Vegan & Eco Wedding Shoe Shopping!

I can safely say I may have spent more time looking for shoes than I've spent looking for my dress.

If there's one area where the eco scene is lacking, it's in the dressy heels department.  Sure, there are plenty of options for sneakers and sandals, but when it comes to wedding shoes, it's been a bit of a mission-impossible.

One idea for eco wedding shoes: borrow from a fellow bride friend.  It covers the "borrowed" part of the equation and chances are, the shoes are like-new.

Here's another:  buy a pair of shoes from a company that will then give a pair to a child in need.  It's called the "One for one" program by TOMS Shoes.

TOMS Shoes is a company I heard about when I originally moved out to LA.  I went to a small launch party for them, and I'm so excited to see how much their vision has grown.  They now have a line of shoes that are for the wedding party; better yet, they're extremely comfortable, durable, and you'll definitely be wearing them in the future.  Who says you have to wear heels?

Image from www.toms.com

For those of you who answered "ME!" to that question, here are some eco-friendly and vegan options.

And you thought you could never be vegan...
Just look at you now.

Vegan Chic Glamour Shoes

Image compliments of www.veganchic.com

I personally love these shoes...
I wish I could wear 5 inch heels, but having all eyes on me as I walk down the aisle is enough of a challenge for one day.  Anyway, these shoes are vegan and very glamorous (if not for your wedding, for a fun night out).

Eco-Friendly Heels from Payless

Image compliments of www.payless.com

See what happens when more people go green?  It makes eco-friendly products more affordable!  Payless Shoe Stores are now carrying heels made of eco-friendly faux leather, recycled rubber, and lined with organic cotton for $15.99.  Especially if you're planning a fall or winter wedding, these Juniper blue shoes would be the perfect fit.

Green garters... who knew?

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Don't Just Go Green... Look It!

It goes without saying that you want to look and feel your absolute best on the big day, which will undoubtedly involve some beauty products.

Now, what may you not have known before is that a big part of living green lies in these beauty "lotions and potions" we use on a daily basis.  From our perfumes to our moisturizers, we can choose to invest our money and health into chemicals that could increase our cancer rates and damage our planet... or we could go the greener, nontoxic route.  Safe for you, safe for the planet.

www.greengoeswitheverything.com

Let's first shed a little light on the traditional beauty products you may have used or currently use.  I learned all of this from Sloan Barnett's Green Goes with Everything: Simple Steps to a Healthier Life and a Healthier Planet, which I highly recommend for living (as I like to say) "Eco-ily ever-after."  They make great Christmas gifts and all profits from the book go to charity, too.  

1. Of the 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products, only 11% have been reviewed for safety.  To see if your products are safe, go to: www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

2.  Nearly 400 products in the U.S. contain chemicals banned in other countries (Source: Environmental Working Group (EWG)).

3.  98% of products contain at least one or more ingredients not tested for safety (Source: EWG)

As Sloan Barnett puts it, "Many of us are almost wedded to the smell of our favorite products as we are to our mates."  It's a little something marketers like to call "brand loyalty."

Do yourself a big favor, ok?

As you wed green, divorce the chemical products.

So, let's get you looking green!  But not the sea-sick look--  the healthy glow all brides deserve on their big day and every day after.


For eco perfumes, check out Aveda Pure Fumes.  They even have one called "Love" that is perfect for your wedding day.

For eco personal care products, I personally love Shaklee's and have used them since I was a teenager.  Their Enfuselle Nutrition Therapy product line is paraben-free, nontoxic, and never tested on animals.

For eco makeup, mineral makeup is a great route to explore.  It will give you a natural glow, blend beautifully with your skin, and feel light and airy.  Some suggestions from Green Goes With Everything include: 

• Mode Cosmetics- they have a webpage showing the naturally sourced ingredients they use.  Plus, they have nontoxic nail polish!

• Ecco Bella Vegan Cosmetics

• Aubrey Organics

Save the E-Date!

For a modern and very eco twist on save-the-dates, why not spread the word in true 21st century wedding fashion...

Through the good 'ole internet, of course.

No! Email is so impersonal, you may say.
And, yes, you have a point.

The internet does have its cons.  Which is why I can understand not wanting to send your wedding invitations via email.

But a save-the-date?  It kinda makes sense.  When you think of the save-the-date process, it goes something like this:

Guests receive the card.  They will jot down the date in their planners.  Maybe they'll hang it on the refrigerator if you're special enough.  And then away it will go to the (I don't even want to say it) -- trash-- or recycle bin.

Even if they do recycle it, the amount of fuel and resources necessary to create and transport those little cards seems a bit... well... unnecessary.

Granted, you may still have to send out hardcopies to guests who do not have email access or are not as internet savvy, but overall you'll be able to get the word out instantly and paper-free.

Plus, it may get guests to check out your wedding website immediately and start rsvp-ing to pre-wedding events asap.

Now, for the still skeptical internet-wary bride, I have discovered a wonderful resource: a free program that will allow you to utilize your creativity and give your save-the-dates all the pizzaz you had envisioned... without having to seal an extra 200 envelopes afterward.

logo of www.smilebox.com

Smilebox
An easily downloadable program for both PC and Mac-- it allows you to create save-the-dates and other greetings with pictures, music, or even a full slideshow.  You can then burn it to a dvd, send it as an email, or share it on Facebook if you so desire.

Smilebox.com also provides a "design catalogue" for other occasions too: holidays, birthdays, thank you notes, and more.

They certainly help you create an email to remember while getting your "dream green wedding" off to a strong eco start!

The Brilliance of "No Wrap" Parties

One of my favorite childhood family videos is of my sister on her fifth birthday.

Like most children celebrating a birthday, Blaire accepted each gift with wide-eyed anticipation.  She would rip off the ribbons, tear the wrapping paper in a fury, stare at the gift.... and drop it, immediately sensing the next wrapped present.  It was the element of surprise that was most desired.

Well, let's face it, we're not five anymore.  Sometimes that "surprise" gift without the return receipt from Aunt Mildred on Christmas is not so thrilling.  And with weddings, the surprise is long-gone once the registry is complete. 

Twenty-plus years after those birthdays of frenzied unwrapping, it's better getting exactly what you need (and want), right?  Not to mention the fact that wrapping paper creates more waste. 

In fact, according to the Clean Air Council's "Waste Facts," 4 million TONS of our waste is in the form of wrapping paper and shopping bags.

And thus comes the appeal for "no wrap" parties!

My mom's friend did this for her recent baby shower.  All presents--minus the wrapping and ribbons-- were placed in the baby's crib.

Bitters Co. Recycled Flip-Flop Nesting Basket

For your wedding shower, you can place all of your gifts in containers that can double for your laundry baskets, recycling baskets, or simple organizational bins later on. 

For starters, there is a website called Pristine Planet that offers green products from socially responsible merchants.  Two of their baskets are made of recycled flip-flops:

  

Bitters Co. Flip-Flop Baskets from Pristineplanet.com

Also, the Container Store has some nice eco laundry hamper options that with bamboo-lattice or "zen bamboo."

The Container Store's Square Bamboo Laundry Hamper

And for smaller items, Pier 1 Imports has a basket made of recycled newspaper:

Pier 1 Import's "Recycled Newspaper Magazine Basket"

So, enjoy your new eco-friendly organizers and non-wrapped gifts knowing that your wedding shower had no part in that "4 million tons."  Hopefully by your baby shower, that number will have gone down a bit.

Everything I Need to Know About Wedding Planning, I Learned From My Best Friend’s Wedding

Crisp, bold colors of autumn’s arrival made her ivory pearls and pristine dress glisten. 

October 9, 2010 proved to be the quintessential Michigan day for a fall wedding. And after having planned the entire weekend sans wedding planner, Courtney- my best friend from college, deserved nothing less than the perfect day. 

I can safely say after last weekend that one never fully understands the great magnitude of preparation and— need I say—stress that a wedding involves until you’re part of the bridal party or it’s your own.  Now, I know a little bit more of what I’m in for.

Things I’ve learned:

• It’s never too early to begin writing an itinerary and figuring out where everyone needs to be.

• In the words of the bride, a wedding is like Stage Management 101 (or maybe even 401).

• Have a notebook and highlighter handy at all times.  You never know when you'll need to make a list.

• Above all, remember to breathe, smile, and enjoy.

Now, for some green things I picked up from her fabulous day:

•  Their wedding website allowed guests to RSVP meal choices and activities for the weekend online and paper-free.

• All of the programs were from a recycled, reused source.

• Not only did she use her mother’s veil, she also donned a piece of lace from her mother’s wedding dress as a hair accessory.  It was absolutely gorgeous.

• All “welcome bags” were in the form of reusable grocery bags.

• They utilized local wines and snacks (Michigan dried cherries mixed with homemade granola... an incredible combo).

• Shuttles transported guests en masse from hotel to church to reception.

• They had adorable signs made that hung from their ski lift chair (oh yes, we took a ski lift to a champagne toast... in a word, amazing).  On one side it said “Just Married” and on the other it had their newly shared last name.  The sign will now be reused as décor for their home.

So, not only was their wedding a stunning success, it was good to the planet too.  I couldn’t be prouder of her and I was so honored to be part of their wonderful day! ☺

Eco-Vintage. Where Old is the New "In"

I never realized how much I liked vintage until I started planning my wedding...
or maybe it's the new season of Mad Men. 


Either way, I'm happy with it.

Recently, with the help of my dear friend Kenna (who took some time to help me with the bridesmaid dress search in spite of her endless grad school papers-- thank you!!), I found the perfect match.  :-)  Pictures to come...

In addition to having fabulous pockets and a beautiful flower-accented waistband, the dress certainly has a bit of vintage flair.  And since vintage is eco-friendly as well (the very definition of reuse, reduce, recycle!), I'd like to explore the theme when it's time to accessorize.

As I go onward with my vintage hunting, I discovered a few great sites for many of the wedding details. One, a fellow blog!

CB Vintage logo

For The Vintage Look:

CB Vintage

Jewelry, cake toppers, books, tennis rackets, and more... this blog offers an assortment of vintage items to shop from whether it be for weddings or your own personal collection.



Posh Girl Vintage

Posh Girl Vintage logo

A great site for dresses, accessories, and anything "Audrey style" (how adorable is that??).  In particular, it showcases some beautiful vintage lace hair pieces as well as some jazzy jewelry, categorized by decade.  I'm fairly certain I've found my rehearsal dinner dress on this site already.



For The Vintage Gifts:

For tea-lover brides, consider giving vintage tea tin boxes as part of the bridesmaid gifts:

Wedding Tea, 20 Sachets in Vintage Tins by Harney & Sons

Harney & Sons "Wedding Tea"

These sachets feature a gourmet blend of lemon-vanilla, pink rosebuds and petals.  Plus, the vintage tin makes a fond memento.  Engrave them for an added personalized touch!





For The Vintage Taste:

Some pretty unbelievable vintage-style wedding cakes...
I definitely will take a break from my Mad Men marathon for this!

"The Ultimate Cake Off, Season 2: Vintage Hollywood Wedding"

"Ultimate Cake Off" series

A Website for Green Hotels and Carbon Friendly Flights!

The wedding planning is certainly starting to speed up a bit.

We are currently at the 7-month marker which (according to the wedding planning timeline) means a hotel needs to be selected for guests.

On a side note, does anyone ever feel like their wedding has become a child that you're always referring to in terms of "how many months" it is?

Anyway, we're looking for some "green" hotels in the grand, beautiful city of Chicago.

Here is a fantastic site I've found to be helpful that allows you to do a global search of eco-friendly hotels:

Green Hotel Finder.com
by Sustainability Intelligence

Green Globe, Inc.

With the help of Green Globe, Inc. as a third-party certifier of environmentally friendly practices, Sustainability Intelligence has created this green tourism website--- allowing us enjoy the luxury of travel without compromising the Earth.

All of the hotels found on this website have received green sustainability certification.  And since it allows you to search by continent or country, it's a great resource when looking for your green honeymoon hotel as well!

Plus, you can even do a "Carbon Friendly Flight Search" to compare airlines that are the most eco!

Happy Green Travels!

The Beginnings of an Eco-Registry...

As we begin the registry search, I wanted to share a few alternative, eco-friendly options to the standard "go-to" wedding registry sites.

Don't get me wrong... I'm a sucker for Crate and Barrel and Williams-Sonoma too and will most likely include one of them in the registry list.  But I also want to search out some lesser-known, "smaller fish" companies that are committed to sustainable, recycled, and fair-trade products.

The following is the start of my non-narrowed-down registry list... most likely with more to come.

Ten Thousand Villages:
A website that encourages fair-trade with artisans across the globe.  Not only can you find eco-friendly products, you can also furnish your home with a bamboo vase from Vietnam or a recycled water glass pitcher from Bolivia.

Viva Terra:
Translation: "Living Earth."
This company is the essence of eco practices and eco products.  They have a sizeable selection of bed, bath, dining, and decor furnishings.  Even if you don't use it as a registry, you at least have to check out their doormat made out of discarded tape-measurers:

Tape Measure Mat by Viva Terra

Or recycled flip-flops:

Flip Flop Door Mat by Viva Terra

Also, an easy go-to-resource for all things wedding and green:

The Registry on the Green Bride Guide

I highly recommend the book too: The Green Bride Guide   
Add it to your registry for an early shower gift!

And finally, there's Gaiam.

I remembered Gaiam moreso for yoga products and just now discovered their eco-home department.  Just click on their "Eco Home + Outdoor" tab and register-away!  Plus, they're currently having an 80% off annual sale.  :-)

An eco place to lay your head... and your rings.

The registry search has begun!

One of the first items on our Eco-home-furnishing-hunt:
Comfy pillows that make you feel like you're sleeping on a cloud...

It is not a matter to be dealt with lightly.

Since we are of the Eco mindset, organic cotton sheets and pillows have certainly become a consideration.  But did you know bamboo is used to make pillows too??

As you can tell, I certainly did not and am pleased to have discovered them.

Bamboo is a fantastic material because it is...

1. Biodegradable.  
2. Antibacterial & Antifungal.
3. Well-air-ventilated.
4. Moisture-repellent (4x more than cotton).
5. A heat-trapper or heat-reducer (depending on the season).

Here are a few bamboo pillows for both your and the Earth's comfort:


1. Parker & Morgan Bamboo Pillows
These are currently on sale too!  $58 vs. $98. 
Always a bonus.

Natori Ogee

2. Natori Ogee
For those with Macy's registries, here's your bamboo option.  A blend of bamboo and cotton, they are vibrant and decorative.



3. Bamboo Fibers from Tripact

A combo of bamboo and cotton.

Earth Therapeutics

4. Earth Therapeutics
25% discount for their bamboo pillow set!





Also, in my pillow search, I also spotted a bamboo ring pillow for the ring bearer!

The Wilton Bamboo Ring Pillow can be found on the Knot or Wedding Channel websites, as well as at Jo Ann Fabrics.

Wilton Bamboo Fabric Ring Pillow

Your Wedding Party Will Flip for these Eco Flops

I don't know about you, but shoes can sometimes be the deciding factor whether my memories of an event are amazing... or painful.

If my feet are hurting, that's probably what I'll remember most.

A bridal guide suggestion is to provide the wedding party ladies with flip-flops so they can ditch the heels if they wish.  With the end of summer, I thought it might be a good time to search for flip-flops since there may be a discount or two to take advantage of.

Here are a few biodegradable flip flops that are made from recycled materials, offer a variety of colors, and are really cute too!

The first is a "Groupon" offer.  If you're not familiar with Groupon, it will send "daily deals" in your area, so you can get approximately 50% off products, dining, and entertainment.  Here's the link for this flip-flop Groupon deal: $12 for eco-friendly FeelGoodz sandals (the original price is $30).

Another eco-friendly sandal is called "Flippee."  You can find these on the Simple Store website.  It is biodegradable, made of recycled materials, vegan (meaning no animal products were used in the process), and even comes in a biodegradable bag!

For a flop that's a bit less flashy, there are Recycled Sole Seeker Black Flip Flops from Soul's Calling.  I do like the stars and circles that outline your toes on these shoes.

And let's not forget the guys too!  Especially if you're doing a destination wedding, here is a recycled sandal from Ripcurl as part of their "Project Resurrection." They're only $13 too!  Or Soul's Calling also has the same black flip flop for guys (see above).

Planting a Tree in Your Honor.

Whenever I think of "wedding favors" I think of that chalky pastel colored candy in a white mesh bag tied with plastic bells.

I would always try one, thinking maybe I'd like it at this wedding.

It always got tossed as soon as I got home. 
(In the compost, that is.)

So, it got me thinking about what kind of favor would be better for the planet... and more appreciated by guests. 

Two years ago, I went to a wedding where they made a charitable contribution in lieu of favors.  I thought that was a great idea.  And then with this "tree centerpiece" blog last week, I thought, "Hey,  why not give guests a tree they can plant which would offset their carbon emissions too!"

But with a lot of guests from out of town, do they really want to pack a tree in their bags?  Probably not.  Furthermore, trees are specific to certain regions.  Do we get a different tree for my cousin who lives in Alaska and then another one for my grandparents in Florida?

Now I'm just creating unnecessary stress.  And all brides know that if you can avoid extra stress, do all you can to keep it that way.

Instead, the Arbor Day Foundation is going to help out.

For a dollar each, the Arbor Day Foundation's "Trees in Celebration" program will plant trees in one of our national forests to commemorate any special occasion.  Even better, you can have that tree dedicated "in honor of" each guest.  The Arbor Day Foundation provides certificates which are printed on recycled paper from sustainable sources.

My friend Stefanie had another great idea:  put the certificate at each table setting in lieu of placards.

I think we have a favor-winner!


And P.S., as a dentist's daughter, did you really think I was going to give out candy?  :-)

Trees for your Centerpiece

Oh, to sit in the shade of a tree on a sweltering summer day...

There’s something so tranquil, so comforting.

In the words of that Kaiser-Permanente commercial (the one advocating electronic files to save more trees): “I will never see an 80-page document that’s more beautiful than a tree.”

Or in the words of one of my students:  “Homework kills trees!”

No, I’m not trying to prevent homework from being assigned, but the argument does stand.  We need to take care of our trees and maintain their necessary presence in our communities.

Here are some fun tree facts
(thanks to http://www.treesaregood.org/):

• 
  
  Trees are the longest living organisms on earth.

• 
  
  In one year, an acre of trees can absorb as much carbon as is produced by a car driven up to 8700 miles.

• Trees provide shade and shelter, reducing yearly heating and cooling costs by 2.1 billion dollars.

• Trees improve water quality by slowing and filtering rain water as well as protecting aquifers and watersheds.

To show our love for trees, one thing we are considering is using them as our centerpieces.

Duranta trees (or shrubs) are whispy and elegant, with clusters of lavendar colored flowers.

Some other trees that could make great centerpieces include:

Olive trees

The trees of peace.

Olive Tree

Manzanita trees—great for fall weddings since the bark has a reddish hue to it.

Manzanita Tree

Fruit trees- from apple to lemon to cherry to Jaboticaba... pick a fruit that your wedding’s location is known for!

Jaboticaba Fruit Tree Plant

Or even try “ivy trees”.

Ivy Topiaries

And don’t forget to attach a “How to Care for this Tree” instruction card on the base of the plant.  To ensure the tree will grow well in the climate it is being taken to (in case any roadtripping guests want to take one home), find out at: Fast Growing Trees, and click on “Will my tree grow in this area?”