Eco-Vintage Weddings

Our Wedding: Wedding Shoes – Part II!

Remember my lamentations about wedding shoes? Well, I think I’ve found a swoon-worthy alternative for trendy sky-high shoes:  Etsy seller OxfordHeaven!

OxfordHeaven crafts fun refashioned & vintage shoes & accessories for your closet. From Rachael, the brains behind OxfordHeaven:  I always think it is unfair that little girls have amazingly fun little shoes, so grown-up girls need something pretty in their lives, too.

I’ve already requested my custom pair of shoes – low heels/wedges in a sunshine yellow color! I can’t wait to work with Rachael on customizing my wedding shoes.

Check out more delightful beauties on OxfordHeaven’s Flickr page!

[All photos courtesy of OxfordHeaven on Etsy]

Green Friday: Eco-Friendly Shoes!

While searching Etsy for shoes to wear for our wedding, I came across Hydra Heart, which offers handmade vegan eco-friendly shoes for brides and consumers alike! These shoes are intended for both indoor and outdoor use, and are 100% vegan and organic.

Hydra Heart uses exclusive original designs taken from hand-drafted patterns. From redefined Mary Janes to custom bridal flats, Hydra Heart has something for everyone!

Check out Hydra Heart on Etsy here.

Green Friday: The Importance of Etsy & eBay

In the past few weeks, I’ve purchased the following items from Etsy: gifts for my bridesmaids, a fascinator which I plan to wear in my hair at our wedding, mini-valentines that are plantable (!!), and a lovely vintage hat for our photobooth. I’m also in talks with another artist on Etsy about having her craft dresses for our flower girls (more on this soon!).

But, given all of these purchases from Etsy, I got to thinking about how supporting the work of artists is another way to ”greenify” your wedding.

I read on blog after blog about the importance of supporting local artists/vendors when selecting who you’d like to help you on your wedding day. But isn’t the importance of supporting artists IN GENERAL, local or not, also important, given the alternative (investing in the lackluster mission of chain stores by purchasing pre-packaged, assembly-line-produced merchandise)?

I also thought more about eBay. eBay is literally an online thrift store full of items begging to be refurbished and reused. Instead of purchasing a brand new wedding dress, some brides select vintage or preowned gowns from eBay or other sites. Furthermore, by investing in collectible items, such as vintage typewriters, vintage hankies and much more, brides have the opportunity to perpetuate and honor the history of these items. What can be more “green” than that?

There needs to be more discussion of alternatives to greenifying America’s weddings. It’s not simply about recycled paper, soy-based ink and organic food; it’s more about making conscious, easy choices with the environment in mind.

What do you think? How are you “greenifying” your wedding?

Our Wedding: DIY Projects Update!

Happy Tuesday, readers! I hope today is happy for you – Tuesdays are usually happy for me: any day is better than Monday in my book!

With approximately five months until the wedding, I wanted to give you all a glimpse into what I’ve accomplished these past few weeks. I’ve hit the wedding planning hard, and I’m very proud of what projects I’ve started and finished! Many thanks to my wonderful friends and family for their help, as well as my future husband – I couldn’t do any of this without you!

- I’ve lined envelopes for our Save the Date cards and for the invitations for my bachelorette party (which will most likely be in June).
- I’ve made invitations for my bachelorette party, which I’ll be showcasing for you all tomorrow!
- Our Save the Date cards are nearly complete; I am VERY happy with the finished product, and I can’t wait to show the fruits of our efforts to you all next week!
- We’ve downloaded templates for our rehearsal dinner invitations and for our gift opening invitations; all we need are the details, and they’ll be ready to print!
- I’ve made little “favors” of sorts for our wedding; I’m anxious to show these to you near the end of February!
- We’ve taken profile photos of our entire wedding party, and I’m almost ready to talk with Jordan about what I’m concepting for our wedding ceremony programs.
- I’ve purchased large rectangles of styrofoam, which I will adorn with moss and turn into monograms that will hang by ribbon on the church doors!
- I’ve purchased two large bags of fabric pom poms; I am currently researching making DIY paper cones full of pom poms that our ushers will pass out to guests after our ceremony. I love these little pom poms!
- I purchased my flower fascinator from Etsy, and I can’t wait until it arrives!
- I purchased lace trim to use when making my throw-away garter.
- I’m in the beginning stages of making a few special items for my bridesmaids, including a very exciting purchase of gifts from Etsy! No more for now, can’t take the chance that I’d ruin the surprise!
- I’m in talks with a wonderful Etsy artist about making dresses for our flower girls; I’m a few decisions away from nailing down exactly what we’re looking for!
- My mother and I made a trip to a few area fabric stores last week, and I think we’ve found the fabric that we’ll use to make napkins for our wedding reception. I can’t wait to get this fabric purchased and get started on making these eco-friendly goodies!
- I have added a base coat of cream paint to 15 wooden letter “G’s” (these will be part of our centerpieces); they look great, and I can’t wait to add more treatments to these letters!
- J and I have FINALLY nailed down a design for our wedding invitations; now, all we need to do is add the text to the invitation, and then we can begin working on the supplemental materials for our invitations!

Whew! Looking at this list, I feel SO proud of all of the work we’ve started and finished.

What projects are YOU currently working on for your wedding?

Showcase Wednesday: Untamed Petals

Good Wednesday morning! Today I’d like to showcase yet another Etsy seller, Untamed Petals.

Untamed Petals‘ shop is full of vintage-inspired accessories, from headbands to hair fascinators to sashes and belts.

If, like me, your idea of bridal attire is not the traditional tulle gown with a long cathedral veil, you’ll fall in love with Untamed Petals‘ shop.

Here’s a few of my favorite pieces from her shop:

As featured on Green Wedding Shoes last week, this super cute, large floral headband made its debut in an anniversary shoot featuring Green Wedding Shoes’ Jen and her hubby (which, if you haven’t checked this feature out yet, you MUST; Part I here, Part II here).

If you do like the look of a traditional bridal tiara or headband, this piece is a play on tradition. I love the way this double-banded headband looks on this short-haired model; how beautiful!

If I decide to change the look of my wedding gown in any way, it would be to add this belt. I just LOVE the way it looks on the featured dress in the photo, and I think it would look just as lovely on my wedding gown.

Click here to access Untamed Petals’ shop on Etsy!

[Photo credits: All photos via Untamed Petals on Etsy; second photo taken by Caroline Tran]

Green Friday: Our Green Wedding Pledge

Happy Friday, readers! I am SO anxious for the weekend, even if I still have two shifts of work left. I may not have told you all that in December, I began working at Gymboree, the kids’ clothing store, here in our local mall. It’s a fun job, and is especially a nice break from the day-to-day office setting of my full-time job!

As I mentioned last week, today I’m ready to share with you all what Jordan and I are committed to doing to ensure that our wedding is “greener” than the average wedding affair. While I realize that we could be making more sacrifices that we are, Jordan and I feel comfortable with the choices we’re making thus far in our planning.

So, here’s our green wedding pledge:

1. We will inquire about and utilize recycled paper materials as much as we are able. I have already contacted a graphic designer at my father’s company (where our stationery will be printed) to investigate what our options are for recycled paper.

2. We will inquire about and utilize locally grown or organic food as much as our budget allows. I have already contacted our event coordinator at the Washington Pavilion, where our wedding reception will be held, about our caterers using locally grown or organic food. While we are on a very strict budget for our entire wedding planning, I am hopeful that our caterers will come back with a competitive quote.

3. We will incorporate plantable paper in at least one way throughout our wedding stationery. I love the symbolism behind the paper (just like our love is blooming, so will our guests’ flowers!), and it reinforces the purpose of renewable goods.

4. We will incorporate locally grown flowers as much as possible. My Mom and I have discussed the possibility of planting a wildflower garden in our backyard this summer from which we would take flowers for our reception decor. We also have beautiful peonies that bloom in our yard that we’re going to attempt to keep alive through the heat of summer. Last, as one of my dear friends mentioned to me in the past few weeks, sunflowers grow wild EVERYWHERE in South Dakota, and it wouldn’t be difficult at all to pick some, dress them up with ribbon and give them to my bridesmaids to carry.

5. While at this point I don’t believe we’ll be incorporating wedding favors, if we do decide to give our guests favors, they will be locally grown or locally handmade. I firmly believe in investing in the local economy!

6. We are utilizing my mother’s birdhouse collection as our reception decor, and are therefore eliminating extraneous waste or costs associated with renting/purchasing and then inevitably disposing of centerpieces.

7. We are supporting handmade goods by purchasing wedding accessories from Etsy. In the coming months, my veil and fascinator will be purchased via Tessa Kim’s shop on Etsy. In addition to those accessories, I also hope to purchase our guest book (remember this stump-inspired beauty?), jewelry for my bridesmaids, our cake topper, tutus for our flower girls, and monogrammed cuff links for our groomsmen from Etsy.

8. My Mom and I plan to make handmade napkins and handmade bout’s for our wedding day. By sewing our own napkins we A) cut down on rental costs at our reception venue, and B) eliminate waste that would be created by using paper napkins. By making bout’s for our guys out of fabric and/or non-floral material, we will again cut down on waste and will utilize renewable goods to accomplish the same effect as floral bout’s.

9. Jordan and I plan to build a photobooth to provide our guests with endless merriment at our wedding reception. I originally hoped to build our photobooth using found materials, and while that might still be possible, I am thinking of other ways to make our photobooth project green. As a start, we will be reusing our engagement session props for our photobooth (2 hearts on sticks, 2 mustaches on sticks, chalkboard + chalk). We also will be using a digital camera and tripod that Jordan’s family already owns, therefore cutting down on the waste that would be created if we utilized disposable cameras!

10. Last, I have a dream of being married by candlelight. I’m dreaming of an evening wedding (maybe 6:00 or 7:00), and being surrounded by candles. However, the candles we will utilize will be either soy or beeswax (lead-free, long-burning, made from renewable resources, not petroleum/paraffin).

How are YOU making your wedding green?

I’d love to hear from you!

[Photo via Dream Green Weddings by Caroline Ghetes]

Showcase Wednesday: Tessa Kim’s Etsy Shop!

Good Wednesday morning to you all!

Today I wanted to share a wonderful Etsy vendor with you. I came across Tessa Kim’s Etsy shop on one of my marathon searches for birdcage veils. Since our wedding is a combination of vintage and rustic elements, I have known for some time that I wanted a birdcage veil.

Tessa Kim’s Etsy shop offers AMAZING handmade veils at seriously competitive prices.

Here’s a few of my favorites:

I just love this bandeau birdcage veil! I tried on a veil like this one while on one of my many shopping trips for a bridal gown, and I am so happy to report that it looks great with my facial structure! I wouldn’t be surprised if I ended up sporting a veil like this on our wedding day.

This veil comes as a package deal with the beautiful fascinator flower you see in this photo – all for only $94.00! Since bridal salons usually charge upwards of $100.00 alone for a veil, Tessa Kim’s shop is a total bargain!

This veil is a more whimsical choice for brides:  the veil material is embellished with chenille dots to give it a polka-dot appearance!

Click over to Tessa Kim’s Etsy shop before January 1, 2010 to receive $10.00 off of your order!

I’m signing off for the week to enjoy the New Year – see you next week with new posts!

[All photos via Tessa Kim's Etsy shop]

Showcase Wednesday: Bowtie Fun!

Today’s post is all about fun ways to dress the guys in your wedding!

I honestly have always loved the idea of bowties, even before J and I got engaged and decided to have a vintage-inspired wedding. To me, bowties always reflect the whimsical aspect of getting all gussied up, and since our wedding is part rustic, part whimsy and all parts love, having our guys don bowties is a fitting choice!

I came across the Me & Matilda shop on Etsy one day when looking for bowties, and, let me tell you this:  Me & Matilda makes bowties for EVERY occassion! Whether you’re attending a Christmas party, or its a wedding party you’re looking to dress, look no further than Me & Matilda. From ready-to-ship bowties to custom-made pieces utilizing your wedding colors, Me & Matilda does it all. The shop has even been featured in Brides Magazine, and a feature is forthcoming in The Knot’s wedding magazine!

Click here to view Me & Matilda on Etsy!

Happy Christmas to you all – I’m signing off until December 28. Wishing you and yours a wonderful, restful holiday season!

[Photo courtesy of Me&Matilda on Etsy]

Showcase Wednesday: Frenchie & Flea!

Photo courtesy of Frenchie & Flea’s shop on Etsy.com

Today I am excited to feature Frenchie & Flea, two AMAZINGLY creative Etsy sellers who are currently running a Handmade Holidays 2009 giveaway extravaganza in the month of December!

Check out their Etsy shop here, and their blog here! Today’s giveaway: a customized rubber stamp (jump on this, brides-to-be!).

Have a great rest of your Wednesday!

Green Post: Black Friday Shopping Tips

Good Monday morning, readers! I hope you all had a blissful weekend – I spent the last few days with J, with friends, and with Jim and Pam of The Office…needless to say, I pretty much checked out over the weekend and didn’t do any wedding planning at all! It was very relaxing.

A note about blog posts this week: in addition to the post below, I will put up a post tomorrow (Tuesday), but that’s it – I’m taking a long weekend to enjoy time with family and celebrate what we have to be thankful for this year. I encourage you to do the same!

The Thanksgiving holiday promises yet another exciting day – Black Friday. Two years ago, J and I got up early on Black Friday just to see what we could find, and he purchased our kitchen table (a black pub-style table; very fun!) and I scored a killer pair of black boots on clearance. But this year, J and I have more ambitious plans. A few months ago, J and I decided that we are going to try to purchase our wedding bands on Black Friday. We’ve never been on such a specific mission (as I said, two years ago we shopped for the fun of it), but I am eager to scour the ads on Thanksgiving Day and define our plan of attack.

That being said, this year on Black Friday, J and I are going to make a special effort to “green-ify” our shopping. Here’s a few tips for you on how to make your holiday shopping greener:

1. Bring along your own shopping bags. J and I both purchased green canvas bags from our local grocery store, and this year, we’re going to put them to good use. By eliminating the amount of plastic you take home from the store, you inevitably reduce the carbon footprint of your own family (fewer plastic bags to throw away) and of your community!
2. Bring along water in your own bottle. We all know that shopping can be tiring sometimes, especially when you’re standing in line forever at Best Buy waiting to purchase those seasons of The Office on DVD! Instead of just buying a bottle of water at one of the stores on your list, bring along your own bottle of water. You’re again eliminating waste by not consuming water out of the plastic bottle! Put ice in it to keep it cool, and stick it in your purse.
3. Take advantage of Black Friday sales; invest in a water purifier. This point ties into #2, but it’s worth making. By running tap water through a purifier, you’re eliminating the need for bottled water.
4. Purchase eco-friendly holiday gifts. This year, I plan to purchase many of my holiday gifts from Etsy, which is literally an online marketplace full of beautiful and creative handmade goods. However, I am also in the process of making a gift for my father’s 8 brothers and sisters (my aunts and uncles) using recycled and/or upcycled materials. If you’re looking for eco-friendly items to give as gifts, you can also check out the Eco-Mall directory.
5. Carpool on Black Friday. This is the easiest way to reduce the amount of fossil fuels and pollution in the air, and is also the most fun! Shopping + time with family and relatives is always a recipe for fun.

I hope these tips will be helpful to you – happy shopping!

Photo courtesy of www.consumerreports.org