Eco-Friendly Wedding Favors

 Happy Blog Post Thursday; I hope you all had a wonderful Saint Patrick's Day! Since you're already thinking green, we thought this would be the perfect time for some Eco-Friendly Wedding inspiration!

As the weather breaks and we spend more of our time enjoying the outdoors, we all start to appreciate the beauty of nature. Whether you're planning an Eco-friendly themed wedding or simply wish to give your guests a memento that won't go to waste, we're showing you our favorite environmentally friendly favors. We want to help you pay homage to the Earth, so get ready to reduce, reuse, and recycle with these adorable gift ideas that feel brand new and unique!

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First on our list are these modern and elegant wedding invitations. Although the metallic feel may not strike you as Eco-friendly, we promise they are! These invitations are perforated and delivered flat so that your guests can sculpt it into a piece of art. Since most paper invitations end up thrown away or lost, these are an excellent alternative that functions in a multitude of ways: They save paper, are a lovely wedding favor, and can be used as a unique decoration in the homes of your guests!

Snag these jars!

We are obsessed with our next idea for a spring barn wedding! Glass mason jars and burlap bags are perfect take home gifts for your guests. They can fill them up with cookies and treats laid out on a cookie table and can re-use them at future gatherings. You can even have them personalized for an added special touch!

Really thinking green? Nothing says Eco-friendly like seeds! Seed paper favors are a trend that's definitely on the rise and you can purchase adorable designs from websites like this one which use biodegradable paper. Your guests take them home, plant the seed paper directly into soil, and the rest is up to mother nature. Your friends and family are sure to remember your special day and the love that bloomed when they see their plants sprout! You can also personalize packets of seeds made from recycled paper or hand out heart-shaped bird seed ornaments to appeal to the animal lovers in your crowd.

In the mood for a little D-I-Y? Here are some ideas for you crafty folk who want to get hands on with your wedding favors. Your guests will appreciate the personal touch of hand made favors that are also functional. Soaps and candles made from natural ingredients like soy, and even tasty treats like honey are unique favors that won't go to waste. If you're really ambitious, you can even put together these tiny terrariums that are sure to make your attendees "ooh" and "aww."

Get This Soy Candle Recipe!

Bonus:
 Planning an eco-friendly wedding? Instead of tossing bird seed, rice, or confetti, check out this awesome new idea we found! Make all your fairy tale dreams come true with a paper lantern send off straight out of Tangled! This company makes lanterns that are biodegradable, aren't made with metal wire, and are flame retardant; mother Earth will definitely thank you for this one!

Attending an eco-friendly wedding and need a gift for the bride and groom? This website makes great products and home decor from recycled materials that your Earth friendly friends will certainly appreciate! 

Have any environmentally friendly wedding ideas that you'd like to share? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Photo Credit: etsy; loverly; buzzfeed; etsy - seeds; etsy - customize; Nature favors; Project Wedding

Brilliant Bohemian Bridesmaids

Don't look now, but it looks like spring has finally sprung! The sun is shining, birds are chirping, and soon we will see the first colorful blooms begin to sprout. This week we've been focusing on the Boho-Chic theme because it's absolutely perfect for a spring wedding. It's fun, laid back, and often ties in some of the best elements of nature.

A wedding theme that is more relaxed is a breath of fresh air and one of the top trends for boho weddings is the mismatched bridesmaid ensemble. These options are a great way to have fun and flirty dresses to match each of your girls' personalities, while also complimenting you and your theme. Here are some great ways to shake up your wedding party and maintain a chic, coherent look.

Pretty in Prints
Having each bridesmaid wear a different print is an adorable alternative to the normally plain style, as long as you keep some elements to tie them all together. Some ways to do so include having your girls wear the same shoes, doing their hair in the same fashion, or wearing matching pieces of jewelry! You can also have them in the same print, but varying colors. One of the best ways to showcase this option is with lace or floral dresses. You can even add sashes of the same shade to really pull the party's look together. 

Coordinating Colors
Another approach to the mismatched bridesmaids is to play with color. Many designers have dresses with similar bottoms and varying tops, which makes it easy to choose different dresses in the same color that flow together seamlessly. If you want to add a little more of a boho vibe, then choose gowns in the same neutral color with differing lengths and necklines. You can always add fun accessories like hats, flower crowns, and chunky jewelry if you want to take it up a notch!

If you really want to accomplish a unique but chic bridesmaid party, we love the idea of mixing both patterns and colors. A great way to let your girls stand out while maintaining a flawless look is to choose gowns within a similar color pallet like jewel tones or pastels; that way the dresses still compliment each other and no one looks like they don't belong!

Tip: Mixing up colors and patterns are a great tool if you want your maid of honor to stand out in the crowd. Her dress can be the only one with a pattern or the only one with a solid color depending on which combination of styles you choose!

Go Convertible
If mixing colors and patterns isn't your thing, the convertible bridesmaid's dress may be the perfect route! We adore our new selection from Allure Bridesmaids. The versatile design and flowing fabrics means that the possibilities are stunning and endless, giving you and your bridesmaids the freedom to be as conventional or alternative as you like! As an added bonus, your bridesmaids can wear and change their dress again and again. Schedule an appointment to come try on these new trendy dresses; we promise you won't be disappointed!

Photo Credit: bicycletteboutique; ruffledblog; brit.co; weddingbells; weddingchicks; allurebridals

5 Ways to Put a Vintage Twist on Wedding Traditions

Happy first week of March, ladies! We are kicking off the month with one of my personal favorite wedding themes: Vintage! Like they say in the fashion world, old trends never die, they simply get recycled. Well bust out the pearls and pop in your DVD copy of The Great Gatsby, because this theme is back in style and we've compiled a list of our 5 favorite ways to put an elegant, vintage twist on some popular wedding traditions.

1. The Bouquet
The bouquet has long been a symbol of fertility and good fortune, and we love the idea of incorporating it into your theme. Adding pearls, lace, flowers made from old books, and even metals are a fantastic way to add a fun flare to this passé tradition.

Bonus: You don't have to worry about your flowers wilting and the bouquet can easily be preserved in a shadowbox or used as a decorative centerpiece for future gatherings!

2. Something Blue
Your "Something Blue" symbolizes the love and fidelity you share with your partner, and there's no better way to showcase these values than with a blue stone wedding ring! With options like blue topaz, sapphires, and even blue diamonds, you can be as subtle or as bold as you want. Check out some of our stunning favorites; the delicate setting and pop of color are the perfect combination of old and new!

Already have your rings picked out? Try a touch of blue with a pair of earrings or a vintage inspired bracelet!

3. The Veil
The veil represents modesty and youth, and was originally thought to ward off evil spirits. If you want to add a retro spin on this tradition, ditch the cathedral veil and opt for an exquisite birdcage veil, fascinator, or intricate headband! These chic headpieces give you the freedom to honor the custom while also getting a little playful. 

Bonus: After you've said "I do," the netting of a birdcage veil can be folded, scrunched, and secured in a low bun for a unique reception-hair embellishment!


4. The Getaway Car
When looking to make a grand departure from your vintage wedding, we recommend keeping it classic; classic car that is. What better way to make an exit than speeding off in a Model T or blowing kisses from a refurbished Volkswagen? Go a step further by stringing decorated, old-fashioned cans to the bumper for an added touch of old school vibes.

5. The Dress
 Traditionally, brides wear a white dress on their wedding day to symbolize purity, but a tea-length gown in ivory might be just the ticket to perfecting the antique look. Furthermore, the great thing about a vintage theme is that it's the ultimate throwback, meaning that your mother's and grandmother's gowns are fair game. If you don't want to wear their dress as is, ask a professional to help you sew pieces of their gown onto yours or create a one-of-a-kind jacket (assuming you get their permission!)

Bonus: Wearing or incorporating a loved one's gown is the perfect way to get your "Something Old" or "Something Borrowed!"

Getting inspired? Tell us about your favorite vintage wedding ideas!

Photo Credits: bluepetyl; buzzfeed; rocknrollbride; etsybouquet; thecluelessgirl; etsyring; ylang23; etsybracelet; etsyring; thebridaldetective; etsyheadband; praisewedding; blogof.francescomugnai; confettidaydreams; tbstyles; ianstuart-bride