Biodegradable wedding poppers: one of the most well known, and most commonly practiced wedding traditions is showering the Newlyweds after the ceremony. The Bride and Groom will exit the ceremony and head off to the reception, but not without first being showered with rice or confetti. Many modern couples have chosen not to use rice, for various reasons, and have since replaced them with other options, the most popular being paper confetti. This is often shot out of a small “popper”, which leaves a mess that creates unnecessary waste, and harms the environment. However, now there are wedding poppers that have biodegradable confetti and streamers, offering all of the fun, without any of the negative impact. Give your guests these favors and keep your conscience guilt-free, with these “Green” wedding favors.

Blooming seed papers: these favors are a gift that keeps on giving, especially when it comes to giving back to the environment. Seed papers are composed of Eco Friendly fibers and flower seeds, which can be easily planted, and will result in beautiful blooming flowers. These papers come in a broad range of shapes, all available with instructions and a personalized message for your guests. Not only will they remember your wedding day, but they’ll also be easily reminded by the flowers these favors provide.

Flower seed favors: these personalized cards can include your names, wedding date, and a personalized message for your guests. The flower seeds include instructions on how to plant, and grow, this Eco and budget friendly wedding favor. Make your wedding truly “Green” with favors that not only protect the environment, but also give something back. There are plenty of generic wedding favors out there, but none more unique and worth while than the gift of nature.

It is common for couples to have their “first time we met” stories based around holidays. Holidays are a cause for social events, parties, and gatherings. This is often where you meet “friends of friends” for the first time, or maybe even be the victim of a friend trying to play cupid. Maybe on the same day, the following year, he proposes! Choosing a day that meant something to you follows in suit with choosing your wedding date. It could be Halloween, and you can get away with it!

Here are some great ideas for Halloween themed weddings, or just autumn and fall weddings in general. Incorporate the season, use it as inspiration! Find elements that are true to the time of year, iconic for the season. Pumpkins may be obvious, but maple leaves, greenery, and seasonal floral can also be used. Gold, cinnamon, spiced beer and other warm details are also reminiscent of the atmosphere.

My favorite Fall Wedding details: Spiced (or pumpkin) Beer, hot cocoa wedding favors, pumpkin ice cream, rich chocolate cakes, hot drinks with cinnamon sticks, baked goods, apple strudel, and those clever cinnamon roll lollipop favors!

Check out these great Pumpkin and Autumn themed cocktail ideas, including a Hazelnut Pumpkin Beer Float! Yum!

Credits: Autumn Bride & Groom, Decor, Lily Bouquet, Cocoa Favor, Bouquet (preview), Cinnamon Tea, Pumpkin Ale, Hazelnut Pumpkin Beer Float, Cinnamon Roll Pops.

Rather than thinking in white-out white, try creams and greys. White can have many undertones, both warm and cool, so use this to create complimentary colors in a palette. This can range from browns, to yellows, to blues. If you can’t really see it working, then head over to a paint shop, and pick up some color cards in the “white” spectrum. You will see just how many variations of white there are. This is a great idea to get some inspiration and see just how broad the palette can be.

This is an example palette I’ve created. You can begin with three or all of the colors on top, and then choose either a warm, or a cool palette with the pastels below.

Another great thing about a white palette is that it works year around. Although you can easily take it in a “winter wonderland” direction, it can really suit any season. You can really make this obvious in the elements. For example, if you use crystals, such as hanging strings of them from a wish tree at your reception, it says “winter”. If you use pearls, lace, and other iconic white items, this is very classic, and says more about an era (vintage!) than a particular season. This is a great theme to use when you are fitting your wedding into a date that is budget friendly. The peak wedding seasons can really set you back, so if you are flexible with your date, you can use a white palette any time of year.

Using white also gives you the opportunity to incorporate many different elements without going overboard or appearing too busy. With a general lack of color, you can make some bold statements and really make the focus of the day on you and your spouse.

Credits: Candy Bar, Photography, Wish Tree.

Invitations & Cards: To help eliminate paper waste all together, send ecards for your “save the date” and “Thank you” cards. You can keep all the creativity and work with a digital designer to create your invites without all the waste.
If you’re set on paper, go with recycled paper and envelopes with natural ink.

Making Memories: When you choose your photographer, be sure they are shooting digitally. Preview your pictures and share via a computer, and have your pictures burned to a CD. If you prefer film, be sure they recycle materials and don’t use so many chemicals in the development process.
For photo albums, there are plenty of companies that have green options for printing and binding your wedding album, without any loss of style and chic design.

Choose eatable! The best idea for green wedding favors for guests are tasty goodies. If things are 100% eatable, there is no waste. Bake some homemade cookies or chocolate, or even make jam from homegrown fruits. If you need a wrapper for baked goods, used recycled products and those that are easily degradable, or save your glass food jars and refill them with goods. You can also give some free-trade products such as coffee (read up on what free-trade means here) or natural beeswax candles or home made soaps.
For the reception meal, treat your guests to locally grown food that is pesticide free. If you can’t go 100% organic, choose meats that are acquired sustainably and seafood that is low in mercury.

Other DIY gifts can include live potted plants, fabric bags, and other things that can be around for a long time. How clever is this Banana bread that is baked directly inside a reusable terra cotta plant pot from Style Me Pretty?

Don’t buy disposable. For the reception, use real dishes and glasses, that can be washed and reused. Use fabric napkins and table clothes that can also be washed and reused.

Find Eco Friendly hotels in the area, here is a good resource for “green” hotels in America: GreenHotels.com and Canada: Hotel Association.

Phew that was a lot of research. I hope you’re inspired to have an Eco Friendly wedding!

Credits: Succulent gifts, Homemade Bread, Soap, & Potted Bread.

Read up on Stylish ways to Go Green:
Green Wedding @ Amazon
Green Bride Guide @ Amazon (Budget Friendly)
Eco-Chic Weddings @ Amazon

Typewriter keys are an icon of vintage and retro styles, and using your wedding theme, or using them selectively as embellishments is a tasteful statement of a unique wedding. It is also a perfect opportunity to incorporate your initials into the details.

For the men: cuff links for the groom, and maybe even tie tacks for the groomsmen.
For the ladies: You can give your bridesmaids personalized initial gifts such as necklaces, bracelets, hair pins or even earrings.
For the reception: make use of the keys as magnets or pins to post the Polaroids taken by guests on a board. They can be worked into the table settings to assign guest seating, such as on a napkin ring or wine glass stem charm, or as apart of wedding favors.

A unique, fun and creative way to present your guest book, is to get an old typewriter, and have guests type their entries. It’s a great vintage statement, and when paired with a Polaroids for the guests to take and post, it is a perfect way to make and keep instant memories.

DIY: At garage sales you can often find old computer keyboards, or used scrabble games to salvage keys and pieces from. Many sellers online offer vintage looking typewriter keys, which can be mounted with a hot glue gun. Craft stores such as Micheal’s usually have embellishments in their scrap booking section, which is a more lightweight, sensible alternative if you plan on using them for your invitations. They will include adhesive, be of a sensible size, etc. where as salvaging them will not be as easy to work with. They also have beads or other keys that have holes already drilled for ease of use.

Credits: Guest Book, Type Keys, Keyboard, Key Bracelet, Key Necklace, Type Magnets, Cuff Links, Scrabble, Scrabble Necklace, Key Bracelet, Key Tie, Vows.

Traditionally, the Bridal Shower is thrown by the woman who will be the Maid of Honor of the Bride on the big day, but anyone can throw this party for her, including the mother of the bride, close friends, and sometimes it is even the bride collaborating with friends and family.

Whether you purchase them online, or take the opportunity to design and create the gifts yourself, this is one of the best parts of the shower. Often gifts can be embellished with stickers, ribbons or tags that are personalized with the Bride and Groom’s names, and their planned wedding date.

Eatable favors: Some of the best favors are eatable, ranging from small sweets to tiny novelty bottles of liqueur or champagne. Lollipops, small boxes of chocolates (often in shapes such as roses), gourmet jelly beans (following the color theme of the party), exotic tea, truffles, mints, and chocolate coated nuts, or even wine, are just a few ideas. Often these are wrapped in packaging that matches the party’s theme. Mints can come in a personalized tin, small boxes can be decorated with cloth or ribbons, and can hold chocolate or truffles, and jelly beans can be put in a small jar.

Decorative favors: these favors are great because they can serve a function, such as candles or potpourri which last long after the guests have brought them home. Other gifts include: small sapling trees or other tiny novelty plants, vases with a flower, decorative bath soaps (made in a special mold for a variety of shapes) or bath salts, even a bracelet, small skin care products, picture frames, makeup kits, engraved glasses and picture frames. Often these are also all personalized with initials etc. of the Bride and Groom.

As for hunting down supplies, local craft stores, and even IKEA, have plenty of little jars and other containers you can buy in bulk to fill and decorate for each guest. Personalized ribbon, tins, and engraving can all be purchased online. You can also find tags, or print stickers at home to personalize the gifts as well. Colored plastic wrapping is great for baked goods or lollipops.