Feature Wedding: Gina & Linton

I found Gina and Linton's wedding over on Brenda's Wedding Blog. Their wedding was Green, completely unique, and filled with loads of details. Sasha over at RSVP Event Planning did such an amazing job putting everything together! But what I really think stole the show with this wedding is the heartfelt contributions by the couple's loved ones. Oh wait, I'm getting ahead of myself again. Let's start at the beginning, with some lovely pictures from this eco-wedding.

The bride wore a gorgeous wedding dress that fit her to a tee. It went along perfectly with the simple, beautiful setting for the big day. Now like I said, this wedding was loaded with details. Not just your average details though, these ones were full of love from the guests! First example is below..the bride's bouquet. Those gorgeous flowers were lovingly arranged by one of the guests! I was super impressed.


The guests were transported from the hotel where they were all staying at to the ceremony by bus. Talk about saving the environment! All those people taking a school bus instead of taking separate cars was eco-savvy and original. They also took the bus to the reception and it transported them all safely back to their hotels afterward. A smart alternative to having guests worry about getting back to their hotel room after a few drinks. Something to think about!

Oh Martha

Try as I might, I can't help but fall in love with all things Martha Stewart. I tried, really I did. I hate getting caught up in anything "hype", and let's be real, when it comes to baking, cooking, party planning...Martha IS hype. But alas, I've realized she's hype because she's amazing and brilliant and everything she touches turns fabulous. Sigh. I've given in to hype. First step is admitting it right? So now, I'm embracing it. I've even heavily considering doing an entire month of just MS elements for a wedding. Yes it's bad. I'm addicted.

So what does this have to do with Eco-Wedding Month? I was dying for you to ask!! This morning I was going through some of her "Good Stuff" section and came across something that caught my eye...frozen vodka! Check this out, not only is it something you can do yourself, but it also is dual purpose! Frozen vodka, when doing a wedding somewhere that allows you to provide your own alcohol is super green & very budget-friendly.
Let's review why :)

1-Buying your own alcohol is way less expensive than having to get it through a caterer.
2-You can buy it in bulk which certainly cuts down costs, or go to Sam's Club/Costco etc, where prices are seriously slashed.
3-Frozen Vodka isn't just yummy, it will act as a decoration too!
4-You're recycling a milk carton for each frozen vodka you make.
5-Use fruits from local farmers! Not only helps the environment by cutting down on fuel use, you're also supporting your community.



Now, let's make some frozen vodka!
Get a full bottle of your favorita vodka, and place it into an open cardboard half-gallon milk carton (or orange juice, or whatever!) Thinly slice fruits (they used lemons and limes in Martha's example) and place them around the bottle, filling a third of the carton. Next, pour water till it is covering the fruits. Place it in the freezer (in the upright position)and once it is completely frozen add more slices of fruit and water (another third) and freeze. Once it's completely frozen..well just repeat the same steps, till the water reaches the neck of the bottle. Doing it this way, instead of all at once, prevents the fruit from all just floating to the top. Keep it frozen until it's time to set up the bar. Then all you have to do is cut the milk carton off with a utility knife and wrap the base with a matching napkin!

Wedding Gowns Go Green

Ahh yes, the wedding dress, one of my favorite parts of a wedding. Every bride wants to feel like a goddess on their day and now you don't have to sacrifice the environment to do it! I found some absolutely to die for eco-bridal gowns! All of these designers use sustainable materials, so no excess harm to the planet. On top of that, a few even donate portions of their profits to environmental causes. One has designed dresses that are convertible! Annatarian makes custom dresses that they make out of previously used materials, and can even create your dress out of your mom's old wedding gown. Talk about not only eco-friendly, but super sentimental! The designers I picked are not only earth-conscience, they all go the extra mile.






Natural Bridals

Leanne Marshall..of Project Runway!






Jessica Iverson...She also has a complete Maternity Bridal line!!


Deborah Lindquist

Anntarian (Custom made wedding gowns!)



Adele Wechsler

Community Based Wedding

For those of you that are green to going green like me,you were probably scratching your head when I brought up "community based weddings". Over the past few years they have become more and more popular not only among brides going green, but also with brides on a budget. So what's so appealing about a community wedding? Let's review with some quick facts...Consider this your Community Based Weddings Cheat Sheet:

Community based weddings are also know as...Potluck Weddings...or D.I.Y Weddings

Where are they usually held? Typically a community wedding takes place at a family home.

Who caters? You do!(Kinda) Guests are asked to bring one of their famous dishes instead of a gift. Think about the yummy smorgasbord of food you'll have!

What makes it a "community" wedding exactly? The idea of a community based wedding is really super special. For most people it is about having an intimate affair that really focuses on the two families coming together and celebrating.

So when you say D.I.Y. does that mean I have to make everything?!.. No way! For guests who aren't fabulous in the cooking department (like me) they can contribute in other ways. Some people might be really artsy craftsy and will make your centerpieces or programs for your ceremony etc.

What about guests coming from out of town? From what I've seen it isn't customary to ask them to cook (that would be a bit much!) Often times they'll help set up or maybe provide the music for your reception.

How does a community based wedding tie in with going green? Oh there's soo many ways! I'll break down some really fabulous ideas I've seen while wedding stalking...

-You'll be saving the environment from the traveling the caterers will have to do.
-You more than likely won't have food wasted because guests won't cook as large of portions as caterers usually do.
-Ask you guests to cook their dishes with local ingredients! (Not always an option you have with caterers)
-Have guests bring drinks their family or group of friends like. Again, end up with far less waste.
-With the wonder of the internet in all it's glory, you can get a family member or close friend to become an officiant and marry you! Saving again on transportation for a clergy member, plus one less person to provide favors/food/seating etc for.
-Have guests bring potted plants from their homes to your wedding to provide decor! Cuts out on buying flowers that may have been treated with chemicals or transported from a different country.
-Instead of going out and getting disposable flatware,cups etc for the reception, have a few guests bring their nice dinnerware (most people have a set for 6-8 ppl, if you get 10 ppl to bring theirs you now have enough for 10 tables of 6-8 guests!)It will certainly bring in the elements of community and reusing is definitely a plus!
-Have a bake off! One wedding I came across had the mother of the bride, mother of the groom, and the grandmothers from both sides each bake a cake or pie. It was a great way for the women to contribute to the big day plus share a yummy recipe from their family!
-Ditch the disposable cameras at each table and instead put a few of your photography savvy friends in charge of taking shots with their digital cameras. Disposable cameras are all waste to our environment. Remember, it's about resuing, not disposing!

Eco-Love List

After clocking an absurd amount of hours trying to learn about being more eco-friendly and planning Green events, I've found tons of website ya'll need to have. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not a "tree-hugger", I'm completely guilty of leaving my fan on at night while sleeping under my warm comforter, but my eyes are being opened. Each of these websites listed here aren't just full of crucial info, they are inspiring and full of creativity.

So here it is,without further rambling from me, the Official Epically Eco-Love List. Check them all out, added them to your favorites,forward them to your friends..they're that darn good.


Epically Eco-Love List
The Green Girls They have tons of green tips on everything from makeup to business to recipes. Plus relationship advice and celebrity goodies.

Deals Go Green What's better than a site that is full of awesome deals that save our planet as well as your wallets?!

Eco-Beautiful Weddings I almost feel like the name of the blog says it all..but then I'd be totally understating what they have to offer. This blog is like my Go Green Bible. There's no end to the eco-creativity. Love them!

Recycled Bride An entire website dedicated to recycling wedding items. It's a free marketplace set up so brides and brides-to-be can take advantage of left over decorations and recycled wedding dresses. Seriously, check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Green Your DecorJennae Petersen, the founder of GYD, is truly a woman after my own heart. She admits that she is no "Green giant" but has really tackled the world of eco-decor!

Epic Couple of the Month

There are so many people out there getting married, so many amazing couples. So I've decided to showcase some of those couples. Every month I will make a post featuring a couple that I think meets Epic standards.

Epic Couple of the Month


This month that couple reigns from the west coast..Spokane, Washington! Very far from the Jersey Shore but with May being Eco-Event month here at Epic Events & Designs, they really exemplify what it's all about.



Pete and Andrea started off on the right foot with Mother Earth when planning their special day,they're having a *community-based wedding. The decorations will be all DIY, they're having activities, homemade beer, etc. But wait, they took it even a step further...prepare yourself..they're paying for their wedding with aluminum cans! Yep that's right they are taking cans, bringing them to recycling centers, and using that money for their wedding. Talk about going above and beyond for our planet! They've completely blown my mind. Inspiration of epic proportions in my opinion.

They plan on getting married July 31st, just 7 months after coming up with their "mission" to recycle 400,000 aluminum cans. For the record, that's 5 tons of aluminum!! So far they're reached 86% of their goal. Not an easy job!

Read more about their story . They really are so inspirational! And of course if you live in the Spokane area help the cause..Pete & Andrea will pick up your recyclables! And for those of you who live no where near there, hopefully you live somewhere that allows you to do something similar to this. I know in places like New Jersey 400,000 recycled cans probably won't pay for your whole wedding, but it could probably cover some of your costs! Put on your thinking caps readers, try to come up with other ways to recycle and fund your wedding.







*For those of you like me who are scratching your head wondering what the heck a community-based wedding is, I'm making a post tomorrow to shed some light on it :)

Minted=Eco Invite Love

So I've been searching high and low for eco-friendly wedding invitations. I'll be honest with ya'll, it's not an easy task! There are a few companies out there that make invitations out of everything from recycled paper to elephant dung. Maybe I'm just too conservative but elephant dung invites didn't exactly scream "Epic" to me. But no worries, I found a company that I fell in love with. Their invitations are definitely Mother Nature friendly and completely Epic. Let me introduce to you...Minted . Their selection of invitations are nothing short of amazing! They have something for everyone's style. Here's just a few examples...






One of my favorite things about Minted is that they use independent brands, they give the up & comers a chance. I'm all about indie vendors, they always seems to put more into their work, they have extra heart...what's not to love?!

Now not only does Minted offer a whole slew of fabulous & original invitations, they can also do your save-the-dates, menus, place cards, programs, thank you cards, and a bunch of accessories. They seriously have you covered!

Seaglass IB

This IB (inspiration board) was inspired by the upper level of Avenue in Long Branch..the bottom right hand picture. With summer weddings coming up, blue and white are always cool,beachy colors. But I love adding green into the mix. Picking simple shades that you can find in *nature*..like seaglass.. make for a great starting color palette for your wedding inspiration.

When it comes to summer night weddings turn things up a notch and try out a lounge or high end nightclub venue. Set the mood with tons of candles in blues and greens to give a night time feel to your beachy theme. And going with our Go Green theme of the month, decorating with seaglass from your local beach or seashells as a spin on seating cards will keep your wedding eco-chic!

Venue Alert: Avenue @ Long Branch.NJ

I completely fell in love with Avenue in Long Branch,NJ! If you aren't all about a big traditional wedding, and are more for the posh, trendy affair, Avenue is definitely the place for you.

From an event planner's standpoint, this place just screams "customize me now!". And I'm a total sucker for creating one of a kind events..of Epic proportion ;) The outside is light up and intriguing but the upper level is what won me over....

And if I could get blogspot to cooperate I would post up all the fabulous pictures of their versatile venue..but it's not working with me sooo we'll have to save that for another time :( Maybe it's a sign that I should step away from Wedding Crack for today.. Sigh..

Promise, tons of IBs tomorrow & another Go Green wedding article for your event planning delight!

Green Venues

He asked, you said "Yes"..now it's time to pick the venue. As we all know, when it comes to weddings, it's all about location, location, location! And when you decide to have a Green wedding, picking your venue is crucial. Picking a place that cares about the planet as much as you & your fiance do. What's the point of trying to be eco-friendly when your venue is using all disposable decor or wasting tons of electricity? Not really the message you want to convey right?

Here's a few things to take into consideration:

Cut down your guest list- Yes it may sound terrible, but is it really necessary to invite your mom's co-worker's neighbor that you met one time a decade ago? By cutting back on your guest list you can cut out all the extras for that person (like the extra chair covers, favors, meals that often get wasted..etc). You'd be surprised how much those few extra people can impact the environment on your special day.


Pick a venue close to the majority of your guests- If you live in New Jersey and 90% of your guests live in Pennsylvania, why not consider a location there instead? Think about how much fuel stress you'll put on the planet by having the majority of your guests drive a longer distance to you, instead of 10% of you driving to them. Besides, it could be nice to give yourself a nice long weekend in an out of town location..consider it your pre-honeymoon!


Pass on destination weddings- Sure it sounds great getting married on the beach in Hawaii.. but think about how much damage you'd be doing to good ole Mother Earth. Flying yourself, your fiance, and your guests to your location...tons of fuel being used there. Then throw on top of that the rental cars people will need to get around and everything else. Differently not Earth friendly at all.

Go outside- Outdoor weddings are definitely "in" right now, so embrace it! Getting married in a field has a certain romantic simplicity to it. Saying your vows on the beach may be a dream come true for many couples. The park you two first met at may be the perfect place for you to start your lives together. There are tons of options!! If you want to be super Green, look into getting married at botanical gardens...and outdoor wedding, already decorated by nature!

But what if it rains...-That's why event extraordinaires came up with tents! But for those of you who are getting married in the fall or winters, when the weather might just be too darn cold to have an outdoor wedding, there are still plenty of options. (This is why I love Green weddings..creativity!) Have your wedding at an aquarium, it'll definitely be the talk of the town! If you love art, why not have it at a museum? Looking for something a little less formal but still posh? Look into local historic buildings. My all time favorite has to be the Liberty Science Center (Yes, I'm a total nerd at heart). Talk about thinking outside of the box!!


"We're more of a hotel kinda couple"- If you're anything like my family, pretty much every wedding you've ever been to has been in a hotel. Having your reception in a hotel has the bonus of not having to drive anywhere for your wedding night. Plus, for those of you whose guest loveeee the open bar and plan to partaaaay, they can safely walk themselves to their rooms after the reception is over. Eliminating DWI possibilities is always a plus for everyone! Hotels don't limit your chance to be Earth-friendly. In fact, there are tons of Green hotels out there (they belong to an association and everything!) Take the time to investigate and I'm sure you'll be able to find some amazing hotels that have low impacts on the environment.

Two for one- Have your ceremony and reception at the same place! It obviously cuts back on the traveling from place to place.

Picnic I.B.

Going with the Go Green theme for this month, here's the 1st Earth friendly I.B. to go along with it! It all started with this fabulous invitation that I found on Shindig Invites where they make their invitations of out recycled and biodegradable materials. Double points for one of a kind designs AND showing Mother Earth some extra love!!

When planning a "Green" wedding you can really limit your carbon footprint by getting your hands dirty and taking on some DIY projects. Centerpieces can easily be made from old paint tins, just jazz them up with your monogram or some recycled scrap fabric!

You can make jars of jam or honey as wedding favors. Seriously, who doesn't love edible goodies? Plus jazzing up the jars with some sweet labels from Miss Pickles Press..sure to have your guests talking for months to come!

Go Green events

Ok I'll be the first to admit, I'm not Little Miss Eco-Friendly. I drive my car instead of walking (although my Corolla get fabulous gas mileage), I keep my laptop plugged in way more than I should, and I leave most of my lights on when I'm home alone (yes, I'm scared of the dark still). BUT, to be honest, this whole Go Green movement really inspires me. I love seeing people take old things and make them new again, or find other purposes for used items. Today I saw an article about this stellar company Uhuru who was featured in the NY Post for their new furniture line that the made out of wood that once made up the Coney Island boardwalk! I'm completely in awe of their creativity! They inspired me to look into "Green Weddings" :)

I'm going to do 2 posts a week about how to plan the ultimate Eco-Friendly Event!! Everything from invitations to honeymoons and all the little parts in between.

Epic Beginnings

Epic Events & Designs has been a long time coming. I've toyed with the idea of making Event Planning my life over the past 5 years of planning surprise bridal showers, making inspiration boards for weddings, and everything in between. Finally a switch went off, my love for all the little details that make an event epic was really my calling! And so Epic Events & Designs was born.