Wedding Ideas and Inspiration Blog

Eco-Friendly Wedding Dresses from Green Bride Guide

guest blogger — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:18:41 +0000

When purchasing your wedding gown it is important to be mindful of petroleum- based synthetic fibers, such as nylon, polyester, and acrylic. There many other beautiful materials out there to consider that are eco-friendly and free of chemicals. Many people will even consider wearing a gown that has been in the family for years or a vintage style gown. Organic cotton, hemp, and other natural fibers are a great way to be eco-friendly in your green inspired wedding. These eco-chic designs below are all-natural and sustainable without sacrificing style!

An outdoor summer wedding is a perfect time to show off a beautiful dress. This organic cotton tie shoulder dress is a very light and simple gown. It is important to make sure that the dress you are looking to purchase is organic cotton rather than non-organic cotton. Non-organic cotton is not the greenest choice, considering 10% of the world’s pesticides are used to grow it. This dress is 100% organic cotton and made out of a fabric similar to satin. It is also available in natural or white.

The Rita gown is a unique style because it is a short bustier dress. It is made out of eco-friendly beaded wool and hemp/silk organza. Hemp is a renewable material made from the cannabis plant. Cannabis is naturally pest-resistant which means it can easily be grown without pesticides. Each dress is hand made from the highest quality sustainable, recycled and vintage fabrics.

The Rose gown is another unique take on a wedding gown. The gown is actually a full skirt that comes with a bustier. The blush pink peplum bustier has intricate pearl beading and a vintage brooch. Each dress is hand made to order and made from the highest quality and recycled, vintage products.

The organic cotton gathered gown is perfect for an outdoor wedding. This simple dress gathers at the waist and neck and is available in natural or white. Many women prefer to wear cotton gowns over anything else because cotton is light and breathable material, perfect for a hot day. This designer uses 100% organic cotton fabrics and low-impact fiber reactive dyes to create their gowns.

For more eco-chic wedding dresses, visit our Wedding Shop!

About the author:

GBG’s CEO, Kate L. Harrison, has a JD in Environmental Law and a Master’s from Yale in Environmental Policy. She planned her own green wedding in 2007 and wrote the best selling green wedding book The Green Bride Guide: How to Plan an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget. In 2009, she founded www.greenbrideguide.com to help couples use their weddings to promote social and environmental change while supporting the local green economy.

Group Wedding Planning: Good Idea or Recipe for Disaster?

Anne L — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:00:50 +0000

When you pictured yourself planning your wedding, my guess is it was just that – you decision-making merrily along, envisioning bunting and tulle with maybe the help of a wedding planner and probably the help of your fiancé and definitely your mom in the picture somewhere.

Because planning a wedding typically falls on the bride’s shoulders. And I think most of us are okay with that, right ladies? However, there are times and situations which call for something that looks just a little bit different – a willing break with tradition. And honestly, today, I want to know what you think: is it possible to group plan a wedding?

For example, can the bride take on the task of the dessert table while the father-in-law tracks down the tent and the groom looks at caterers, while the bride’s mother arranges the centerpieces and her sister-in-law calls all the DJs in the area? Can you truly assign a different task to everyone who is willing to make phone calls and help put together vendor contracts…or do I sound like what I’m actually describing is a dragon with at least 12 heads?

I’m torn myself, you see. Part of me thinks that this is the best idea ever. The bride can explain her vision, make sure that the family (or friends) all understand what she’s looking for, and then we all put our hands in the middle, yell “One, two, three, break!” and the wedding is planned in mere days. Okay, maybe a week or two. It’s collaboration at its finest. You, as the bride, can let all the people who truly want to help and support you do exactly that, and the pressure of making all the specific, tiny decisions is lifted from your back.

But what if your mom, who you know prefers the floor-length bridesmaid dress with the sweetheart neckline to the knee-length bridesmaid dress you wanted, puts in the wrong order when she’s helping the bridesmaids? Or your fiancé forgets that your grandmother hates tomatoes and allows the caterer talk him into putting pico de gallo on everything? Or…

Anyway, what do you think? Would you rather plan the wedding by yourself, with the help of one or two of your best? Or does this group effort sound like a fantastic idea – you get to essentially direct traffic while your wedding planning minions gather information and pull the pieces together? Are there enough Excel spreadsheets in the world to make this work or is it a real honest-to-goodness disaster-waiting-to-happen?

Photo Credit: Simply Bloom Photography

Recipe of the Week: Caramel Freezer Pie

Sarah — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:00:18 +0000

We are so excited to be partnering with AllRecipes with a new recipe each week! Check back each Friday afternoon to discover something delicious that you can make over the weekend.

Caramel Drizzle Freezer Pie

Ingredients:

2 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crusts
6 tablespoons butter
1 (7 ounce) package shredded coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 (16 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
- 1 (12 ounce) jar caramel ice cream topping

Directions:

Place butter in a medium skillet and melt over medium heat. Add coconut and pecans, stirring to coat. Saute until coconut and pecans are lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whip together condensed milk and cream cheese until fluffy. Fold in whipped topping. Spoon 1/4 of cream cheese mixture into each graham cracker crust. Drizzle each with 1/4 of caramel topping. Repeat layers with remaining cream cheese mixture and caramel. Top each pie with coconut and pecan mixture. Freeze overnight.

To find more amazing recipes, check out AllRecipes. Have a great weekend!

A Glamorous Great Gatsby Inspiration Shoot

Sarah — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:31 +0000

I know that the new Gatsby came out last weekend, but I wasn’t able to go and see it. So, I am very much looking forward to catching it on Sunday. Here is a stunning Gatsby-inspired shoot at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. It’s just lovely! All of these details would be great at a 1920s wedding, but you could also just use one or two ideas to incorporate a little glam into your event. Thank you to Rebecca Marie Photography for sharing!

Vendors:

The Boardmoor (venue): http://www.broadmoor.com/

Sapphire Celebrations: http://www.sapphirecelebrations.com/

Mark’s Diamonds: http://www.marksdiamonds.com/

A Design Recourse: http://www.adesignresourceco.com/

DDG Limousines: http://www.ddgclassics.com/

Azucar Bakery: http://www.azucarbakery.com/

Marks-Lloyds: http://www.mlfurs.com/

Little White Dress: http://www.lwdbridal.com/

Becca and Andrew’s Retro Engagment Session by 1985LukePhotography

Sarah — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:00:43 +0000

Becca and Andrew collected a bunch of vintage items from flea markets and estate sales to create a unique engagement session with 1985Luke Photography. From casual camping to a glam road trip, this session is full of retro fun! Becca found her awesome dresses at Moon Zooom in San Jose, which proves that scouring through vintage stores can pay off!

Etsy Round-Up: Table Numbers

Sarah — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:00:13 +0000

Looking for those final details before the big day? Here is a selection of table numbers from Etsy that is sure to delight you.

Vendors (top to bottom):

StartingWithTableNumbers

Delicious Slice of Pie Wedding Favors from Chelsea at Frolic

chelsea — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:00:53 +0000

Piece of Pie Favors

These charming favors are perfect for a small wedding or a bridal shower. Total cost is a little under $1 not including the pie.

Supplies:

pie kits from Petit Moulin Etsy Shop (includes boxes, parchment, twine and forks!)

parchement paper

double stick tape

yummy pie (we used strawberry rhubarb)

white pen to add names (optional)

Steps:

1. Write the name of each guest on the box while it’s still flat.

2.Crease the cardboard boxes and secure with double sided tape.

3. Cut a piece of parchment to fit the box and place it inside.

4. Cut a piece of pie to fit inside the box.

5. Cut a smaller piece of parchment to fit over the top and to overlap the other parchment on the sides.

6. Tie up with twine and tie a fork on top.

7. Display on a pretty farm table or rustic tablecloth!

Tips/Mistakes:

It’s easy to let the filling smudge the sides, so be extra careful when placing the pie in the box!

Buy it:

Any of the caterers in the mywedding.com directory can help you!

Letterpress Invites from Minted

Sarah — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:05:55 +0000

We were all so excited to see Minted launch their first letterpress invitation collection! Now, we don’t have to sacrifice the style of Minted’s designs in order to have the vintage feel of a letterpress invite (confession: the one above is my very favorite)! These new invitations are gorgeous, the lettering crisp and deep. And you can have them personalized in with different font and paper options giving you an utterly unique way to share your impending nuptials with your guests.

Minted’s customer service, The Minted Perfection Team, lives up to their name. They make sure your invitation order is exactly what you want. And perfection just got better with their new online sharing tool. Now you can work live with a one-on-one with your designer, showing them any changes you want to make along the way.

The best part of all? Minted is giving away three gift cards for their wedding collection. One reader will win $250, and two others will receive a $100 card. See all of Minted’s beautiful designs and enter to win here.

Hannah and Geoffrey’s Seaside Engagement Session by Aislinn Kate Photography

Sarah — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:41:07 +0000

This cute couple met while swimming for Delta State University, and wanted to show off their love of water in their engagement session with Aislinn Kate Photography. After walking around Pensacola, they hit the beach and eventually couldn’t resist jumping in the Gulf!

Menu Suggestions for a Backyard Wedding

Sarah — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:55:02 +0000

Having a backyard wedding? If you are keeping it casual, you probably want to avoid the froufrou foods with a menu that makes sense for your locale. Here are some fun menu suggestions to make your simple affair memorable and tasty.

Southern Dinner

From cornbread to ribs, soul food is a great way to serve a BBQ style dinner without having to stick to hot dogs and hamburgers. Plus, all the side dishes like macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and fried okra are easily served buffet style.

Mediterranean Feast

Serve antipasto platters of meats, cheeses, and olives. Big hunks of bread served alongside hummus and dips, Italian pasta salads, and roasted peppers complete the meal. Because all of these foods are served cold, this is a refreshing option for a hot summer day.

State Fair

All those fried foods and decadent (and very carb-loaded) desserts? Yeah, we know that the real reason one goes to the fair is less about the rides and more about the midway treats. Give your guests a carnival experience with corndogs, cotton candy, caramel apples, and loads of popcorn.

English Countryside

Want something more refined? Use high tea as a guide and serve tea sandwiches, scones, and tiny quiches. This idea is especially cute when your seating resembles an upscale picnic.

Salmon Bake

Are you and your honey all about camping and fishing? Why not welcome your friends and family with cold beers, yummy salmon, grilled asparagus, and soft rolls? This rustic meal would easily complement an equally laidback wedding.

Photo Credit: June Lion