OUR TEAM 

Wednesday
15Jul2009

3 More Eco-Friendly Wedding Tips

Trying to think of eco-friendly way to keep their wedding green? Well we have come up with three more ways to help out!

Go DIGITAL-This is actually not a far-fetched idea, most couples are going digital with their wedding photos already and photographers are already have been implementing this eco-friendly idea. You can save paper, ink and time by simply having all the photos put online. You can choose what wedding photos you may want to print out. In addition friends and family can look at the photos online and see what photos they may want as well.

FAVORS?- Avoid favors with lots of packaging, or on that note, avoid favors all together. If you are wanting to have favors at your wedding, make sure the favors you provide are not full of extra plastic or packaging and there are something that you guests will use and not dispose of. Custom Sweet Stations are a great hit and are consumable favors. Make sure the packaging you provide for the take home sweets is recycled and better yet made of biodegradable material. Another idea might be to make a donation to a special charity for each guest.

REUSABLE-Don't use disposable dishes, glasses, etc. Ask your caterer or bartender if they can use glasses or dishes, ones that can be washed and used again, instead of thrown away.

There are three small ways that you can make a big difference!

www.weddingonthebrain.com

~Jenny~

 

Wednesday
15Jul2009

The newest in Save-the-dates!

Image by 2duce2 Cinematic VideographyLately, save-the-date cards have gone from formal cards where the parents of the couple announce the engagement of their children, to magnets with an engagement photo, and newly released....VIDEO!  This is an excellent way to go-green with your save-the-dates by e-mailing them to family and friends!  Also, it is a great way to test out your videographer for your wedding.  They will essentially be creating a 3 minute short film that can give you a taste of their style and what they can create for you for your big day!  It can be a 'dramatically funny trailer', one that coincides with your engagement photos, or can be more of a video slideshow, or something completely different that fits your personality best!  To check out more videos, go to Vimeo or YouTube and type in 'save the date trailers' or 'save the date'!

Happy filming! :)

Megan

www.weddingonthebrain.com

Friday
10Jul2009

Going Giftless!

Want to benefit from the wedding gifts but not the wedding gift clutter that your place can't hold? It's so easy to run out of space, and not everyone wants to burden their parents' home or a storage unit with all that extra wedding present "stuff".

Why not have a gift-free wedding? Instead of receiving the usuals: kitchen utensils, pots, china, frames galore-- ask family and friends to help with the cost of of a honeymoon extra (ie: romantic special dinner on the shore, massage package, midday adventure in your honeymoon location).  If you're not a fan of over consumption, that extra leisurely perk added to your honeymoon will treat you a lot better than that blender ever will! Cash always works too! These tips save the traveling cost of taking back unwanted or doubled up gifts that will only take up space in your newlywed place!

It's easy for your guests to 'give green' and give their congratulations in a way you'll definitely appreciate!

-weddingonthebrain.com- Allison

Wednesday
27May2009

Organic Eye Shimmer

 Smashbox has come out with their very own Mother Earth Palette to bring an earth conscientious fresh look to your face!

Four eye shadows and a blush are placed nicely into a casing made completely of sustainable materials. Regardless of the color, you will feel refreshed on your big day looking beautiful and staying green! With each purchase, Smashbox will plant a tree through the non-profit group, Trees for the Future.

 

 

Stay eco-chic!

Allison -weddingonthebrain.com-

 

Tuesday
17Mar2009

Eco-Friendly Flip-Flops

Here’s to kickin’ off your shoes to something more comfortable! Floc Designs is a new company wanting you to do just that, and still remain eco-friendly and fashion forward at the same time! Their Pocketflops are perfect gifts to give your bridesmaids before the reception, in case they opt for more comfortable footwear to dance the night away in!

The foldable flip-flops are made from 95% recycled tire and come with a matching carrying case made from either organic or recycled fabric. They are easily customizable favors, and you can even submit your own images to be printed on them for that added personal touch!

 

Have a "flip"n good, eco-friendly time! -weddingonthebrain.com- Allison

Wednesday
04Mar2009

Save the buds, fold your own!

Image from St. Jude's Creations

A new trend in wedding flowers is that of PAPER flowers. Sounds like a middle school craft project but these paper flowers are beautiful and look absolutely real! You can have them done by a professional such as St. Jude's Creations or you can make it a project to help your wedding party bond and get in on the planning, design, and details of your wedding!  If you opt for the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) method, try buying paper flower kits from Paper Source, Martha Stewart Crafts, or try getting paper and supplies from your local craft store.  If you need instructions, check out eHow Weddings section!  The best part is, each of your bouquets can have its own fragrance, customizable to YOUR wedding!

Good luck and let your creativity BUD!

Megan

www.weddingonthebrain.com

Tuesday
10Feb2009

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something…..green!

As the tradition goes, you’ll want to find something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in your shoe! How about adding a little something green to the mix along with a little more green into your pocket for those favors you want or a nice massage on the honeymoon? Here are some ideas for the time-old wedding tradition that could cover more than one of your bases and give you some extra green for the wedding!

*Jewelry for him or her with recycled or fair trade gems for your wedding band, earrings, cuff links, etc. Try Tarma or BtheNV for artistic sustainable jewelry or Brilliant Earth for diamonds gone green!
*For soft and eco-friendly undergarments, go with some organic lingerie from The Natural Store, Green Knickers, or the Green Loop
*Go the vintage route with recycling gloves from your grandmother or check out Virtu Unique Boutique & Getaway for their selection of bridal wear in Laguna Beach
*And of course who could forget the shoes?! For a unique, fun, and personalized shoe for your wedding day, try Mohop, hand crafted wooden shoes for you and your bridesmaids or Natalie Portman’s new line of vegan shoes called Te Casan
*If all else fails, try VivaTerra for décor, women’s wear, and dining ideas!

Don’t forget that sixpence in your shoe!

Megan

www.weddingonthebrain.com

Monday
09Feb2009

Hand Made Paper

One of the most environment impacting parts of a wedding is the amount of paper which gets used. There are invitations, save the date cards, thank you notes, and place cards to think about. One way that you can go Green for your wedding is by using handmade paper. It’s organic, recycled, grow-able, and beautiful! Paper companies such as Cast Paper Art (castpaperart.com) is a good source for recycled paper, or if you are feeling crafty, you can even make your own!

Cassie

weddingonthebrain.com

 

Sunday
08Feb2009

Put Into Place

 

Check out these eco-friendly placemats from Publique Living! These pop-up mats are made from 100% recycled paper, and bring in some added charisma to place settings. Perfect for rehearsal dinners and showers, you can add your own creative embellishments and guests’ names to the mats. Keeping green-chic in mind, try using toxic free pens and paints for that added touch. The mats are super fun, environmentally friendly, and everyone will enjoy them!

Go Eco-Fabulous! -weddingonthebrain.com- Allison

Friday
16Jan2009

Green Wedding-GOOD READ!

Green is the new white for today's brides--metaphorically speaking. Environmentally conscious couples are often appalled by the carbon footprint of traditional weddings and are seeking ways to express their earth-friendly values as they express their love.

As Green Wedding shows, there are alternatives--products and services that can reduce environmental harm while ensuring a joyous and stylish celebration.Featuring stories of couples who have "gone green" on their wedding day, this book explains how couples can green their dream wedding, and why it is important. The book presents ideas for offsetting the global-warming impact of your guests' travel, to designing a menu (including cake and Champagne)  local ideas, and organic design.  check it out on amazon.

Carrie Goff-weddingonthebrain.com

Monday
24Nov2008

Green Registry

Once again being green is the new trend in weddings....another way to be green is with your registry. Some websites like www.branchhome.com, www.greenfeet.com, www.gaiam.com and www.vivatera.com are "GREEN" websites which deal with eco-friendly products. A Give back website  www.justgive.org  can enable your guests to donate to different charities in your name. This not only helps the charity, but your guests have done something good!

www.weddingonthebrain.com

~Jenny~

Wednesday
15Oct2008

Eat Chocolate and Save the Planet - The Knot Market Party

We all know that a woman's weakness is chocolate.  What if I told you can have a chocolate that is not only delicous but helps saves the planet also.  We came across Endangered Species Chocolates from "The Knot Season Preview," the chocolate is all natural, ethically traded, and even shade-grown cacao which means the cacao is grown beneath the natural canopy of the forest and is farmed by farmers in a humane enviroment with fair wages.  Not only is this chocolate organically grown but 10% of their net profits is donated to Habitat and Humanity, so why not help and eat chocolate.  On each chocolate bar you will find a different species and inside the rapper is information on that particular at-risk specie.

For all of you who are thinking about having a "green" wedding, Endangered Species Chocolates makes a great wedding favor.  With their delicous flavors like chocolate blueberry, raspberry, cranberry and almonds, and my personal favorite milk chocolate peanut brittle this the perfect touch for your green wedding day.  You can find Endangered Species Chocolate at http://www.chocolatebar.com/.

 

Happy Eating~ Rachel

Friday
10Oct2008

Useful and 'GREEN' paperwork - KNOT Market Party!

Exquisite! Green tip: Use plantable paper for your invitation and wedding programs.

The slogan of Botanical Paperworks says it all: Share, Plant, Grow! This company has the coolest, most unique ideas for all kinds of paperwork (i.e. invitations, favors, cards).  We certainly love them and here's why you should too:

1.  They are SO eco-friendly: guests can literally plant the paper and it will grow into something fabulous.

2. Botanical Paperworks has everything from invitations and favors to thank you cards and guest books!

3.  They are totally affordable; nothing is better than helping the environment and staying within the budget!

4. Botanical Paperworks provided 'Share and Blossom' plantable favors for our party bags at the KNOT Market Party last week!

What's not to love about the eco-friendly company?  You will be hooked as soon as you see their awesome ideas!  

Thanks to Botanical Paperworks for include one of your pretty plantable paper samples in the gift bags

-Exquisite!- Samantha Woods

Friday
10Oct2008

The Primping Parleur-Raffle Prize-The Knot Event

Exquisiste! Green TIP: Everything used in the salon is eco-friendly and cruelty free

One of our wonderful raffle sponsors for "The Knot-Season Preview Event" was the Primping Parleur, http://www.primpingparleur.com. This fabulous salon, located in Brea, is a bride's dream, designed for the everyday women. The salon offers celebrity worthy treatments. Whether getting ready for engagement photos, having a girls get-together or bachelorette party, this is the place to go. With make-up to facials to waxing and their infamous brow bar, every girl needs to spoil themselves sometime at this heavenly salon!

Exquisiste Event Planning and Design

www.weddingonthebrain.com ~Jenny~

Friday
10Oct2008

Nohm Candles - The KNOT Market Party!

Exquisite! Green Tip: Instead of using paraffin wax candles help out the enviroment by using soy candles.

When looking for your delicous and lucious sented candles most people look toward Pier 1 but i've come across something truly amazing.  In the gift bags for "The Knot Season Preview," Nohm Candles provided yummy pomegranate soy candles. These candles are purely organic made from soy wax.  This family owned business started when they learned about carcinogenic chemicals which go into paraffin wax.  What first started as  family fun turned into Nohm Candles!  These candles are made from pure fragrances, essential oils, and combination of natural waxes. You can get them in 6 oz. tins or votives.  Instead of using normal candles at your wedding do your part in helping the enviroment and use soy candles.


www.nohmcandles.com


Go Green ~ Rachel


Thursday
09Oct2008

BodyTopia-Natural Body Care-KNOT Market Party!

Exquisite! Green Tip: Use eco-friendly pampering products as your wedding favors.

BodyTopia creates eco-friendly products that are sure to invoke all your senses!  BodyTopia believes in using natural ingredients including kukui and macadamia nut oils,  fair-trade shea butter, botanical extracts, and plant and vegetable derived oils.  They do not use alcohol, petroleum derivatives, mineral oil, paraben-based preservatives, or fillers.  This means you can be assured that when you use their products, you are using the very finest body care around.  BodyTopia creates wonderful eco-friendly products for the whole body from head to toe! 

Products like the soap petals and the wonderful sugar scrubs and body whips donated for the gift bags and raffle for The Knot Season Preview Market Party are just a few of the wonderful poducts that they offer.  For more information on how you can purchase these eco-friendly products visit, www.bodytopia.net.

Happy Planning!-weddingonthebrain.com-Danielle Graven

Thursday
09Oct2008

Lavera Makeup - The Knot Market Party!

Exquisite! Green Tip: Instead of using makeup that is made with synthetic products try an all organic make up. 

At "The Knot Season Preview," Lavera  shared with attendees their all organic makeup and men's skin care products. Every bride wants to have that natural glow on her wedding day. Even the groom can have a GLOW...with the men's organic skin care line.  Their  innovative products are simply pure made from flower extracts, pure organic oils and herbs. No synthetic ingredients are added and for you animal lovers, Lavera is cruelty free!  They also have great sun protection products for those couples who are honeymooning in those tropical sunny places.

Healthy skin is always a plus! - http://weddingonthebrain.com ~ Rachel

Thursday
02Oct2008

Special E!- Event Rescue- KNOT Market Party!

Exquisite! Green tip: Hire an Enviroment Rescue Company to rescue items from your event.

What better way to end one of the best days of your life then to make other people’s days better (that is in addition to your guests). Special E, www.thespeciale.com, will come in and make sure any leftovers from your big day are put to good use. Extra BONUS- it is a tax write off to the NEWLY married couple!

Thanks to special E for coming in a doing An event Rescue on all out leftovers. What an amzing job you did and I know many people had smiles because of your services. It is so good to know that these items did not go to waste.


There are many creative ways they can help at your event Here are just a few small examples how they are helping our EARTH and neighborhoods:

  • To brighten up spirits and moods, they will take leftover flowers from your wedding and deliver the blooms to children’s hospitals and senior citizen homes.  
  • Special E will also pick up any of the bottles/cans to recycling facilities. Once the moeny is collected they will donate the proceeds towards abused animals.
  • Any leftover food that will be delivered to local homeless shelters to feed the hungry. 

www.weddingonthebrain.com ~Jenny~


Thursday
02Oct2008

Simple Green- The OrganicCleaner-Knot Market Party Gift


Exquisite! Green tip: Use non-toxic, biodegradable, non-flammable cleaners

After the wedding is over and you have settled into your new home, one thing everybody can use in their house is Simple Green, www.simplegreen.com! This handy dandy little solution can do everything and then some. Add ¼ cup of Simple Green to laundry to boost your regular detergent. Simple Green is also one of most all around cleaners, it can be used to clean nearly everything in your home, garage, RV, patio, office or car. And last but not least, this fabulous little solution can remove almost any stain including chocolate, lipstick, ink, grease, oil, just to name a few. So when all the planning, partying, traveling and moving is over, make sure to pick up some Simple Green!

Thank you to simple green for providing sample sizes for our gift bags! 

 www.weddingonthebrain.com ~Jenny~



Wednesday
02Jul2008

RECYCLE bar empties

glassbottles.jpg

Empty glass and plastic bottles and aluminum cans can quickly pile up during larger receptions. Ask the hosting facility if they recycle, and if not, provide bins for empties that can be hauled away later. If your maid of honor or bridesmaids are also eco-conscious see if they will deliver the recyclable goods to a donation bin the day after your reception. For a recycling center near you or information on where to buy recycling bins for your venue to use visit  http://therecyclingcenter.info.

Happy Planning!-weddingonthebrain.com-Danielle Graven