Custom Eco-Chic Wooden Goodies

With a passion for fine craftsmanship, detail & the environment, Alan Henderson and Jennifer Tatham went out on a limb to start Night Owl Paper Goods, a stationery company devoted to creating handmade letterpress cards and eco-chic wooden goodies. Their products range from cards and invitations, to journals and notebooks, to many other unique gifts.

If you're like me, you're thinking "Wow, a box of wooden invitations sounds heavy. Wonder what shipping costs?" Shipping is only $5 on all US orders. They even offer DIY packages if you're so inclined. If you're looking for an eco-friendly alternative for your wedding stationery, this site is a definite must-see!

Eco-Bar :: Organic Cocktails

ECO-BAR is the hot-spot to learn about new eco-friendly products, highlighting organic spirits, wineries, breweries and mixers introducing the newest organic libations.

For $95, their new Custom Cocktail Creator will help you create a cocktail that is based on your tastes, event, favorite color and your overall personality. What a fun way to offer a memorable cocktail for your guests at your wedding, corporate event or party!

Eco-Friendly Wedding Planning Tips & Links

Insightful tips for planning your own green wedding!

- Use recycled paper wherever possible for wedding invitations, programs and other paper items; most companies can offer this option. Also consider treeless paper made from materials such as bamboo, hemp and kenaf. Even the type of ink used for the invitation should be taken into account as some inks can be toxic.

- No matter what other choices you make, the biggest factor in the ecological and financial impact of your wedding will be its size. The cold hard fact is that each person you invite means more miles traveled, more food consumed, a bigger venue, and more waste when it's all over.

- Where possible, use an organic catering company that sources local ingredients. Minimize the amount of meat on the menu and maximize the use of in season fruit, vegetables and local dairy products.

- Flowers used at weddings and receptions have a tendency to be out of season and therefore imported. Transportation and care of these flowers requires extra resources. Try to use locally sourced flowers. Perhaps use potted flowers as these can make a great addition to your home or garden after the big event.

- When selecting a venue, also consider where your guests will be traveling from. Try and find a middle point if possible. The less your guest have to travel, the cheaper for them and the less oil consumed.

- If you decide to hold the event indoors, try and select a venue that makes the best use of natural light.

- Everyone likes a photographic record of a marriage ceremony, so instead of sending out hundreds of paper based photographs, save on postage, processing and toxic chemicals by storing digital images on your wedding blog for family and friends to download as they please; printing out only what's absolutely necessary.

- Weddings can generate all sorts of well-intentioned but unwanted gifts. Consider setting up a green wedding gift registry; which is basically just a wish list of earth friendly products you'd like.

- Ask for no gifts be purchased, but donations made to your favorite charities or environmental groups.

- For wedding favors, i.e. gifts you give to guests, make those earth friendly too; a donation on the guest's behalf, a tree planted in their name or a gift basket of green products.

- Instead of having paper confetti, rice or seed, use flower petal confetti as a beautiful and easily biodegradable option.


Here are some helpful links with more information on how to become more eco-friendly in your wedding and every day life:

Earth Day 2010
Calculate your Carbon Footprint
Great Green Wedding
Green Living Tips
Green Wedding Slices
The Green Bride Guide


Check your local library or book store for these great guides to green weddings!

Freeze Dried Eco-Friendly Rose Petals

Freeze dried rose petals are a natural, eco-friendly choice for adding a touch of romance to any occasion. With proper care, freeze dried petals can last months...even years! They are preferred by most venues because they are biodegradable, won't stain and are non-slippery under normal conditions.







Amy Nixon Events offers these freeze dried petals in over 100 colors. Choose from roses, peony, lilac, hydrangea, and others, or a custom mix. Samples are available, contact us for more information!

Designer Spotlight :: Tony Mentel

In honor of Earth Day, we're featuring eco-friendly and green wedding products and services this week! What better way to start than with the most important purchase for your wedding -- the dress! Fashion-forward meets environmentally friendly in Tony Mentel’s new line for Pure by Justin Alexander.



Where did you find inspiration for this new eco-conscious collection?
Exotic natural elements, like wood and pearls, inspired the overall design direction. These elements, together with great construction and a perfect fit, can transform a woman into the bride she wants to be. She can feel confident in a dress that suits her shape and has a one-of-a-kind look.

What makes these “green” bridal fashions unique?
We strive to make each gown as eco-conscious as possible, which means using super-soft organic fabrics, such as organic cotton sateen and pure silk, throughout (including linings, interlinings and outer shell pieces). The fabrics—and the way they move—influence the gown’s final shape and cut. To create unusual motifs on our gowns, we incorporate beautiful natural materials, such as semi-precious stones, pearls and wooden beads. - Maureen Choi, Bridal Guide Magazine



Read the full article at BridalGuide.com
See the collection at JustinAlexander.com

Daily Inspirations :: Celebrating Earth Day

To celebrate Earth Day this week, we're posting all about eco-friendly green products and services for your wedding. By making earth-friendly choices, you can lessen the environmental footprint of your special day and truly make a difference. Check out these photos from brides & grooms who did just that.





See the full articles and tons of real "green" wedding photos at Green-Wedding.net

"Green" Invitation Choices

There are many choices available for eco-friendly invitations. One of the simplest ways to eliminate waste is to forego the inner envelope. The inner envelope dates back to when invites were delivered by hand (on foot or by horse) and the inner envelope was used for extra protection during the journey. Eliminating the extra envelope is a good first step in conserving paper, and it doesn't have to compromise the style of your invite.

Choose RSVP postcards over the traditional response cards with envelopes. This eliminates another envelope from the equation. In addition, the cost of postage for postcards is less, so you can be eco-friendly AND save a bit on the budget!

There are also recyclable papers available now. Try Crane's & Co. or Neenah Paper for "tree free" papers. A local invitation designer, Invite Design, also has a line of green eco-friendly invitations available.

But don't stop at the paper! You can find printers who offer alternative ink choices; soy and vegetable based inks that are biodegradable in landfills. Soybeans are definitely prevalent in Ohio, so take advantage of this local renewable source!