Go Green!

You can choose an eco-friendly approach to your weddings or events. There are so many fun and unique ideas out there for designing a wonderful wedding or event, while still being organic and beautiful. It can be a little or a lot, because every aspect of your event can be greener. A green event doesn't have to mean compromising your dream or having no style!! Look for the little green leaves on the {Real Wedding} posts to see how each couple was "green".
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I love to reuse, recycle, and repurpose items, so when a client is Eco-friendly too we can come up with beautiful crafty ideas that create less waste. For instance creating guest favors out of recycled  tin cans and wrapping them with extra invitations then filling them  with ivy plants, or maybe used the recycled tin cans for vases to put  flowers in, I also love the look of recycling glass jars filled with water and floating candles, or using old  Scrabble pieces from your childhood game. There are many eco-chic, DIY ideas out there, you just have to figure out which is best for you and your style.
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Does my event need to be 100% green? That is up to you! It can be a little or a lot, because every aspect of your event can be greener. Each one of the 2.5 million weddings this year in the United States will produce an average of 62 tons of carbon dioxide and 400-600 lbs of garbage. That's a lot of waste! If every engaged couple made just one small green choice, which would be 2.5 million greener choices a year and that is an amazing impact. According to the Green Bride Guide's research.
GREEN IDEAS:
☛ Support local companies for your guest favors or welcome baskets
☛ Support Etsy vendors, the world's most vibrant handmade marketplace – ask me about my list of unique wedding artists including: refurbished ties and bow ties, cake toppers, banners, accessories, and more
☛ Donate your flowers
☛ Hire local recycling company
☛ Don’t give guests favors, instead donate the money to your charity of choice:https://www.idofoundation.org
https://www.justgive.org
http://www.globalgiving.org
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG
http://www.redcross.org
Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
☛ Green favors – small plants if they live locally or infused seed favors that can be planted, biodegradable confetti, 100% latex balloons that are biodegradable vs. plastic balloons (bad for the ocean & ocean animals), canvas totes, bamboo, organic chocolate, and I have more!
☛ Have your ceremony and reception at the same location to cut on transportation
☛ Choose a Green Certified Reception or Botanical Garden
☛ Use Eco-friendly invitations, or just have the save-the-dates be a post card to cut on postage and paper
☛ Choose an organic caterer
☛ Choose an Eco-friendly florist
☛ Have Eco-friendly gift registry items: even Target has great Eco-friendly options now or shop these online stores: http://www.plateswithpurpose.com or http://www.dwellsmart.comor http://www.branchhome.com
☛ Use horse drawn carriages or pedi cabs to move your bridal party from one location to the next, if near by.
So what GREEN choices will you make for your wedding? Check out these great green companies to support
(If you know of other great eco-friendly companies let me know!)
http://www.noimpactbride.com/
No Impact Bride is dedicated to promoting ethical and Eco-friendly weddings.
http://eco-beautifulweddings.com/blog/
Eco-Beautiful Weddings is the first and only quarterly online magazine and daily blog dedicated to eco-friendly weddings.
http://www.ecofabulous.com
Being ecofabulous means celebrating high style with low impact. It’s about beautiful items and experiences that don’t compromise. They’re obsessed with well-designed products. Yet their definition of beauty doesn’t leave room for things that make you – or the planet – sick.
http://www.ecoandelsie.com
Eco and Elsie focusing on pretty things, wedding things, healthy things, fashion-y things, etc... that all bring a bit of eco-friendly joy to the earth and those who live here.
http://www.greenamerica.org
Green America is a not-for-profit membership organization founded in 1982. (We went by the name “Co-op America” until January 1, 2009.) Their mission is to harness economic power—the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace—to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.
http://practicallygreen.com/
Practically Green provides simple and useful tools for healthy and green living.
http://www.greenbrideguide.com
The Green Bride Guide has everything you need to plan a green wedding! Here you can find pictures from real green weddings, articles and advice on eco-chic decor, and a wide range of including: organic bedding, Recycled Glass Dishes, and eco-friendly appliances.
http://www.dinnertool.com/
Helping you figure out the answer to the nightly question: “What’s for dinner?” Search recipes, create shopping lists & meal planners, and share recipes with your friends on DinnerTool.com!
http://greenweddingshoes.com
Blog to share the love for gorgeous photography, pretty dresses, vintage details, graphic finds, and other ideas to inspire couples planning their weddings.
http://ecycler.com
Ecycler brings together people giving away recyclables and those interested in collecting them. One person actually collected wine bottles and used them for table numbers at her wedding reception on each table!!
http://www.ecowedding.org
Blog resource guide for others wanting to make a statement about their love for green weddings.
http://greenerphotography.org
Greener Photography, a non-profit organization, actively seeks to mitigate the environmental impact of the photography industry by educating photographers, suppliers and the general public about the benefits of going green.
www.Localharvest.org
The best organic food is what's grown closest to you. Use our website to find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies.
http://www.helpendhunger.org
America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia was established in 1981 as a locally inspired, volunteer-driven non profit food bank. Our community-building organization serves twenty-one counties in southeastern Georgia with the mission of feeding hungry people and strengthening communities.
More than 300 non profit organizations in our area work in partnership with the food bank to distribute food to families in need throughout Coastal Georgia. In 2009, our food bank secured and distributed more than 7.1 million pounds of food and grocery products through our programs and our collaboration of partner agencies. The efficiency of our organization in serving as the warehouse and distribution center of food and grocery products is realized in a savings of $10 million wholesale annually by our by member agencies for their feeding programs. The food bank’s cost effectiveness sustains our partners’ ability to provide shelter, medical supplies, day care, transportation and other necessities for people who are at-risk.
http://www.thriveacarryoutcafe.com/catering
Thrive offers a refreshing menu for all your special events. They use the freshest ingredients of as many local and organic ingredients as possible. Convenient, healthy and gourmet! Located on Whitemarsh Island, Thrive offers a variety of dishes for gluten-free, lactose free, low-fat, vegan and vegetarian diets on a daily basis.
http://www.cha-bella.com
At Cha Bella they bring a new and exciting culinary standard to Savannah. Their emphasis is on consistently delicious, organic, and seasonal fare served in a fun and innovative space.
http://www.wellfedsavannah.com
WellFED is a new breed of food-and-dining magazine, seeking to redefine what such a publication is capable of. Our content spans everything from the garden to the plate, organized under the catchphrase, “Feed.Eat.Drink”:
“Feed”, encompasses topics related to the act of providing for and preparing sustenance, as well as making informed decisions on how to do it. “Eat”, is all about the thing we love to do and where to do it. The monthly dining guide is the prominent feature of this section, and will become the standard go-to resource for locals and tourists alike when making their dining decisions. “Drink”, tops off the magazine by further expanding the guide to cover the local bars and nightlife, as well as cover topics related to entertaining at home and further enjoying one of Savannah’s most convivial past times.
http://footprintsavannah.wordpress.com/
Since 2009 the city of Savannah has provided curbside recycling for most of its residents but the need for commercial recycling is steadily growing. Footprint Savannah recognizes this need and has developed a friendly and affordable service to collect a variety of materials from Restaurants & Bars, Hotels & Hospitality, Offices, receptions & special events, and golf courses.
www.greenfieldpaper.com
At Green Field Paper, we are all about the paper- tree free paper . We offer both handmade paper and machine made hemp paper. It is our fine tactile Seed Embedded Paper  (embedded with wildflower seeds) that we are known for throughout the world.
www.dodelinedesign.com
We are paper junkies. For real. If you’re in Charleston, SC give me a call and we can play with paper together! 843.606.0890 or sarah@dodelinedesign.com
www.earthlyaffair.com
Eco-friendly wedding and event invitations. They try to keep prices fair, the help ridiculously friendly, and the process easy peasy. They have a lot of love for nature and our commitment to the environment goes past just using recycled paper.
http://emilyleypaper.com
Emily Ley is committed to environmentally friendly practices. All materials are recycled and all paper scraps are reused or recycled as well.
http://www.shopormolu.com/category/glamorous-gift-tags
Ormolu paper goods: "In 2009 I adapted a green philosophy and began using only recycled papers and implemented soy ink and wind power to create my products. The products I design for my line have a tendency to the cross the lines of stationery and scrapbooking, as I have a deep love for the vast world of paper. Often people ask why I chose the word Ormolu. My initial planning stages of this adventure took place in a history of interior design class. Ormolu is an interior design term meaning an object is gilded with gold. I was fond of the sound and how it reminded me of my Mema (that's my grandmother) and her affection for beautiful things".
http://lolletterpress.com
One of the many things we love about letterpress is the opportunity to deliver a green product to our clients. From start to finish, we’ve chosen to reduce our carbon footprint by taking steps to simplify our methods and materials. We stock 100% cotton rag paper, print with soy or rubber based inks, clean with citrus-based solvents, package with post-consumer waste materials, and power our press with good old human energy. All our polymer plates, scrap paper, and cleaning rags are reused or recycled. We support like-minded businesses and purchase supplies made in the USA as much as possible.
http://www.paperlesspost.com
At Paperless Post, they seek to redefine the tradition of paper stationery so that people can send custom, personalized invitations and announcements with the same thought and care as previous generations, but the way we communicate today: online.
http://us.moo.com
Business cards, mini cards, and post cards made of thick 100% recycled stock. MiniCards and Business Cards arrive in a FREE MOO case. They’re recyclable and made of recycled pulp board. They make perfect table place holders – and MiniCards personalised with the faces of her guests makes everyone feel special (they make great ice breakers too). - Postcards as Save-the-Date Cards? -Greeting Cards as Thank You Cards? – A MiniCard Mosaic Frame to display your wedding photos?
http://www.nourishsavannah.com
Nourish has three retail stores where they sell a wonderful selection of bath products, as well as the many varieties of bar soap that are made by hand. All of their products are still created by hand with health and wellbeing in mind. They have operated as a green company since the 1990′s, providing environmentally-friendly, non-toxic, and biodegradable products that are good for our bodies and the earth. They make recycling a priority and invest in every effort to minimize the environmental impact of our daily routine. They only package in recyclable, reusable and/or biodegradable containers. As always, Nourish products contain: no parabens, no sodium lauryl sulphate or sodium laureth sulfate, no animal products, no petroleum, no harsh detergents, no mineral oil.
http://www.AhhGreenSpa.com
NOW OPEN in Coligny Plaza on Hilton Head Island, SC
Ahh Green Spa specializes in affordable massage, facials and bodywork using organic, eco-friendly products.
Brad has been a massage therapist for over 10 years. He’s wanted his own spa since I met him 5 years ago. This year opportunity knocked and we answered!
We have a great team of experienced massage therapists and estheticians to help you on your way to feeling AHHmazing!
http://www.partycity.com
Did you know that Party City has a whole eco-friendly section!!?? Go green at your party with Eco-friendly party items made with 100% recycled paper and 35% post-consumer content water-based ink.
http://letsgogreen.biz/
Since 2007, LetsGoGreen.biz has been a one-stop web superstore selling eco-friendly green products for every home, office or business. We’ll help you live a greener lifestyle and reduce your carbon footprint through the products you use on a regular basis. Our goal is to offer products we all use every day at home and at work that can be replaced with those that are kinder and gentler on the environment.
http://www.dwellsmart.com/
DwellSmart’s mission is to help protect and improve the health of individuals and the environment. At DwellSmart, we strive to minimize our environmental impact. All of our products meet one or more of our core criteria:
Sustain - products made from rapidly renewable or abundant materials that avoid the use of finite resources; products made with low impact materials that are extracted or produced using organic, natural methods
Protect - products that promote health, purify air and water in homes, or serve as non-toxic alternatives to conventional products
Conserve - products that promote efficiency and lower the consumption of energy, water, or natural resources
Reduce - products that reduce the consumption of resources by promoting reuse, minimizing the use of disposables, and/or using recycled materials
Share - products made by manufacturers that abide by fair trade principles and show commitment to community service
http://www.americanbridal.com/eco-earth-friendly-favors-gifts.html
Our thoughtful collection of organic and eco-friendly wedding favors offers stunning style while safeguarding the planet, a beautiful way to start a marriage. Incorporating recycled components, renewable resources, biodegradable papers, and organic ingredients, these eco-friendly wedding favors are a wonderful way to reduce your carbon footprint and foster planet-conscious thinking at your wedding or engagement party. Your guests will appreciate your efforts to celebrate your wedding while making an important difference.
http://www.blossomproducts.com
Check out Blossom Planting Supplies Inc, it is a family owned and run business. They strive to “go green” by using only reclaimed and sustainable woods in order to create beautiful products. Wood is from South Pacific Islands and are collected ONLY from hurricane or naturally felled trees Great idea for wedding registry or centerpieces!
http://www.favorcreative.com
Favor Creative is an eco-friendly favors and event stationery site, dedicated to the details and inspirations that make an event beautiful and memorable.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/xoelle
Xoelle makes handmade bow ties repurposed from vintage neckties and button down shirts & rad recycled book journals.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/rejenerate
Rejenerate’s creations are handmade using only vintage, salvaged and recycled fabrics. So you can be gorgeous, unique AND green.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/lovejune?ref=pr_shop#
Love June creates unique wedding gowns for the bride and elegant dresses for her entourage. Utilizing every inch of fabric, we’ve developed a signature pattern making method that leaves virtually no waste from production…so none of that pretty material ends up in the garbage!
http://www.naturalbridals.com
Eco-friendly designer wedding gowns. The dresses are handcrafted with love in the United States, and 5% of profits are donated to environmental causes. Morgan uses sustainable fabrics and strives to apply green and socially responsible principles to all aspects of her business. Her designs are elegant, beautiful, luxurious and Green!
http://www.recycledbride.com
Recycled Bride is a free marketplace for eco-savvy brides and their friends. Members recycle everything from designer wedding gowns to table decorations, bridesmaids dresses, shoes, and even wedding gifts. If you have ever been part of a wedding, or plan to be, buying and selling on Recycled Bride helps minimize your carbon footprint and maximize your budget.
http://www.littleborroweddress.com
Little Borrowed Dress offers beautifully designed and constructed bridesmaid dresses at an affordable price within a simple rental framework.
http://www.smartbrideboutique.com
SmartBride Boutique helps today’s savvy brides create the wedding day of their dreams without sacrificing designer names or fabulous style. Local brides connect to buy, sell and save on everything wedding; including: wedding dresses, bridesmaid gowns, decor, accessories and more.
www.Beautifulsweets.com
Beautiful Sweets, based in Littleton, Colorado, is an earth-friendly and socially responsible gourmet food company that is committed to not only creating the most delicious organic baked goods possible, but also the most beautiful!  Our specialty is in the creation of colorful, all-natural sugar cookies; each one individually hand-baked and exquisitely decorated.
www.Thebrelli.com
The BRELLI is a 100% biodegradble umbrella. It is made from bamboo (a sustainable renewable resource) and features a unique biodegradable clear plastic canopy, which makes the BRELLI the perfect luxury earth friendly umbrella.  The BRELLI’S transparent canopy provides superior protection from the elements, which includes 99% UVA/UVB/UVC protection from the sun
www.Globalgirlfriend.com