Tag: budget green wedding

9 Key “Green” Planning Concepts

Published on by Hudson Valley Ceremonies2 Comments

9 Key “Green” planning concepts that can be implemented to make your special day wonderful for you and even better for your environment.

The VENUE
Choose a natural setting like a botanical garden, beach or a beautiful park rather than a huge hall. You can exchange vows in a romantic setting under the stars, or by an amazing ocean scene.

The MENU
Explore booking top culinary chefs that will prepare a delightful, succulent variety of organic foods that will incorporate all aspects of fine green dining, from farm raised entrees, to bio-degradable dinning décor.

The DÉCOR
Speaking of décor not only can you find caterers that incorporate bio-degradable items in their service; you will find that there are also many companies that provide recycled event décor items.

The INVITATION
A great option for invitations for the perfect Green Themed wedding will consist of recycled paper and to take it one step further you can have them printed with biodegradable corn-based ink or an even better and more modern day option is to send a sophisticated and exquisitely designed Electronic Invitations (e-vites).

The GIFTS/FAVORS
Think outside of the box and get creative by giving your guest an Wedding Day Eco-Bag filled with a variety of eco-friendly gifts like luxury Eco-Spa items, Personalized Organic Tea bags, and Elegantly Engraved Mini-Pots with a packet of Plan Seeds to symbolize the seed of love planted on the day of your special union.


The TRANSPORTATION
Every bridal party wants to be transported in luxury and style. With today’s Automotive Companies taking a conscious approach to preserving our environment and producing a large number of fuel efficient Hybrid vehicles, they have made it a point to remember the most important vehicle for a bride and groom, the limousine. Believe it or not there are many companies that provide luxury hybrid limousines as well as luxury cars for the wedding party.

The RINGS
Of all the pieces of jewelry a woman will own in her life, her wedding ring is the most important and holds the most meaning. Consider a jeweler that sells diamonds that are certified conflict-free. You should also consider bands that are created with recycled metals. I suggest you visit Brilliant Earth at http://www.brilliantearth.com; they are the leading provider in conflict-free diamond jewelry. Brilliant Earth also donates dedicates 5% of their profits to local communities that are affected by the diamond industry.

The most important – The DRESS
Choosing that perfectwedding gown is one of the most emotional and most important purchases of woman’s life. Choose a wedding gown that is made from natural fibers as well as your wedding party.


My last recommendation is- The WEDDING COORDINATOR/PLANNER
In order to fully design and plan the perfect reality of your Wedding day Dreams and also incorporate the fundamentals of an environmentally safe wedding, I suggest that you enlist the services of a professional Wedding Coordinator to ensure that your wedding is not just eco-friendly but truly represents the fantasy that you have always dreamed of for your special day.

Having a Small Wedding

Published on by Hudson Valley Ceremonies2 Comments

What’s the hottest trend in weddings? Smaller guest lists.

Here are some reasons to have a small wedding:

1. You get to celebrate one of the biggest days of your life surrounded by people who love you. This is one of the best things about having a small wedding.

2. You can feel more relaxed on your wedding day. Because you’ll be surrounded by friends and family, you’ll feel more at home with your guests. Your wedding will feel more like a celebration with close-knit friends and family, than a production.

3. You can save money. You can save thousands of dollars by having an intimate wedding, which means you won’t have to go over your wedding budget.

4. You can splurge. Some couples choose a small guest list not necessarily because their budgets are small, but because they can pull out all the stops and have a truly lavish wedding. You get more ‘wow’ for less wallet with a small wedding. When you’ve got fewer guests, you can splurge on the things that really matter to you. For some that might be an out of this world dinner, for others it might be a five-piece jazz band or a designer wedding gown.

5. You have more options when choosing a venue. Since you won’t need a large space to accommodate your guests, many small wedding venues will be open to you. A smaller guest list means more creative venue options like bed and breakfasts, museums, art galleries and restaurants.

6. You have more freedom to customize your wedding to your own tastes. A small wedding gives you the opportunity to get your creative juices flowing and make your unique wedding a reflection of the two of you.

7. You get to spend time with your guests. How many weddings have made you feel like a stranger fulfilling a social obligation? Small weddings aren’t like that. When the guest list is small, the bride and groom can spend time with each of their guests, making them feel welcome.

8. You can make your guests feel at home. Because you will be able to spend at least some time with your guests, they will feel more at home at your wedding. Also, when the guest list is small, guests will have a better opportunity to mingle with most of the others. Chances are that many of your guests will know one another.

9. You can get your guests involved. A small wedding will give you the opportunity to get your loved ones involved in your special day. Also, it’s a lot easier pulling off a DIY wedding with a guest list under 75, than a big scale production.

10. You can have a wedding that people will remember. Because your wedding won’t be typical – the kind your guests have been to over and over again – your wedding is more likely to be remembered.

How To Plan a Green, Recession-Proof Hudson Valley Wedding

Published on by Hudson Valley Ceremonies1 Comment

by Stephanie Padovani
The DJ Solution

Ever since the economy took a nose-dive, brides and grooms in the Hudson Valley have been carefully watching their green–the remaining green cash in their pockets, that is. But there’s another type of green establishing a new trend among weddings in the Hudson Valley: the “green” wedding. It turns out that planning a green wedding that’s good for the environment is also good for your pocket book.

Exactly what is a green wedding?
A green wedding incorporates eco friendly practices and utilizes environmentally friendly products and services as much as possible to reduce energy consumption and the harmful impact on the environment. In plain English, it’s about planning a wedding using natural and organic products that produce less waste and inflict less damage on the environment.

Why should you consider a green wedding?
There are a lot of reasons to consider a green wedding. Some couples do it to save the environment, to support good health, to demonstrate a strong commitment to preserving the environment, or just because it makes them feel good. But when you’re planning a wedding in a recession, the most compelling reason to consider a green wedding is that it helps you save money. Surprisingly, green weddings actually cost less money. The more you REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE, the more you save. The more you conserve, the less you spend. For example, choosing local, in season blooms for your floral arrangements is environmentally friendly and less expensive. Sending wedding invitations made from recycled paper and asking guests to RSVP by telephone or email will save hundreds of dollars on response cards and envelopes. Perhaps the greenest wedding dress of all is a “recycled” (used) wedding dress. You can buy a used designer dress at a fraction of the cost, without sacrificing style.

If you want to plan a green wedding, where do you start?
The internet is a wonderful resource for planning an eco-friendly wedding. Simply search Google for “green wedding favors” or “green invitations” and it churns out dozens of options. One thing to remember is that just because a product or service is labeled “green” doesn’t mean it’s good for the environment. A truly green business can offer proof of their environmentally friendly practices.

The following sites offer information and resources that will help make your wedding a little greener.

Natural Resources Defense Council www.nrdc.org – The NRDC is arguably the most effective environmental legislation and awareness organization in the United States. You’ll find a guide to greening your event and simple steps to living green, along with ways to locate green businesses.
The Nature Conservancy www.nature.org – The Nature Conservancy is one of the world’s most respected environmental advocacy groups.
http://OrganicClothing.Blogs.com – You’ll find numerous sources of green wedding dresses and attire, along with ideas for planning an eco friendly wedding on a budget.


Where do I go to find green wedding options here in the Hudson Valley?
The Hudson Valley offers a variety of options when planning a green wedding. Many caterers have delicious menus featuring organic, local foods. These wedding vendors often advertise their “green” status, so they are relatively easy to find. HudsonValleyWeddings.com – This website has a comprehensive listing of local vendors including a Green
Vendor section.

Even if you don’t consider yourself a “green” bride, every eco friendly wedding choice makes a difference…and saves you money. Talk to your caterer, photographer and DJ for ideas about what you can do to conserve energy and choose more environmentally friendly products and services.

Stephanie Padovani
The DJ Solution
845-473-1086
www.TheDJSolution.com

How To Do A Green Wedding, On A Budget

Published on by Hudson Valley Ceremonies1 Comment

For the bride on a budget, here are a few eco-friendly and affordable ideas for you:

Paper Products – Choosing paper products that are eco friendly is not very difficult.  Many invitation companies are now producing invitations made from recycled paper and printed with soy based ink.  Some other ideas for saving money and paper is to choose a “double.”  A “double” is an item which is being used for two purposes.  Such as a favor and placecard, or programs and menus.

Favors – Speaking of favors, try doing eco friendly favors like wildflowers seeds, actual plants, bamboo placecard holders, or tea sachets.

Flowers – Using exotic flowers seems beautiful, but consider the emissions that are being produced by delivering them from overseas.  Choose local organic flowers or plants such as herbs.  Then guests can win the centerpiece and plant them at home.

Honeymoons – Choose a location that limits your travel time.  Plus choose a location that promotes bicycles for traveling.