{Guest Advice} 10 Ways to reduce cost & environmental impact

I love making efforts to live in a more environmentally-friendly way. I’m vegetarian, I buy organic as often as possible and I prefer to buy things used rather than submit myself to the commercially-driven culture we live in.

When I started wedding planning, though, everything “green” just seemed SO EXPENSIVE. Prices were often double the prices of the non-eco-friendly version. But Chamonix from No Impact Bride is here today to show us how to make our wedding budget friendly & environmentally friendly.

1. Stationary

Use the Internet instead of paper. It saves time, money and trees!

There are design companies that specialize in online invitations. Or, design them yourself on programs like Photoshoot, Gimp, Pixlr etc… Provide extra info for guests on a wedding website/blog and request RSVP via email. To make everything more professional, set up a wedding e-mail account. If you do use paper, use recycled or eco-friendly (hemp, elephant pooh etc..). Forego paper all together by writing on pebbles, wood, fabric, chalkboards etc…

To learn more about recycled paper, visit: Lovely As a Tree.

For all your electronic wedding stationary needs, visit: Greenvelope (Their most expensive package is only $139!)

Your Average Wedding: $1,000

Eco-Budget Wedding: $0-150

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2. Music

Pay attention to what’s behind the music. Is any electricity being wasted? How did the band travel to the venue? Etc… Here are a few ideas: Hire a local band so they don’t have to travel. Ask musical friends to perform. iPod DJ-ing saves money and can be just as professional if done right. Hire a student band—universities tend to have lots of gig-playing bands which charge very reasonable rates. Find a band like Big Tree!!

Your Average Wedding: $1,000-$3,000

Eco-Budget Wedding: $0-$1000

3. Drinks

Don’t have an open bar. Provide a limited amount of choice alcohol. Most people will want a drink with their meal but they’ll be satisfied with one or two glasses of wine. Provide ½ bottle per person.  Aim for organic or Fairtrade beverages because alcohol production uses lots of agricultural resources and energy. Also, you wouldn’t guess it but a lot of alcohol contains resin from animal bones and are therefore not vegetarian. It’s also great to support a local vineyard or brewery. Interesting Tidbit: According to the Guardian, cider has the least environmental impact while spirits have the worst.

Interested in vegetarian wine? Visit: Vegan Wines 101

To learn about organic wine, visit: Seattle Times (site includes list of choice organic wines)

Eco-friendly Oregon wine: Sokol Blosser

Organic Washington wine: Badger Mountain Vineyard

Your Average Wedding: $3,000

Eco-Budget Wedding: $750- £1,500 (150 Guests, ½ bottle each, 75 bottles, $10 to $20/bottle)

4. Dress

Buy your dress second-hand or borrow one from a friend. Sometimes charity shops have bridal wear but your best bet is a second-hand bridal boutique. Lots of brides are selling their dresses and accessories online these days. Alternatively, make your own dress or support an eco-friendly designer that uses natural fibers like hemp, bamboo and organic cotton.

For more ideas and a list of eco-friendly dress designers, visit: No Impact Bride

Your Average Wedding: $1,130+ (excluding accessories or extra outfits)

Eco-Budget Wedding: $0-$500+

5. Flowers

Grow, make, pick, and/or arrange your own flowers. Growing them will only cost you the seeds. Making them with fabric scraps or paper lets encourages repurposing and creativity! Wildflowers are free but pick responsibly. Buying flowers that have been grown locally and arranging them yourself will support the local community. You can also combine these strategies together. For example, for your bouquet, buy local flowers and pick wild greenery but grow flowers in pots to use as centerpieces! Save oodles of cash and be extra eco-friendly by choosing flowers that are in season at the time of your wedding and by avoiding rare & exotic varieties.

Your Average Wedding: $2,000+

Eco-Budget Wedding: $0-$200

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6. Photography

Hire a just-getting-started or amateur photographer who’s building up their portfolio. They’ll charge less because they need you just as much as you need them. Alternatively, ask a friend who’s got an artistic eye or at least understands wedding photography and the kinds of shots you’re after. If you aren’t too fussed about getting perfect photos then ask all of the guests to take photos (you could provide them with cameras) and collect them after the wedding. If you go for this option, have your guests upload their photos onto a common website/blog to avoid unnecessary printing costs/paper. You’ll have a lot to look through but you’re bound to find something worth keeping.

Your Average Wedding: $2,000-$3,500

Eco-Budget Wedding: $0-$400

7. Rings

Instead of heading down to the high street jeweller where even simple wedding bands cost small fortunes, first play around in your family’s jewellery box. Wearing family heirloom rings adds tradition, personality, and no extra cost to your wedding budget! If that’s not an option, your next best bet is charity shops and antique stores. If you don’t find something the first time, keep going back and let the shop owners (and your friends) know what you’re looking for so they can keep their eyes peeled. There are lots of eco-friendly jewellers out there. Have you thought about wooden rings? If you want diamonds insist on conflict-free gems!!!

Interested in Wooden Rings?, Visit: Simply Wood Rings

To learn about ‘Blood Diamonds’, visit: Amnesty International

To find Conflict-Free Diamonds/Rings, visit: Brilliant Earth

Your Average Wedding: $2,000 +

Eco-Budget Wedding: $0 – $1,000

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8. Honeymoon

You may not like the sound of this but the truth is, if you really want an eco-budget honeymoon, don’t even think about stepping onto an airplane. Your honeymoon can be just as much about the journey as it is about the destination. Explore your own corner of the world! The PNW is one of the most beautiful regions so take advantage of it! Traveling by foot, bike, kayak, or any other man-powered transport is the most eco-friendly option and promises great sightseeing. Provided you already have the equipment it won’t cost anything either. You’ll need to pay for food but you would have be buying groceries or eating in restaurants anyway. Accommodation isn’t an issue with a tent. Fancy ones are only a couple hundred dollars and very cozy! If you do need transport, check out buses, trains and boats (but not cruise ships because they’re a major polluter!)

For PNW Honeymoon Ideas, visit: NWWeddingPlace

To learn more about eco-tourism, visit: The International Eco-Tourism Society

Your Average Wedding: $5,000 +

Eco-Budget Wedding: $300 +

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9. Food

Vegetarian Potluck Buffet! Along with boycotting air travel, eating vegetarian is the best thing you can do for the environment. Taking meat off the menu will also significantly reduce the food costs. Even if you aren’t a regular vegetarian, going down that route for your wedding feast will make a significant positive impact because of the sheer quantity of food being consumed. The potluck style, having friends bring food, saves a lot of money. Only ask friends/family that can cook well to ensure quality. Prepare for each guest to consume 3 portions (Math: Wedding with 100 guests needs 300 portions of food. If 10 people are cooking, they each need to make enough to serve 30). Make sure you reimburse them for the ingredients! If you really need to save money, have the reception in the afternoon or late at night and just serve potluck our’deurvs or dessert.

And let’s not forget about the cake! Turn first to your baking friends. If they aren’t up for it (it can be a little intimidating) find a local baker who is willing to use organic/fair-trade ingredients.

Your Average Wedding: $63/guest (A wedding with 150 guests = just under $10,000)

Eco-Budget Wedding: $30/dish (A wedding with 150 guest = $1,350)

10. Venue

Venue is a priority because everything else revolves around it. Regardless of where you are and the type of wedding you want, friends and family are always the best place to start. Does someone have a garden or a beautiful deck with a view? If not then move on to more public venues like the park, the beach, and the community centre. If you aren’t having luck there either, think vineyards, botanical gardens, conference rooms and cafes. Churches are also quite affordable. Avoid wedding season (May-October) like the plague if you really need a budget boost. Having your ceremony and your reception at the same venue is a clever way to save and holding the reception in outdoors or in the daytime eliminates the need for lighting, heating and other night-time or building expenses. Ask the venue about their environmental policies and make sure they recycle their waste!

Your Average Wedding: $12,000

Eco-Budget Wedding: $0 – $1,000

When it comes to planning your eco-budget wedding, the best and most succinct advice I can give you is to just keep chanting the 4 R’s as your mantra —

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Re-purpose!

~ Chamonix

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{Guest Advice} Re-purposed furniture as decor

Becky from Bow Ties & Bliss is pretty much amazing. She was the first blogger who I really started chatting with when I started Wed4Less. She writes from Portland, which makes her even cooler, and her blog is packed with great advice and inspiration.

It brings me great honor to have Becky guest posting today!

Hi there! My name is Becky, and I’m the editor of Bow Ties & Bliss, a wedding inspiration blog geared towards Pacific Northwest brides. I absolutely LOVE Wed4Less Northwest and all of the fabulous budget inspiration that Lindsie provides, and I’m honored to be guest posting for her! Today I wanted to share with you one of my favorite wedding trends–using vintage or re-purposed furniture in your wedding. This is a great way to save you some dough as well as add an extra element of awesome to your big day.

If you’re lucky, you may have an old desk, cabinet, or table collecting dust in your
garage or attic that could be used in your ceremony or reception. Maybe your grandparents have been holding on to some vintage luggage, or maybe there are some old window panes or doors in your parent’s shed. If not, there are vintage rental stores as well as plenty of antique and thrift stores which frequently carry these items for great deals, and don’t forget yard and garage sales! Instead of renting the same, boring tables, you can make your wedding completely your own by bringing in unique pieces for your cake table, alter table, guest book table, and so on. Your guests will love it!

I would also recommend asking around to see if any of your friends or family have vintage furniture they wouldn’t mind letting you borrow for the wedding, because after all, nothing beats free. :)

Here are some of my favorite ways that couples have used re-purposed furniture and other vintage pieces in their weddings:

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There is a local shop here in town called “The Mercantile” which I frequent quite regularly. They always seem to have old barn doors for around $20-$30, and I’m always tempted to get one even though I don’t necessarily have a use for it… but they’re just so awesome and rustic looking, I almost can’t help it. You could use one for your escort cards (top left), your dinner menu (top right), or your alter (below). The possibilities are endless!

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This next wedding is just oozing with vintage goodness, and I love how it all comes together to create a super chic, almost timeless look.

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The downside to bringing in your own furniture is that well, you have to bring it… unless you’re having a backyard wedding. Otherwise you’ll have to find a friend or family member to haul it for you, but usually people are very happy to help out with your big day. Plus, it’s so worth it to achieve these looks… don’t you think!?

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Vintage suitcases add such a unique element to weddings– I particularly love how they were used in the weddings below. Display your cake on one, open one up and use it as your card box, or just stack them and use them as decor along with a flower arrangement.

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Lindsie, thanks so much for having me today on your fabulous blog! It’s been a pleasure. :)

~ Becky

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{Guest Advice} It's in the details

Fab You Bliss is a pretty awesome wedding blog, written by the gorgeous Stephanie who describes herself as a photographer, wife and mom. I love Fab You Bliss because Stephanie gets what it means to have a marriage, not just a wedding. And isn’t that what it should be about?

That said, we’re not about to let those wedding details slip through our fingers. At the end of the day, it’s about being with the one we love, but we’re still allowed to make it beautiful. :) And that’s what this post is all about.

Hello lovely Wed4Less Northwest readers, my name is Stephanie Elizabeth, I’m the Editor ofFab You Bliss and Lindsie asked me to write a guest post for her while she’s on a much deserved vacation.  And of course I am more than happy to oblige. So here we go…

Today I want to talk about the things that make your wedding special to you, the things you know you’ll look back on and love for years to come. And I’m going to use my own wedding as an example.

The Hubby and I married four years ago on my aunt and uncle’s estate in Pasadena, CA. And it was everything we hoped it would be. Some people may say it was lacking in color since the reception décor was white on white under a white tent, but I wanted it that way. We got married on December 29^th and all the white just made it feel more like winter. Besides, it doesn’t matter what others say, it was my wedding and that was one of the things I liked about it.

Some of my other favorite things were:

1. My hair. I had this lovely half up do with a gorgeous pin that I simply swooned over the minute I saw it. Your hair is so important on your wedding day, so do some research and try out some styles beforehand so you get exactly what you want on your big day.

2. My dress. I loved it from the minute I put it on and believe it or not, it was a bargain. And luckily it was only the third store I tried. My recommendation, if you have any reservations…keep shopping!

3. My ladies. My sister and one of my oldest and dearest friends were who I chose to be my ladies. And I couldn’t have picked two better people to be with me on my special day. They make me laugh and I love them with all my heart. My advice to you when deciding who you want in your wedding, choose your attendants with your heart. There is so much that goes into being an attendant and you want to make sure the people you pick will come through for you in the end.

4. My bouquet. I took great pleasure in creating the flowers for my wedding. I wanted them to be clean and represent me and all the flowers I love so dearly. In my bouquet there were Hydrangeas, Champagne Roses, Cymbidium Orchids, Calla Lilies and Eucalyptus leaves to name a few.  And to this day I cannot look at any of those flowers without thinking fondly of my wedding. So…when choosing the flowers for your big day, I recommend selecting ones that have meaning to you, like maybe the flowers your fiancé first gave you. Also, don’t be afraid to mix flowers you might think would go together.  I never thought all of the above mentioned flowers would go so beautifully, but look at how wonderfully they did.

5. Location. It’s so important when choosing your location to take into consideration everything, your wants, your budget and your family, as well as how you want the wedding to look on the whole. The Hubby and I really wanted something simple with just our family and close friends and what better place to have it than in a family member’s backyard.  We were lucky to have a family member with such a beautiful property.  I know not everyone has an option like this, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative with your location.  Think outside the box.  A ballroom or event hall isn’t always the best or least expensive option.

6. Our Theme I think the things you devote a lot of time and effort making will eventually be some of your favorite memories from your wedding. Case in point, our table numbers which I made to look like postcards. Early on in the wedding planning process we decided to have our wedding center around a travel theme because we love to travel. Each table was designated as a place The Hubby and I had visited over the years and I wrote a little something about each of those places on a postcard I made to look as if it had actually been mailed. It took a lot of time to write out 15 postcards with something meaningful or funny about the place we had visited, but in the end all the love I put into it really paid off as so many guests told me they enjoyed reading what I had written.  So my advice to you in choosing a theme, pick something the two of you love to do together. If you both love the movies, have your theme be a cinema one. Maybe you like to bowl or spend time in the outdoors or perhaps you are both avid readers, whatever it is you enjoy to do…try to make that into the theme of your wedding.

7. Our photographer. And last but definitely not least is our photographer. We reserved half of our wedding budget for our photographer. Yes, that’s right…half. That’s how important we felt about choosing the right photographer. I’ve said this before and I will say it again here, you can have the most beautiful location, gorgeous gown, stunning flowers and fantastic attendant attire, but if you’re photographer sucks…(pardon the expression)…your photography will too. So what I recommend is not to choose your photographer simply on price alone. Of course you need to think of your budget, but if you find a photographer whose style you love…do whatever you can to hire them. Because in the end, the images he or she will take of your special day, will be with you for the rest of your lives together. And that to me is pretty big.

And there you have it, my favorite things about my wedding and my two cents on creating a wedding you will love and remember fondly for many years to come.  Thank you Lindsie for having me here to guest post and thank you Wed4Less readers, I am honored to have your ear for a day :-)

Have a Fab You Bliss day!

xoxo

~ Stephanie

All photographs in this post by John Partridge Photography http://johnpartridgephotography.com

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{Guest DIY} Coaster table cards

DIY or Don’t, written by the lovely Sarah, is quickly becoming one of my favorite DIY blogs. Sarah had me at her paper ranunculus tutorial (my favorite flower, but unfortunately not one that is in season for my June wedding, so this tutorial is a lifesaver).

Today, she brings  you an awesome DIY that’s not too expensive! Favorite!

Hello everyone!! My name is Sarah and I’m joining you from DIY or Don’t!  a new blog where I attempt to bring together the two worlds of ”DIYing” and buying of handmade goods (because let’s face it, sometimes you want handmade without the time commitment or skill necessary to do it). I’m super excited to be making a guest appearance here on Wed4Less because I LOVE weddings, and because I’m a BIG fan of Lindsie! When I started developing this idea, I knew it would be the perfect tutorial to share with you guys.

If you’re looking for a unique table card idea, are having an outdoor reception and are afraid of having your seating cards blown around by the wind, or want to turn a functional aspect of your wedding into a fun wedding favor for the guests, these Coaster Table Cards are for you!

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Coaster Table Cards

How to Make

Materials

Mod Podge

Cardstock

Electronic Cutter

(Alternatively you could use patterned scissors and a printer)

Tiles

Felt or cork for the bottom of the tiles

Foam Brush

Polyurethane spray

Scissors or Xacto knife to cut felt or cork to size

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Instructions

1) Design your coasters! This is my favorite part:) Having a more formal event? Use pretty filigree edges. More rustic? Use kraft paper, and gently tear the edges for a rougher look. I’m lucky enough to have a digital cutting machine, but if you don’t, you can just as easily print the names on the cardstock, along with pretty boarders or your monogram. The size of your tile and how much room you want to leave on the edges will dictate how large your cardstock squares should be, mine were about 4″ each side.

2)  Using Mod Podge, and your foam brush, fix the name squares to the tile.

I used a drop of food coloring mixed with mod podge on this one to tint the tile, and then used mod podge without dye over the cardstock.

3) When the mod podge is dry, spray the tile with a layer of polyurethane to seal. Wait for it to dry and then repeat.

4) Wait for the tile to dry completely, then cut the felt or cork to size and glue to the underside of the tile. That’s it! Wait for the big day and wait for your guests to rave about your clever table cards :)

 

Where to Buy

If you like this idea but don’t have the time or inclination to design and make them yourself I have the perfect solution! (Here comes the shameless plug) I have them for sale in my Etsy store here!

~ Sarah

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{Guest Advice} Ceremony music

Music is one of two wedding-related subjects that baffles me. (The other is flowers, but I’m working on that.) Until reading this post, I had no idea how to put together a playlist for my ceremony. How many songs? What order? What’s appropriate?

I asked Colleen from Soundtrack to I Do to guest post today because a) She’s awesome; b) She knows her stuff; c) She’ll set you right with music & provide you with inspiration.

Hello Wed4Less readers! Colleen here from Soundtrack To I Do. I’m so happy to be guest posting for Lindsie today! I thought I’d share about what I know best – wedding music! More specifically, we’re talking about ceremony music today. I hope the information is helpful for you!

First, I’ll clarify the different aspects of the ceremony that you will need music for. Then, I’ll give a few song suggestions for each section. Above all, I recommend using songs that mean something to you and your fiancé. If you need some inspiration though, there are some song ideas to use if you please.

The prelude is the section of music while the guests are being seated, and will most likely be the only time in the ceremony where you will need more than one song. If you have live musicians, they should have a few songs prepared. If you are using an iPod or some other form of recorded music, you should also have a few songs on the playlist, and someone controlling it so that as soon as they get “the nod” that the wedding party is ready, they can fade the music out and begin the processional song. 

Song ideas: Make You Feel My Love – Adele, Falling Slowly – Glen Hansard & Marketa Iglova, The Way I Am – Ingrid Michalson, Rhythm of Love – Plain White T’s, Sweet Pea – Amos Lee, Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol, She Is Love – Parachute, Collide – Howie Day, The Only Exception – Paramore

For each of the following sections, you will only need one song. In fact, an average song will most likely be too long, and your musicians or the person in charge of the iPod/stereo, etc., will have to fade the music out again at the appropriate time. It can be awkward if the song continues on after the wedding party has taken their places.

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The processional is the song that plays when the bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girl and ring bearer make their way to the altar. Some couples choose to play more than one song – if, for example, they would like the adults in the wedding party to walk down the aisle to a different song than the one the children do. Song ideas: Canon In D – Johann Pachelbel (traditional), Falling In Love At A Coffee Shop – Landon Pigg, Oh, It Is Love – Hellogoodbye, Don’t Let Me Fall – Lenka , Everyday – Rogue Wave, Marry You – Bruno Mars, All I Want Is You – Barry Louis Polisar, 1234 – Feist

The entrance of the bride is… well, pretty self-explanatory. This is the dramatic moment when everyone stands and in comes the bride! Song ideas: Here Comes The Bride – Richard Wagner (traditional), Crazy Love – Van Morrison, Sight Of Love – Michael Rossback, Till Kingdom Come – Coldplay, The Dress Looks Nice On You – Sufjan Stevens, Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap, They Bring Me To You – Joshua Radin

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Some couples will have a section during the wedding ceremony that symbolizes their union – for example, taking communion, lighting a unity candle, or a doing a sand ceremony. You will want to play a song during this time so that the guests don’t have to sit in silence – plus this is a great opportunity to play a song that is meaningful to you as a couple, or to have a friend or family member sing or play.  Song ideas: Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring – Johann Sebastian Bach (traditional), Two Is Better Than One – Boys Like Girls Feat. Taylor Swift, God Gave Me You – Dave Barnes, We Are Man And Wife – Michelle Featherstone, When I Say I Do – Matthew West, Something Beautiful – Needtobreathe, No One’s Gonna Love You – Band Of Horses

Finally, the recessional is when the bride and groom leave the wedding as a married couple, and are followed by the rest of the bridal party, and eventually the guests. It’s always great to play an upbeat, celebratory song for this one, since this is one of the most exciting moments of the wedding, and the signal to the guests that the serious stuff is over and it’s time to get the party started! Song ideas: Wedding March – Felix Mendelssohn (traditional), Signed, Sealed, Delivered – Stevie Wonder, Now That We Found Love – Heavy D & The Boyz, You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates, The Best Is Yet To Come – Frank Sinatra, Let The Good Times Roll – Shirley & Lee, This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole

I hope some of that was helpful! Feel free to stop by the blog if you need more music suggestions and ideas! Thanks again to Lindsie for having me!

~ Colleen

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