Eco friendly weddings

Use natural linen like hemp for your tablecloths and napkins. Accent napkins with fresh herbs or (or a less-expensive greenery option, like the bouquets of mixed greenery available at grocery stores - usually for around $5 - or event leaves from your backyard. White blossoms also look gorgeous as napkin accents.And use china crockery rather than disposable plastic and paper.

Ask the florist to use only locally grown flowers ( yes, they have to ask their outlets) or order organically grown and fair trade flowers, this may cost a little more and it may also reduce the amount of flower variety available: so plan to simplify your designs and your expectations. If you have a green planner or florist in your community, seek them out to help you

Serve your guests only locally grown and organic food. That way, you are supporting both the local economy and reducing gas emissions that are spent in transporting food that is grown elsewhere.
Also consider holding both the ceremony and the reception at the same venue (or within walking distance) to avoid both the cost of transportation, as well as the wasted emissions.

Instead of using a traditional cake platter...why not use a beautiful old tree stump.

Green Field Paper Company has handmade paper wedding invitations that have seeds embedded wedding invitation paper. The paper will grow wildflowers if kept moist! They also offer wedding invitations made from junk mail as well as tree-free wedding invitations including hemp.

Here’s an example of their Fern Wedding Invitation with Monogram as seen in InStyle weddings Winter 2006 edition. It is made with seed embedded paper and is a very elegant wedding invitation.

They also have a unique all-in-one wedding invitation and reply card as shown here. This wedding invitation is also on seed embedded paper. It has a perforation for your guests to tear off the response card with your return address is already printed on the back.

These eco friendly wedding favor ideas are easy on the earth and your wallet. No need to buy junk that will end up in a landfill for your wedding - and this includes wedding favors!

After all, wedding favors are generally a little token of appreciation that represents you as a couple, so if you are a "green" couple, then your favors should be too!

Twig Colored Pencils - I absolutely love these as wedding favors and place card holders too! Not only are they eco friendly wedding favors, but they are functional too. Be sure to have some recycled paper at the tables that say, "Draw a picture or write a special note to the newlyweds" and have someone collect them at the end of the night. When you read these later on, you'll see how silly the messages get as the night goes on - and as the wine keeps pouring.

You can get these twig pencil sets for just a few bucks each from Wanda an eBay seller. To make it even cheaper I'd split them up so each guest gets just a few. If you don't see them listed, write her a note and see if she can get you some.

For easy tags, buy a paper punch in a shape you like (like my leaf) and punch through some recycled paper!

How about using a bike as your 'getaway car'? Not only is it eco friendly, it makes for some pretty awesome photos!

Here’s a pretty cool green wedding favor idea. As your marriage grows over the years so will these trees in the yards of your friends and family. I think it would by pretty neat to be able to show your kids these trees when you go to see family. Not to mention you are doing something good for the environment too!

Did you ever think you could get away without providing seats? Well, the traditional kind anyway. Benches of hay covered in floral fabric give this wedding a down home, country feel. photography by Tec Petaja, found via Green Wedding Shoes

A tree trunk can make for a unique place to display photos. By providing an opportunity to share photos of other family member's weddings, it's a great way to include mom and dad.
photography by Tec Petaja, found via Green Wedding Shoes

Buy a recycled dress or have one made by a local seamstress with organic materials. Let the wedding party wear their own clothes or something they'll actually wear again.

What about a wedding with no electricity! While it's certainly eco-friendly, is it feasible? This means no microphones, speakers, lights. Here are a few ways to achieve this:

• Skip the lights. Hold your wedding outside in daylight.
• Hire an acoustic band. Keep the guest list small and intimate so they can hear the music without speakers.
• Although you have no control over how guests actually get to your wedding, have your ceremony and reception in the same place so that guests can walk between the events.
• The biggest obstacle is food. It might be tricky (and it might elicit a few choice words from your serious meat eating cousin), but...it can be done! To serve food at a true zero-electricity wedding, think BIG salad bar. Vegetables, salads, pasta salads, breads, fruits, cheeses, and cold cuts are just some of the goodies you could offer.
• Another option? Use a gas grill, which emits a lot less CO2 than charcoal briquettes and lighter fluid. This will satisfy that meat eating cousin and you can even create some very interesting desserts with a grill - think bananas foster or grilled peaches. Speaking of which, for dessert you should take advantage of things that keep well and will transport easily, such as cookies, cupcakes, baklava, biscotti, and petits fours. You could also serve MRE's (meals ready to eat) or freeze dried space ice cream (which could be pretty fun!), but that might be weird.

Watermelon Keg - great for a casual outdoor wedding

Want to impress guests with a DIY watermelon keg of your own?

Read on to find out how...

What you'll need:
• 10-pound seedless watermelon
• Sharp knife
• Big spoon
• Big bowl
• Drill with a 1/2-inch drill bit
• 3/4-inch ball-valve faucet with a handle that's easy to turn with one hand
• PVC-to-faucet adapter that will screw into the back of the faucet
• Rubber O-ring that fits the back of the faucet
• Blender
• Sieve
• Pitcher
• 1 1/2 cups rum
• 4 limes
• About 90 minutes of your time

1. If your watermelon is wobbly when standing on one end, use a knife to trim off the stem end of your watermelon rind just enough that the melon sits flat. Then decide which side of your melon looks best — that'll be your front. Cut the top jack-o'-lantern style, big enough to fit your hand through, but center the cut more toward the back of the melon so you can't see the seam from the front.

2. Use a big spoon to scoop out the fruit into a large bowl. Eat some of the watermelon as you're scooping it out to make sure it doesn't poison your guests. Pour any juice in the bottom of the melon into your pitcher.

3. Drill a hole a few inches from the bottom of the melon for your faucet. Then use a knife to slightly widen the hole till it's just a little smaller than the diameter of the back of the faucet.

4. Gently screw the faucet into the hole, putting your other hand inside the melon for leverage. Don't jam it in or you'll bruise the outside of the rind and compromise your seal. Inside the melon, carve away a little more fruit from around the back of the faucet (don't go through the rind) to make room for screwing on the adapter.

5. Slide the O-ring onto the back of the faucet, then screw on the adapter. To test for leaks, fill the melon halfway with water, then turn on the faucet. Once you've confirmed that your watermelon is indeed operational, pour out the water through the top.

6. Reserve some watermelon to eat tomorrow for breakfast, then throw the rest into a blender and puree. Use the back of a spoon to push the puree through a sieve placed over your pitcher so you're left with just juice. Discard any solids. You should have about 6 cups of juice. Mix the juice with 1 1/2 cups of rum and 1/2 cup of fresh lime juice (about four limes' worth).

7. Pour the mixture back into the watermelon. Put the top back on the melon and set it on the edge of a counter or table to serve.

From Evite blog

Wedding Food Ideas

Pizza ships

Open roast pumpkin & feta pies

Bruschetta with ricotta, grilled capsicum and artichoke topping

Individual bacon and egg tartlets

Antipasto garlic bread

Crab and goat's cheese tartlets

Bacon and chive tarts

Chocolate pistachio strawberries

Chicken and almond ribbon sandwiches

Cheese platter with dried muscatels and walnut bread

Avocado dip with Turkish chips

Nacho bites

Roast beef canapes

Antipasto platter

Mini pikelets with smoked salmon and creme fraiche

Edible centrepieces

Kill two bird with one stone and have your favors incorporated into your centrepieces. At the end of the night, have the MC/DJ announce that the favors are there for the taking, or have little cards on the table letting everyone know to take one at the end of the night

Arrange some lollipops in the color theme of your wedding in a pretty vase

These glass cylinders can be customized in an unlimited number of ways with whatever decorative elements you choose. Fill them with M&Ms, smarties or other little lollies/chocolate and have little favor boxes for people to fill at the end of the night.

A large martini, champagne or wine glass, filled with individual chocolates

Rose Ice Cubes

From Jonathan Fong Style

Rose Ice Cubes

For a truly romantic evening, whether it’s for Valentine’s Day or an anniversary, show your love with this wine bucket filled with roses encased in ice. They’ll melt any heart.

Is it edible?

Most roses are indeed edible. However, many growers use pesticides on the roses, so I would avoid putting these ice cubes in drinks unless you’re sure there were no chemicals used. Just use the ice to cool the wine or champagne bottle.

What you’ll need:

(per ice tray)
12 spray roses (the small ones)
12 twist ties
2 wooden skewers
1 ice tray
Floral tape

1. To keep the roses submerged in the ice trays, we have to build a framework that will weigh them down. Cut the spray roses, leaving about 2 inches of stem, and use twist ties to attach the stems to the skewers.

2. Place the roses, which are attached to the skewers, upside down in their individual ice compartments of the tray.

3. Tape down the skewers at the ends of the ice tray to keep everything from floating when you add water. Your ice tray should look like the one in the photo.

4. Add water to the ice tray and freeze overnight.

Fortune cookies

From HomeHints

These are a great idea for a bit of fun at your wedding. The guests will love opening them up to read their 'fortune'

Makes 45

What you will need

• 60g unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup (110g) caster sugar
• 2 eggwhites, at room temperature
• 1/3 cup (50g) plain flour
• 45 messages on 1 x 5.5cm pieces of paper

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Place butter and sugar in a bowl. Using a wooden spoon, combine well. Add eggwhites, 1 at a time, stirring until smooth. Stir in flour and a pinch of salt until smooth.

2. Using an 8cm pastry cutter as a guide, trace 4 circles, 4cm apart, on to a sheet of baking paper. Flip paper over and place on a greased oven tray. Using a metric measuring spoon, spoon a slightly rounded tsp of mixture on to each circle. Use the back of a spoon to spread batter to fill circles.

3. Bake for 6-7 minutes or until cookies begin to brown around edges. Working quickly, slide a spatula under each cookie to loosen, then place a message on top of each. Fold hot biscuits in half to enclose, pressing edges together, then bend in half the other way, over the edge of a glass, to create crescent shapes. Hold for a few seconds. Place on a wire rack to cool.

4. Repeat with remaining batter. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Notes & tips * Cook's tip: Baking paper can be reused up to four times; any more and cookies won't be as smooth.

Funny messages -

He who throws dirt is losing ground.

You can always find happiness at work on Friday.

Do not mistake temptation for opportunity.

A woman who seeks to be equal with men lacks ambition. Ouch!!!

The greatest danger could be your stupidity.

He who laughs at himself never runs out of things to laugh at.

He who laughs last is laughing at you.

A closed mouth gathers no feet.

A conclusion is simply the place where you got tired of thinking.

A cynic is only a frustrated optimist.

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind, and won't change the subject.

It doesn't matter. Who is without a flaw?

The world may be your oyster, but it doesn't mean you'll get its pearl.

Flattery will go far tonight.

Love Messages -

A warm smile is testimony of a generous nature.

A secret admirer will soon send you a sign of affection.

Love asks me no questions, and gives me endless support. Shakespeare

In the end there are three things that last: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love.

Don't forget, you are always on our minds.

Love is for the lucky and the brave.

If you continually give, you will continually have.

If you want the rainbow, you must put up with the rain. D. Parton

If you would be loved, love and be lovable.

The one you love is closer than you think.

Love always and deeply.

Your heart will always make itself known through your words.

Love begets love.

We cannot do great things; only small things with great love. Mother Teresa

Love is like wildflowers...it is often found in the most unlikely places.

Love is the only medicine for a broken heart.

Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence. H.L. Mencken

Much more grows in the garden than that which is planted there.

One who admires you greatly is hidden before your eyes.

Only love lets us see normal things in an extraordinary way.

The greatest gift is love.

The time is right to make new friends.

There is no limit to love's forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure.

Those who have love, have wealth beyond measure.

To love is to forgive.

Hearts are not to be had as a gift, hearts are to be earned. W.B. Yeats

Your heart is a place to draw true happiness.

Love conquers all.

Count your blessings by thinking of those whom you love.

Not budget , but still pretty cool

I came across this site while looking for something else and thought I would share. Custom Printed M&MS

It's based in the US but does have a number you can call to enquire about shipping internationally.

You can choose from a heap of different colors and then personalise it how ever you like! One side has a picture of the bride and groom on it and the other side has text. You can also make them with text on both side rather than a picture. They make great favors.

Even if custom printed M&Ms are out of your price range, they do have some pretty cool ideas on how to decorate cakes with M&Ms so check out their page.

Ways to save on your wedding reception

The reception is where most of your money is spent. You dont have to spend thousands of dollars to have a beautiful wedding reception. All you need to do is think outside the box. You dont have to have a sit down, 3 course meal with an open bar at a fancy reception centre... here are a few other ideas

• Have a picnic or BBQ in a park - Great for a casual fun wedding
  

Many parks have free picnic and BBQ facilites. Visit a wholesale butcher for all your meat and rope a friend into being the chef for the day. After the meal, you could play a fun game of cricket or football with all your friends and family

• Local pub or club

Many pubs and clubs have function rooms that are available for hire, cheaper than a reception centre. They may have set menus or you may be able to get a caterer in.

• Your favorite restaurant
  

If you have a restaurant you love to go to, why not book a few tables and have your reception there. Many places dont charge a venue hire fee so all you are paying for is the food and drink. Chinese resturants are perfect for this because they have set banquets.

• Farm or large property

Do you have friends or family with a farm or large property? Why not set up a marquee (you can buy them fairly cheaply at discount shops like the Reject Shop) for your reception? There are many spit roast catering companies around that charge around $12pp for a 3 course meal.

• Breakfast wedding

Why not have a high tea or champagne breakfast reception? Scones, pancakes, fancy tea

• RSL, Sports Club, School Hall, Community Centres

All usually have function space available to hire at a reasonable cost and they allow you to either self cater or bring in a catering company, saving you money on food costs. While they may not be as 'pretty' as the reception centres, the money you save is a great trade off

• Rent a holiday house
  

You can rent a beautiful holiday house in the country or even by the beach and hold your reception there. You could even hire it for a few days and once everyone has left the wedding, you and your husband could spend your honeymoon there


And if you still want to have your wedding at a reception centre...

• Ask about their cocktail menu. It is alot cheaper than a sit down meal.

• Ask the venue if you can supply your own alcohol, if not, have a bar tab for soft drinks only. Guest can pay for alcohol if they wish

• DJ's are cheaper than bands/singers. In this day and age where everyone has an Ipod, why not do your own wedding music. Load up the Ipod with all the songs you want to use, hook up some speakers and enlist someone to be 'DJ' for the night, pressing play and stop when needed.
  

• Have your wedding during off peak times. Weekdays, lunch time, Sundays are the times that the venue and suppliers are the least busiest so they may offer discounts.

Best tip of all.... Always ask for a discount!

Fortune teller favors

Another from Martha Stewart Weddings.

Remember these from school? I used to make them all the time and put silly little messages in them like 'Your going to marry Mr Scott' or similar childish things. How about making some for your wedding and filling them with lollies, nuts, M&M's or something similar. It will give your guest something to talk about as they relive their childhoods.

Lolly Buffet

Lolly buffets are a great idea for an alternative to traditional wedding favors. The are fairly cheap to make as well. Because you dont have to have all the same size jars/vases/bowls, you can pick them up cheaply from op shops, $2 stores, sales or even use ones you or friends/family have laying around.
The lollies can also be done cheaply but buying in bulk from wholesale lollies stores. I still have a list of wholesalers, Australia wide, saved on my computer from when I was looking for my wedding, so if you need help locating one, just send me an email and I'll send you the details.
You can use scoops or mini tongs for serving and cellophane bags, noddle boxes or any other small container you wish for guests to fill will lollies.

To help create a full look to your buffet when you’re on a tight budget, use other decorative “filler” items on the table around the candy jars. Paper lanterns, flowers, flower petals, and picture frames are great “filler” elements. You can even sneak in some jars of inexpensive, coordinating cookies to help fill space and create a decadent, abundant look to the buffet.

Use a variety of types of candies - individually wrapped, unwrapped with a hard candy shell (i.e. m&m’s, skittles), hard candies, gummy candies, lollipops, old-fashioned candy sticks, etc.

Use different shapes, sizes, and heights of containers, and make sure their mouths are wide enough for guests to scoop candy from. Cylinder vases and apothecary jars are widely available in discount stores because their glass-ware for this type of project is often the perfect price!

Embellish containers with ribbon, custom labels, and other decorative embellishments.