Amy Lynn Newshel and Miguel Gomez Marshall were married on September 10, 2011 at the Avalon Yacht Club in Avalon, NJ. This nautical seaside wedding was photographed by Tom Mihalek.

 Amy and Miguel were first introduced to one another in 2005 through a mutual friend.  The two, after a few attempts at a relationship, officially began dating in 2008.  Luckily, the couple’s love only strengthened throughout their busy schedule.  At the time of the wedding, Amy and Miguel were both working full time and pursuing their Masters in Organizational Psychology and Health Education. 

After the two began dating, they decided to become more eco-friendly in addition to making changes in their diet for both environmental and personal health reasons.  Once the couple was engaged they decided to move into a LEED certified apartment building.  Not long after that was Amy fully immersed herself in the “green” lifestyle. While researching DIY projects for the wedding, Amy stumbled across plantable paper invitations and fell in love.

For an extra beachy feel, play up your yacht wedding venue with some Turquoise Crab Invitations by Tilia Press. Each invitation is printed on 100% post consumer waste paper that is FSC certified. The paper is also printed in the USA with soy based inks by a printer that follows strict recycling and waste disposal guidelines.

Shortly after, Amy came across an Adele Weschler designed wedding dress made out of organic cotton and hemp. Taking this beautiful find as a sign, she bought the dress.  Knowing that the invitations and dress would be a staple in her wedding, along with her newfound raised environmental awareness, she decided to throw an eco-friendly wedding.

The couple purchased locally grown orchids from a farm. The orchids were placed in silver galvanized pots accessorized with starfish embellishments and used as centerpieces, which the guests could later take home with them. The couple included care instructions in the sides of the pot so guests could enjoy their beautiful plants for longer!

Amy and Miguel used biodegradable plantable, not to mention beautiful, paper for their invitations. To save paper the couple skipped reply cards and opted to have guests RSVP through their custom wedding website, Wedding Window.  The couple did not stop there! They were also able to save paper and money by sending out their Save the Dates through Paperless Post and by including most of the wedding details on the website. The bride was able to create the stunning invitations herself using a custom designed logo from Jennifer Alison Designs.

Along with the bride’s Adele Weschler dress, the bridesmaids each picked out their own dress in a shade of blue so that they would be able to re-wear them. Even Amy purchased shoes and jewelry that she could wear over and over!  One bridesmaid was even able to wear a dress she already owned. The groom and his party received ties as gifts and wore navy blue blazers, khaki pants, and Tom’s shoes. The groom also already owned what he wore!

If you want to give your bridesmaids something special, consider a gift of vintage jewelry that matches your wedding theme. This Waves of Blue Necklace by Couture Love. This piece is made in the USA using raw silks, natural fabrics and vintage elements. 

A coach bus was provided for the guests from the hotels, which were all located within two blocks from each other.  The ceremony took place at the same venue as the reception, allowing for minimal driving.

The ceremony took place outdoors overlooking the water so no additional decorations were required. The breathtaking view was all that was needed.  A mini ceremony took place with the wedding party on the beach where the couple exchanged custom, written vows and engaged in a sand ceremony.  

For the reception, minimal new decorations were purchased; the couple reused candles, frames, candy bowls, and other donations from family members.  The starfish theme was continued and starfish were placed in the windows and later used in the couple’s home as decorations.

Amy and Miguel didn’t originally plan or expect to have a green wedding, but once they made the decision to, they were pleasantly surprised with all the green choices they didn’t know existed.  The urge to be eco-friendly made the couple’s important decisions quick and easy. The guests enjoyed both the wedding and the unique touches placed on the wedding.  In the end, after the wedding had concluded, the couple found that their values as a couple were strengthened.

Keep yourself and your guests out of the sun with some sustainable parasols. These Bamboo and Paper Parasols by Weddingstar are perfect for a long day at the beach. They make for great photo ops, as well!

If it's always been your dream to get married in London, it's possible to do so while staying eco-friendly. Here are some great ideas that are green down to the last detail and also sophisticated and charming, just like the culturally diverse and historically rich city of London.

Image Credit: Wedding London Planners

So you’ve reached the point when everything major is sorted including wedding venue in London, food, dress, and limo. The final countdown has begun and everything big is done. But think again, a few overlooked details can make or mar your wedding. After all, it’s the little things that count on your big day. Extravagant centrepieces will not appeal to the imagination of guests if the chairs they are sitting on are not comfortable. The key to a successful celebration lies in the little details. Here are five not to miss details on your big day in London.

Entrance

First impression is the last impression. Therefore, it’s essential that you make sure that entrance is welcoming and well-decorated wherever you’re getting married in London. If you are having an outdoor summer wedding, hang tea lights and leis of organic orchids from the branches of the trees.

Tuscan Sun Rose Petals, Fly Boy Naturals

For a winter wonderland, decorate the trees along the pathway with strings of fairy lights. To give a rustic look, hang plenty of lanterns lining the pathway. For a riverside wedding, fill the aura with romance by spreading organic, local and seasonal flower petals on the pathway.

Lighting

Proper lighting can make your reception site and guests look great. Properly-lit place looks great in photographs. Besides, ambient lighting will create a sense of intimacy and beautify the plain walls. Fill the aura with blue to create a winter wonderland. To create a romantic and laid-back setting, use pink colour for mood lighting.

Rattan String Lights, Cottonlights

Also, use plenty of hanging lights or lamps with patterned shades to turn your venue from simple to extravagant. A single crystal chandelier can give that lush and plush look to your reception site. To make your lighting more eco-friendly, consider using recycled paper lanterns, vintage chandeliers, LED lighting and soy or beeswax candles for candlelight. 

Restroom

This often-ignored space can influence the success of your wedding. Even a slightest bit of décor can create an unexpected wow. You can add small vases of flowers monogrammed towels and monogrammed soaps in your theme colour with your wedding date embroidered on them.

Monogrammed Soap Set

This will help personalise the space. To really leave an impression, you can put a basket containing a hair dryer, hair brush, comb, deodorant, and breath mints in the ladies restroom. For men, keep a comb, razor, deodorant, and gum or mints.

The Bar

Believe it or not, this is the spot where your guests will spend a significant amount of their time. Give your bar space a makeover. Ask your wedding planner to use laser-cut wood for the front of the bar. Coloured glassware is all the rage these days. Use glasses that match with your theme colour. You can print your signature cocktail on the napkins or on the coasters.

Be unique and use beach stone drink chillers instead of ice to keep your cocktail strong and never watered down. This also saves on your ice water usage. If properly decked out, the bar will become a great centrepiece for the venue. Also, make sure to set up different mini stations than serving drinks at one place. This will help the space look less crowded.

The Exit

An exit point is as important as the entrance for a great wedding. It’s your last chance to show your personal style. Make the most of this opportunity.

Image Credit: Big Day-Weddings

Be creative with your wedding wheels. It’s not mandatory to hire a limo; you can always try something offbeat. Why not get on a biodiesel boat to wave off your guests or jump in an alternative energy car.You can also pedal away on a pedi-cab or use a bicycle built for two. London is located right on the Thames river which gives you plenty of biking, boating and driving options.

These little things count when it comes to make your wedding extra-special. If taken care of, these special touches will keep your guests saying, "wow" again and again.

Author’s Bio: Cheena is a veteran writer who works for TheCityCollection.org. This website lists the best selection of venues for hire in London with different capacity.

As you sit in front of the mirror and prep for arguably the most important kiss of your life, consider what you are about to share with your partner. No. Not the lifetime of happiness. Think instead of the gluten and paraben-filled lipstick that you are most likely wearing. When choosing that perfect blushing bride lipstick, you should be looking at more than just color. 

Image Credit: Bridal Musings

Gluten Dangers

Aside from being found in many foods, gluten is in some medicines, vitamins and cosmetics. In makeup, gluten is used as a binding agent and can cause disturbing digestive symptoms for people who are gluten sensitive or gluten intolerant.

Image Credit: Holistic Homemaking

Celiac disease, a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food, stems from gluten intolerance. 
According to the National Digestive Disease Information Clearinghouse, more than 2 million people in the United States have celiac disease. And that astounding number doesn’t even count the people who have other gluten intolerances. 

Why You Should Care About Parabens

Parabens are used as preservatives in some makeup and have been linked to cancer and reproductive health problems in recent studies. Is that really what you want on your wedding day smile?
Using makeup with harmful ingredients puts you at risk. Health issues such as metabolic problems, skin irritations and even cancer can be caused by toxins in makeup. For a list of products and the chemicals they contain, you can visit The Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database to uncover the truth.

Image Credit: Expert of Beauty

You might not think your makeup is dangerous, but chemicals are absorbed through your skin. And if you lick your lips, which most people do, you are ingesting your lipstick. 
Think of it this way. If you are wearing makeup daily, that is 365 days annually of toxins and parabens flooding into your system. With organic makeup, you get all of the beauty and none of the danger. 

How To Find Safe Makeup

Companies have picked up on the push for “green” makeup, and some have devised ways to deceive consumers. Here are a few tips when scanning the makeup counters:

1.) Beware of Greenwashing: A green package does not necessarily indict a green product.

2.) Organic Ingredients Hoax: When a product says it has organic ingredients, it simply means some of the ingredients are organic, not all of them. 

Red Apple Lipstick has amazing shades of lipstick, lipgloss and more that are Paraben Free, Gluten Free, Allergen Free, Vegan, Mineral Based and Cruelty Free!

Red Apple Summer Shades: Summer Sands, Sunkissed, Petal Pusher, Beach Peach.

3.) Natural Nonsense: Natural has no actual meaning when it comes to labeling. Look for “organic” instead. 

Finding a truly organic, gluten-free, paraben-free product can be tricky, but ultimately worth the search. Choosing a safe lipstick can give you peace of mind and more time to focus on that perfect kiss at the end of the aisle. 

Blog Post Courtesy of Kayla Alewel

With the opening of Baz Luhrman's movie The Great Gatsby this weekend, it's hard for soon-to-be brides to ignore the beautiful vintage fashion of the 1920's. The gowns, the jewelry and the headpieces of this time period are back in style and available in eco-friendly vintage materials. Evoke the spirit of the roaring 20's with recycled and nature inspired jewelry from One Loom Studio, crystal encrusted cuffs and headbands by Couture Love, and eco-friendly flowing dresses by Kendal Leonard Designs.

Image Credits:

Organic Cotton Racer Back Gown, Kendal Leonard Designs

Old Hollywood Vintage Cuff, Couture Love

Silver Maple Twig Ring, One Loom Studios

Floral Bird Cage Veil, Couture Love

Silk Flower Crystal Headband, Couture Love

Sage Leaf Wrap Ring, One Loom Studio

Vintage Hollywood Crystal Earrings, Couture Love

This week's used dress from SmartBride

Dress Name: Reem Acra Ivory V Neck

Dress Description: This Reem Acra Ivory V Neck Dress is brand new without the tags. Never been worn and been in a garment bag for the past month. I've decided to elope and don't need such a fancy dress. It is a size 10. Wedding dress sizes are smaller, I would say it is a dress size 6. I wear a BCBG dress size 4-6 and would have needed to alter it. The estimate to alter was $300.00. The regular price of the dress before taxes was $7400.00 CAD. I bought it at Blush Bridal in West Vancouver.

Original Price: $7,400

SmartBride Price: $3,500

Being in the military is such an honorable calling. We all benefit from the bravery and sacrifice of our troops. A soldier’s wedding should reflect his or her brave occupation while it also represents the couple’s personality and uniqueness. There are so many ways you can make your event personal, unique, and eco-friendly while you celebrate your spouse-to-be’s service.

The amount of focus you put on your partner’s military service is, of course, completely up to you. You can incorporate lots of eco-friendly military decor, or you can choose to focus on your other interests, giving the military theme some subtlety. Images of your loved one in uniform or with his platoon overseas will remind guests of his/her service and will give your partner some continuity. 

Image Credits:

Diamond Ring on Toy Soldier, Pinterest

Engagement Session Shoot, Elizabeth Anne Designs

Destination Save the Dates, ForeverFiances'

Song of Solomon Dog Tags, One Loom Studio

Bride and Groom Dancing, Grand Geneva Resort Weddings

Diamond Ring and Navy Ring, Weddinggawker

Bride and Marine, Hill City Bride, KD Burke Photography