someone won a lovely hanging plant, and I got a stack of addressed envelopes! File this under, LOVE IT!)

Oh, and side note: there are sooo many ways to have an eco friendly shower...or to celebrate ANYTHING in an eco friendly way...check out The Green Party Starring Danielle Venokur of dvGreen Events. She is a sustainable event planner here in the city, and she isn't afraid to share some tools of the trade with you. Plus she is really relate-able (not Martha Stewart-ish at all!) and the web show is fun to watch.) Also-check out planet green today for some tips on eco-friendly entertaining...I just love them!

I am totally stealing the "no wrapping paper" idea for the rest of my gift giving during the event. (and possibly for the rest of my life) I am "wrapping" the few things that need to be wrapped in reusable shopping bags (you can find super cute ones for very cheap) everything else we are going to present on a lovely table for all to see! Good for the planet, and good for my wallet. Now that is what I call an eco-win win!

Kiss and Make Up...

No, I am not talking about the Gene Simmons biography...I am talking about your face! Your wedding make-up that is. Make up is definitely one of those areas where going green can be super tricky...I mean, I want to be nice to the planet, but those chemicals make me look so PREEEEETTTTYYYY!!!

(Let's be honest, did you ever try any of these products back in the day? I wish that I had taken a photo of my friend Juliana when she used a "natural hair color" in the year of 2001. She tried to go blond, and all I will tell you is that the words, "Flesh Toned" were used to describe the resulting hair DISASTER...thank god she looks good in a hat.)

So what's a bride to do? Well-there is good news. The eco-friendly cosmetics situation has improved vastly in the last few years, and it is getting better everyday. At the same time, all of these new options bring up a lot of questions. (for me anyway) What does it mean when it says that something is "eco-friendly" or "natural"? What does it have to mean by law? Interestingly, there was an article about this very topic in Modern Bride Magazine this past month, and they had a little glossary:

A Green Glossary:
Knowing these terms will help you to read labels right:

Natural: The term has not been defined (or regulated) by the FDA, but is commonly assumed to refer to products contain ingredients from nature-such as essential oils, herbs, roots-manufactured without the use of synthetics.

Organic: Refers to how ingredients are grown and processed. Organic production avoids pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or hormones, genetic engineering or irradiation. Organic products are minimally processed, minus artificial ingredients and preservatives.

Fair Trade: A social movement and international trade system promoting the payment of fair prices and the maintenance of social and environmental standards, especially in developing countries.

Wild Crafted: The gathering of plants from their natural, wild habitat without the use of inorganic substances and without eradicating the plant completely.

Sustainable: Refers to the longevity of ecological support systems such as climate, agriculture and industry, forestry and fisheries, with the emphasis on not permanently depleting the environment.

How do you know for sure if something really is organic? They advise you to look for the following:

The USDA Certified Seal: According to Modern Bride (who heard it from the US Department of Agriculture) In order to wear the seal, the product must contain at least 95% organic materials...not too shabby. If they have at least 70% they can say "made with organic ingredients." But no seal.
Eco-Cert: This is similar to the above, but it is from France. :-)

Soil Association: Again with the 95% business...this time from Brittan.

Certified Natural Cosmetics: This means that the product was approved by the European Union natural-ingredient guidelines. (Meaning that they don't use a list of banned chemicals)

Ok, cool...now we know what to look for, but once we find the product...how do we know that it is any good? I mean heck, I'd love to buy one of everything and try it out...but isn't that wasteful? (And..ehem, who has the MONEY to do something like that?) Also, I mean, this is my wedding day, not Saturday night at some bar. These pictures will be forever, not for like three seconds onfacebook until I untag them. There isn't a large margin for error here people. I want to look like a movie star!!! So, who do we turn to? Well, how about checking in with a green celebrity make up artist? Here is one that I like a lot:

Paige Padgett, who's work can be seen on celebs like Cheryl Tiegs, and Jillian Michaels went green in 2008. Paige's mission statement is: To create impeccably beautiful faces while striving to be ecologically responsible and chemically safe in my cosmetic choices and practices. I seriously dig that. So until she comes out with her own line...any time now Paige... here are some brands she recommends:

Tarte
Josie Maran
Alison Raffaele
Lorac

For tools she uses Eco-tools (hi, you can get these at Walgreen's!)

As you will see when you check out her site, and her blog; Paige uses these lines to create some serious looks on the runway and the red carpet. (I.E. This make up actually works, and won't leave people saying-"Isn't it nice that she is wearing eco-friendly make up?" It will leave them saying...nothing. They will be speechless from your beauty.)

So if you are like me, you can't necessarily afford to hire Paige to actually do your make-up on your big day, but you probably can afford to take a trip to Sephora to pick up some items from the lines above. To catch a great blog where Paige shares some of her tips on buying eco friendly make-up: click here. Having your makeup done? Call the make-up artist, and see if they would be open to doing a trial with some items from these brands.

Still not sure? Well, click here for some of Paige's tips on how to look red carpet ready with no make up at all!

I don't know about you guys, but I feel so much better already.

A New Green Wedding Guide

One of my favorite sights, Planet Green, has a new Green Wedding Guide!!! It is pretty new, but there a already a few good articles on there...check it out my greenlicious brideys!

Green Wedding Guide!

Ok, back to work!

Quicky post! Real Simple Goes Green!

Hey all-Just getting back to work after a few days off, so I don't have time to say too much today, but I did come across this great link on RealSimple.com about natural beauty products...check it out:


and while you are there, look at their new Green Living Section... definitely worth a peek..bride or no bride.

:-)

ugh...back to work...

Stay Green!
Nancy

Eco Chic Wedding SALE!!!

So-now I am really going crazy here! David's Bridal is having an Earth Day Sale!!!

Tomorrow only, shop on line, and get 20% off all eco-friendly wedding essentials! (Invitations and Favors) I didn't even know that they had "eco-friendly wedding essentials," so I am shocked and happy all around...interested? Click Here for details!

~Stay Green!

Nancy

More Registry Ramblings...

Maybe it is just because Earth Day is fast approaching, but I can't seem to stop finding new places to register for an eco-concious bride!!! (And, hey, check these places out, even if you are aren't getting married. A girl can never have a nest that is "too green.")

In Style this month had a whole Earth Day section with their version of the "2009 Green Awards" My favorite tip? Check out this site:

Green Depot! You can register here for table top items home accessories, or use it as a way to get those green items that you always wanted, but can't afford (composting supplies, light bulbs, shower heads, cleaning supplies...you name it!) And not that we are there quite yet...but the baby stuff on this site is to DIE for! (Note to self: "Keep in mind for My Greenlicious Baby Blog"...more to follow. ;-)

Due to my career working for a professional organizer, I get all sorts of "Industry Rags." And this month they are all about the green housewares! In Kitchenware News, (yup, it exists) they have a whole section this month about bridal registries...they mentioned three places in particular that caught my eye:




1. For the perfect "one stop shop" eco-friendly wedding registry try 3r Living Brooklyn (yeah...this is actually in my neighborhood. Jealous? You don't have to be. They have an online wedding registry that is just awesome. (psst...AWESOME!)





2. Macys: In addition to offering a charity registry, (Just like the one that I did with the I Do Foundation! How great is that? All of the benefits to your charity, and one stop shopping!! HELLO!!) Macy's now offers a lot of eco friendly products to fill up your nest! Check out Martha Stewart's EcoCook, and Lenox's "Re-New" Recycled Glass and Stemware lines...not to mention the bunches of options that you will get with organic bedding.

3. Target! I registered at Target. They are partnered with the I Do Foundation, and they have a TON of eco-friendly items...check it out!


A few other places where I found some eco-friendly bedding. (I love bedding...)

Rubie Green

My favorite...not that I pick favorites (by which I mean that I totally pick favorites) Plover Organics

But honestly, you can get some really nice, and super cute, organic bedding at The Pottery Barn!

So that's it...the latest and greatest. And, hey, in case I haven't said it enough...please feel free to let me know if I am missing anything here! I need all the help that I can get!

Say Yes to the Dress...this Friday!

Ok, so yup...my episode is this Friday on TLC at 10pm, soooooooooo tune in!!!

I have to say for the record, that while we were filming, we were joking around, and having a grand old time, but now that this sh*t is actually going to be on TV...I think that I will seriously vomit. (prepare for girly nervous breakdown...) What if I sound silly? Or look awful? Or you can't tell that I was obviously kidding? This is so much more nerve racking than stand-up. (At least then is was SUPPOSED to be a joke.) AHHHHHH!!! Ok, so watch it, and then just tell me that you loved it. (NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK!!)

Love you guys! (kill me...seriously) LOVE!

Nancy

Treehuggers "Best Of Green!"

Hello All!

Just a quick note to let you know that Treehugger (one of my favorite green blogs) has just come out with the First Annual Best of Green Awards! It has a ton of awesome info on it, so please check out the main page, and do some looking around.

Along the lines of Green Weddings? Well check out the Best Of Green Travel And Nature for fun and interesting ideas on how to have a green honeymoon!

Let me know what you think!

Warning! This post is rated R! (nope, there are no pirates in the post.)

Not sure if you guys read Daily Candy, but I have just read about the newest and most eco friendly way to say, "we are not quite ready for babies" on your wedding night. (Since that will be the first time you will be having sex...ever. Like that kid on the show 18 kids and Counting on TLC)

So if, unlike the Duggars, you are not ready to begin having children right away (and then have one child each year for the next twenty years) Check out this link to Daily Candy today!!!

That's right!!! VEGAN CONDOMS!!! Gotta love it!

My only complaint? They don't come in green...or would that look gross?)

Green Bridal Show!

For those of you who think that this "Green" thing is only in the big cities, check it out: Terrapin Restaurant-an eco concious restaurant and caterer in the Hudson Valley-is hosting a "Green Bridal Show!" To check out the details, click HERE. It is going to feature vendors who are eco friendly, and there will be presentations, nibbles, and a glass of champagne...$10 bucks if you just show up, and Fa-Fa-Fa-FREEE if you register online...getting married in the area? Check it out for the love of Pete! And if you aren't...tell your friends. Or just check out Terrapin! Looks pretty cool, no?

More Honeymoon Ideas

I was "e-thumbing" through one of my favorite green blogs today...while eating lunch of course. I would never be reading a blog while I am supposed to be working. During work hours, I am constantly buzzing away; crossing task after task off my busy bee list of things to do to make more money for my boss. But "during lunch," I occasionally take a quick break to read my favorite blogs. One of them is the ever informative www.treehugger.com. I don't know how I even came upon this little postidy post...as often happens when I am reading and clicking, and reading and clicking, but there it was: the worlds top 5 greenest spas...now if that doesn't sound like a nice way to spend a greenlicious honeymoon, I don't know what does. Check it out: greenlicious spas!

Now, Jimmy and I are not really the type of couple that wants to lay in a steam room, and get rub downs with sea weed; but if you are, there is quite a selection here. Looking for adventure? Try the one in Costa Rico, or the one in Japan! If you are looking to stay close, there is a whole section at the end dedicated to "Honorable Mentions" that are stateside...definitely worth a look. And hey, as this wedding thing progresses...we may decide that the only thing that we CAN do on our honeymoon is to lay in a steam room: (This is one of my favorite pictures of us...when we were filming porn in the 70's...I think that I am going to make it my facebook profile pic...;-)
Don't we look GORGEOUS??!!!

Registry Revelations

Ok,

So I said that I would do it, and I have! I registered with the I Do Foundation!
For those of you who don't remember, here's what the I Do Foundation has to say about themselves:
The I Do Foundation was created in 2002 by a group of nonprofit leaders dedicated to developing new avenues of support for charitable organizations. A public foundation based in Washington, D.C., the I Do Foundation works closely with some of the most effective and renowned nonprofit organizations in the country. Together with our corporate and nonprofit partners, the I Do Foundation links engaged couples with a host of charitable giving options at their wedding.

It is our vision that, in time, charitable giving will become an integral part of the culture of weddings and other life events. By incorporating a charitable focus into life celebrations, we help families establish a pattern of giving that will last a lifetime.

I dig it. But can it be that easy? I am a big believer that the only way to effect change on a large scale is to make it easy and idiot proof. So is this registry idiot proof? Pretty much. This is how it goes:

You have to register your wedding with them. (Just like you would with any of the wedding websites: The Wedding Channel, etc, etc.) Once you do that, you pick which of the partners you want to register with. They have a list, and for each partner they show you what % of each purchase will be donated to the charity of your choice. (ie. cooking.com is 10%, Target is 5% and so on...) Then you pick which ones you would like to register with, and you create your registries with each site. Lastly, you go back in, and pick which charity you want to donate to. (They have some to pick from, but you can pick your own. You can even set up a fund to put aside for future giving.) There are a few cons that I would share with you:

1. The list of Partners isn't super long. If you want to register at Macy's, Bloomingdales, or Tiffany's...they aren't on there. To be fair, you can register with them-and even have a link to it on their site. These gifts simply won't generate any money for donations. In cases like this, I would recommend making a list of what you want to register for, and trying to find them on the partnered sites. Then filling in the gaps on a site that isn't a partner. That way you do as much as you can. :-)

2. It can be tedious to do what I mentioned above. I managed to find what I was looking for by using only partnered sites; but it meant that I had to create 4 registries: signing up for each site, then creating the registry info for each site, then adding the items that I want from that site. If you are persnickety like me; you will then find the same thing for different prices, and have to keep going back to compare, and make sure that you have the cheaper one on your registry...my eyes were crossed...I can't lie!

3. Only online purchases generate donations. Some of your guests may want to go to the store...so this will mean that their gift will not generate a donation...even if it is from a partnered site. Kind of a bummer.

Those were the main concerns for me, but there is one MAJOR pro: Up to 10% of the cost of our gifts is going to be donated to Share Our Strength. Share Our Strength is a national organization that I have had the pleasure of working with on several events. The organization devotes all of it's efforts to ending child hunger in the United States. I have been touched not only by their message, but also by the people who are working within the organization everyday to truly find an end to child hunger. I cannot pretend for one second that my having to enter my name and address a few extra times is a reason to not go this route. In fact now that you know about this...if you are registering, frankly, I cannot find one reason for you to not do this...just do it.

And awaaay we go!

Dear Readers,

So there you have it. The top 10 ways to have an eco friendly wedding. (Feel free to go back and read any that you missed. ;-) Now what? Well...now I plan my wedding of course! I am going to do my best to have the wedding of my dreams, within a reasonable budget, and to follow these tips so that it isn't a wasteful mess!

And I am taking you with me!

So join my blog, and get updates throughout the year to watch the Greenlicious Extravaganza unfold! See you at the church!

~Nancy

Step 10! Happily ever after...

So according to the Sierra Club, the 10th and final way to have a green wedding is to:

Begin your new life with a honeymoon that's light on the Earth. Consider:

~going somewhere local (you're going to be spending a lot of time in that hotel room anyway)
Ok, so...yeah, I am not going to do this one. I want to go somewhere that I would NEVER go unless I had a good excuse to take 2 weeks off from work. I am NOT going to the Poconos, people! And as for the "spending a lot of time in that hotel room..." sure, but let's face it, this isn't the 50's. We have been spending a lot of time in that room for the last three years together..I want to see the world with this man. We will be engaging in plenty of "post marital fun" for sure, but not so much that we won't notice that we are at Beautiful Mount Airy Lodge! So what is my next choice?

~engaging in ecotourism, which can be as rugged or luxurious as you want it to be (find listings that suit your style through Conservation International, National Geographic, Planeta.com, or ResponsibleTravel.com)
This I like...it seems like there might be a lot of interesting options. And as they say, it doesn't have to be in the mountains or something...you can go anywhere and be responsible. On ResponsibleTravel.com, they even have a section for Budget Ideas...check it out.

~taking a trip that benefits an environmental group; perhaps boating in Florida's Dry Tortugas, birding in Alaska, or walking the Italian Alps with Sierra Club Outings
This might be fun...I guess it depends on you as a couple, and what types of vacations seem fun to you...

~skipping the cruise and taking a relaxing, romantic train tripA CHOO CHOO HONEYMOON! This is so romantic and so old school! I love it! It reminds me of my parent's stories of Europe in the 60s. We were talking about this the other day, and are thinking very seriously about getting a Euro-Pass, and just tooling around in Spain or something. (I know that this will still include a trip on an air plane, but see below...)

~getting around at your destination by renting bikes or taking public transportation (the better to enjoy the sights instead of arguing about your spouse's driving habits)
Oh this is a definite! We are New Yorkers, so the public transportation is a no brainer for us. If you are not used to public transportation, I know that it might make you a bit nervous, but give it a chance. You don't know a country and it's people until you know the stink of their subways! (Believe me-I went to Italy in August one time...no air conditioning on those subways. Let's just say that I know Italy. ;-)

~staying in a family-run B&B or inn, a luxury teepee or yurt, or a green hotel that's working to save resources and reduce waste
I have been waiting ever since I first read this list to bust up laughing at this one. I love an Inn or a B & B-our families are staying in them in our hood for the wedding. I am all about a green hotel if you can find one. I am not really sure about the teepee idea-sounds like camping, and people...what in the name of all that is holy is a YURT!!?? ok...let's just figure it out together: according to freedictionary.com:

Noun

1.

yurt - a circular domed dwelling that is portable and self-supporting; originally used by nomadic Mongol and Turkic people of central Asia but now used as inexpensive alternative or temporary housing

oooooook. Now how might I be honeymooning in one of these, you ask? (and I ask?) Again, these are not for everyone, but for those of you who on the out doorsy side there are actually quite a few places where you can find a honeymoon yurt...check out this link for some ideas from the Travel Channel:

YURTS!

~offsetting your trip’s carbon dioxide emissions
This one is definite...as I have mentioned in earlier posts however, I have never done this before. When I do it, I will let you know how it goes...

Step 9-GIFTS!!!

When it comes to the whole gift thing. You will see below that there are a lot of ways to stay green-both by giving to charity, and by asking for environmentally conscious gifts. I feel that the most important thing here, however, is to not get carried away when you are registering. Really sit down with your fiance, and talk about what you want, and what you NEED. What you would buy for yourself if money wasn't an issue. Don't register for crap that you will never use just because someone else is footing the bill. Be realistic. If you don't use it, then it is wasteful...I don't care what it is! (For the record, they don't mention it here, but there is a new trend of asking people for money. I want to address it as an etiquette side note: I really want a house right now, and was seriously thinking of sending one of those poems asking for cash. I did some asking around of my guests-both relatives and friends, and found that not one person thought that it was a good idea. No one. The general thought is-this is a wedding, not a fundraiser. So Jimmy and have a created a small registry of things that we love, and are letting people know that we are saving for a house, so gifts of money are great as well. I am hoping that this is well received, and so far it seems to be going well...end of side note.) So here are some ideas from the sierra club:

~asking for gifts to charity instead of material goods

This is a good idea for those of you out there who have what you need. Perhaps this is your second marriage, or you are both very financially secure, and you don't feel the need to ask for gifts. (LUCKY YOU!) Find a charity that really speaks to who you are as a couple. There are so many wonderful charities out there; local, national, and international. Research your charity, and make sure that they really do what they say they do! Ultimately this is a wonderful idea, if you can afford to do it! (And I imagine that you rack up some pretty good karma points!)

~registering with the I Do Foundation or another site that gives a percentage of gift purchases to your chosen cause.

This is so cool! I have gone to the site, and looks like you need to register your wedding with them, like you would with any wedding site, and then you can set up for 6% of all of your registry purchases to go to charity...could it be that simple? Check it out yourself at: www.idofoundation.org I will too. Let's compare notes. Has anyone done it? I love to hear if it was a good experience! Do tell!

~registering with stores that offer local, fair-trade, handmade, organic, or other eco-friendly products like Branch, Gaiam, Greenfeet, GreenSage, Ten Thousand Villages, UncommonGoods, or VivaTerra.

Love it! Check! This is a great time to get that kitchen composter that you have been dying for!

~registering for outdoor gear or contributions to an eco-friendly honeymoon

Have so much fun with this one...I believe that we have discussed my feelings on camping in step 4. Enough said. (AKA-do not buy me a gift card to REI. It would be wasteful of you. ;-)

~creating a custom wish list of eco-friendly items like a fresh-produce subscription from a local farm, organic gardening supplies, organic linens, park and museum passes, gift certificates to organic restaurants, and subscriptions to green publications or memberships in green causes

This one requires a little more work and imagination on your part, but aren't we all here because we are creative and uniquely minded folks? There are sites all around (such as my registry.com) where you can create a list of items that you would like (as long as you can buy it online, then you can put it on your registry!) If there are items that can't be done that way, then create a special registry for your guests to receive via email, or on your wedding site. For those folks who like to buy gifts the old fashioned way, you can have your Maid of Honor send them a hard copy...just make sure that she does it on recycled paper! ;-)

~For your favors, give something your guests will really use and enjoy, not disposable plastic souvenirs.

Ok, so my mantra about this is as follows: Do your guests a favor, and skip the typical "favor." Because no one likes Jordan Almonds, or a small thing of bubbles, or a key ring with your name on it, and if they told you that they did...they were being nice. Jimmy and I are donating a tree to a local park. (This goes along with our unspoken theme of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Now it will be quite literal.) I am soooooo excited about this idea, I can't tell you. Really you could donate to any charity on behalf of your guests, and make a little announcement, or put a note about it at the top of your menu/or program. Put an announcement on home made paper in a frame at the reception table letting everyone know that you have made a donation in their name. It can be for whatever amount you put aside for your favors. Every little bit counts! And let me tell you...your guests will truely thank you for a gift that they don't have to shove in their purse to be polite, and then leave in the hotel. (with love...this is what they will be doing.)

For arguments sake, let's just say that you really feel that you MUST give them SOMETHING that they can hold...here are a few ideas (Courtesy of the Sierra Club, that I think people will actually like. ;-)

~Gourmet organic chocolates or another organic or local food item. LOCAL FOOD! This is great for welcome bags for out of town guests as well!

~attractive bags of fresh or dried organic herbs

~seeds in a commemorative container

~reusable cloth tote bags

can you ever have enough of these? I am using them to hold my attendants gifts as well! LOVE IT!

~a small plant

These can also go on the dinner tables as lovely decor. Talk about two birds with one stone!

~natural soaps

PS. These are easy to make...and home made gifts are so much more special. (And cheaper. ;-)

~place cards made of seeded paper that can be planted at home

~soy or beeswax candles

ehem...you know my thoughts...soy.

~a compact fluorescent light bulb

ok, so you will look like a bit of a nerd here, but it will bring awareness, it will be a GREAT conversation starter, and it IS dead useful.

~a downloadable playlist of your favorite songs

I got one of these recently, and liked it quite a bit. Cute idea, and very personal. You can even have them done up nicely at a site such as www.ourweddingcd.com Not too hard to remember. lol. I don't think that they use eco-friendly products though, so maybe doing it yourself is a better option. Depending on how crafty you are!

For your helpful, loyal attendants, you'll want to up the ante a little, perhaps with:

~gift baskets of organic skin-care products

~recycled jewelry, wallets, handbags, or drinking glasses

~selections of organic coffees, teas, and chocolates

~recycled paper journals and stationery

~great bottles of organic wine

As always, I recommend to keep it local! Support your local markets and artisans. It is a great way to create a hallmark for the event, and it makes your gifts one of a kind!

Step 8. Picture Perfect...

So back to our list of ways to "green up your celebration," ways to "get your green on," ways to "make everyone pay attention only to you because you are the queen of the universe..." Ok, not so much the last one, although I am fine with that, if it does happen...

So, our friends at the Sierra Club have this to say about your wedding pictures:

Whether you prefer film or digital photographs, look for a photographer who will do digital proofs to save paper and chemicals. Avoid single-use cameras, but ask friends with digi-cams to share their photos with all the guests online in a free Flickr group or Snapfish group room you set up for your wedding.

Ok...I am sooooooo fine with this. We are going digital because it is cheaper, and we were more interested in finding the right photographer for us, than in getting a bunch of prints that we don't even like. (note: Many photographers have online galleries where you and your guests can purchase prints. And, if they do, and you can afford it, order through them. Snapfish is a cool idea, but it feels a bit sneaky to me to go this route if your photographer offers to print for you. Or at the very least, ask them if they are ok with it.) And yes Yes YES! to having friends bring the digitals! Nothing better than checking out your awesome wedding on someone else's facebook profile two days after the event! (I will of course be toting my "mino flip" to get snippets of the day from my P.O.V. (and sharing with you...my avid readers.) Super fun!


PS. Speaking of finding the right photographer for us...did we EVER!!! Her name is Kelly Guenther, and she has won...wait for it, wait for it...a PULITZER! (So, she is pretty much a genius.) The main reason that we went with her, in addition to her laid back style (And her amazing carriage house apartment in Brooklyn Heights), is that she takes the most amazing photo journalistic photos!!!!



I was deathly afraid of the "gazing" photos. (Pictured here) Listen, If this "just happened," then that is totally cool, but if they stood there for 10 minutes taking pictures while trying to emote "love" for each other....my stomach hurts just thinking about it. Much to my surprise and delight, we found Kelly right off the bat. (I think that we booked her before the hall! lol) She had worked with a few brides that I knew, and I loved their photos. (She is also reasonably priced for the NYC area.) So we are phyched all around...




Ok, so the message here? Don't print anything unless you know that you want it! That shouldn't be too difficult, right? Check.

We interrupt this checklist to bring you news of a dress...

That's right! I want to report to you all-the millions of you waiting with baited breath-that I filmed the TV show-Say Yes To The Dress! (To be aired sometime next year)II have tried on some wedding dresses, and I have an update...

1. Kleinfelds is insane...who knew that dresses were so important? Apparently they are...and somehow when you are there, you believe in the power of the dress. (They use feminine pronouns when referring to them, as in, "Let's see how you look in "her.") I was treated like a princess, and my friends were treated like queens...because they are gay men. (cracking myself up here.) We had a Kleinfelds first, and they let Josh try on one of the dresses! He looked lovely, if a bit furry on top to be wearing so much detail in the bodice... sadly, they don't allow photos at Kleinfelds, or we would have quite a few here...he looked something like this:



...and as a side note, I am pretty sure that one of the salesmen at Kleinfelds had a crush on my friends...not one of them in particular so far as we could tell, but on all of them as a unit. Thank you salesman, said crush made everyone feel special. :-)

2. Filming a TV show is a funny thing. Especially a reality show! First there is a camera person in the dressing room with you...yeah..."Hi, so, um, I didn't wax yet this month, so...Oh, sure, you can put the microphone there." Then, once you are in the dress, they make you stand still for long moments while they film each dress, while your friends are going, "You look like you are in pain! Stop it!" Then you say something, and then they say, "Can you say that again?" and when you do, you sound like Tonto..."ME...LIKE...DRESS" In the interview, you know that they are looking for specific things, so you start wondering if you said the right thing, and stop thinking about what you are saying...and are like, "Wait...what? What did I say?" The other funny part is at the end when they ask you to comment on your experience in the present tense...but it isn't. (As though you are commentating on a baseball game, but it has already happened) IE. Them: "What was it like when you tried on the dress that Matt said looked like a table cloth?" Me: "I am in the dress, and I am thinking, "It isn't that bad, is it?" But I know that he is telling me the truth!" But it is an odd thing to do, so again with the old Tonto voice: ME...IN..UGLY DRESS...THINK...MATT...TRUTH!" Somebody save me!!

3. All in all, I had a lot of fun, and it got me really excited about the wedding. :-) So on to the dress commentary:


4. I am sad to report that The Cotton Bride Line by Chris Cole for Kleinfelds wasn't my favorite. I love the idea of it, but none of the "Green" dresses suited my style. (They were all a bit plain and hippy dippy) I think that my friend Matt called it when he said that the best one looked like "My Grandmothers Table Cloth." (I wonder if that line will make it on the show? We were a bit insane, and brutal. We caused a ruckus in general, and I really couldn't tell if they were amused, or annoyed....I guess we will find out when the show airs! lol)

5. All of this said, I did find one in particular that was especially lovely (and silk which is sustainable).....and cost 3000 dollars...GULP!

Sooooooo....what is a girl to do? Oh, I don't know.....google the name of the dress, and find a woman selling it on Craigslist two towns over from her parents for 1000 bucks? Yeah, that's what she said! WHOOOO HOOOO!!! What do you guys think?




It is simple, but not "boring", and I think that it is super flattering. So if I end up getting the dress from this woman, I will being keeping it green, and buying used!!! I am super pumped about being able to pick this green option-for the planet and my pocket! (Which has become my new mantra...WHAT WOULD THE GURU SAY????)

As for the possibility of a second dress...I am not sure at the moment where I stand, but will keep you updated!

Step 7-Eat Drink and Be Merry!

Showcase green gustatory pleasures (and spoil your guests) by basing your menu around local, organic, and seasonal foods. Don’t forget the organic wine, beer, and spirits, and the free-trade, shade-grown coffee and tea! Some tips:

~Ask the venue's preferred caterers and bakers if they can do your event organically.

Again, this is really about finding the right vendors for you. In Brooklyn, finding someone who ISN'T a part of the local/organic movement would be difficult, so I am lucky in that regard. My smaller parties in Binghampton and Boston respectively, might be a different story. "I will have to look into it, and get back to you." ~as said by Sarah Palin to Katie Couric.


~Find a local organic restaurant that does off-site catering.

Also-check out Tree Hugger's tips on how to have eco friendly cocktails and beverages! (This is from today! We are so on the the same page! Tree Hugger and I that is...)

~If your wedding won't be complete without a specific type of food, get married when it's in season.

As with flowers, keeping the food in season is good for the environment AND your pocketbook! (Check, and Check!)

~Find a caterer you trust to pick the best seasonal selections (since you may not be able to taste those exact items ahead of time).

Find a caterer you trust...thank you Captain Obvious.

~Consider vegitarian selections and seek out cruelty-free meats and wild, rather than farmed, fish.
A vegetarian option is a good idea anyway. It is less expensive, and more and more people are vegetarians these days. (Sometimes I opt for the veggie meal if I am unsure of the meat options. Let's face it-we are all more sketched out by an off-looking chicken wing, then we are by a wonky piece of asparagus. It is just the truth.)

~Making sure that the venue offers comprehensive recycling facilities, and ideally composting too.

This seems like a no brainer, but you never know...not everyone is on our page with this. See below for ideas on what to do if your venue doesn't recycle or compost.

~Have your cake decorated with organically grown flowers or other natural materials instead of plastic toppers.

Yeah-plastic topper? I am assuming that if you are interested in my blog, then you are not using a plastic cake topper with a bride and groom in cowboy hats, where the groom is pretending to run off the cake, and the bride is pulling him back on with a lasso. (By the way, I am pretty sure that I have actually seen that topper, somewhere...I will find it for you.) But in the event that you were thinking of doing this...stop it. Immediately.

~Rent real glassware, dishware, and linens instead of using disposables.

Renting is VERY common at weddings. (USING DISPOSABLES? What kind of wedding are we having here?) Renting is a great way to go. I used to work for a company called Broadway Party Rentals. If you are in NYC, check them out!

~Go for a chic eclectic look by mixing and matching thrift-store plates and dishes (and by donating them back when you are done).

This is a cool idea. I enjoy an eclectic array of old china on the table for fancy parties. (I use my Nana's old set-and her silver. I think that it is fun. :-) It would have to be a very particular style of wedding for this to work, but if it is your style, then go for it. I love this!

~Use biodegradable utensils and dishes made out of cornstarch, potatoes, wheat, or sugar cane--if your venue can compost them.

Hmmm...ok, if you are going for the disposables, then this is the way to do it, but I am still very anti disposables. (This is your wedding! Use a real fork, for the love of Pete!) If you are interested in finding this in general, check out Branch Home. They have lots of interesting eco-friendly products. (Including, the biodegradable fork. ;-)

~Make arrangements to donate leftover food to a local food bank or homeless shelter.

100%. I have mentioned this earlier, but in case you missed it: Recycling, composting, and donating anything that is unused at your event is super key if you want an eco friendly celebration. You can always investigate ways to do this on your own. (For starters, insist that your venue have separate containers for trash, and recyclables at you event.) And find a local shelter to donate food by going to my favorite website the http://www.idofoundation.org/about/August2003.html. They have bunch of places to try to set this stuff up on your "one-sies". If you don't want to do all the legwork, and really want to make sure that everything is re purposed to the fullest of it's potential, try The Special E. I haven't set anything up with them, but I am definitely investigating, and will let you know!

Step 6-The Decor...

There are so many ways that you can be eco-friendly when you decorate:

~opt for organic flowers
Ask your florist about this one, and if they don't use them, ask if they know someone who does. Organic can get a little pricey, so you may want to look into complimenting smaller arrangements with reusable items other than flowers (Like candles, etc.)

~find a florist who's diligent about recycling packaging and will source locally raised flowers
This is really just about finding the right vendor for you. Be upfront about what you want, and if they are as passionate as you are about it, then BINGO! And do your research: Find out what flowers are in season locally, and use them! (Again...it will also save you some do-re-mi) And the same goes for your menu BTW!

~have bridesmaids carry matching purses or silk bouquets instead of cut flowers
This is an iteresting idea...I mean after all, those $100+ bouquets usually end up sitting on a table somewhere. And that is economically wasteful too. Talk to your maids about it, and see what they think. (They might like a nice new purse, PS. It can double as your bridesmaid gift. Gosh, sometimes I amaze even myself with these ideas.) There are a LOT of cool places for purses these days. Check out Freddy and Ma. They aren't cheap, but they are about the same as a bouquet, when you think of it. You can design them yourself, and they are so bright and funky that you won't even miss the flowers!

~decorate with branches, dried grasses, grains, greens, berries, or live plants (potted or dried arrangements can double as favors)
~use leaves or other natural objects as place cards
These are sort of the same, so I will address them together, and I am going to address them with two words: Martha Stewart. And I don't just mean Martha Stewart Weddings. The craft ideas on her website are off the hook, and can be searched by season. I am getting married in the fall, and MOST of my decor ideas have come from the last three years of Martha Stewart Living (Sept, Oct and Nov issues) Poke around over there...there are truely some Good Things. DIY does not have to be Crafty Grandma and her Patchwork Quilt...channel your inner Martha! She will not let you down.

~choose beeswax or soy-based candles over those made with paraffin, a petroleum byproduct
I am about to sound off, so get ready. I am taking this one step further, and saying: JUST DO SOY! Why? I heard that bees are endangered...um, yeah, did you guys know this? Bees are endangered. And here is something that you might not know about me, but should probably know: I really love honey. Not a little bit, either. I am like freakin' Winnie the Poo. I eat it every morning in my yogurt...yum yum yum. It makes me super happy, and I would be wicked bummed if it wasn't around anymore, so guys, do me a favor, and buy your honey from responsible local companies. It isn't that hard. FOR THE LOVE OF BEES, BUY YOUR HONEY LOCAL!!! and...this brings me to my former point......buy soy candles. Which I am doing for my wedding! I found this website called etsy.com. It is a website where artisans can sell their stuff. (Pretty cool by the way, and an awesome way to buy local handmade gifts and such.) So I went to "Brooklyn/Soy/Candles" and found this cool guy named Marty who has a shop called Dew On A Petal Home. (Hippy much?) But seriously he makes all kinds of soy candles. All sizes and colors and scents that you can think of. They are not more expensive than regular candles, and get this: he has a buy back policy! He will buy back any candles that I don't use. He will even buy back the soy "wax" from the candles that I DO use, and repurpose them into new candles! I love this guy! And because he is in Brooklyn, I get to pick them up! My carbon foot print is getting smaller even faster than my waistline! ahem...So as soon as I know what I am getting, I am calling him to set it up! You guys should check out his webstore as well, if you need to buy any candles...think of the bees...for me. For my honey.


~arrange to have decorations moved from the ceremony to the reception (if you opt for separate sites)
This is a nice idea, and it saves you money. If money isn't an issue, maybe you could just make sure that you purchase decor that will be used for a while at the ceremony site. (If it is a church, for example, they may be able to use them for a few weeks as the altar decor...)

~throw biodegradable confetti or organic rose petals instead of releasing butterflies
huh? Is releasing butterflies some kind of new trend? Who is releasing butterflies? I have never heard of or seen anything like this. Am I behind the times on this one? I will say, that at the last wedding that I was at, there was some kind of bird seed/confetti that smelled like sugar cookies that I really liked. (Of course the time between the ceremony and the reception was so long that I got hungry, and tried to eat a piece of...yeah, bad idea. It did not taste as good as it smelled. But I think that the birds liked it...)

~donate the flowers to a hospital or rest home at the end of the day

I love Love LOVE this one. Donating anything that is unused, and repurposing anything that can be repurposed is the whole point. So this is the first time of many that I am going to mention a website called: The Special E. They will recycle, and repurose just about anything. (See the link) I am seriously considering using them for my wedding (depending on budget), and I will DEFINITELY be letting you all know how it goes. According to the site, they do what we would all do if we had the time:

"Toward the end of your event, we'll send out our "Rescue Squad" to pick up all the excess items that are leftover. We have an extensive list of food banks, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, hospitals, nursing homes, and charities across the country. Prior to each program, we'll identify the recipient organizations that will be receiving the leftovers, and take the necessary steps to coordinate all the delivery arrangements."

Um, can you give me a break? HOW AWESOME IS THAT??? I can't wait to speak with them further, and will keep you all updated.

Step 5-What to wear? (Oh, and I am going to be on TV...read on.)

Of course this is a big one, and as I mentioned before...I have not always been a fan of the "wedding dress." (See Left) It is hard for me to get this type of image out of my head, for some reason...and the idea of this girl busting a move to Sir Mix-a-lot wearing this ridiculous dress is just hard for me to swallow. (Sorry girl if you are out there, and if you busted said move-good for you! I am sure that you looked awesome...ehem.) But let's be serious, I am planning to be a DANCING FOOL at my wedding; as in: "Can't Touch This, Summer Lovin', Margaritaville, I will Survive...BRING IT! And I do not not NOT want to look like the long lost twin sister of my wedding cake! And I also, don't want to be wasteful. Let's face it, this is a big expense, and a lot of waste for something that you only wear once. So what to do? There are actually quite a few things you can do:

~go vintage (and update your look as necessary with tailoring and modern shoes and accessories)

Wear your Mom's dress, or one of your aunt's dresses. Or look in cool vintage shops for a super cool, one of a kind number. (PS, this option is also going to be much less expensive, so you can really go nuts with your accessories!)

~pick clothes made from hemp, bamboo, and organic cotton or silk--or find a dressmaker who will make a one-of-a-kind item out of these sustainable fabric (men's suits and shirts come in organic cotton or wool too)

Ok, so the words "hemp and bamboo" sort of scare me here...not in other contexts so much, but here...eeeehhhhhh, I get a little nervous, but check this out:

Have you heard of Kleinfelds? It is like the premiere place in NYC to buy a wedding dress, and they just launched a new line of dresses that are eco-friendly!!! It is called The Cotton Bride by Chris Kole. And guess what? I am going to be trying these dresses on in an episode of Say Yes To The Dress on TLC. We are filming next week, and I promise an expose post with all of the shenanigans that ensue!

So I am hopeful that I will find an eco-friendly dress here, that is simple and elegant, and that isn't strapless. (Why is that such a big look these days? What is the deal with brides and shoulders? And where are my fellow "Chesty LaRues?" Can we please unite about this? Someone give me a strap for the love of PETE!) Oh, and...BTW, I am thinking to get a super simple short dress to shake my booty in at the ceremony...don't tell Jimmy. ;-)

In the event that I don't find one...I could:

~borrow an elegant gown from a stylish friend

~buy something you'll wear again and let your bridesmaids do the same.

I am hoping that this will happen with the maids...we are going for Anne Taylor Celebrations, and the dresses seem to be super wearable, and aren't SOOOO dressy that you couldn't wear them to another wedding. Or we could go with the Chamelion Dress. Never heard of it? Click Here. Also-I am thinking to wear my short dress to all three of my celebrations (Wedding, Wedding Brunch, and Post Wedding Luau) and then, I might dye it and wear it again...we shall see...

By the way, this is a great site to find ways to be charitable during this process...take a few minutes and browse, for sure. For Bridesmaids, I love this one foundation called The Glass Slipper Project, you can donate dresses, and they go to young women for their proms, sweet 16's and Quinceaneros. Sadly, they are only in Chicago. That said they have a page on their site for out of state donations (link above), and it lists other foundations that do this...there should be one near you.
~accessorize with a unique recycled purse and/or jewelry
~use vegetable dyes on your shoes (or go barefoot for a beach wedding)
~accentuate natural beauty with all-natural makeup
~donate the dress to charity after the event

I love this idea, PS. There are some great charities out there to help Brides, and other young women who need a dress for a formal event...some favorites:

Brides Againts Breast Cancer

The I Do Foundation-

You know, I am surprised, but they don't mention rentals here, or ebay (buying used)...I was looking into renting, and found this article from NY Weddings 2005. It has a few options, and from what I can see, they are all still around. Not from NYC? I am sure that there are places near you that do it..give it a google, and see what comes up. I

I already bought my shoes on ebay, and they are deeeelightful. (And they were only 20 bucks.) I wasn't going to show you, but I am too proud of my idea...guess what? They are my "Something Blue!" I can't stand it!!!

That's right...20 BUCKS!!!

And, hey, let's just say that you want to buy a lavish extravegant Cinderella dress, and don't want to give it away when you are done, and don't want to waste one second feeling guilty!! ...my girlfriends and I have all agreed that after my wedding, we are having a fabulous cocktail party where we all wear "the dress"for one evening...and feel gorgeous all over again. Heck, let's do it once a year! I am pretty sure that that counts as recycling. Pictures to follow.