Wedding Trends That Take The Cake

The purpose of your wedding gift registry is to help you and your spouse-to-be get off on the right foot. This is a task that you should do together, but one that you should both enjoy. After all, it’s not too often that you get to make a list of items that you want…and need!

Here are things to consider when registering for your wedding gifts:

Where should you register?

Registering at multiple stores is a good idea. That will give your guests a nice array of price points and gift ideas. Consider registering at stores like Target, Macy’s, Bed Bath & Beyond and any local stores that you frequent…and your guests may, as well.

How many gifts should you register for?

You can go crazy here. Pick as many gifts as you’d like to have, and choose several price points. This will allow guests of all income levels to get gifts for you that fit into their budget. Also, some of your guests will want to buy a lot of smaller items, and other guests may want to chip in on a larger gift for you and your soon-to-be spouse, so a well thought out list will give them lots of options.

When should you register?

Register at your chosen stores about six months prior to your wedding date. This will give your guests time to purchase items for your shower(s), as well as your wedding. Don’t register too far in advance, though, or you run the risk of your favorite store discontinuing an item that you register for.

What types of gifts should you ask for?

This is another area where you shouldn’t restrict yourself. Sit down with your significant other and make a list of all of the items that you think you’ll need to purchase within the next year. Consider kitchenware, linens, home appliances, luggage and furniture. Also, consider lifestyle gifts. If there are movies, CDs, sporting equipment, etc. that you’d like to have, include them.

How do you tell your guests where you’ve registered?

You can include an announcement of your gift registry choices in your wedding invitation, or you can pass along the information through family members and close friends.

Gifts to consider adding to your registry:

China
Flatware
Drinkware
Cookware
Bakeware
Small Appliances
Bedding
Linens
Tools
Home Improvement Gift Cards
Lifestyle Gifts (camera equipment, computer equipment, sports equipment and entertainment equipment)

Note: If a lot of your guests live out of town, consider large retailers that have shipping available, so that guests don’t have to transport your gift. This will also save time for guests who are busy, because they can order your gifts online at any time of the day or night.

Lisa Bakewell

Pulling off the perfect wedding is a challenge, but making yours an eco-friendly wedding doesn’t mean making it more difficult. Use these 10 tips for planning your green wedding:

Plant the centerpiece.
For centerpieces and other wedding décor, you can use potted flowers, trees or plants. When the wedding is over, you’ll have a head start on beautifying your yard or patio!

Decorate with bamboo.
Bamboo is considered one of the most sustainable materials on earth, growing up to two feet per day, so it takes only three to seven years to mature. Use stalks of bamboo in centerpieces, or choose other bamboo accessories for your reception tables. To get more information on bamboo, visit Green Earth Bamboo.

Plant a tree or two or three.
Plant one tree or more in your backyard or the neighborhood where you got married after the honeymoon. That way you’ll be able to track the growth of the tree by the number of years you’ve been married.

Ditch the bouquets.
Have your bridesmaids carry fans instead of flowers. Or how about beautiful silk boxes or purses? If you still want the look of flowers, consider using silk instead of real blooms. Though they may be a bit more expensive, they will last forever.

Think locally.
If you REALLY want traditional blooms, support your local nursery. Locally grown, seasonal blooms will cost less money, and you’ll be helping your local economy. You could also use locally grown herbs, greenery, and berries instead of blooms or you can use them for fill in your bouquets.

Make a donation.
Make a donation in your guests’ names to an organization that plants trees (such as AmericanForests or the Arbor Day Foundation) in lieu of a traditional wedding favor.

Choose organic foods.Base your menu on food that is organic or locally grown. Consider serving a wedding cake made of organic ingredients as well.

Toast organically.
True Organic wines are certified by the USDA National Organic Program and have become quite popular. For the back-story on organic wines, check out this article from The Wine News.

Light an earth-friendly flame.
Candles are a must for weddings, but paraffin candles are produced from petroleum, which is not very earth-friendly. Use soy wax candles instead.

Put it on the Web.
Create a wedding site where you can list your wedding details instead of including them in your invitations. There, you’ll be able to list your registry details (along with your wedding details) and be able to express to your guests that you’d like eco-friendly gifts or, in lieu of gifts, you’d like a donation made to your favorite charity.

Lisa Bakewell

“Being green,” as they say, is very chic these days, and eco-friendly weddings and gifts are becoming very popular. Recyclables and natural gifts–once thought to be “cheap”–are now very trendy, and most givers and recipients of environmentally conscious gifts are pleased to be part of the trend to save Mother Earth.

Here are some great eco-friendly ideas: 

GIFTS: As you and your soon-to-be-spouse plan your wedding, consider registering for some great eco-friendly gifts. There are some great companies out there providing top-of-the-line, creative fare. Also, consider buying eco-friendly gifts for your entire bridal party and family!

Green Earth Bamboo: Bamboo is one of the more eco-friendly products you’ll find. For starters, it grows at an astonishing rate of up to four feet per day (so there’s an overabundance), and it’s naturally antimicrobial, which means that it doesn’t require any pesticides or herbicides during its growing process. Bugs just plain don’t like the stuff! Also, there are several types of bamboo, so when purchasing these products, you’re not taking food away from pandas.

Green Earth Bamboo offers beautiful bamboo bedding sets including bamboo sheets, blankets, bedspreads and duvets that every bride and groom would love to own. Green Earth Bamboo also offers luxurious bamboo bath towels and a fashionable eco-friendly clothing line. There is nothing cozier than bamboo to warm your soul!

Check out these organic bamboo towels. They’re incredibly plush and soft, antimicrobial, fast drying and super absorbent. These eco-friendly bamboo bath towels come in three beautiful colors and are so luxurious and comfortable that you’ll want to add extra sets to your gift list.

Brides…consider luxurious bamboo bath mitts, pure and natural soap and cozy women’s nightshirts as great gifts for you bridesmaids.

UnCommonGoods: Features merchandise created in harmony with the environment and without harm to animals or people.

Check out their Platter in a Bottle. Made from 100% recycled glass, these wine bottle-shaped platters provide a lovely backdrop to any cheese, crackers, fruits or vegetables you serve at your next party. Each piece undergoes an 8-hour process to emerge as a one-of-a-kind platter.

Another gift idea from UnCommon Goods is the Super Bowl made out of recycled windshiled glass. This large bowl can be used as a decorative object, a vase for fresh flowers, a punch bowl or a goldfish bowl.

Etsy.com: Etsy is an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade. There are thousands of gifts to choose from. Check out this bracelet made from beach-gathered materials. Every piece of the bracelet is either recycled, upcycled, repurposed, or reused–even the bracelet itself was recycled according to the site with every bit of the sterling silver being obtained from an eco-friendly supplier.

GreenandMore.com: Offers products for those who are concerned about the environment but don’t have a lot of time. They strive to offer truly green products, helping to minimize the impact on the planet without compromising quality and style.

Green and More has a wide array of eco-friendly home appliances to choose from as well as an extensive variety of home decor choices. An interesting gift choice for you or your wedding party might be the eco-friendly vases that Green and More offers. There are several to choose from, and the materials range from paper to wood, glass to ceramic and copper to LED rechargeable atmosphere vases.

Global Exchange Fair Trade Online: Global Exchange is an international human rights organization dedicated to promoting environmental, political and social justice. Since 1988, they have increased the US public’s global awareness while building partnerships worldwide.

Check out the Dhukuti Tablerunner from Nepal. These blockprint table runners are handcrafted by women involved in the Association for Craft Producers in Kathmandu. ACP is a women’s craft center established to provide low income or abandoned women with employment and training in traditional skills. ACP provides access to a fair wage, health care, education and marketing skills and strives to raise worker’s self esteem and ability to compete effectively in the marketplace. Choose from three color combinations, and select matching placemats and napkins from the same collection.

DONATIONS: Consider giving or receiving a donation gift to honor an environmental organization or socially responsible group. A few non-profits that you may want to consider include: 

The Nature Conservancy: The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.

Conservation International Foundation: They believe that the Earth’s natural heritage must be maintained if future generations are to thrive spiritually, culturally and economically. Their mission is to conserve the Earth’s living heritage and to demonstrate that human societies are able to live harmoniously with nature.

Trees for the Future: Trees for the Future is one of the leading agroforestry resources in the world, helping people in developing countries improve their rural livelihoods through the introduction of environmentally sustainable land management projects focused on beneficial tree planting.

Conservation Fund: The nation’s foremost environmental nonprofit dedicated to protecting America’s most important landscapes and waterways for future generations.

The Clean Water Network: The Clean Water Network (CWN) is a coalition of more than 1,200 public interest organizations across the country, representing more than five million people, working together to strengthen and implement federal clean water and wetlands policy.

MEMBERSHIPS: A great gift idea might be an annual pass to a national park, museum passes or a zoo membership. Also, concert tickets are thoughtful gifts that create no waste and will bring great pleasure to the recipients.

Don’t forget to consider eco-friendly, green wedding invitations when planning your wedding. Also, check out this previous post for more eco-friendly wedding ideas.

Lisa Bakewell

Are you concerned about the environment and trying to reduce your carbon footprint? Then maybe you’ll want to consider an “Eco Wedding.” Adding eco-friendly aspects to your wedding–whether they’re added in all stages of your wedding planning or not–can substantially reduce damage to the environment. And even though there are still a limited number of vendors who provide green products and services for weddings, with a little research and ingenuity, you should be able to green up your wedding day with no problem. Use these tips to help you plan your big day in a green way.

• Take it outside. Contemplate an outdoor wedding to save energy. If you get married in the morning or afternoon, you won’t need any additional light. If you get married in the early evening, you may want to use soy-based candles for lighting. They don’t emit harmful fumes when burned like wax candles do.
• Make it wild. Use local and seasonal wildflowers for bouquets and table décor at your reception. If that option isn’t available, consider using a florist in your area that only purchases organically grown flowers for their shop.
• Make it natural. Use eco-friendly wedding invitations for your green wedding. Crafted on quality recycled paper, eco-friendly invitations should contain at least 30% post-consumer fibers.
• Keep it close to home. Choose a wedding location close to your family and friends, so people can carpool.
• Eat fresh. It used to be considered alternative to offer a vegetarian selection during a dinner reception, but couples today are requesting organic, seasonal and/or locally grown food options.
• Lease it. Rental companies and caterers can supply everything you need in the way of tents, tablecloths, glassware, tableware, dishes and centerpieces. Since these items are frequently reused, their environmental impact is quite minimal. Use a local vendor, and limit the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere by delivery trucks.
• Wear some green. While a wedding dress made of recycled paper might seem a bit extreme, they are available. If this route isn’t for you, though, you might consider dresses made of organic cotton, organic silk or hemp blends. If you want to go even greener, go vintage. Wearing a family dress, or opt for one from a vintage clothing or secondhand store. Not only will you be helping the environment, you may realize a significant cost savings!
• Digitize it. Digital cameras take better quality photos and don’t require all the harsh chemicals used when developing 35mm film. Most photographers opt to go digital these days, but check with yours to be sure.
• Give eco-friendly gifts. You’ll find a variety of unique green wedding gifts and favors you can give your bridal party and guests. Some ideas? You might want to give a bamboo towel set with natural organic soap and body butters to your bridal party; a mini herb garden or potted plant as a gift that keeps on growing; or make a donation on your guests’ behalf to a local environmental organization. Use your imagination.Lisa Bakewell