There’s nothing I don’t like about this idea: place cards on cookies (I am an admitted cookieholic, though). Not only does it take more paper out of the wedding stream, it doubles as a delicious wedding favour. And, with the right bakery, they can be nut-free, gluten-free, organic, or adapted to any need you may have.
(Place card cookies from Sweet Impressions)
Edible place cards can be made out of different foods, including chocolates, candies, cookies, mints and so on. Forgo the wrapping, or use an eco-friendly wrapping for the placecard/favour.
Sweet Impressions is a Winnipeg, Canada, based bakery baking organic cookies; they also offer vegan options. They wrap their baking in biodegradable cellophane and ribbons and they will soon be operating out of a peanut-free facility.
Hmm… stomach’s rumbling… wonder if there are any cookies in the house…
If you’re planning a wedding web site or thinking about blogging about the wedding preparations, check out MomentVille (www.momentville.com). You can create a personal site (choose your own theme), and there are a ton of features, including RSVPs, guestbooks, blogs, photo albums, maps, polls and much more. You’ll like it because it’s free (there’s also a premium level), at BluePlanetWedding.com we like it because it’s carbon-neutral - they pay carbon offests through Tickgreen (www.tickgreen.com).
There’s always a ton of information you need to get out to guests - times, menus, maps, hotels, etc. You can send a thick invitation/information packet, or send an email directing people to a web site. Guess which one is greener? People also love seeing the “behind the scenes” planning - keep them informed by blogging about the plans and ideas.
And if you have a wedding web site or wedding blog, and you have an eco-friendly or ethical side to your wedding, let me know and I’ll link to your site!
Many thanks to the blog readers for putting me onto the work of jewelry designer Todd Reed.
Todd’s designs use ethically sourced diamonds and recycled gold, but his use of raw diamonds sets these rings apart.
Ring using cut and polished diamonds and raw diamond cubes. Courtesy of Todd Reed.
Before diamonds are cut and polished, they arrive in a rough shapes, including cubes and octohedrons. These rough diamonds capture the idea of nature and earth as the most perfect form, and challenge the idea of perfection.
It started as a way to question society about the idea of perceived value. In particular how value and perceived value relate to ideas of beauty or perfection that have become norms of society.
There are certain ad campaigns, such as, “She’ll like you at a half carat, but she’ll love you at a carat.”, that prompted me to make this line of jewelry. This would be a line of jewelry that really did use the most perfect diamond in the world, the actual raw diamond. Uncut. Unpolished. Natural, perfect geometry.
As the popularity of the “bling” look fades, the natural look is rising in popularity. And a raw diamond ring creates great interest: “My wife’s rings stop people in their tracks.” (from BluePlanetWedding.com’s blog comments - thanks Joe!).
Check out Todd’s pages: www.toddreed.com and at Altered Space Gallery.
My apologies for not blogging for a while (2 months? That’s like 30 years in blog time). I’ve been very busy with other projects and haven’t been able to find the time to write. I know it’s no excuse, but, well…Â 
The good news is that there are several new posts in the works, and I should be back to a semi-regular schedule next week. Look for posts about Todd Reed, a jeweler working with raw diamonds and recycled gold, information about LEED-certified hotels, and much more.
We’ve also been busy with the media. Listen here to a radio interview with Amanda Smyth of Life Tips at WebmasterRadio.fm - lots of good stuff about eco weddings. And if you’re in Edmonton, check out the July/August issue of Unlimited Magazine for a great article by Annette Boudreau on green weddings.
If you’re going to a wedding and looking for an eco-friendly gift for the happy couple, check out Emma Gilchrist’s How to give a green wedding gift article at the Calgary Herald. Great tips and advice!
We’re still working on the next iteration of the web site - stay tuned for the easier-to-use, more complete, faster, better, stronger version of BluePlanetWedding.com.
Whew - it’s nice to be back!
Some fun stuff that’s been under discussion this week (and what a busy week it’s been for eco wedding talk, what with Earth Day and all…):
See some very cute - and reusable/re-wearable - flower girl dresses at eco chic weddings
Check out these very elegant earth-friendly wedding dresses from British-based Conscious Elegance, seen on Ethical Weddings
Brenda’s Wedding Blog shows some examples of eco-friendly wedding invitations
Reuse, Reuse, Reuse! at Perfect Memories Wedding Blog (and lots of other green living advice)
Brenda’s done it again with Organic Wedding Cakes - yum!
Have a great weekend as we start the rush into wedding high season!
Religion is going green and couples can celebrate the spiritual side of their marriage in a place that also reflects their environmental commitment.
Congregations supporting new building projects and renovation projects are taking their environmental stewardship seriously, and the number of LEED-certified* places of worship or growing fast.
Not having a religious wedding? There are many eco-friendly buildings - civic centres, municipal buildings and private buildings - where you can get married. Check out the list of projects from the US Green Building Council here, or look for Canadian LEED-certified buildings here.
Christian:
- Keystone Community Church, Ada, Michigan
- St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin Catholic Church, Toronto, Ontario
- Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno, Fresno, California
- St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Buchan Building and Community Center at First Unitarian Church, Portland, Oregon
- Papago Buttes Church of the Brethren, Phoenix, Arizona
Jewish:
Civic Centers
There are dozens of other green and LEED-certified churches, synagogues and other places of worship, as well as other beautiful and green buildings in which to get married. Know a great green wedding location? Let us know and we’ll share another list with everyone!
*LEED stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design”. Buildings can be certified if they meet standards for things like sustainable building sites, water efficiency, energy, materials and indoor environmental quality.
Corina Beczner, the founder of VibrantEvents.net, is writing a green wedding guide that will be published by the Sierra Club next year. She’s looking for couples who have had green weddings or are planning green weddings to share their stories for the book. You can contact her through BluePlanetWedding.com here, or through the Vibrant Events web site here.
BluePlanetWedding.com would also like to hear your stories - if you have an eco-friendly wedding story, let me know and I’ll feature your story on the site!
I attended a wedding recently where I refused to take home yet another wedding favor. I think the bride and groom are great people, and I was honored to be invited to the wedding, but I just don’t need more stuff. Especially themed stuff that would otherwise go straight in a closet and into a garage sale. Although, refusing to take home the favor brought up another conundrum - would the favor be used by someone else or thrown away?
Make a donation your wedding favor
Pool all the money that would otherwise be spent on favors and make a donation to a cause that’s close to your heart. The favor part of the budget can range from a couple hundred dollars to a couple thousand dollars - this can make a big impact on local, national or international charities.
One of our local homeless shelters says a meal costs them $2.62. Take $250 of the wedding favor budget and you’ve bought dinner for 96 people. Or $250 could buy 10 backpacks filled with school supplies for children.
Let your guests know where the favors are going by making an announcement at the ceremony, and maybe on the invitation. Put the money to work, rather than towards another tchochke, knickknack or bauble.
Hi to everyone from Austin! BluePlanetWedding.com’s 95 Ideas To Make Your Wedding More Environmentally-Friendly has been featured in “Austin Wide Open” and “Austin Natural Effects” magazine; we’re thrilled to be a part of these publications!
Come on in and check out the site, and if you have an environmentally-friendly or locally-oriented business with wedding services - or if you know someone who offers eco-oriented wedding services, sign up now for a free listing on the site.
I just discovered the “Unclutterer” blog this weekend, and I’m hooked. I don’t think I’m alone in realizing I could do many things to unclutter my life, and this blog is a great place to start.
I shall leave you with the post “Ten tips for planning a simple wedding“. Number 8 on the list is especially important:
Remember that your marriage is what is most important, not your wedding day. Keeping this in perspective will save you time and stress when it comes to making decisions about minute details.
Take it from someone who’s been married for almost 5 years. The wedding day comes and goes, but the marriage (hopefully) lasts forever. You won’t remember the flowers or the food, but you will remember the people. Focus on creating a great party and don’t worry that the bridesmaid dresses don’t match the centerpieces.
