A Few Innovative Ideas to Make Your Wedding Friendly to Mother Earth by Bethany Ramos

More and more couples these days are becoming eco-conscious in their everyday decisions, which becomes even more important and relevant when planning a wedding. If you dream of a beautiful wedding to your Prince Charming that also benefits Mother Earth, here are a few ideas for inspiration:

• Invitations: It helps to look for recycled paper as material for your wedding invitations since we all know that a full-blown wedding invitation package can generate quite a lot of wasted paper, such as the save-the-date cards, invitations, RSVP cards, registry cards, envelopes, and more. Luckily, there are quite a few choices in recycled invitations that also have a beautiful and earthy look to them if you are going for a natural theme for your wedding.

• Flowers: Aren’t flowers natural already? That may not necessarily be the case since many beautiful wedding flowers are actually imported, causing them to have a serious carbon footprint. Unless the flowers are organic, they are also grown with chemical pesticides that pollute the environment. Your best choice in securing beautiful floral arrangements for your wedding is to choose organic flowers that are locally grown, or you can even pick some from your own garden for your bouquet or centerpieces!

• Rings: What’s the big deal with buying a beautiful engagement ring and wedding band? The truth is that the mining of gold and silver can actually destroy the land and surrounding ecosystems, but there are quite a few choices in environmentally friendly wedding bands. You can search specifically for eco-friendly gold and silver jewelry, which will give you a better idea of the ecological footprint made by your beautiful diamond ring.

• Honeymoon: The honeymoon is normally the one area where couples go crazy and spend quite a bit of money, but you can be the one to do it differently. There are numerous choices in eco-tourism getaways, where you can hike and enjoy areas of North America, which will also give you a great opportunity to stay fit through biking, hiking, and walking. Make sure to research honeymoons that are off of the beaten path so that you can minimize your carbon emissions by choosing a natural vacation over a cruise or huge resort.

• Food: The last thing that you can do to wrap up your complete environmentally friendly wedding package is to donate your extra food to a soup kitchen. This is a fantastic way to share the love by giving the decadent treats from your reception to those who are not as fortunate as you. This is a fun way to turn your wedding reception into a “feel good” event, and you can also take optional donations for the homeless shelter if you would like!


Bethany Ramos is a professional wedding makeup artist and also works full-time at her website, The Coffee Bump.

For a great selection of the Bodum french press coffee maker, check out Bethany Ramos' website today!

Real Green Weddings: Eating Utensils from Ecoware

http://www.ecowareproducts.com/

Ecoware compostable birch wood cutlery info:

*compostable

*recyclable

*100% natural

*no additives, coatings, or other ingredients

*Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified birch wood

*cheaper than renting flatware/silverware

*unique and charming

*family run company

*Top 5 Best Eco-friendly Product in 2010

*Featured in New York Times

Real Green Wedding Favors from Tree Beginnings

Check out these beautiful sunflower seed favors from Tree Beginnings.

The set comes with:

Sunflower seeds in packet (2 x 2") - hermetically sealed to preserve freshness

Personalized paper card (2 x 2 ") with sunflower graphic

Thank you message

Poem

Growing instructions

Terra Cotta Clay pot

Soil pellet,

Recycled paper brown (3 x 3") box

Your choice of raffia ribbon (oatmeal, yellow, pink, royal blue or forest green- we lucked out and got lavender to match the wedding colors)

Assembly required * video now available by email on how to assemble when order is placed.

Storage:

Seed needs to be stored in a cool (refrigerator), dry place to preserve the viability of the seed prior to assembly no more than 5 days prior to your event.

I think these cute little gift boxes will look very adorable lining the tables like a table runner straight down the middle of the long tables.

What do you think?

Real Green Wedding Invitations from Twisted Limb Paperworls

Check out the gorgeous and so very eco invitations for my mom's wedding.

Aren't they beautiful?

They are from Twisted Limb Paperworks.

Twisted Limb creates handmade invitations from recycled paper.

Check out this description from their site:

Twisted Limb Paperworks is a carbon-neutral production art studio in Bloomington, Indiana. Here we sustainably create our colorful handmade 100% recycled paper using old colored office paper and grocery bags, recycled water, and inclusions of flowers, wildflower seeds, and grass from our lawn.

We received the foldover invitations in lavender and sagebrush.

They have a gorgeous assortment of colors.

Foldover invitation sample

Lavender and Sagebrush color samples

I am so in love with these invitations.

They make me wish I was getting married again.

Maybe the hubby and I have a vow renewal in our future :-)

Winter Wonderland Wedding Tips

Winter Wedding Wonderland
Advice on how to heat up your winter wedding

The weather outside is frightful, but that doesn’t mean your wedding can’t be delightful. Simply Perfect by Melissa has great ideas to turn your wedding day into a winter wonderland. She offers her expert advice on all the essentials of wedding day planning and will help create a wedding that is sure to give you goose bumps.

Here are Melissa’s terrific tips

Décor:

Use oversized crystal vases to hold flowers- the crystal will mimic ice. Another option is to add handing crystals to centerpieces or your ceremony background to add some glimmer.

Candles, candles, and more candles. The winter is perfect for candlelight ambiance. It is warm, inviting, and wonderfully romantic…everything that is needed for a cold evening celebrating love.

Velvet…this is the perfect time of year to use velvet. Your table linens or even the aisle runner are the perfect place to use this lush fabric.

Attire:

Larger ball gowns made of satin are perfect this time of year. They are made of a heavier fabric that is not so good for the summer months. The sheen of satin and the glitz of crystal adornments is perfect for the winter bride.

Gowns with sleeves are also perfect for the winter and they are growing in popularity. For practical reasons, they add warmth…but they also lend themselves well to the season. Sleeves gowns come in a variety of shapes from ball gowns to sheathes.

Bridesmaids look great in deep plums, navy blues, silver/grays, or even doing a bridal party in whites or ivories. These dresses may also have sleeves for the season, or accessorized with fun faux furs or pashminas.

More for pictures…brides are wearing practical footwear when out in the snow taking their pictures. Choose a pair of warm boots to wear and they will add a fun touch to your pictures.

Stationary:

Use thick cardstock with letterpress writing.

Have the invitation etched on acrylic.

Beverages:

Create a signature drink for later in the evening.

Add a warm cocktail to the menu (Hot Chocolate with Peppermint Schnapps, Irish coffee).

About Simply Perfect:

Simply Perfect by Melissa works for and with their customers to deliver exceptional event coordination solutions. The customer focus helps them to understand and deliver your event vision. They offer exceptional service, value, extensive industry knowledge, and quality vendor relationships to create your Simply Perfect event. Their relationships with clients, colleagues, and partners are based on collaboration, communication and integrity. The services Simply Perfect by Melissa offers is a range from complete wedding planning months prior to your wedding day to sudden problems or challenges that occur the day of your wedding

Eco-Friendly Nail Polish from Soulstice Spa

If you are looking for eco-friendly nail polish, either to make your beauty routine a little more green or to give for a gift, then be sure to check out Soulstice Nail Colour.

Soulstice nail colours are gorgeous, modern shades that offer long-lasting colour and shine.

They are 100% vegan and free of DBP, toluene & formaldehyde.

And they are made in the USA.

Here's a list of their shades

Hana - A sheer fairy dust.
Monaco - Delicate, sheer baby pink.
Odessa - Seashell pearl.
Kyoto - Cherry blossom pink with a sheer, silvery shimmer.
Vienna - A sheer lavender with a hint of golden shimmer.
Prague - A rich, honeyed peach.
Paris - A true pink rose.
Geneva - A glossy plum. Urban pop.
London - A vibrant, modern rose.
Rio - Sun-kissed coral shine.
Milan - A sophisticated red-bronze.
Madrid - A passionate red shine.
Buenos Aires - A sultry tango red-orange.
Hong Kong - A polished deep red with a touch of shimmer.
Rome - A classic brick red.
Cassis - Blackberry shine.
Tokyo - Deep plum-bronze.
Kiev - A rich, dark garnet.
Crete - A mythic metallic silver.
Gotham - Black noir.
Glass - A clear shine/topcoat treatment.

Here'a full list of ingredients:

Nail Colour Ingredients:Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Phthalic Anhydride/Trimellitic Anhydride/Glycols Copolymer, Isopropyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Adipic Acid/Fumaric Acid/Phthalic Acid/Tricyclodecane Dimethanol Copolymer, Citric Acid

May Contain:

Titanium dioxide, D&C Red #6 Barium Lake, D&C Red #7 Calcium Lake, D&C Red #34 Calcium Lake, FD&C Yellow #5 Aluminum Lake, D&C Yellow #10 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Blue #1 Aluminum Lake, Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide, Red Iron Oxide, Black Iron Oxide, Guanine, Bismuth Oxychloride, Mica, D&C Violet #2, D&C Red #17, D&C Red #33, D&C Yellow #11, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Green #3, D&C Green #6, D&C Yellow #10, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate (and) Titanium Dioxide (and) Tin Oxides, Silica (and) Aluminum Powder (and) Iron Oxides, Aluminum Powder, Fragrance

I love that they offer full disclosure of ingredients while making sure that the worst chemicals like formaldehyde and toluene are out of their products.

I had the chance to try their product and I love it. The polish goes on smooth, doesn't stink and lasts a long time without chipping, peeling or fading.

I plan to invest in several more colours from their line.

If you're ready to green your beauty products then I highly recommend Soulstice Nail Colour.

Dermazone O-Plex Acne Treatment System

The Dermazone O-PLEX Acne Treatment System is formulated with natural oregano oil and other natural ingredients to help fight acne without harsh chemicals.

There are three main products in the acne treatment system- the O-PLEX wash, the O-PLEX mist and the O-PLEX control. All three harness the power of natural oregano oil to fight acne. Dermazone calls their oregano oil

the Origanum complex. The Origanum complex helps inhibit P. acne bacteria while retexturing skin's surface. The O-PLEX mist and O-PLEX control both use Lyphazomes to deliver the Origanum complex for long lasting hydration.

In addition to the oregano oil (Origanum complex) the one or all of the O-PLEX products contain: tea tree oil, sweet orange oil, sweet marjoram oil, Egyptian geranium oil, and salicylic acid.

The O-PLEX wash is simple to use just dampen skin and rub in a circular motion over the entire face then rinse. This will help unclog pores and get rid of acne bacteria without drying skin.

The O-PLEX mist treats the skin. To use spray on a cotton pad and apply to face. You may feel a warming sensation. Don't worry it is supposed to do that- however if it becomes uncomfortable rinse with cool water.

The O-PLEX control is the skin lotion- this is to help treat and moisturize the skin.

Some people's skin may be sensitive to the natural oils. I apparently am.

I used it for a couple of days and it made my skin red and very uncomfortable. However my teenage son is able to use it and it has done wonders for his skin.

So it all depends on you and how your skin reacts to the essential oils

Keep reading here.

Unclog Drains Naturally with the Drain Claw

Next time you have a clogged up sink skip the toxic chemicals and reach for The Drain Claw instead.

The Drain Claw is wire tool with a little brush like thing on the end. You can bend and twist the rod inside drains to capture hair and push away other clogs- naturally no harsh chemicals needed. This environmentally friendly claw was developed by a real estate agent so he could keep his bath drains open without using chemicals.

Since the number one culprit of clogged drains is hair this handy little claw is a simple solution. The claw is pushed into the drain, twisted and pulled back up- usually with the offensive hair ball attached. If you bend the tip slightly any other drain clog culprits will be pushed away and the clog cleared.

The Drain Claw can be used on bath sinks, kitchen sinks and bath tubs. Just don't use the claw after you've used toxic chemicals. Ditch the chemicals and just use the claw.

I have to admit when I received The Drain Claw for review I was skeptical. It just appeared to be too simple- as in so simple it wouldn't work. However my husband grabbed it and was immediately fascinated. Being a handy man type of guy he is much more aware of tools, gadgets and how they work. He was actually excited by it. So excited it disappeared from my grasp because he ran off to use it.

And it worked. Fabulously. He couldn't believe how easy it was to use and how effective it was for grabbing the hair balls and unclogging the drains. Needless to say all of our sinks and tubs are now draining effortlessly.

Keep reading here.

Planning a Wedding In Flint, MI

Wow, I am in shock at how much things have changed in the past couple of years. I know the economy has really destroyed Flint but I hadn't realized how much.

It's been a few since years since I planned a wedding in the area- I've been focused on my writing career.

Now my mother is getting married and, of course, I'm her planner.

Well, there's almost nothing bridal related left here- at leats not in the phonebook or on the large wedding planning websites like The Knot.

All of the small bridal shops that used to be around here are gone- the two in Flushing, Nancy's in Grand Blanc (at least it isn't listed anywhere, I'll have to try calling if I can find the old number), and I think there was one in Clio or Mt Morris- either way they are gone too.

All the caterers and cake people are gone, too. The catering is being offered now by the restaurants in town- no more small independent caterers seem to be left.

Even the wedding supply store is gone- they used to sell wedding supplies and offer rentals of arches, fountains and things like that. All gone.

The phone book only lists David's Bridal and one bridal shop in Davison. Some wedding websites list other stores but I know many of them are gone. Most of the wedding websites have nothing.

I guess between the Internet stores and the bad economy everyone moved or just went out of business. It's very sad.

It also makes it very difficult to plan a local wedding when there are no local vendors.

So I'm searching the web for vendors, shops, and everything I need to plan a wedding in the Flint/Burton, Michigan area.

I thought it would be hard to plan a green wedding in Flint- turns out it is almost impossible to plan any wedding in Flint because there's nothing here.

Thankfully I am finding some wonderful green companies online who are willing to sponsor the wedding in exchange for advertising and promotion. I think it's a wonderful arrangement for all of us.

Twisted Limb Paperworks is providing beautiful, eco-friendly invitations and I believe the Tender Seed Company is providing the favors.

And we are receiving compostable cutlery from Birchware Wooden Utensils.

So we still need: plates, napkins, bowls, cups, tablecloths, decorations, a cake, catering (we are thinking about going DIY).

We also still need wedding attire for the bridesmaid, flower girl, ring bearer, and my oldest son who is walking my mom down the aisle. I'm not sure about the best man. I think the bride and groom decided on what they plan to wear- maybe (the bride is still wavering about the gown- and she still has to try it on).

I am making the floral bouquets, flower girl basket, ring bearer pillow, boutonnieres, and the cake topper.

I am also working on centerpiece ideas but my mother isn't sure if we can have open flame candles or not. So I am at a stand still until I know which way to go on that.

This is a lot to do in a month.

I just found out this week that she was getting married- on January 15.

I know YIKES. Talk about last minute.

But I am going full steam ahead to get this wedding planned and survive the holidays.

If anyone has any suggestions or would like to join in on being one of the fabulous green companies sponsoring this wedding please email me.

10 Ways to Cut Wedding Catering Costs

The wedding reception is usually the most expensive aspect of the wedding. Catering can take up to whopping forty percent of your wedding budget. Here are ten easy ways to cut costs without much effort or stress.

1) First of all don't order too much. Try to get as accurate a head count as possible that way you don't end up with tons of leftovers that cost you a fortune.

2) Lighten up and be less formal. If you forgo the black tie extravaganza you also forgo the fancy price tag. You could save hundreds just by being less formal and cutting out the fancy extras.

3) Ask for discounts. You never know what they may offer if only you ask. See if you can save money by ordering a package deal. Some caterers offer discounts if you have a lot of children or senior citizen guests or if you are having your wedding on a weekday.

4) Plan your meal for the right time of day. Don't serve an extravagant dinner at a 2 PM reception. If you are having your wedding reception at an early or off time of day consider serving finger foods or just a light meal along with dessert. This could cut your food costs tremendously. Be sure to include on the invitation "cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception" or simple put "a light meal will be served".

5) Have your wedding on a Friday evening or on another off day. Saturdays are premium days and often cost more. Call around before setting the final date though just to make sure the price difference is worth it.

Continue reading here.

Get Blushing Bride Perfect Skin with the Mia Sonic

The Mia by Clarisonic was created by the same person who invented the Sonicare toothbrush. The Clarisonic Mia is a professional quality skin care cleansing system that is portable- so it can go wherever you go.

The Mia cleanses, reduces pores, even fine lines and wrinkles will appear to be reduced with routine use.

The Mia is the perfect item to add to a bride's pre-wedding skin care regiment to insure she'll have blushing bride worthy skin on the big day.

I had the chance to give the Mia a try. I was skeptical. I've used other skin cleansing systems before. With their scratchy brushes, rotating heads that quickly break and batteries that constantly die.

The Mia isn't even in the same league as those cheap knock offs.

The bristles of Mia's brush are so soft they caress the skin without scratching and the sonic rotation is so gentle you barely notice it. But the results- they're amazing. There's nothing subtle about the way your skin will glow.

The Mia gentle removes dirt and oil from your pores helping to reduce the appearance of pores making them look like they have shrunk. This can help reduce break outs, get rid of oily patches and get the dry skin off your face. What you're left with is smooth, soft and glowing skin.

The Mia is so gentle it can be used on all skin types even skin with sensitive conditions like rosacea and acne.

The Mia is compact enough that it can travel with you. It has a charger you can easily plug in anywhere- no batteries to worry about changing. The Mia is also waterproof for easy cleaning.

I love that the Mia is waterproof but keeping the brush clean is important and you don't want to have to worry about frying your little machine. I did that to a cheap one, it got wet in the wrong places and never worked again.

Continue reading here.

Find Great Bridal Deals at RecycledBride.Com

A one stop shopping destination for bridal deals and steals is RecycledBride.com.

Looking for a dress that's no longer in season? Looking for discounted votive candle holders or vases? How about surplus décor like tablecloths? You can find it at RecycledBride.com. Past brides, wedding vendors, event planners...anyone who has something bridal to sell may have items ready for the bride to be at RecycledBride.com.

This free site is designed similar to eBay but it's all about weddings. You'll find categories featuring: wedding dresses, jewelry, veils, ceremony items, décor and table wear, bridesmaids' items, Mother of the Bride dresses, grooms and groomsmen attire and accessories, shoes, wedding and engagement rings, gifts, paper and everything else.

From gently used to brand new items at a deep discount you can find anything and everything you could possibly need on Recycledbride.com.

Once the wedding is over and you have leftover items or gently used items you won't be needing anytime soon you can sell them on RecycledBride.com.

Being a relatively new site I wasn't expecting there to be much for sale on the site, boy was I wrong. It is jam packed full of fabulous wedding items. There's plenty of stuff for non-brides too especially if you're planning a big event like an open house, anniversary party or even a big birthday party. I found a few things I liked, like the wine bottle turned cheese tray- very nice. I also spotted a couple wine glass charms and wine bottle stoppers that I liked (all liste din the gifts section).

Just like eBay you can easily search, scroll through items from price or see the newest listings first. However unlike eBay there is no bidding. You do have to register for a free account and if you see something you like you have to contact the seller (personally I think this is a bit of an inconvenience, I like eBay and Etsy where you just click and buy). The good news is you can use PayPal which seems to be the number one easiest way to send and receive money online.

Continue reading this article here.

A Review of ThermaSkin Natural Facial Cleanser by Greensations

The ThermaSkin foaming facial cleanser is a godsend for my troublesome skin. I swear my skin hates everything I use. If I use the wrong thing my skin breaks in a rash, turns red, breaks out in pimples, or gets so dry I feel like I'm going to crack. None of which are any fun.

I always have to try something new but I'm always afraid that the new product is going to make matters worse instead of better.

Then I came across ThermaSkin Foam Facial Cleanser. It is made with Capsaicin Pepper Extract and says that it is good for all skin types including oily skin, dry skin, and acne prone skin. I was doubtful but gave it a shot.

Wow. First of all I didn't break out. Better yet it cleared up the remnants of previous break outs. It didn't dry my skin out or make it too oily. Fabulous. A miracle in a little bottle. I am stocking up on this stuff. It is amazing to finally find something that really works. I have tried everything from drug store brands to the fancy expensive stuff in department stores. Even the things they advertise on TV. Nothing has worked for me- at least not for long.

Some products will clear me up then stop working after a week or so.

I've been using ThermaSkin for a couple of months now and it's still working.

ThermaSkin is not only great for acne and blemish prone skin but on the Greensations website it proclaims that ThermaSkin works well to clear up eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.

ThermaSkin Anti-Aging Soap™claims to be "like botox in a bottle". The anti-aging secret in this formula combines tiny doses of natural capsaicin with exotic botanicals that fix your skin through increased circulation and absorption. ThermaSkin is an all natural foaming soap. It instantly and naturally unclogs pores, tightens skin, reduces lines and replenishes elasticity and color to your skin. It will gently remove makeup, dirt, pollutants and oils. The self foaming formula contains no harmful foaming chemicals such as SLS or SLES that are used in many facial foam cleansers.

Keep reading here.

Eco-Friendly Wedding Invitations from Greenvelope.Com

Greenvelope.com offers distinct and unique electronic wedding invitations that look like the real thing. It's a personalized approach to electronic invitations.

Accounts are free- you can sign up, manage guest lists, contacts, multiple events, response cards and more.


A basic bronze package which includes save the date cards for you to send out is free.

A silver package is just $99 and it includes: save the date cards, invitations and response cards.

A gold package costs $149 and it includes: save the dates, invitations, response cards and thank you cards (all electronic).

For every package purchased, Greenvelope will donate $10 to Mountains to Sound, an environmentally conscious non-profit organization.

Soon customers will be able to choose between several charities they want Greenvelope to donate to.

I scanned through Greenvelope's portfolio of wedding invitations and I am very impressed at the classical wedding invitation designs. Most electronic invitation sites do not offer classic styles. Greenvelope offers classic, seasonal and signature wedding invitations styles to choose from.

How does it work? Visit www.greenvelope.com then sign up for a free account. Then create an event and start designing your invitation.

Continue reading by clicking here.

Holiday Advertising Special

For a limited time only you can get 3 months of button banner ad space on Everything Green Weddings for only $20

That's 3 months of ad space for just $20

You can start your advertising now or reserve space for anytime in 2011

Email me to reserve your spot now

Super holiday special get 3 months of ad space here and 3 months of ad space at my other blog Creatively Green for just $35-

that's 3 months of ad space on 2 sites for only $35-

perfect for anyone who has an eco-friendly business, blog or product they'd like to advertise

Payment via PayPal must be made at the time of ad space reservation

This offer expires Dec 24, 2010

Giveaway: Video Save the Date from Storymix

Video Save the Date - The Green Alternative

Video Save the Dates are popping up all over the internet. They are a great alternative to mailing postcards or magnets. They are a real 'green' solution, not only saving fuel and paper, but saving some green for your budget. For those couples who really want to be eco-friendly in their wedding planning it the best way to share your big news. Plus they are a much more personal and fun way to let everyone know your big news.

The majority of the ones seen online are really sophisticated and include things like stop action motion, animated graphics and other editing techniques. So what are you to do if you don't have the equipment, software, and skills of a Hollywood production team? Everything Green Weddings has found a great company, Storymix Media that offers a super cool and easy product to fulfill your Video Save the Date dreams. All you need to do is pick one of their fun themes and upload 15 photos and a short video greeting (just shoot it on your digital camera or Flip). Then you go to their simple to use Storyboard to add some titles and arrange everything in the order you want. Storymix will make a great video and add it to a private HD online gallery for you to share the link with anyone you plan on inviting. All for under $30, that's less than you'll spend on postage!

Learn more at: http://weddings.storymixmedia.com/video-save-the-date-green-eco-friendly-budget-save-money.html



Storymix has been generous to offer one lucky reader their Video Save the Date for free.

We'll pick a winner by December 17.

It will make a wonderful Christmas present for yourself.

Here's how to enter:

1. Become a follower of this blog

2. Follow us or Storymix on Facebook

3. Send out a Tweet mentioning @everythinggreen or @Storymix

Eco-Favors by Bethany Ramos

Getting Married? Check Out The Latest Trends in Eco-Friendly Wedding Favors!

Is it possible to have the wedding of your dreams that is also eco-friendly? More and more brides and grooms these days are answering that question with a resounding “Yes!” As Americans are becoming more environmentally conscious, their wedding plans are following suit. The average wedding costs around $20,000, which normally puts a newlywed couple into debt right off the bat. However, if you start brainstorming and using these innovative green wedding favor ideas, not only will you be able to benefit the environment, but you may also save money at the same time!

• Tree Favors: For the tree-hugging couple, tree favors are an excellent wedding favor that your guests will be able to plant in honor of your wedding. Many companies now sell small tree seedlings that you can have decorated with the name of the bride and groom, as well as your wedding date. Otherwise, you may want to use pieces of actual bark or a branch to hold place cards, which will add a natural and rustic touch to your overall wedding theme, all the while recycling by using natural materials.

• Bamboo Favors: Bamboo wedding favors are another popular choice since they are firstly symbolic of good luck, and they also benefit the environment. You can give your guests decorative bamboo candle holders, bamboo coasters, or even small trinket boxes made from bamboo as a parting gift for attending your wedding!

• Seed Packet Favors: If you want a truly green and adorable favor to give out to all guests at your wedding, you can order personalized seed packets that have the name of the bride and groom and your wedding date so that guests can plant the seeds and watch them grow as your new love grows in your marriage. Perfectly symbolic and also perfectly green.

• Organic Chocolate Favors: If you don’t necessarily want to give out a little bit of nature as your wedding favors, you can give out organic and fair trade chocolate that is not only delicious but sustainably made. The chocolate packaging can again be embossed with the name of the bride and groom and wedding date so that each favor is perfectly personalized for your wedding day.

If you want to take it a step further, there are also eco-friendly favor tags and favor boxes that you can order, or you may want to order handmade favors from a website like Etsy.com. All it takes is a little bit of thought and creativity to make your wedding eco-friendly and also a little easier on your wallet!

Bethany Ramos is a wedding makeup artist and works full-time at her website, The Coffee Bump. For a great selection of commercial coffee brewers, check out Bethany Ramos' website today!