I Do Vow To "fill in the blank"

I Do Vow To "fill in the blank" is the title of my latest series of posts to provide couples with thought-provoking ideas or inspiration while planning their wedding.

For example, my inaugural post is "I Do Vow To...Commit to Less Wedding Waste". And there are many ways to keep that commitment. Here are my suggestions:

• Be thoughtful of the papers you chose for invitations, programs and place cards. With printing as sophisticated and precise as it is, tissue papers and extra envelopes are a waste. Rather than printing one program for every guest, double up or design your program for duel usage such as a fan in warmer weather.
• Nix the guest favor. Honestly, your guests do not expect a favor and so many end up in the trash at the end of the night. If you really love the idea of favors, make it edible or plantable. I've seen seeds and seedlings given as favors and when it came time to clean-up, not one was left.
  
• Bar packages often provide disposable plastic glassware - pay the difference and upgrade to glass. The landfills are loaded with millions of pounds of disposable, which really isn't, plastic.
  
• Use locally grown seasonal flowers for your decor. Your blooms will be fresher and in most cases cost less than flowers from Central and South America.
• Don't toss the centerpieces at the end of the night. Many florists I work with will pick-up the centerpieces at the end of the evening and deliver them to hospitals and nursing homes for further enjoyment.
• Recycle your wedding magazines by giving them to a friend. Although some of the details may become dated, many styles, designs and decor are timeless and information in the articles always helpful.
• Donate or consign your wedding dress. Brides of France in Edina and Minneapolis purchases new and used dresses and accessories.
  
• Consider lighting from a professional like AV For You for a dramatic yet cost-effective way to add punch to your ceremony or reception site.
  

If you have other ideas for less wedding waste, please comment. I will be happy to re-post in the future.

Simple Ideas to Reduce Waste

Since I Do Vow To is generating interest and gathering speed to become the newest hottest resource for trendy wedding ideas, I've decided to get back to my roots, if you will and start posting weekly tips for reducing wedding waste. Technically we are still in the engagement season, however wedding season is fast approaching so I'd love to have dozens of new ideas posted for all to adopt as their own.

The trend I'd love to forever eliminate from the whole wedding scene is to forgo the favor. Admit it...is there a single favor you've ever brought home that really touched your heart or that every time you look at it recall fondly "Liz & Tom's" wedding? I can't - and I've been to hundreds of weddings, professionally and socially.

Honestly, who needs another ornament, bar of soap, golf ball or wine charm? And as much as I love Godiva truffles in beautifully packaged boxes, I don't need 420 additional calories from the two-piece favor pack which by the way, costs $4.75 each. With 200 guests that's a savings of over $950 but money isn't the only reason to do this, although it's a secondary benefit. I hate to think of our lives as depicted in the movie Wall-E, but I also don't think that future is so far-fetched.

Wedding planners of the world, unite and fight against the favor! Brides and grooms, if the idea of a favor is a priority, why not take what would be spent and donate it to a charitable organization near and dear to your heart. I believe your guests will be touched by your generosity and grateful to not bring home another favor that ends up in the trash.

Wedding Waste

I'm going to go out on a limb here and make some unpopular declarations about weddings. I recognize that I am part of an industry that thinks little about all the waste associated with modern day weddings and I want to change that. Now more than ever we need to completely revamp our old ways and embrace the challenge of making those changes.

Last year I had the opportunity to meet Colin Cowie, author of many fabulous wedding and lifestyle books, celebrity planner and designer to the stars, dignitaries and crowned heads around the world. He is a truly gifted designer with a vision most of us can never dream of. He's also a very benevolent contributor and educator to the wedding industry, however I was shocked at his response to my simple question. After viewing a slideshow of one of his recent 2.5 million dollar weddings which really was extraordinary, I asked him what he does with all the stuff.

His response...apologetic as it was..."we throw it all away". He acknowledged his carbon footprint is grossly huge and added that this is the one depressing aspect of his business. I began thinking this is "the" depressing aspect of the wedding industry.

The wedding industry as a whole thrives on trends, change and challenges, therefore I am challenging everyone in this industry to change the way they do business and to make it trendy to reduce wedding waste by 25% starting now.

The newest division of my wedding planning business Fete Perfection, is I Do Vow To. My hope is to create awareness to all the waste and to educate couples as well as the professionals they hire to make a significant impact on the waste problem. Secondly, I would love to see couples passionate about contracting with only wedding professionals who are committed to giving of their time, rather than just money to worthy causes.

I have been meeting with many local wedding professionals to discuss the concept of I Do Vow To and to learn more about their personal missions. I am so pleased to learn how many have been quietly making a difference. My mission is to work with couples with the same sense of responsibility and commitment to making a difference, one wedding at a time.

For now, I Do Vow To is a concept and a blog, but look for details and other ideas in our new website which will be named I Do Vow To coming soon.