Wedding Favors: Tree Seedlings
Weddings take away a lot of resources from the earth for a celebration that only lasts a few hours. It pained us to think about this, and when choosing what to give our guests as favors, we decided that we wanted to use this as an opportunity to give back to the earth for all that it has given us. I’ve been to several weddings where I received a favor that was cute, but not really useful, and not anything that was really meaningful. We want to avoid this, and so we have decided that for our favors we are going to give…
tree seedlings!
We found a company right here in New York state called
Tree Beginnings that offers a variety of different gifts for all types of occasions, all of which can be planted. Almost all of the items from this store come with free personalization in the form of little cards, slips that attach to the gifts, colors, and even packaging. We chose
blue spruce seedlings wrapped in natural burlap with a green raffia bow. We figured that these fit the theme of our wedding best (the Adirondack woods) and had the lowest impact on the environment.
I was able to order one seedling as a sample just to make sure we liked them before ordering all 50 that we will need. I think this is a good idea for anyone who has to purchase mass quantities of something and isn’t able to look at it first.
We realize that not everyone is able or will want to plant a tree after going home from our wedding, and we have a plan for that. We are going to put a little sign (in one of the picture frames we bought from Rustic Blend - see blog post here) on the table with the seedlings letting our guests know that if they do not want to take a tree and will not plant it, that it’s ok to leave it on the table. We are also going to encourage any of our guests with larger property or a greater desire to take care of a tree to take more than one if there are some left over. Then, if all else fails, we will take the rest of the seedlings home and plant them ourselves in our own yard.
We are also going to use one of these seedlings during our vow renewal ceremony in which we have incorporated a tree planting ritual. I think this will be a really nice way to tie it all together and promote the idea that we are all on the same planet and our love is universal.
Read Kristen’s Blog: It is a wonderful story.
http://weddingforreal.blogspot.com/2011/03/wedding-favors-tree-seedlings.html
give favors your special stamp
We are unique because all of our eco favours are personalized, they all have thank you message, we can add the bride and groom’s custom messages and are flexible when it comes to innovation.
Nisha wanted to incorporate their personal wedding graphic from their invitations into the favors. No problem, we placed the motif on the cards and they looked fantastic with the tree seedlings in burlap favours.
Since all of our favours are custom printed we can include special poems or sayings into our guest gifts, or continue a theme you are already using throughout the wedding day.
A wedding day is often a time to remember a loved on or share a special poem or song. Our tree and flower guest personalized seed favors offer oportunites for your love to “grow” and share your individual style with your friends and family.
We are awesome because we really believe in what we do, we offer quality eco gifts at affordable prices, we are helpful to our customers, and open to special requests. Earth-friendly wedding favors are popular for 2011, what an simple way to include a touch of “green” on your Wedding day.
A customer comment I just have to share:
“Thank you so much for your quick service and the beautiful favors. They were just what we thought they’d be, and out guests received them very well. My new wife cried when she saw and read them — which is always a good sign! Thanks again for the quick and professional service and a quality product that became a really nice part of our reception.
Sincerely,
Chris”.
The possibilities are endless!
For a change of pace, this week’s post is from two organizing experts, Alicia Rockmore and Sarah Welch of Buttoned Up, Inc.
Natural & Organic Wedding Cupcakes from Meringue Bake Shop
Five Ideas For Hosting an Eco-Chic Wedding
Automobile carbon emissions are one of the biggest problems of pollution so if you have 100 guests driving 30 miles to commute from the ceremony location to the reception, the guests for your wedding alone will drive 3,000 extra miles. Multiply by the estimated 2.1 million US weddings a year and you’ve got 6.3 billion extra miles driven. Divide that by the 12,000 miles driven by the average American per year and the guest commute would equal a whole year’s worth of driving for 525,000 Americans!
If you’re interested in hosting an eco-friendly wedding, simply start by hosting the ceremony and reception in the same venue. If you are taking your vows in a religious venue, find a reception venue within a mile or two of the ceremony – or better yet, one you can all walk to. Green weddings are a huge trend so here are five ideas for hosting a more eco-chic wedding:
1. Go Local
If your venue allows you to bring your own alcohol, bring locally brewed beers and locally grown wines. This cuts out the shipping emissions and supports your local businesses. Don’t be afraid to haggle with these businesses either. They will get exposure to 50-500 guests by being featured at the wedding so use that to your advantage when negotiating prices.
2. Go Natural
Many flowers in floral arrangements are shipped all the way from South America, Asia, and Europe, so the pollution impact from the shipping is high. In addition, you have no way of knowing what kind of environmentally harmful chemicals they use. Instead, use flowers that are in season and grown naturally in your area. For example, if you live in the South, pick Magnolia flowers from local trees and float the blossoms in vases on tables for centerpieces. Wild flowers from a friend’s garden can also add a very unique, personal, and beautifully natural touch to your wedding. If you want a more structured look, do an internet search for “organic florist” in your region.
3. Favors, Favors
Favors are a nice touch to any wedding, but the truth is, they usually just get shoved in a closet or worse, added to the already overflowing landfills. As an alternative, if you were planning on spending $5 per favor on 200 guests, spend $1 each for tiny live pine trees they can plant and donate the other $800 you were planning to spend in a donation to a local or national forest, a save the animals foundation, or whatever other charity you and your fiancé believe in.
4. Send E-vites
This tip may be shockingly unconventional, but sending electronic invitations will save a great deal of paper. As a bonus, this one will also keep more money in your pocket. If you have relatives or friends who don’t use e-mail, make your own simple invitations to send to those few people. Also create an online wedding website where you can feature your wedding style as well as maps to venues, menus, photos, etc. This will be a perfect electronic touch to your eco-friendly big day. On your wedding website you can also feature a section on all of the ways you are making your wedding green so guests will know why they didn’t get a paper invitation in the mail.
5. Attire
Your gown sets the stage for the whole day. But since you’re only wearing it once, it’s okay to wear one that’s vintage or already worn. If the money you’ll save doesn’t sell you on this idea, maybe this one will: try a charity like “Brides Against Breast Cancer” where sample gowns and donated previously worn gowns are auctioned and all proceeds go to Breast Cancer research. Recycling dresses is a great eco-friendly choice.
Remember: Even if you can only do one or two of these green options, every little bit helps! With approximately 2.1 million weddings a year in the United States, if every bride can make a few eco-chic changes collectively, the impact will be huge.
Alicia Rockmore and Sarah Welch are the co-founders of Buttoned Up, inc., a company dedicated to helping stretched and stressed women get themselves organized (along with everybody else they’re responsible for too!). They welcome your thoughts! Please send ideas and questions to them at: yourlife@getbuttonedup.com or visit them at http://www.getbuttonedup.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alicia_Rockmore
Photo Source: Meringue Bake Shop
Planning a wedding is such an exciting time! There are many details for you to attend to, but don’t forget to honour your guests for taking part in your wedding day.
Our Secret Seed Garden Favours are a wonderful way to provide your wedding guests with lasting memories of your special celebration. The black and white version shown here, which is just one of many you can choose from, adds an elegant, natural beauty to your reception tables. For a romantic touch, add some white organza ribbon.
These favours are available in a wide variety of seed options to suit every taste and climate. Flower selections include a wildflower mix, butterfly garden mix, gerbera daisy, roses, forget-me-not, love-in-a-mist, sunflowers, and Shasta daisies. Herb selections include chives, basil, or an herbal mix. If you prefer, you can give your guests tree seeds for an even longer lasting memory, choosing from blue spruce, Douglas fir, or paper birch.
Wedding favours don’t have to be trinkets that will end up collecting dust or being tossed out after a month or two! Your guests will love these unique, long-lasting wedding keepsakes.
Today I’d like to introduce you to Lauren Goebel, who writes for a wedding planning blog called Something Blue Book. Lauren has written a great article that I’m sure you’ll find really helpful as you plan your eco-friendly wedding.
Green Wedding Theme – Seven Ways to Plan a Wedding That is Friendly to the Environment
“Going green” is becoming such a popular catch phrase. People, in general, are becoming more environmentally-conscious. So why not incorporate this trend into planning your wedding day? There are a lot of ways you can have the wedding of your dreams while being friendly to the earth!
- Use seed packets for your wedding favors. Inspiring your guests to do something for the environment sends a beautiful message on your wedding day. It is an inexpensive favor that stands out.
- Save electricity. Have an outdoor wedding, and use the sun’s light instead of electricity. If you want to have an indoor ceremony and/or reception, use candles or energy-saving light bulbs. Hiring an acoustic band to perform can add a romantic and unique touch to any wedding reception, and the best part is that it is completely environmentally-friendly!
- Send eco-friendly wedding invitations. Send invitations on recycled paper. Why waste the paper if you don’t have to? You can also create an email RSVP option. You would be surprised at how many guests will use this instead of traditional snail mail. And the less paper that is used, the better it is for the earth!
- Tell your guests to forget wrapping your gifts. You are going to throw away the wrapping paper anyway! Another idea is to request they wrap the gifts with newspaper.
- Serve all organic food at your reception. This idea is for those who are very into the environmental movement. Having organic food can be quite expensive but a great way to stand out, be healthy, and be an environmental activist!
- Keep your wedding decor eco-friendly. Do not use disposable decorations like confetti. Use flowers, plants, and cloth napkins.
- Make your wedding car a green car. Rent an electric or hybrid vehicle, and make a statement as you leave your wedding reception. As you are riding away, you can be confident that you are doing your part to limit pollution.
You can play your part in saving the earth and still have a charming wedding day. Whether you use all of these ideas or just a handful of them, try “going green” for your wedding theme. It is important that we all do our part to conserve our environment. And there is no day like your wedding day to set an example about being environmentally aware.
Visit Lauren’s wedding planning website and business directory for more tips and ideas!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lauren_Goebel
We had such a fabulous time at the recent bridal show in Washington, that we’ve decided to do another one, north of the border this time!
Come and see us at the Burlington/Oakville Bridal Show on January 29 and 30, from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.
The show is being held at the Burlington Convention Centre, 1120 Burloak Drive. That’s just north of the QEW, so it’s very easy to get to, whether you’re coming from Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, Hamilton, Niagara, Kitchener-Waterloo, or elsewhere in Southern Ontario.
Hope to see you there!
In its early days, Tree Beginnings was all about green weddings. Since my husband Rick was in the tree business, we thought it would be a wonderful idea to give our wedding guests something they could plant as a lasting memory of the start of our new life together.
We went from offering brides and grooms trees and tree seed favors to flower seed favors, flower bulbs, plantable seed favors and most recently tree, flower and herb seed kits in recycled gift boxes with brilliant raffia ribbon ties. Gradually, our customers realized that although our eco-favors are ideal for weddings, they’re just as great for other occasions, such as baptisms, communions, birthdays, retirements, reunions, anniversaries – you name it!
Tree Seed in Eco Gift Boxes
Even environmentally conscious businesses are getting in the act! Shown here is a customized gift one of our customers ordered to show appreciation for their supporters. Why not give the strength of a tree to grow YOUR business and say thank you? Choose a tree to fit your climate and do something good for our planet at the same time.
If you’re planning a wedding in or near Washington, DC, be sure to visit the Washington Bridal Showcase at the Washington Convention Centre on Sunday, January 16, 2011.
