One Concert That Led to Five Eco-Friendly Confetti Picks

The Rihanna concert last night was in one word... AMAZING.  Not only was it thrilling, entertaining, and boldly visual, Eminem even made an appearance.

Rihanna Concert, with guest appearance by Eminem

Ok, ok... you got me.  I really wanted an excuse to mention I was at that concert (thanks to two of my students as an end-of-year gift... best teacher gift ever!!).

But I actually do have a way to relate it to a wedding.
Let’s talk about the finale.

The finale needs to have a little something extra, right?  Commemorating the end of such a huge event, people are expecting a little more pizzazz.

The concert ended with fountains of red confetti shooting into the air.  And by fountains, I mean tons and tons of little red paper pieces (which I hope were eco-friendly).

Now, with your finale, should you choose to have guests sprinkle you with more than just their well-wishes, here are a few eco-friendly ideas that pack all of the ‘party’ with none of the waste.

The Top 5 (in no particular order):

1. Vanishing paper.  Oh, what has Martha Stewart not thought of?  This confetti is biodegradable and disintegrates once it is wet.  They come in a variety of shapes and colors, including hearts. (Insert the "awww!" here).

 
2. Beau coup’s eco-friendly confetti.  Comes in pastel colors.  5-6 cups per bag and each bag is $11.95.

3. Ecofetti®: also water soluble and biodegradable.  The plus with this company (Ecoparti.com) is that the confetti can be pre-packaged for the guests, saving you a bit more time.  You can also request samples to be sent to you before committing to a full order.

4. Dried Lavender Buds.  Lavender represents “devotion.”  Its fragrance is beautiful, forever reminding you of your special day.  You can find organic, USA grown lavender buds in bulk at www.localharvest.org

Local Harvest's Lavender buds

5. Plantable Confetti.  In the shapes of flowers or hearts, this confetti will bloom into wildflowers once it is planted.  Just make sure whoever is in charge of cleaning it up knows not to toss it away!

"The Favors Place" Plantable Confetti~ Green 5 Petal

Pink 5 Petal Plantable Confetti

Editor's note: you may be questioning why two of the most obvious eco-friendly confetti choices-- birdseed and rice-- did not make the list.

While they are both very eco-friendly (and if you have your heart set on them, please don't allow the above list deter you) please be aware that you run a bit of a risk... namely, getting ambushed in the face.

Also, ask yourself how much you'd like to risk the chance of a bird swooping down for the seed, narrowly missing your face, and dropping a load on your veil.

I rest my confetti case.

An "All-American" Bride

When the recession began to take its toll, many American consumers realized their money was better spent supporting their own country's businesses.

You may have to pay more for it.  Companies that go overseas typically want to cut costs, namely, enlisting cheaper labor.

Getting the "Made in America" seal of approval ensures products have not been manufactured in child-labor sweat shops. And, it's a greener choice too, with stricter environmental standards that are imposed and enforced by the EPA.

As you consider your wedding gown, buy American.  Thankfully, you have lots of options.  A number of top designers have stuck to American soil:

• Vera Bradley
• Lazaro & Jim Hjelm
• Carolina Herrera
• Oscar de la Renta
• Judd Waddell
• Amy Michelson
• Nicole Miller

For more All-American gowns, check out The Knot's Guide to Americana Weddings.

And while I am all for donning red-white-and-blue with pride, I would have a hard time pulling this one off....


But I salute you, American bride!

You Should Really Mind Your Own Beeswax...Candles...

The next time you want to set the mood, consider purifying the air too.

(A major thanks to Libuse Binder, author of Ten Ways to Change the World in Your Twenties, for this tip!)

While candles may be considered "green" from an energy-conservation standpoint, the majority are made with paraffin which is a petroleum-based ingredient.  When paraffin burns, it pollutes the air.

An excellent alternative to creating the soothing candlelit ambiance so many enjoy (for your wedding reception especially) is beeswax candles.

Unlike paraffin, beeswax actually purifies the air as it burns, releasing negative ions (as rainstorms and seashores do).  They also eliminate allergens in the air too and have a longer burn time than conventional candles (another plus for your wedding reception!).

In addition, beeswax is a renewable resource, utilizing the goods of local beekeeping farms, and the wicks are made from organic cotton.

For more on these products, visit Big Dipper Wax Works to see their lovely collection of handcrafted, eco-friendly candles and products.

And for your other celebrations, they even have citronella bug repelling candles and birthday candles!