Amidst my wedding research, I have some awesome blogs in my RSS reader, including A.Mountain.Bride…
who happens to be running a contest to win a sweet little classic white Cosabella lingerie number!
I dig that the company has a bamboo eco-friendly line of naughties too. Hello Bamboo Lowrider Thong. Hehahe
My favorites are the Sex & The City Line by Cosabella though. I cannot figure out for the life of me what is SATC about them (and trust me, I am a devout SATC junkie, and nothing at all in the slightest is ever at any point in any episode looks even kinda like these items… so, uh???), but regardless, the happy purpleness of this Miranda Chemise. So cute and sassy without being juvenile.
So, check out A.Mountain.Bride’s Contest post for more information on how YOU can enter to win the sweet white Cosabella chemise, a $118 win that will make you feel oh-so-lovely under your own wedding garb (or whenever!).
Feeling trapped in plastic, much like this poor couple, I came to a new stance for Marc’s and my wedding (and sanity).
Somehow, when I Googled “Plastic-free wedding”, I found nothing, though I figured all the overlay of eco-concern and weddings would naturally have had a blog or something named this.
Anyhow, I am not going the route of creating a specific website and blog to this specific topic, but you will find posts regarding how I try to make my upcoming wedding friendlier to the Earth and our future. My first vow is to make my wedding as plastic-free as possible.
I have already been weighing the disposable plateware versus china rental conundrum. I think I am within a week’s decision on that one. How about everything else though?
The wedding industry (sometimes referred to as the WIC – Wedding Industrial Complex) is a complete craphole for useless, disposable, stuffs. Favors, decorations, hair goodies, foods, clothing, invitations, programs, and so much more. In fact, it feels that with each year, new crappy disposable things get tacked on to a new bride’s “must-have” list.
Like Save-the-Date cards (sadly referred to as STDs). Those used not to be at all. Now, not only do many brides feel they are mandatory, but the new thing is Save-the-Date magnets. I have received three from friends… and while they are actually cute, it feels weird to leave magnets of all my coupled friends on my fridge for years to come.
We are just bypassing wedding STDs completely. *chuckles*
As I try to plan a wedding, something which you think you can do until you are in the position to, and then realize you have zero experience in doing so and should not be given the privilege*, I am faced with yet another conundrum.
Do we use disposable dinnerware for the wedding reception, and what options are there besides plastic?
The whole thing arose when I told my Sis and Gramms over Thanksgiving that I did not know how much rental dinnerware would cost us, and Gramms suggested I could get pretty clear plastic plates from Walmart and probably save a bundle.
Yep, Gramma. I could save a bundle, but I edit and write articles about not doing exactly that. Using plastic plates just does not jam at all with who Marc and I are.** So, I thanked her for the suggestion but explained how that could not work for us.
I have noticed, however, that I am far from alone on this debate. Forum board after forum has brides talking about going plastic.*** Then again, many boards are slamming plastic.
I am thus torn between renting dinnerware, buying cute mismatch dinnerware I have to wash myself after the reception, or buying this Bambu Veneerware which is still stylish while being super easy to clean up after (plates only, not the bamboo utensils) and says it biodegrades in less than six months. Hmmm…
I really dug this post by Apartment Therapy where Kristen Lubbe debates this exact issue when it comes to hosting parties. I dig the honesty of questioning which to do, and where we (as environmentalist and social-conscious humans) should allow ourselves some forgiveness for accepting a little convenience over moral high-ground. But check out the tremendous slew of comments afterward, many bashing the author for not taking the route of renting or buying new dishes.****
So, suggestions? Feelings why you lean one way or another? Or what you would never do?
Let it fly… I have stuff to decide. And you know you would feel gratified and proven right if your comment is what sways my decision.
Sustainably yours, Ashley Sue
*Who am I kidding?! I love this challenge! Nine and a half months left to figure it all out!
**Except plastic plates are cheap. Marc and I are cheap. :/ Cost, however, is not enough of a jam for us to forsake our ethics.
***I’m a honking big snob anyhow and just think plastic is tacky. I would avoid it however I could.
****Commenter Oneformybaby at November 23, 2009 11:25 pm really expresses my feelings regarding this Apartment Therapy post and the commenters with “i totally understand about the need to preserve our environment but why dont we stop attacking each other for trying to make our lives just a little less stressful and start putting our attention to where it really can make a difference. Its like telling someone they are horrible people for eating fast food once in a while! Sometimes, you just need a break!”
I loved talking with the staff. The owner shared that everything in the store has a story, and the staff will enthusiastically share the stories with you.
Some items are practical, like the smart strips that reduce phantom power usage in your home, the LED lightbulbs that will one day replace CFLs, the Envirosax for fun and stylish shopping, stainless steel water bottles and Dynamo rechargeable radio and flashlights.
Some items are child friendly, like the cooperative games (lets play together, not against each other), organic and locally-made baby clothing and USA-made wooden toys.
Some of the toys (like the cars in the slideshow below) are for the kid in ALL of us… or the jewelry, which is fun, sustainably made and sophisticated.
Mainly, I walked away KNOWING that Shawn Slome (the owner) and his staff know that sustainability is not a catch phrase du jour. It isn’t about carrying all “organic”, or all “local” goods. It isn’t about novelty. And it certainly isn’t about being a crunchy granola or extravagantly priced. Sustainability is about supporting your local community through a harmony of ideals. That’s pretty amazing.
Check out the invitation to you all from the owner:
Dear Friends and Associates:
I would like to invite you to a Fundraising Festival “Twig” is launching on Saturday, May 17 to benefit local non-profits. For those of you who don’t already know, Twig is the Triangle’s new eco-friendly shop focusing entirely on sustainable, organic and fair trade products.
The Festival is a celebration of our community and particularly of the many organizations that work to protect our environment, nurture our children and make our community a safe place for everyone to thrive.
The event will take place at Twig from 8am to 8pm:
Village Plaza (next to Whole Foods)
99 S. Elliott Rd. • Chapel Hill 27514
(919) 929-8944
Most of our non-profits will be on hand with information tables so you can stop by and say howdy. Twig will donate to our partners 20% of the revenue generated from the event.
We will have live music for most of the day, several door prizes and some tasty snacks provided by Whole Foods.The list of participating non–profits:
Eno River Association NC
Museum of Life and Science
Haw River Assembly
NC Audubon Society
Piedmont Wildlife Center
Triangle Land Conservancy
Toxic Free NC
NC Community Shares
Rainbow Soccer
Bonjour Africa
The Abundance Foundation
American Civil Liberties Union
Orange County Rape Crisis Center
PTA of Chapel Hill
Emerson Waldorf School
I hope you can join us in the fun and make some connections with those that contribute so much to our quality of lives. I would appreciate it if you can help spread the word about this special day.
My advice… check out Twig this weekend. You will LOVE it. Trust me.
Planning a wedding can be difficult, but if you want to be a bit more eco-friendly and have a “green” wedding, your headache in finetuning the details may just be starting.
The Green Life has a whole slew of tips for your big day… Some suggestions are reasonable, and some are a bit too… er… “granola” for me.
Cheers to choosing locally grown, organic flowers for your day, and everyone can find beautiful vintage jewelry for the day, but I’m not down with lab-created diamonds (though that’s better than conflict diamonds, no doubt), and I think wooden wedding rings are a complete joke (aren’t the rings symbolizing “forever”?).
Hemp wedding dresses or borrowing a friend’s dress is lousy (sorry, just not my thing), and in all honestly, not many guests are going to understand (or bother) to (more…)
My favorites are the Sex & The City Line by Cosabella though. I cannot figure out for the life of me what is SATC about them (and trust me, I am a devout SATC junkie, and nothing at all in the slightest is ever at any point in any episode looks even kinda like these items… so, uh???), but regardless, the happy purpleness of this Miranda Chemise. So cute and sassy without being juvenile.
