Brooch Love

To most of us brooches are a fashion accessory, adding a little color to a blazer or a little sparkle to an otherwise plain wedding dress. Amanda Heer of Fantasy Floral Designs, had another idea for these lovely vintage pieces: a wedding bouquet. Using pieces from your own collection, or by commissioning Amanda to select them for you, Fantasy Floral will create a one-of-a-kind bouquet for your wedding day. Talk about an heirloom piece from your big day, not to mention incredibly eco-friendly. Check out Fantasy Floral Designs for more lovely inspiration.

Decorated, naturally

I love the idea of using natural elements to decorate for a wedding or party. Tree branches to string crystals from, moss to add a little special something to a flower arrangement or pieces of cut wood to elevate a vase or cake stand. These are unexpected and very budget friendly ways to decorate. Not to mention, very eco-friendly! You don't necessarily have to have an outdoor theme wedding to use these elements. See some inspiration below.









Image Credits:
1-4 Matthew Robins for Artfool, 5-6 Aaron Delesie for Lisa Vorce, 7-9 Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, 10-13 Once Wed

Utterly Engaged

Utterly Engaged, the new e-zine by Eva Chiou of Red Velvet Occasions, and Lucia Dinh and Henny Setiadi of D*LSH Design, is a definite must read. Although I am a huge fan of the, dare I say old fashioned, magazine, this e-zine has an amazing layout, and wonderful tips for the budget savvy bride. Just take a look at some of the features from Issue #2.








Definitely add this to your list of good reads.

Bazil Essentials on etsy

Going green is not only important to the environment, its also important to our health! Believe it or not, perfumes and artificial scented lotions are actually not good for you. Bazil Essentials, a company based in California, creates all natural, vegan certified, cruelty-free soaps, candles and perfumes made from essential oils. In addition to this, they also plant 5 trees in the Central American rainforest with every purchase!
Check out their etsy shop for great gift ideas and products for a better you!

Going Green With Style: 50 ways you can help the environment!

Although this isn't necessarily wedding related, you might be able to incorporate it into your celebration somehow! I found this great list on Grace's Birdcage Wedding and liked it so much I wanted to share! These 50 things are really easy to do and can help out environment out greatly. Take a look and give 'em a try!

Going Green With Style: Diamonds and Jewelry

Diamonds. We've all seen them sparkling in the sunlight, or in the well lit cases of a jewelry store. But did the thought ever cross your mind that someone may have died for that beautiful diamond you are planning to purchase?
In 2006 the movie Blood Diamond, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou, was released, thus sparking public awareness of blood diamonds and their mass effects. This gripping movie, set during the Sierra Leone Civil War in 1999, tells of the devastating effects of blood diamonds, which are diamonds mined in African war zones and sold to finance the conflicts, and profit the warlords and the diamond companies across the world. This well designed interactive map is very interesting and tells much of the historical events occurring in the "blood diamond" industry.
Now that I have totally depressed all my readers, here is a positive note! According to Diamond Facts, more than 99% of diamonds are now from conflict free sources and traded under the unmandated Kimberely Process. However, it is still important to make sure you are getting a conflict free diamond, and still keeping things eco-friendly. Here are some things to keep in kind when shopping for jewelry:

The Kimberley Process Certification
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was adopted in 2002, and outlines the regulations and requirements countries must follow to make sure a diamond is mined and shipped in a humane, legitimate way. When buying a diamond, ask the jeweler to provide the Kimberley Process Certificate, as all diamonds that meet these regulations are shipped with the certificate. If they can't provide this for you, be wary of the stone's origin.(Picture via Kimberley Process.)


Talk to your Jeweler
Any well-established, reputable jeweler should be able to tell you about a diamond's history and guarantee that it's conflict-free. To make sure that your jeweler is telling you the truth, ask to see the diamond's System of Warranties statement. Do your research before visiting the jewelry store so you know what these certificates look like before you shop. Check out Diamond Facts for examples.

Get your diamond from an eco-friendly source
We've all heard of Tiffany and Co., but you may not be aware that this renowned jewelry company deals exclusively with suppliers who use environmentally sound, conflict-free mining. Another great source for conflict free diamonds is Brilliant Earth. Their diamonds come from Canada, and 5 percent of their profits are donated to a fund to benefit local African communities harmed by the diamond industry. There are many more places to shop for conflict free diamonds; just be sure to do your research. (Picture: Left two Tiffany and Co., right two Brilliant Earth)


Vintage Gems
Consider using a family heirloom in your wedding ring. This will save the energy that would have gone into mining a diamond because you are using an existing one! Besides being eco friendly and conflict free, using a diamond that's been in your family is so much more meaningful. My engagement ring houses my great aunt's diamond from her engagement ring and it means so much to me. So when you can, consider vintage! (Picture via Flickr)


Diamond Substitutes
I'm not talking about cubic zirconia here! Adia diamonds are identical to natural diamonds, but are produced in a lab rather than mined. These gems have the exact structure, density, and composition of naturally occurring diamonds. Moissanite stone is also another option. Made from silicon carbonite (a rare and naturally occurring substance) moissanite can also be manufactured in a lab and is completely earth-friendly and conflict-free. These gemstones are also less expensive and more durable than the traditional diamond. (Pictures via Adia Diamonds)



Eco-friendly Gold
Diamonds are not the only place on your rings to be eco-friendly. To really go for the gold (I had to put that little pun in there!), find a ring with recycled gold. Recycled gold simply means that the gold was melted down and re-refined, making it the same quality as a newly mined metal. No Dirty Gold has a list of retailers who support this process. Another option would be wood. That's right, wood! Simply Wooden Rings has some beautiful options all made from wood, and embellished with eco friendly diamonds. (pictures via Simply Wooden Rings.)

White Chocolate Label by Scott Corridan

I am so excited to announce the brand new bridal gown line, White Chocolate Label, by the amazing Scott Corridan! Scott, of event design firm Corridan and Co., has partnered with Kleinfeld Bridal in Manhattan to bring about these insanely beautiful wedding gowns. Each gown was inspired by a bride that Scott has worked with in the past and are ecologically and socially supportive couture. This collection (Fall/Winter 2008) was just unveiled in New York City on April 24th! White Chocolate Label will be offering two collections yearly. Make sure you keep your eyes open for the next unveiling! For now, lets take a look at these works of art! Be sure to visit the website for more pictures of these gorgeous gowns.

Going Green With Style: Catering and Food

What you eat is really important to your health as well as the environment, so going green on this aspect should be fairly simple, especially if you want to eat healthy! Many caterers are now offering organic foods in their menus, and I think its wonderful. When hiring a caterer, check and see if they offer organic foods. You can also do a search online for organic caterers in your area. Wolfgang Puck Catering has a wonderful program they call WELL. Here is what they have to say on their website: "What we’ve come to realize is that we can live, love and eat WELL™ without causing unnecessary harm to other living things and to our ecosystem." They are so correct!! I am so excited that caterers out there are realizing that people want to eat healthier and help their environment. TheOrganicPages.com has some great resources for caterers and restaurants that serve organic foods. The Knot also has a great article on how to create an earth friendly menu. Here are some other ways you can start eating healthy and eco-friendly at home AND at your wedding:

Free range meats. So many meats these days are pumped with hormones, that in turn, get absorbed into our body's. We certainly don't need any extra hormones so why not eat free range? Free range meats are also cruelty free, meaning they have nice grassy pastures to graze in as opposed to being cooped up in feed lots. When eating or buying fish, make sure its wild caught rather than farm raised. Farm raised fish is much the same as eating feed lot meats.

Go organic on vegetables and fruits. Non organic fruits and vegetables are laden with chemicals and pesticides. There seems to be an abundance of chemicals on some products more than others such as apples and bell peppers. There is a healthy way to wash fruits and vegetables that are not organic, and that's with Bio-Kleen Produce Wash or Dr. Bronner's unscented castile soap.

Buy local. The whole point of organic to begin with was to support local trade. Farmer's markets are a great place to support local farmers and buy organic. Plus, farmer's markets are a fun place to visit, and remind me somewhat of French outdoor markets. Check online for local farmer's market times and places.

All in all eating organic is not only good for you and the environment, it tastes better than chemical and hormone laden food anyway! Some great places to shop for organic foods are Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market. Lazy Acre's in Santa Barbara is a great natural marketplace, and supports local farmers by carrying their produce. Check online for a natural marketplace near you and good luck with supporting mother earth and eating healthy!

Green Weddings on Portovert

Green weddings are all the rage right now, and where better to get your green ideas (besides here of course ;o)) than at Portovert. If you have not had a change to check this website out do so now! It is full of so many great ideas of how to go green such as a cute, fun DIY centerpiece. They also feature a few real weddings, such as the one we've featured below of Interior designer Carla Lane.


In addition to this, they also have a blog, and a wedding guide that lets you search for local green vendors! Go take some time to browse their website and get filled with wonderful green ideas!

Pictures from Portovert by Beth Beljon Photography

Going Green With Style: Wedding Attire

Your wedding dress is a pretty important part of your wedding day, so when it comes to going green on this aspect of your wedding, there are some choices to make. First of all, it takes fuel and, sometimes, overseas labour to make those beautiful wedding gowns. A lot of times the gowns are made with non-organic materials and while this is just a small factor none the less, it is a factor. Here are some ways to go green with your wedding gown while keeping with style and helping good old mother earth.

Consider buying your wedding gown from an eco-friendly vendor. Get Conscious has some beautiful wedding gowns that are made from hemp and are eco-friendly (see pictures below). They can also custom design a dress for you out of their earth friendly materials. Some other great resources for eco-friendly bridal wear are Thread Head Creations and Rawganique.com. Rawganique is a full on organic linen shop with men's wear, women's wear, towels, sheets; you name it in linen, it's there! This would be a great shop to get the groom and groomsmen outfitted for a casual wedding.


Donate your wedding dress to a charitable cause. The I Do Foundation accepts dress donations that help to raise money for a charity of your choice. Bridal Garden is also a great charitable cause. A resale shop in New York, Bridal Garden donates their proceeds to children's charities in New York. I know a lot of people are doing "trash the dress sessions" after their wedding day and I will agree you do get some amazing pictures from them, but they are wasteful, and therefore, not eco-friendly. Sorry guys, just telling the truth!

Wear a vintage wedding dress. I read an article one time about 3 sisters who all wore their mom's wedding dress, but had it altered and the design changed for each of them so it looked like 3 different dresses. I wish I could find that article again, but talk about meaningful! And totally eco-friendly!

Bridesmaid dresses
I hate to say it but most of these dresses are worn for the wedding, then they find a permanent home in the back of the closet. For a more eco-friendly take on this, let your bridesmaids choose their own dress but in your specified color. That way the dress has a larger chance of being worn more than once. Plus it makes for a fun and interesting bridal party! Another idea for bridesmaids dresses is, again, donate them to charity. The Glass Slipper Project and Fairy Godmothers Inc. are both charities that work to put dresses in the hands of underprivileged teens who can't afford a prom dress.

All in all, charities and buying dresses made from organic sources are your best bets to going green with your wedding attire. Good luck with your efforts to go green!

Going Green with Style: Flowers

Flowers already lend a natural feel to your wedding, so having eco-friendly flowers seems like a pretty easy decision. When shopping for eco-friendly flowers, look for organically grown, pesticide free blossoms. This not only helps the environment, but will also show off the flowers natural beauty, as opposed to a bloom covered with pesticides. A great resource for organic flowers is Organic Bouquet. They have a great selection of roses, as well as many other popular blooms.
Another way to have eco-friendly flowers is to incorporate things other than blossoms into your arrangements. For example, incorporating fruit into arrangements is very popular and makes for an interesting focal point, plus it can be eaten after the event! Just make sure the fruit is organic! For more fun ideas with fruit and flowers see the post we did on the subject here. Another great idea for eco friendly arrangements is to incorporate herbs into the bouquets. This lends an earthy feel and looks so stunning. See the post we did here on herbs and flowers.


For eco friendly centerpieces, opt for potted plants. This not only helps the environment, but your guests can take them home after the event! At a wedding I attended a couple of years ago, the bride and groom potted small lavender plants and wrapped them in white tissue like paper tied with ribbon. About 5-6 plants were grouped at each table and at the end of the night the guests we able to take them home. I loved the look it gave and it was totally eco-friendly!
One other fun idea that I saw on Ritzy Bee and absolutely love is the Tree in a Box favor. What a fun idea for a favor! Something that guests can definitely use and eco-friendly to boot!
I hope this post has given you some helpful ways to go green with your flowers. Stay tuned for our next Going Green with Style post!

Picture Credits:
Both pictures by Elizabeth Messina, from Oh How Charming.

Going Green With Style: Invitations and Paper Products Part II

Paper and printing play a major role in invitations. If you are designing your own invitations, or working with an invitation studio here are some things to look for when designing green invitations:
Paper Options
There are many different types of paper to consider when planning for eco friendly invitations. Here are some basic types to look for, and descriptions of what their seals mean:
- Alternative fiber papers such as cotton, hemp or bamboo make wonderful and unique invitations. This paper is completely tree free because it is made from alternative fibers and not wood pulp.
- Recycled papers or Post Consumer Fiber paper. This paper reduces pressure on our remaining forests, saves water and energy, and diverts solid waste from our landfills. Buying recycled helps the environment out immensely. Ariel Dekovic, coauthor of 365 Ways to Save the Earth says, "Every ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, the energy equivalent of 380 gallons of oil, and keeps almost 60 pounds of pollutants out of the atmosphere." Buy recycled when you can!


Here is a look at some of the seals companies put on their paper, and just what they mean.
- FCS certified papers ensure that the paper meets the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) standards for responsible forest management.
- Green seal certified means that the papers are made with a minimum of 30% post consumer fiber and that mill processes, including the paper's packaging, are environmentally friendly.
- Chlorine free certified papers insure that the papers are manufactured free of chlorine chemistry and from sustainable raw materials.
- Green-e certified papers are made with renewable energy such as wind power or solar power.
Printing
Printing also plays a major part in keeping invitations eco friendly. Since most inks are made from petroleum, ask your invitation designer if they can print with soy or vegetable based inks.
Stay tuned for our next Going Green With Style post!

Going Green With Style

I am so excited to announce a brand new series I will be featuring here on Zenadia Design called Going Green With Style. In this series of posts I will cover everything about planning an eco friendly wedding from your engagement ring to your invitations. If you are planning a green wedding, I highly recommend getting the book by Emily Anderson called Eco-Chic Weddings. She covers so many helpful tips and ways to go green. Emily has also been featured on The Wedding Planning Audiocast, which you can listen to directly from their website or via iTunes. Stay tuned for Invitations Part I later today!