Pretty is as pretty does...and not only are these items pretty, they are all fair trade, eco, and ethical...
Sources from the top:
Invitation...Paperwink
Bridesmaid/or Rehearsal dinner dress...De Sentino
Bridesmaid/or Bride's shoes...Form + Fauna
Plates...Terra Keramik
Pencil favors...Remarkable
Candle stick....Terra Keramik
Wedding band...Toby Pomeroy
Handmade paper peonies...Martha Stewart
I find inspiration from so many different sources...children's books, magazines, food...Recentely I was inspired by the current issue of Metropolitan Home. The cover sports shades of blue, cotton candy pink, white and black accents. I put together this inspiration board with wedding ideas from a few of my favorite people...I hope you enjoy...
Clockwise from the top:
Blik Blik Wall art
Poppytalk Handmade (deer tray too)
Pancake & Franks
Edith Meyer Cakes
I had a bad day yesterday. But like a little bit of sunlight, I came upon two new sites (new to me anyway). Follow me...
Divas in Pajamas
and then...
Lucky Bean
Merengue in place of a wedding cake? Love it.
Haute off the presses! HauteIdea.com is a fabulous new site with eco-ideas, resources, and amazing deals (see below). The brainchild of Meghan Meyers, who is also the lovely lady who brought eco-wedding site Portovert.com to market earlier this year. Check it out!
I love this beauteous cake from Fall 07 MS Weddings, designed by Wendy Kromer...and did you know that if you go to Wendy's site, you can order a Cake Kit, resplete with the sweet decorations to make your cake as pretty as a picture...So, now you can find a local baker who is willing to create an organic wedding cake for your special day. Some local bakers I came across: Edith Meyer Wedding Cakes in Santa Cruz, Michele Coulon Dessertier in La Jolla, California, Hippie Chick Bakery in New Hampshire.
I mentioned the talented and famous cake designer, Sylvia Weinstock, a little while ago. In a recent interview in the Fall 2007 Martha Stewart Weddings she had some common sense wedding advice...and being eco-chic is really just about having a little common sense, after all.
For example:
"Competing with your neighbor over who had the bigger wedding is silly. Do it smaller, do it finer, do it well"
"Don't get in over your head. You can have a beautiful wedding on a smaller scale. There's nothing wrong with a cocktail reception: some hors d'oeuvres, Champagne, and good luck to you..."
Thanks, Sylvia, for keeping it real.
Being eco or sustainable doesn't mean you have to be green. Feast your eyes on this vibrant array that would add color and consciousness to your event.
{from top left: vintage musings, on etsy.com; can not remember the cake disigner for the life of me, but this cake was featured in Elegant Bride; little marching elephants from World of Good; and vintage depression era glassware from Look in the Attic)
It must be the swede in me that makes me love the Oillilly-esque flower girls from this Bride's real wedding, with clogs and all! I'm sure they will reuse these sweet clothes after the wedding.
And I can't stress enough the importance of reducing the amount of meat we consume. To anyone who says having a "green" wedding is more expensive, not if you serve a vegetarian meal it won't be...Try this yummy, pretty pasta dish from Martha Stewart. These moral fiber keychains are cute little favors, and the vibrant lavendar of this dried salvia is brilliant.
Alain Coumont was ahead of his time when he started his organic bakery and cafe in 1990.
Le Pain Quotidien came to be when Coumont, a renowned chef in Brussels, had trouble finding good bread. Now you can find his communal tables all over the world. Beside providing inspiration to serve organic and fair trade ingredients, there are a variety of items that would make lovely wedding favors. For a smaller celebration, you can carry-out some of their delicious treats, including: artisan bread, cakes, pastries, jams, Belgian chocolates and
imported Mediterranean delicacies (olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes,
olives)...yum...
This month's Blueprint Magazine shows you several different ways you can refashion a bridesmaid dress to get some post-wedding use out of it. But I like this one Rothko-esque version so much that I would send it down the aisle for the wedding itself. Add these cute bug cupcakes to the party, and you'll have a pretty pallette from head-to-toe. Find out how to make the skirt and the cupcakes on BlueprintMag.com and MarthaStewart.com. Extra eco-chic tip: instead of making your bridesmaids shell out $300 for a new dress they will only wear once, go to ebay, Ubid.com, Craig's List, whatever, and track down someone elses gently worn dresses, get together with your bridesmaids, and remake the dresses to suit your wedding style. 
