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!

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!

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.