Green Wedding Experts Blog

The Online Gift Registry: A Perfect Solution for Today's Destination Wedding
Details, Travel & Honeymoon
Monday, July 19, 2010 - 10:27

Destination weddings are becoming an increasingly popular venue of choice for a variety of reasons, from offering a more intimate celebration experience, to a centralized location for friends and family to converge from across the globe.  Though the motivations to get married far from home run the gamut from the romantic to practical, every destination wedding has one thing in common: the inherent host of logistical challenges. From making long distance decisions, to navigating the gifting, there is a lot to manage.

Really?! I have to "manage" even the gifting? Well, yes. But it doesn't have to be that hard if you take advantage of the tools and resources at your fingertips. (You can thank yourself later for getting married in the Internet age.) Read on...

From the get-go you'll find many a couple fraught with concern about how to handle the delicate topic of "gifts." Being sensitive to the added expense, travel and time that comes with a destination wedding, some may avoid registering for gifts and tell their guests that being at the wedding is gift enough. Though certainly noble, the reality is that most of your guests will want to buy you something to celebrate your marriage.  The issue then for guests of destination weddings is not only the traditional "what should I buy?" but do I need to carry it to the destination? The unique issue for the wedding couple is how do I bring all these gifts back? Every choice makes a difference, and this certainly is not the greenest of them all.

So what to do? Well, first: BREATHE. And remember those tools and resources I mentioned before.

how-to-deposit-a-gift

A simple and environmentally friendly solution is to use an online gift registry service. Take advantage of the ease and flexibility it offers both you and your guests - no trips to the store, no shipping, no gift wrap, no returns. You can create a gift list that you feel good about, that is helpful to guests and that doesn't create a logistical nightmare of shipping or the possibility of misplaced envelopes at your destination.  With a registry like this you have the opportunity to share what's most important to you and let guests have the fun of being part of it in a safe, secure and streamlined way...even a small gift can feel big because it's part of a larger goal like:

  • Helping you save for something big like your first home together
  • Donating to a charity that is close to your heart
  • Buying local in an ecological and socially responsible way
  • Giving you the gift of experiences together, like a cooking class
  • Not supporting consumerism just for the sake of

how-to-deposit-a-gift-two

So remember, when it comes to gifting and destination weddings, keep things simple, keep things virtual, keep things green. Now Bon Voyage!!

dana-ostomel

Written by Dana Ostomel of Deposit a Gift

Years before Dana Ostomel got married, she wondered how anyone could store so many presents-and even if they could, how they had the time to unwrap, return (often), and store all of them. Her marketing background led her to believe she could simplify the registry process-and not just for weddings, but for any big gifting event. And so Deposit a Gift, the next generation gift registry, was born. Read more about Dana.

Older Posts from Dana Ostomel

Your Registry Can Be About More Than Just "Stuff"

Discover the Maldives
Travel & Honeymoon
Monday, June 28, 2010 - 15:17

Who doesn't dream of being whisked away to an exotic island paradise where the water is so blue you can see clear to the bottom, where the wildlife is so luscious and abundant that you can't help but see a new creature every time you venture out, and where you get lost in the luxury and relaxation of island time? Now imagine sharing all of this with your loved ones as you and your partner recite your nuptials on the beach at sunset with a warm breeze blowing through your hair and the rest of your lives ahead of you.  Not only can this become a reality, it is also possible to do it with the conservation and community at the core of your celebration!

I invite you to create the destination wedding and/or honeymoon of a lifetime that also make a lifetime of difference to others.

Where can you do this you ask? The Maldives is one example that offers the ultimate in eco-friendly, transcendent escape. Full of luxury, the Maldives offers sun, sand and sea set amidst lagoons in infinite shades of blue and turquoise and dazzling underwater coral gardens, and all with conservation in mind. With plenty of marine activities and islands to explore, a destination wedding or honeymoon in the Maldives can be as active or lazy as you like.  Couples craving a complete getaway will have time to connect, relax and enjoy the sensual pleasures of these incandescent islands.

The Soneva Fushi is a nature enthusiast's Eden, offering simple rustic accommodations amongst lush vegetation on the island of Kunfunadhoo in Baa Atoll. Soneva Fushi's down to earth feel is reflected both in its guests' casual dress code and its naturally designed architecture. The resort is fitted with 65 unique villas in 10 different categories, 6 dining outlets, libraries, wine cellar, Six Senses Spa, gardens, Dive Center, water & land sports, open air-cinema and an observatory.

Soneva Gili is among the most expensive resorts to rent in the world, with their 45 rustic retreats built amidst the vast blue lagoons providing unrestricted views to the Indian Ocean. This resort offers a Six Senses Spa, library, wine cellar, gardens, Dive Center, water & land sports, excursions, 2 dining outlets and 2 bars.

Both eco-lodges live by the SLOW LIFE (sustainable, local, organic, wholesome, learning, inspiring, fun, experiences) philosophy, constantly challenging other resorts to rethink their social and economic responsibilities to the Maldives and the world as a whole. Click here to get a better sense of what Soneva Gili and Soneva Fushi are doing to help uphold their commitments to the community and environment.

To add to these amazing adventures, here is the deal of a lifetime! Now through October 10, 2010, book 5 nights stay at either Soneva Gili or Soneva Fushi, and contribute 5 hours daily for 5 days in any of the community projects below, and you can receive complimentary accommodations at either of the Soneva Resorts in the Maldives for 5 additional nights. Your entire wedding party can give back to the planet in celebration of your marriage.

Choose from the following volunteer options:

1. Marine Conservation: Divers and snorkelers will be taught how to boost coral reef recovery and to learn more about how to protect the dwindling shark community.

2. Waste Management: Learn how to create homemade compost, charcoal and biochar to encourage locals into self-sufficiency and reduce food imports

3. Carbon Mitigation: Spend 5 hours planting trees on nearby islands to give Soneva neighbors much needed shade and to mitigate levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

4. Youth Education: Give local island schools a 30 minute (pre-prepared) talk on waste management and composting or share your own relevant expertise.

5. Boost Local Island Income: Assist local families to learn the skill of making cadjan roofing material to sell.

Written by Kristie Gianetto of Elevate Desitinations
Images courtesy of Elevate Destinations

Elevate Destinations is a designer of Responsive Travel: travel that makes a difference to the countries we visit. We custom design extraordinary individual, group and family trips, giving a percentage of profits to the protection of natural resources and community development in destination countries. Visits to community projects as well as short-term service and volunteer opportunities are available to all interested travelers. Whenever possible, we select eco-luxury accommodations for our travelers: green options that do not compromise on aesthetics, amenities, service or security.