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.

Top Ten 2009 Wedding Trends According to Me

I see an awful lot of top ten lists these days. Some I believe and some I have to double check facts on Snopes because they're so outrageous. Here is my top ten wedding trends according to the calls I'm receiving and the couples I'm working with.

1. Guest lists are shrinking
2. Couples are paying 90% of the costs
3. Budgets are shrinking
4. Destination weddings are increasing in popularity
5. Fewer dramatic floral centerpieces are complimenting smaller non-floral centerpieces
6. Yellow of all shades is in
7. Grey is the new black
   
8. DIY is playing some role in wedding plans even if it's just one small DIY project
   
9. Rehearsal dinners are far less formal and smaller attended
10. Mother of the bride lives in the city the wedding will be in, the couple does not.

Number 10 is one reason I work with as many MOB's as brides themselves. They have full time jobs and chances are haven't planned a wedding in years so want the reassurance that what they're doing is right and on schedule.

So there you have it. My top ten list -

Spotlight: Destination I Do Publication

I love Facebook for all the connections and networking I never otherwise would have known about. For example, I became friends with Jennifer Stein, the Editor in Chief of Destination I Do wedding publication. Since I am a Certified Destination Specialist, one would think I would know all about every publication dedicated to destination weddings, but sadly, I did not. True confessions out of the way.

Destination I Do is a great resource not only for couples planning their destination wedding, but wedding consultants as well. In my travels searching for the perfect location I have toured some fabulous locations and some... not so much. Destination I Do confirms my experiences and offers excellent suggestions for using local resources, saving money on decor and hot new places for rehearsal sites or adventure.

As much as I would love to personally explore every locale and experience all the various cultures destination weddings can offer, I cannot unless I win the lottery - well finding Destination I Do comes in as a close second. It's published twice a year can be found in most bookstores.

Spotlight Rocco Troyani

I met an amazing designer while working with Laura and Peter in Puerto Vallarta - Rocco Troyani. He's a warm and engaging gentleman with a deep devotion to every couple he works with. He often pairs up with renowned designers David Tutera and Colin Cowie but is humble enough to personally meet with each couple as well as oversee all set-up and tear-downs.

Here is a video of one of his most recent productions. When we have photos of Laura and Peter's wedding, I'll post them here.

Great Invitations at a Great Price

I have been following updates and invitations from The Green Kangaroo for awhile now. I just came across great invitations at great prices. Here is a post directly from their website - btw, this is just a small sampling of their great products.

20 GREAT PRODUCTS FOR $450 AND UNDER!

Want beautiful invitations without breaking the bank? Check out our 20 hot products that are all priced at $450 and under for 100 invitations! All invites come with reply card, inner / outer envelope plus return and reply address printing. PLUS, all invites can be customized in any of our 32 ink colors and 40 font combinations. What a steal!

*Prices above are based on 100 invitations and can vary depending on one-color or two-color designs (1-color = $390 and 2-color = $450). Please see specific product page for ink color options and prices at varying quantities. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding our products or pricing. Happy savings!

The items below are our DIY products and include enough printing paper, adhesive, envelopes and pockets to make 100 complete invitations. Buy these a la carte items by visiting our DIY page or contact us and a design consultant will be happy to help you build you product!

Wedding Websites are Eco-Friendly

For most couples planning their wedding, I recommend they register for a wedding website. What exactly is a wedding website? It's a completely personalized website the couple sets up usually for free, which guests refer to for pertinent information.

Isn't that what the invitation does? Yes and no. Details about the date, location, maps and hotel accommodations are included in an invitation, however, there is some information that should never be listed on an invitation such as "no children or adult only reception" It's also in poor taste to list your gift registry on the invitation.

Wedding websites are a must for destination weddings. Couples post hotel accommodations, the group rates and deadlines, details about the area, excursions and optional events as well as posting photos of themselves and their wedding party. For guests who may not know both the bride and groom equally, additional details such as how they met, likes and hobbies can also be included. Many couples will also take a poll such as where to honeymoon.

I also recommend a website to couples who may be planning their wedding locally, but have many out-of-town guests who know little about the area. Even couples who are staying put and their guests are local can benefit from this little planning tool.

Many websites are free while others charge a nominal fee. The complexity of your wedding may require a fee based site because the capacity is significantly larger but in either case, here is a link to a clearinghouse of wedding websites that compares the options so you know what fits your needs. Wedding Websites

Good luck and happy planning.

Non Floral Centerpieces

While doing research for an upcoming wedding I came across non-floral centerpieces that are tasteful, elegant and environmentally responsible. Understand that I'm not trying to put florists out of business, I love using flowers but I also like to mix up designs and non-floral elements throughout the wedding.

I often scour antique stores or flea markets for ideas or unique containers which can be purchased for less than the cost to rent. Use your imagination but don't get carried away and let your wedding look like the Church ladies decorated.

Here are several examples found on Martha Stewart Weddings. Check out her website for a complete description and instructions.

Destination Weddings

I leave next week for a destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta and I can't wait. Our couple is very excited and have been looking forward to this trip for close to a year. While I Do Vow To is all about eco-chic wedding planning and education, planning and overseeing a destination wedding may seem counterintuitive. However, there are a number of advantages to a destination wedding:

• Budgets are typically and can be significantly smaller because the guest list is usually confined to immediate family and very close friends. Of course there are always exceptions.
• The vast majority are are held in tropical locations where the lushness of the region is breathtaking and very little enhancements are needed. This also applies to ceremonies with beachfront and ocean side backdrops.
• Guests love to make your destination wedding their family vacation and will extend a few days on either side of your date. They then receive the benefit of great room rates which were negotiated at discounts.
• Airfares have dropped dramatically.
• Most destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean offer direct flights or minimal transfers.
• You are already on your honeymoon - no need for additional travel plans, unless of course you want to leave all your partying family and friends for some well-deserved alone time.
• Your wedding will last several days instead of just one day. It's great to host a welcome reception which doubles for a rehearsal dinner and when it's time to say good-bye, what better than over brunch?
• Decor is simple and elegant and can be very natural. I'll post some of my favorite photos of eco-friendly and yet elegant ideas.
• A destination wedding is a wonderful way to introduce your guests to some fabulous cultures and traditions.
• A destination wedding is a great bonding experience for everyone. Typically guests will plan other activities like scuba, snorkeling or whale watching which gets them talking, learning and interacting with each other before your wedding day. They'll feel much more comfortable with each other which makes for great memories.
• Wedding day attire tends to be less formal and much easier to choose for couples.
• Your wedding will be uniquely yours - there is a good chance your friends and family have never experienced such a memorable wedding at a fabulous destination.
  

These are just a few of the advantages of a destination wedding and with every positive comes a negative. I'll post the down side of destination weddings later this week. In the meantime, take a look at some of these great photos and ideas.

I'm dreaming of a green Christmas

Even tho Christmas is upon us, there's still time to stop and think about how we can make a difference with each gift given over the next few days. And what about that beautiful Christmas tree when it's finally time to put away the ghost of Christmas past.

This was printed in the National Geographic website four years but the advice still holds true.

"Between Thanksgiving and New Year's day, Americans throw away a million extra tons [900,000 metric tons] of garbage each week, including holiday wrapping and packaging, according to Robert Lilienfeld. Lilienfield is co-author of the book Use Less Stuff: Environmental Solutions for Who We Really Are.

So why not recycle holiday gift wrap? Lilienfield, who has published a newsletter on reducing waste since 1996, notes that if every family reused just 2 feet [0.6 meter] of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles [61,000 kilometers] of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet.

And not all gifts need wrapping. "Think back to your three favorite holiday memories," Lilienfeld said. "I'm willing to bet that they all involve time you spent with your family and friends."

By giving gifts that can be experienced, like tickets to a baseball game or a homemade dinner, you can minimize wrapping and still win points with the receiver. "People like these gifts just as much," he said."

When it comes time to taking down your Christmas tree, don't just throw it away - I like to stick it in a snow bank just outside my front window and enjoy the imaginary north woods feel it gives, especially when it's snowing. I've noticed the birds like to gather and nestle in their newfound sanctuary. There does come the time however when the last snow has melted and tree has lost it's green color but disposing the tree in your trash isn't the answer. It's perfect for composting or saw the tree branches into smaller more manageable sizes and save them for your outdoor firepit. They'll really get your fire started. Make sure open flames are permitted in your municipality before starting a fire.

Winter Wedding Preparations

I wouldn't be honest if I didn't mention the fact that there can be problems with a winter wedding, but being realistic and prepared will help to relieve the stress and worries of "what if..."so here is my best advice for coping with all that can happen.

Weather is the single-most "predictable" and unavoidable force that can impact your wedding day. Airports close, flights are delayed or canceled and guests are stranded in parts unknown. There isn't anything you can do about the weather, but there are ways of protecting your investment so your day doesn't disappoint.

• Wedding insurance can be purchased for a small fee in the range of $300 to $500. If the wedding is postponed due to weather related incidents, all fees, deposits and expenses are reimbursed. WedSafe is just one of the companies that provides insurance for a variety of causes and worth so much more than the expense which is less than .01% of your entire budget.
• For guests who travel by plane, train or automobile suggest they arrive two to three days prior to the actual wedding day. This gives them a cushion in case of delays and if all goes well and there are no delays, who can argue about having a few extra days of vacation?
• Trip insurance is also a wise investment for those travelers. The policies are usually $15 to $30 depending on the details but covers canceled flights, canceled trips due to illness or accident, flight delays which result in missed flights among other things.

When locating a venue for your winter wedding, I strongly recommend one that offers valet service or will allow you to hire your own. I have encountered instances when guests chose to go home rather than find a parking spot and walk a short distance in the negative temperatures just to get to a reception, only to do this all over again at the end of the evening. Valet service allows guests to drive up to the doors and avoid the hassle of looking for a parking spot nearby. The fee averages $5 per car which is a small price to pay compared to the cost of a pre-paid dinner averaging $75 per person. The venue does not refund the cost of meals for no show guests.

Remember to give your valet staff an extra tip, especially during frigid temps or heavy snow. At the very least, welcome them in and provide hot beverages to warm up. They'll go that extra mile if you show you care about them.

All your vendors should be on a carefully prepared timeline that takes into account weather and traffic delays. A little snow on your wedding day can be beautiful but it can also cause nightmarish traffic problems. Far better to have your vendors arrive early and sit than to be rushing in late and scrambling to catch-up.

Your flowers will not last long in sub-zero temperatures, so chose carefully when considering both your florist and the flowers. Some flowers like a poinsettia will turn black almost instantly if their petals get too cold. Confirm your floral selections are somewhat hardy and also confirm they will be transported to your ceremony and reception sites in heated delivery vans by experts who care about the finished product and not just delivery staff who have a drop-off to make and they don't care how they make it.

The flowers need to be protected as much as possible so as not to subject them to the bitter cold and they need to be moved swiftly into the venue. They cannot sit outside for more than a couple minutes without being severely affected by cold.

If the thought of outdoor photos appeals to you, be prepared - a strapless gown will look stunning with a mink stole or better yet full-length faux-fur. Beautiful opera length gloves will enhance the look but help a little to keep the nip off your fingers. For the groom, coordinate a scarf in your wedding colors and add a little style by getting him a Confirm your photographer has the right equipment to shoot outdoors in freezing temperatures and take frequent breaks to warm up.

I saved the best for last - hire the professional services of Fete Perfection to deal with the unexpected problems that can arise at any wedding but especially at winter weddings. Enjoy your day knowing your consultant is quietly working behind the scenes to make your wedding day the day you always dreamed of.