For an unexpected, funky twist on traditional table floral arrangements, think about putting your flowers in an unconventional vase. We love this light bulb vase from GroCycle on Etsy. Its simple, short design holds just a handful of flowers—perfect for keeping a table arrangement clean and modern. We think it would be especially fitting for couples who want a ‘green’ wedding, because the artist reuses functioning light bulbs to create her work.

Today is Earth Day! For the past couple of years I’ve spent a good portion of the week leading up to this day and/or the day itself coordinating Rocky Mountain Green. It’s a conference put on my the US Green Building Council’s Colorado Chapter. They’ve enlisted my nonprofit and corporate background and skills and I’ve enjoyed the “change of scenery” from the world of weddings for a few winter months. It’s a great kick-off to the wedding season–sharpening my event planning and coordination skills.

It is also a project in line with my values of being more aware of my personal impact on the environment. Yes, we compost and recycle and use non-toxic cleaners, I print on the backside of previously used paper and use recycled paper from the start, my office is filled with plants to clear the air, a large portion of what we eat is organic, we do a lot. But, the larger, more technical effects of living life, building homes, choosing building materials, etc. is, well, above my expertise.

In honor of Earth Day I thought I’d share some green wedding tips and ideas that go beyond recycled paper invitations, choosing local flowers, etc. you may have heard before and go a bit more technical.

• The amount of travel that’s inherent in a wedding is astounding. Guests travel to and from your wedding, you may even be travelling to your wedding location once or multiple times. Every vendor and his or her staff drive to your wedding location once or multiple times. Your dress is shipped from somewhere, most likely overseas. Your shoes and veil and makeup and hair products and ring and flowers and invites and décor items all have to travel. The list could go on and on. The point is, that each of these travels increase your wedding’s carbon footprint or amount of carbon emissions produced.  One way to offset the effects of these travels is to purchase offset credits from organizations that do things such as planting trees or investing in green energy as gifts or favors for your guests. Bonneville Environmental Foundation is one of my favorite organizations that sells carbon offsets (be a bit picky when choosing your vendor to ensure they are investing in quality projects and using their cash effectively), but it’s just one.
• Planning a wedding is often accompanied by planning and preparing a new home. You register for new dishes, new glasses, towels, sheets, a range of household stuff. As you’re choosing electronics large and small, consider choosing energy efficient models. For larger appliances, there’s a standard called Energy Star, but even for a toaster or waffle iron, there may be features that make one thing more energy efficient than another.
• Back to travel, it’s likely you’re headed out on a honeymoon for a bit of R&R after the big day. There are a number of companies that offer environmentally-friendly travel options to exotic locations around the world. My favorite is the Colorado-based Natural Habitat Adventures. Take a look and get packin’!

Any step you take toward greening your wedding is commendable. Whether it’s choosing recycled paper invitations or as many local, in season flowers as possible or going a bit more geeky and incorporating these ideas, Ma Earth thanks you!

In honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and our general love for Ma Nature’s beauties displayed throughout Colorado, I wanted to remind you of a few suggestions from our Something Green series. Just a few favorites:

The first installment and a love letter to Once Wed

Another expression of love for Sarah Perlis’ work

A beautiful way to encourage guests to re-use their glasses

Cute as a button bouquets

Bout beauts

These really are just a few of our favorite pretty ways to make your Colorado wedding a bit more green. Talia Events has lots of ideas and resources for organic food, local flowers, carbon offsets, and invitations made from recycled paper. Get in touch, we’ll talk more!

Ok, it’s no secret that I love Anthropologie. It may, however, be a secret that I’ve spent a good number of hours roaming through the store looking, making mental notes and finding little morsels of inspiration.

I was walking through the store the other day and noticed that they “up-cycled” plastic bottles by making flowers out of them and then painting the creations in a bunch of fun, summery colors. It reminded me of another plastic flower bottle I had bookmarked one day.

Instead of using the top of the bottle like the Anthro crew, these flowers use the bottom. What do you think? Love them too? If you do, visit take a look at this blog post from Recycled Bride for directions on how to make a bunch of your own.

plastic bottle flowers from Recycled Bride

It’s crossed my mind that I may be an unofficial spokeswoman for Boulder’s Rags Consignments. Last Sunday I was at a tasting with clients. Before I knew it, the bride and I were chatting with another woman at the table and I was raving about Rags. It really is great. If you haven’t been, check it out.

One of the things I most love about the store is their ever-changing selection seems to always be full of fun, stylish pieces.

You can understand my excitement then when I found Recycled Bride the other day. It’s a site where couples list all kinds of used goods from their weddings. There are dresses, veils, shoes and, the best of the bunch in my opinion, decor and table items. I found listings for lanterns, chargers, Ball jars, and even some faux birch vases.

Purchasing gently used wedding decorations is a great way to make your big day a bit more green too. Your wallet and Mother Earth will thank you!

It might take a bit of patience and a bit of scouring to find your hidden treasure, but it’s certainly worth a look. Happy shopping!

I received an e-mail over the weekend from the amazing jeweler, Sarah Perlis. She’s offering 25% off all orders purchased until December 24th if you use the discount code Joy2009. Visit her site to go shopping and, if you don’t remember my initial confession of love for her work, check it out.

I’ve posted ideas on how to incorporate paper flowers and button bouquets into your wedding, but have not gone into the world on non-floral bouts. It’s a trend that seems to be growing, I would argue for good reason.

In order to save green and be more green, couples are opting to collect their RSVPs on-line as either an e-mail or through their wedding web site. It’s a great idea and, from an etiquette standpoint is a fine alternative to the traditional paper RSVP card, accompanying envelope and pre-paid postage. If you’re thinking of choosing this environmentally-friendly option to collect your RSVPs, keep in mind a couple of things:

• Despite getting the “ok” from etiquette experts, you still want to be discreet in how you mention the process on your invite. Think small and sweet or, include a small card (the size of a business card will work) in each envelope instructing guests how to reply.
• If any of your guests are over 70 or simply don’t use the computer, keep in mind that it will difficult if not impossible to follow your instructions. You may need to give these individuals a call; don’t leave it up to them to try and figure out how to send in their RSVP.
• Your invitation sets the tone for your wedding. If the invite and RSVP process are casual, it is fair that your guests will assume the entire affair follows suit. If you want formal attire, but are opting for an e-mail or on-line RSVP, you will need to clearly state this desire.

Whether on-line or traditional paper, collecting RSVPs can be a challenge. Talia Events is happy to collect and organize your replies, just give us a call to find out more.

RSVP card from Stelie Designs

This entry has been, if I’m honest, a Pandora’s Box. I’ve peripherally heard of conflict-free diamonds for a couple years and, like so many, watched Hollywood’s statement on the subject in Blood Diamonds.

Still, with just half an hour or so of research behind me, I’m completely overwhelmed by the human and environmental costs of mass diamond mining. I can’t help but also mention that there are equally as destructive practices surrounding the mining of gold, rubies, and emeralds around the world.

For the purposes of this posting, I’ll stick to diamonds, the details surrounding which are complicated. With a long history of fueling civil wars throughout the continent of Africa, the trade and purchase of diamonds is deep and convoluted. Even more murky are the answers to the questions surrounding which retailers support the “blood diamond” trade and how to find truly conflict-free diamonds.

The Conflict-Free Diamond Council is one resource available to discover more. They list a variety of startling and numbing statistics related to the diamond trade in Africa:

:: The Angola Civil War which torn open the land and its inhabitants with land mines, gave 60% control of the land’s diamonds to the rebel group and lasted from 1961-2002. That’s 41 years of war, more than my lifetime.
:: The war in the Democratic Republic of Congo killed approximately 3.3 million people.
:: The rebel group in Sierra Leone mined up to $125 million of diamonds annually during the 11-year war that tore apart that country. That’s one billion and $375 million dollars worth of diamonds.
:: Approximately 200,000 people died in two civil wars in Liberia.

These statistics are staggering and outline only the known human tolls. Not mentioned is the extensive environmental destruction caused by the actual mining practices and all the families and towns that have been torn apart by both.

One company endorsed by The Conflict-Free Diamond Council is Brillant Earth. Their site offers the chance to read more and “ooo and ahh” at all kinds of beautiful, responsible, pretty pieces.

Clearly, conflict-free diamonds are just as beautiful and equally as versatile. I hope you’ll consider purchasing conflict-free diamonds and do a bit of research into the materials used in the creation of your engagement and/or wedding ring, where they came from and who mined them.

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I was stopped short in my search for flower alternatives by button bouquets. Recently, I came across these paper beauties all over Martha Stewart Weddings.

Paper flowers have grown up from those little wrinkly pieces we created in grade school. From bouquet and bouts to reception decor and your cake, paper is perfectly pretty.

These are lovely, environmentally-friendly alternatives to fresh flowers. Incorporate them throughout your ceremony and reception, love them during the day and for weeks, months or years to come and pat yourself on the back when they finally head to the recycling bin!

all from Martha Stewart Weddings :: go there today for directions on how to create these beauties on your own