R & C Wedding : Green Wedding Links

July 16, 2008
orcas island, wa

*green wedding links*

I've done a fair amount of research prepping for my wedding, so I thought I'd share!
Here are some of the best resources I found for doing a sustainable, low-impact, environmental, ethical wedding!

wedding gowns

Organic, recycled, hemp, or otherwise sustainable wedding dresses!

Armour sans Anguish - gorgeous, unique, redesigned gowns using reclaimed vintage dresses and recycled bits.

Conscious Clothing - unique wedding and bridesmaids dresses sewn from hemp, silk, and organic cotton.

Olivia Luca - gorgeous bridal gowns and bridesmaids dresses, created by a designer from Portland, OR. Designs can be specified with fair-trade silk, organic cotton sateen, hemp/silk, hempcel, organic linen, or bamboo knit.

Tara Lynn - embellished hemp & hemp/silk wedding gowns.

Annatarian - making custom, eco-friendly wedding dresses

Threadhead Creations - "off-the-rack" and "design-your-own" options are available in organic cotton, hemp, peace silk, bamboo.

Brides Against Breast Cancer - the purchase of one of these designer or donated gowns will go toward supporting the Breast Cancer Foundation.

Posh Girl Vintage - take it back with these one of a kind vintage gowns.

Encore Bridal - nearly new couture gowns at somewhat reasonable prices.

Anna Cohen - a designer from Portland, Oregon, who designs custom sustainable wedding gowns.

Morgan Boszilkov - designer natural bridal gowns in sustainable fabrics, silk, hemp, designer donates portion of the profits to charity. Some designs have a detachable skirt, so you can wear them again as shorter versions!

Rene Geneva Design - designer two-piece, corset-top wedding gowns crafted with HempSilk.

Linda Loudermilk - a designer dedicated to luxury eco, with gowns made of bamboo, soya, and other sustainably grown fibers.

Deborah Lindquist - designs exquisite wedding gowns from vintage finds and organic fabrics.

bridesmaid dresses ^^ to top

Most of the designers listed above have options that would work as bridesmaids gowns. Below are some more options. But my general thought is the most important thing is to just make sure your bridesmaids would like to wear their dress again.

Earth Speaks - hemp, silk, organic cotton dresses.

The Hempest - simple, elegant hemp and bamboo dresses.

Greenloop - a great distributor of a variety of eco-minded high-end designers.

BTC Elements - Be The Change. Buy smart, sustainable styles using organic, recycled, or otherwise ecologically minded materials.

Ecoganik - a "fusion of fashion and eco-consciousness"
find a retailer near you.

Two Birds Bridesmaids - this wrap dress is designed to be worn in a variety of different ways . . . the idea being that everyone will end up with a versatile dress they can wear again.

Angela Johnson - have to put this somewhere. She makes amazing ball gown type dresses out of t-shirts and other reclaimed thrift store items. No two are alike!

Etsy - this site is essentially a network for buying and selling all things handmade!

rings ^^ to top

Beautiful wedding bands and engagement rings, without all the not-so-beautiful impacts of conventional ones. You've heard about blood diamonds, but did you know that it can take 30 tons of rock to produce a single gold ring? Below find jewelers using recycled gold, ethical diamonds, fair trade gemstones, alternative materials, or otherwise sustainable practices to make their engagement and wedding bands.

Brilliant Earth - Beautiful diamond and sapphire jewelry. All gems ethically sourced from Canada or Australia, from companies that use forward-thinking sustainable extraction processes. The gold or platinum settings are made with renewed metals, to help reduce the impacts of the mining industry worldwide.

Green Karat - A wide variety of jewelry made of recycled gold and reclaimed or lab-grown, gem quality diamonds. Many other unique options are available as well - such as petrified wood jewelry, or "pebble" rings - in which you send in stones of special significance to you and they convert them into a striped ring.

Dawes Design - Gorgeous, handcrafted jewelry with a "Sustainably Beautiful" principle. The designer sources only recycled gold, conflict free diamonds, and responsibly mined gemstones.

Sarah Perlis - Beautiful, handmade jewelry with an antique look. Her "In the Rough" collection uses recycled gold and ethical diamonds, panned from rivers (i.e. without all the chemicals typically used in mining).

Apollo Diamond - An alternative to mined diamonds, this company offers lab grown diamonds of equal quality to those found in nature. Also check out Adia and Moissanite for more lab-grown gems.

From the UK? Cred Jewelry and Ingle & Rhode source all their gold from environmentally responsible mines, and their diamonds from ethical enterprises.

Leber Jeweler - This jeweler's "Earthwise" collection uses reclaimed precious metals, conflict-free diamonds, and ethically sourced gemstones.

eBay - Tons of vintage, or used rings to be found here!

Want something unique? Try a wood ring from Chicago Joinery, Touch Wood, or Simply Wood. Or stop by Cocoloco - they have coconut bands.

Want to do some more research? First stop, No Dirty Gold, second stop, the Kimberley Process for ethical diamonds.

invitations ^^ to top

These invitation printers offer recycled papers, alternative papers (such as cotton & hemp), and/or soy-based inks!

Earthly Affair - beautiful, simple invitations on 100% recycled paper using environmentally friendly printing techniques.

Oblation Papers - simple, elegant designs on handmade recycled cotton paper.

Seal-N-Send - paper-saving invitations that combine the invite and envelope into one. Some recycled papers are available!

Invitesite - offers many of its invitations in tree-free or recycled papers.

Joy by Mel Lim - custom wedding invitations printed on 30% post-consumer recycled paper.

Shindig - beautiful invites by a company dedicated to environmental sustainability.

Flora & Fauna Press - an L.A. based letterpress company that uses "tree-free" cotton paper.

Greg Barber Co. - printing services on recycled, chlorine-free paper with soy based inks.

Greenfield Paper - customized soy-ink invitations on recycled, earth-dyed paper in select styles. Company offsets its electricity use with wind-energy credits!

Natural Press - an Oregon based company using only recycled paper and soy-based inks.

Blush Paper - letterpress printing on organic tree-free and recycled papers!

Twisted Limb Paperworks - designs and prints custom wedding stationary. Also sells recycled, handmade paper!

Hand Maiden Cards - handmade cards from Portland, OR, printed on recycled or "tree-free" papers.

Invitation Consultants - the "eco-friendly" section of their website offers invitation styles on recycled papers.

En Masse Printing - a printing service that uses 100% post-consumer recycled paper.

Greener Printer - a Bay-area company that uses 100% wind power, and is FSC certified.

paper
(make your own invitations!) ^^ to top

Treecycle - distributor sells a wide array of recycled papers, cardstock and envelopes, both in muted, and brighter tones.

Twisted Limb Paperworks - handmade papers, recycled cardstock & envelopes.

Neenah Paper - offering recycled and FSC certified papers and cardstock in many colors!

Wausau Paper - this Wisconsin based company offers Green Seal and FSC certified paper, cardstock, and envelopes in a veritable rainbow of colors and styles. Available through various retailers.

CTI Paper - Purchases 100% wind energy to power all their facilities, and offers 30% post-consumer recycled content and SFI certified papers.

Mowhawk Paper Mills - offers 30% post-consumer recycled paper, and offsets its energy use with wind energy credits!

Johnson Paper- distributor offering a wide selection of recycled and tree-free papers from a number of manufacturers.

Living Tree Paper - recycled paper, cardstock etc.

Plantable Papers - handmade paper with embedded flower seeds.

Tree Beginnings Inc. - these flower petal and seed laden papers can be printed, sent and then planted by your guests!

food ^^ to top

Guides to eating organically, locally, seasonally, vegetarian/vegan and otherwise sustainably!
If you're getting your reception catered, check with your caterer to see if they can source ingredients organically or locally.

Sustainable Table : Eat Seasonally -
A nice list of links to seasonal eating tips by state. Unfortunately for Arizona, their link is down =(

Food Network : What's In Season -
Not divided by state, but a nice, photo-rich resource for U.S. fruits and vegetables.

Organic Consumers Association -
Check out their Buying Guide to see where to get organic produce.

Depending on where you live, you might be able to find an environmentally minded caterer. In the San Francisco area, check out Back to Earth, Organic Chef, or The Green Table, in Portland, look to Phresh. L.A. is home to Seedling Organic Catering. In Seattle look for offerings from Organic To Go, Herban Feast, Portage Bay Cafe, or Ravishing Radish. Can you tell I'm a West Coast girl?

drinks ^^ to top

When choosing the beverages for your wedding, it helps to go organic, local, or otherwise sustainable.

WINES
Be aware that there are several different kinds of organic when talking about wines. "Organically grown grapes" means that the grapes used in the wine were grown sustainably. 'Organic Wine" means that not only were the grapes grown organically, but preservatives such as sulfites were not added in the winemaking process.
"Biodynamic" wines follow even stricter environmental standards.

In California, there are quite a number of organic vineyards and wine labels. I list some below.
Some of the most affordable (under $15/bottle) include: Bonterra (Ukiah), Barra (Redwood Valley), Coates Vineyards (Orleans) Fitzpatrick Winery (Fair Play) Frey (Redwood Valley), La Rocca Vineyards (Forest Ranch), Sunce (Santa Rosa).
Slightly more expensive ($15-25/bottle) are: Benziger (Glen Ellen), Casa Barranca (Ojai), Ceago Vinegarden (Nice), Charles Krug (Napa), Del Bondio (Napa), De Tierra (Salinas), Everett Ridge (Healdsburg) Fasi Estate (Madera), Four Gates Wine (Santa Cruz), Frog's Leap (Mill Creek), Handley Cellars (Philo) Heller Estate (Carmel Valley), Lavender Ridge (Murphys), Lolonis (Redwood Valley) Muir-Hanna (Napa), Retzlaff (Livermore), Robert Mondavi (Oakville), Robert Sinskey Vineyards (Napa), Silver Mountain Vineyards (Santa Cruz), Sunstone Winery (Santa Ynes), Volker Eisele (St. Helena), White Rock Vineyards (Napa), Yorkville Cellars (Yorkville).
Other companies have partially-organic operations, or have otherwise sustainable practices: Fetzer (Hopland).

In Washington State, look to Badger Mountain Vineyards (Columbia Valley), and China Bend (Kettle Falls), or the distributor: Mad Wine.

Look for international organic wines here:
The Organic Wine Company, Organic Wine Press, Organic Vintners

Looking for more ideas?
CA Wine Mall, GreenGuide, and the CCOF have links to more organic vineyards and winemakers. Fork & Bottle lists biodynamic producers.

Buying a lot? Need a discount?
Try searching for organic wines on these sites:
Wine Searcher, WineRx, Organic Wine Press, Wine Access, Empire Wine, Diamond Organics, Pure Vine Wines, Valley Wine & Spirits, Shoppers Vineyard, Fine Wine House, The Wine Buyer, The Wine Club.

transportation ^^ to top

Minimizing fossil fuel use is always a good idea. Hold the ceremony and reception at the same locale to minimize transit time. Encourage public transportation use, arrange a shuttle, or offer to help guests organize carpools.

Space Share - set up a ride share and/or room share webpage with this company, to help your guests coordinate carpools online.

carbon offsets ^^ to top

Despite all our best efforts, let's face it, weddings still use a lot of energy. From the flights required by distant guests, to the transport of food, the electricity used to cook, to the lighting of the reception hall, there's a lot of fossil fuel burned. One way to help reduce this impact is to purchase carbon offsets, which go to fund clean energy projects and carbon reduction programs. Although going carbon-neutral can be tough to do, its worth a try!

CarbonFund - Go for a ZeroCarbon wedding. CarbonFund uses your donation to support renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects.

Native Energy - Portovert (a green wedding magazine) has partnered with Native Energy to offer a wedding carbon calculator and offset program to cover guest travel and accommodations and reception hall. Donations to Native Energy go toward funding wind and farm methane projects.

Terrapass - Calculate your wedding carbon footprint with their handy calculator (includes travel and hotel room energy use only). Then buy a Terrapass to offset this impact. Donations go toward funding wind power, farm methane capture, and landfill gas capture.

gift registries ^^ to top

There are a lot of stores which now offer more sustainably minded alternatives to traditional housewares, and other wedding gifts. Another great way to go is asking for donations to charitable causes.

I-Do Foundation: If you sign up with these folks, a certain percentage of the profits from your guests' purchases will be donated to charity. Many retailers participate, including Target, REI, Linens & Things, Mikasa, GAIAM, and Cooking.com.

Viva Terra : handcrafted, environment-friendly dinnerware, glasses, bath towels, etc.

GreenFeet : sustainable pots, pans, kitchen towels, bowls, utensils, cutting boards, pitchers, food storage.

Global Exchange : fair trade teapots, napkins, salt & pepper shaker, baskets etc.

10,000 Villages : fair trade artisan furniture and decor

Pangaya: organic and otherwise sustainable clothing, bedding, tableware, and decor.

GAIAM: a large selection of eco home, outdoor, fitness, apparel, and solar products.

Plates with a Purpose: recycled glass placeware. Part of the proceeds go to benefit various Pittsburg charities.

Daiseye: furniture, decor, tableware and other houseware for a sustainable lifestyle.

Etsy: find all sorts of handmade items here

Eco-Artware: gifts from recycled, reused and natural materials.

honeymoon ^^ to top

A trip planned close to home (i.e. that doesn't require travel by plane) is obviously a great way to minimize the environmental impacts of your honeymoon. But there are other considerations as well. Does the hotel support local communities, or do most of the profits end up in the hands of wealthy international owners? Is the food provided by the restaurants organic, local? Does your resort recycle, minimize energy and water use, use renewable energy, grow its own food, or actively seek to preserve the local ecosystem?
Look below for links to ecotourism resorts, and sites with more information about sustainable travel:

RESORTS
When searching for a hotel, search for one participating in ecotourism. There are many options out there, all across the globe. Here's a few ideas to get you started . . .

Maho Bay Camp - This green resort on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands was built with the environment in mind from the first. Elevated walkways and treehouse-like rooms offer guests great views while minimizing impacts on the ecosystem below. Waste glass is recycled into art, the complex is A/C free, produces solar electricity, and collects rainwater.

7 Romantic, Earth-Friendly Resorts - Gaiam suggests 7 resorts for an environmentally sensitive honeymoon: Maho Bay, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, Uno Lodge at Copper Canyon, Mexico, Jean-Michael Cousteau's Fiji Resort, Eden Beach Hotel on Bora Bora, Yacuntinga Lodge in Argentina, and any of the Six Senses Resorts.

Travel & Leisure's 20 favorite Green Hotels - Be aware that these eco-resorts can come at a high cost!

MORE INFO
Want more info, check out these sites, or do your own search with one of these search terms: ecotourism, eco-resorts, community-based travel, responsible tourism, sustainable travel.

Sustainable Travel International - promoting responsible tourism, ecotourism and sustainable development. Offers advisory services, an eco-directory of sustainable tourist destinations & services, and carbon offsetting.

Responsible Travel - a UK site promoting "holidays that give the world a break."

International Ecotourism Society - find an Eco-trip

Travel Tips - Gaiam lists some things you can do to minimize your travel impacts.

Conservation International : Ecotourism - promoting responsible travel to preserve ecosystems and improve the welfare of local people.

The Blue Flag Programme - works with beaches and marinas to support sustainable preservation and development.

other green wedding websites ^^ to top

Need more tips? check out these pages:

TreeHugger - How to Green Your Wedding:
As always, treehugger serves up a great source for practical info on how to do things more green.

Portovert
A new, online, green-wedding magazine, with a great searchable database of vendors.

Eco-Chic Weddings
A great blog-style resource from Emily Anderson.

Great Green Weddings
Some nice info, and a great forum.

Nice Day for a Green Wedding (Seattle)
Times article.

Green Weddings with Carol-Reed Jones
A great collection of articles, and message board topics at the Eco-Living Center.

Sierra Club: 10 Steps to a Green Wedding
The Sierra Club with some tips to get you started!

Green Guide : 3 Rs of Wedded Bliss
Some quick tips and resources from greenguide.

Green Partying : 5 Easy Steps
Another great resource from greenguide.

Co-op America : Green Pages
This is a wonderful database for finding vendors of green and ethically made products - everything from paper, to clothing, to food!

A Low Impact Wedding Blog
One couple's search for a low-impact wedding.

Ethical Weddings
Give everyone something to celebrate!
This resource would be particularly helpful for those living in the U.K.

Offbeat Bride - Eco Wedding Posts
Folks share on how to green a wedding.

Register it Local
A green wedding blog

DIY Brides - Eco Bride:
One more blog!

Vowing to Be Green:
An article by Seattle's Conscious Choice magazine.

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