Sandy shows you a few tips on how to finish off a 9″ Ranunculus wedding bridal bouquet. Add pearl wisps, bouquet collar, and a decorative satin ribbon wrap.

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Go Green – Save Green – 125 Secrets – How To Save Money By Going Green

A wedding is one of the natural aspects of life and also the most important step that any couple ever takes in their lives. Therefore, combining these two aspects can really result in a wedding that is extremely memorable. This can be done through adding special touches to the invitations, decorations and food by way of natural, green wedding ideas. The following are some ways.

1. Invitations: The kind of invitations that are sent out before the wedding establishes the theme that the wedding is going to have. Using green wedding ideas and concepts can really set the tone and expectation of the guests. Here are three things that can do it.

i) Blooms invitation: There is a beauty in simplicity that only a naturalist knows of. These invitation cards only have a simple border design which is complemented by a subtly placed bloom of the couple’s choice.

ii) Floral watercolor invitation: Adding innocence to a wedding can be a very touching and meaningful step and these invitations do just that with handmade watercolor floral imprints.

iii) Dancing buds invitation: A very light touch can be given to the invitation with the help of a faint background behind the text.

2. Decorations: Once the theme of the wedding is set through the use of multiple green wedding ideas such as the above mentioned invitations, the next step is to honor the expectation of the guests through the use of decorations influenced by the same concept. The following are some through which the couple can improve the natural factor of their wedding.

i) Pastel Vases: A wedding consists of tables and a table will always need one or two vases on it to bring out the look. For a green wedding, the vases used should have pastel shades and should not be too bright or too dull.

ii) Topiary Card Holders: Any well organized wedding would require card holders assigning seats to guests. Therefore, instead of using a conventional card holder made of plastic, a wedding shaped by green wedding ideas would include natural topiary card holders.

iii) Customized Silk Flower Petals: Another of the many green wedding ideas is the use of personalized silk flower petals. These are artificial petals made with silk that can carry any name or message.

3. Food: If the invitations and decorations are influenced by green wedding ideas then the food should be too. The following are some suggestions.

i) Whole Leaf Tea Sachets: Using sachets that carry a whole leaf attached to their tops can set the mood of the wedding.

ii) Bird Nests: The table can also carry mini bird nests which can be used to store small treats or candies for the guests.

iii) Personalized Honey Jars: Personalization is the best way to make a wedding special. Using personalized honey jars can combine the provision of a food supplement with decorating the table.

The above mentioned green wedding ideas can add the natural aspect to any wedding in addition to bringing about a peaceful and relaxing environment.

Global makeup artist for Maybelline New York, Charlotte Willer, shows how you can get a subtle-chic smokey eye look using Maybelline Eye Studio Color Plush silk eye shadow in “Green with Envy” and XXL Pro 24 Hour Bold mascara.

Are you a “bride-zilla”? Hopefully not. This term was of course coined for the bride who goes overboard in her demands for her wedding, even throwing temper tantrums when things aren’t quite going her way.

Fortunately, not all brides are like this, and not only are they absolutely joyful during “their” day, but some couples even use the occasion of their wedding to express their concern for others, and concern for the environment. Any bride and groom can use their big day as an opportunity to give back to the community and to show respect for the earth, with the right socially conscious wedding ideas. Here are just a few:

Stay simple and as small as possible. More guests mean more transportation, more food, and more energy. Fewer guests mean less waste and less consumption. Keep all your wedding ideas tasteful but modest.

Cut down on the auto emissions by using fewer cars to and from the ceremony. If you must use limos, use just one for the men and one for the women. Better yet, skip the limousines and use compact cars. If you can find a horse-drawn carriage, consider this as an eco-friendly wedding idea, not just a romantic one!

Many brides are setting up websites to share with friends and family all the plans they’re making for the wedding and to post photos, the story of how the couple met, and so on. Another eco-friendly wedding idea is to use this website as a means of getting your invitation RSVPs as well, to eliminate both the paper used for the cards and the gasoline used to deliver them.

Use recycled material as much as possible. This means napkins, place cards for the seating chart, matchbook covers, and whatever other paper wedding ideas you have at your reception. You can even shop for invitations that are made from recycled paper as well; many invitation companies offer this option.

Avoid the word “disposable.” This only refers to something that’s going to be used once and thrown away. For some years, a popular wedding idea has been to leave disposable cameras at each table of the reception hall for guests to take candid shots, but this means several dozen disposable cameras thrown away within a few days. Multiply that by the number of weddings that happen across the U.S. every weekend and you see why the landfills are so … full.

In addition to recycled material, cut down on WHAT you use as well. Have one main menu for each table placed attractively in the middle rather than a separate menu for each guest. This principle can apply for all your wedding ideas that are printed – forego so many of the inserts in your invitations that are unnecessary, such as the blotter sheet, the inner envelope, and so on.

And the decorations are another area where you can be simple to conserve and cut back on energy usage. Everyone wants a breathtaking venue and reception hall and your wedding ideas may be something grand in scale, but consider getting creative with decorations that can be reused. For example, stringing lights around artificial trees can add a beautiful touch to any wedding – both the lights and the trees can be taken home to reuse.

Potted plants are better than cut flowers, balloons, and crepe paper, all of which will just be thrown away. Speak with your florist about what wedding ideas there are for blooming plants that will add just the right color and style for your location; guests can then take the plants home afterward. Use candles for the ceremony and reception as much as possible (being mindful of safety of course). This wedding idea will not only add a romantic feel, it will cut back on energy usage from lights.

Making things simple can also apply to your menu. Many couples forego a full dinner because of budget reasons, but think about how much energy is used to make a multiple-course meal for hundreds. To save some energy, make your reception wedding ideas simple. By having a smaller wedding later in the evening you can offer a simple appetizer and dessert menu, saving not only energy but money as well. Speak to your caterer openly and candidly about what you’re looking for.

And be mindful of your wedding ideas when it comes to wedding favors as well. Make sure you’re choosing items that will be used and appreciated; many brides have given up the option of bottled water with personalized labels, as some fail to recycle the bottles. Whatever your choice of favors, be sure that it’s something that guests will keep and appreciate.

And the most responsible and conscientious thing that couples are doing today with their wedding ideas is making sure that not even the leftover food goes to waste. Before your ceremony, get in touch with a local soup kitchen and arrange to have any leftovers donated, if possible. You can even get your guests involved and ask that they donate to a favorite charity in lieu of gifts to you, or choose gifts that can be given to a local children’s hospital, homeless shelter, and so on. These are great socially conscious wedding ideas for the couple that is getting married after having already established a household, meaning that they have little need for the typical blenders, toasters, and so on.

All of these socially conscious wedding ideas are just some ways that brides and grooms can show their concern and respect for the environment and for others. Many are keeping in mind that while it’s “their” day, it’s “our” planet, and there’s no better time to show your appreciation for that than with your own generous and original wedding ideas.