Green Wedding Experts Blog

Engagement season is officially upon us and there are thousands of brides-to-be racing to their nearest laptop or iPhone to spread the news. If you’re sporting some new bling (or anticipating it’s pending arrival), congrats! But before you change your relationship status on Facebook (more on this later) read through these quick etiquette tips that will help you start this new season of life on the right track. 

+ Parents +

They gave you life, went to all of your dance concerts and co-signed on your first car loan. They’ve officially earned the “first to know” right. Traditionally the brides’ parents are told first then the grooms’. I think that tradition started when mail was still delivered on horse back and in today’s world of warp speed communication, I think this can be left up to your discretion. The most important thing to keep in mind here is that your parents need to hear the news from you directly, preferably in person or over the phone. Email or texting should be reserved for those whose parents are undercover CIA agents and you have no other means of communication.

+ Immediate Family & Close Friends +
Next in line are those who are related to you by blood and your best friends since kindergarten. How close you are to the people in this group geographically and emotionally should determine how you spread the news. If your sister who is also your bestie lives two miles away, you’ll likely stop over to show off your new rock. If she lives two time zones away Skype or Facetime might have to suffice. If you know your cousin will be hurt that he found out via Twitter, give him a call. Use your best judgement to decide how to tell all of these dear people, but always default to the most personal form of communication possible.

+ Everyone Else +
After your parents, family, college roommates and your husband-to-be’s fraternity brothers have all heard the news, you’re now free to tell the world. Most likely this will take the form of a mass email, your blog, Facebook, Twitter and whatever other forms of social networking you use. Until the birth of the internet, announcing your engagement through the local newspaper was a popular method of spreading the word. Today, this seems like an unnecessary, eco-un-friendly and costly step to take. Another option that is slightly more formal than a status update and much greener than a newspaper ad is an e-card. Pick a cute design, add a picture or two of you and the fiancé and viola. I like using pingg for these types of digital cards because they’re free and you can send it to contacts via email, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also consider more traditional mailed announcements made using eco-friendly materials and practices.

(Note: For the fellow social media addicts in the crowd, consider this true story before plastering your wall with DIY wedding ideas. As my dear friend announced her engagement and planned her wedding she used Facebook to share her excitement with friends and family. She was tactful and not by any means over the top about it. A few weeks before the blessed event, a former co-worker of hers who had lived out of state for quite some time and hadn’t seen my friend for years, but was friends with her on Facebook, announced that she had made her travel and accommodation arrangements for the wedding. Problem was, she wasn’t invited. Difficult conversations followed and all ended amicably, but if you want to avoid awkward situations and wedding crashers, use this story as a filter before your step by step wedding day plans go public.)

Consider the juggling of your engagement announcement calendar a trial run for the insane amount of details you’ll be handling while planning your wedding over the next few months. Yes, it’s a lot to remember, yes some of it seems archaic and unnecessary, yes you’re bound to upset someone, and yes, there is no one “right way” for every couple. Make an effort to share your exciting news with the important people in your life first,  strive to use the most personal forms of communication possible, use tact and grace when talking with your single friends or those who you know might not be thrilled for you, and remember to occasionally take a deep breath and relish the moment for yourself.

Bio:

Melanie Little is the owner and designer behind Paper Mango, where she creates affordable, fresh wedding invitations with an eco-friendly flair! She’s also a social media addict and you can find her tweeting away as @papermango.

Photo Credit: Jasmine Amber Photography

Quinn and I spoke about that which matters to us when searching for rings and determined that neither of us wants a terribly expensive piece of jewelry on our finger.  I am not a ''diamonds are a girl’s best friend'' type of woman - nor do I want a ring that costs 3 months' salary. We have no ties to the "traditional" American wedding ring philosophy. We determined these to be our most important criteria:

˚       recycled or ecofriendly materials

˚       symbolism/meaning

˚       prefer silver color to yellowish gold

˚       durability

˚       comfort

˚       unique design  

We visited (insert name of national jewelry chain here) to find out what size rings our fingers were. We definitely do NOT want rings from (insert name of national jewelry chain here) or any other huge corporation which supports conflict diamonds or the mining industry in general. Hazardous conditions and child labor are rampant in the industry. Workers are often using equipment that needs repair or is outdated and they are unable to acquire equipment that could reduce risks and prevent accidents. Child labor is also widespread in the gem cutting industry and while there are laws to prevent such practices they are consistently ignored.

Janine Roberts, author of Glitter and Greed: The Secret World of the Diamond Cartel was interviewed on The Black Table about how the diamond engagement ring tradition became an integrated part of wedding culture. She exposes a great deal of the corruption within the industry.

I certainly have no desire to wear a ring, knowing the symbol of love my fiancé gave me helped fund weapons used to commit heinous acts of human rights violations.

If you would like to learn more about how diamonds are contributing to human rights violations, here is some information that the UN has released about conflict diamonds (the pictures might just break your heart). You can learn even more about the diamond industry at DiamondFacts.org.

The mining of gold, silver and other metals are also very toxic and harmful to the environment. There are negative effects on land and water, such as deforestation, loss of biodiversity, pollution, spread of disease.... just to name a few. Here is a great article on the harmful effects of mining on the environment.

At one time I was working for a citizens campaign called Clean Water Action. We worked to raise money to fight to keep our waterways clean. I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with them. I learned a great deal about the mining industry while under their employ. I learned that mining uses equipment which is not environmentally friendly that requires a great deal of energy and pollutes our waterways, even if the mine is a great distance from a waterway. Open-pit mining leaves enormous craters in the earth and generates an outrageous amount of waste. The process that is used to extract the gold utilizes a massive amount of cyanide which is released into the ground and carried to waterways through rain and runoff and ground water. Some companies dump their waste into waterways due to the fact that the legislation regarding polluting has fines that are easy to pay. The fines are lower than the cost of disposal and cleanup and they don’t have to pay the fines unless they are caught.

In a very informative publication called Dirty Metals: Mining, Communities and the Environment Oxfam America reveals the process of how newly mined minerals are produced. You could also check out the NDG campaign for a plethora of great information! You can even sign the No Dirty Gold pledge.

Here's fair warning: Knowing all of this information kind of takes the luster and the glitter and glam out of those sparkly rings. Don’t fret! You can still get your sparkle! There are a variety of choices available to you… from lab created diamonds to recycled gold!

Here are some resources I found helpful:

*Remember* Research any company you are interested in… there is a great deal of green washing today. Chances are a lab created diamond company is working to create eco-friendly jewelry, but don’t forget about the metal used to create the ring.

This site has some great information about how lab created diamonds are made. Diamond Nexus Labs and D.NEA, "world's finest lab grown diamonds,”  are also certified.

Brilliant Earth is a great company "dedicated to offering socially and environmentally responsible fine jewelry. All of our lab created diamond jewelry pieces are accompanied with a certificate of origin to provide assurance that they are ethically grown with minimal environmental impact.”

For our ring search, we decided to check out one of my favorite spots to shop for just about anything: Etsy! I just love etsy and enjoy the idea of supporting an artist who works to make ethical and eco-friendly jewelry. I did some searching on the website and came across these great rings! We decided upon these beautiful rings made of wood that we will wear during our engagement period from MnMWoodworks.

Photo Credit: Ananda Glick

MnM Woodworks makes custom wooden rings and wedding bands. They have some amazing creations in their shop. Absolutely gorgeous! MnM (Matt and Molli) Woodworks is run by a young couple from Tennessee. Matt's grandfather got him interested in woodworking when he was just nine years old. Now he has been creating things from wood for over 14 years!

The rings we chose are handcrafted out of ancient Kauri (middle) and Blue Mahoe woods. The Kauri they used has been buried in a bog in New Zealand for thousands of years. Ancient Kauri is the oldest workable timber on Earth. Every tree grew for at least 1,200 years and was preserved underground for 50,000 years or more! The process that is used to extract the Kauri is eco-friendly because the excavated land is returned to its natural state and no living trees are harvested.

We love our rings. They are beautiful! We decided that we would wear them during this year, our engagement, and then we will preserve them in a special shadowbox. We are both fairly 'rough' on our hands and have discovered that we will probably wind up destroying our rings after a few years.

The rings we found which we plan to use as our wedding rings were also an etsy discovery! We found them in a lovely shop called Sudlow Jewelry.

Rachael is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design in Photography and Jewelry making - and she has a lovely etsy shop. You can sign up for Rachael's newsletter where she offers special sales and deals here. Be sure to check out the rest of her site for some really beautiful jewelry. She is quite talented! Rachael was a pleasure to work with and gave me lots of personal attention and she even sent me several pictures as my ring was being developed. Check out this pic of the ring before it was set with a stone:

Photo Credit: Ananda Glick

The oak and the acorn have become a very prevalent symbol in our relationship. They are symbolic of family, loyalty and longevity. From the tiny acorn the mighty oak grows and is rooted in earth but reaches for the sky. It was the perfect choice for our wedding bands. Here is a slideshow of our rings!

Photo Credit: Ananda Glick

Instead of a diamond, we chose a peridot for my ring, especially because of its special qualities. Peridot is said to clear the heart chakra, strengthen breath of life, prosperity, growth and openness. It has been used to treat emotional states such as anger, jealousy and irritation. The color, as well as the stone, inspires healing, renewal, purification, rebirth and growth.

Peridot is said to have the ability to bring healing and vitality to the whole body, and to increase patience, confidence and assertiveness.

The joyful and friendly energy of this stone helps make and seal friendships. It clears the heart and releases the ego, which in turn cleanses jealousy and anger, hence bringing about a sense of peace and quiet amusement. A visionary stone, peridot helps connect us to our destinies and to an understanding of the purpose of existence.

Green is one of my favorite colors. My Grandma Lee gave me a ring when I was younger with a beautiful peridot set within it and I cherished it. Alas, I lost the ring long ago...this stone reminds me of many pleasant things. I just adore it.

For help finding more ecofriendly rings, check out this great resource -- the Etsy treasury!

Written by: Ananda Glick, Green Bride Blogger

Looking to recoup some money from your recent wedding? Consider selling your wedding dress online and help another bride to save on her wedding budget.

Photo Courtesy of Maggie Sottero.com

By selling your wedding dress, wedding accessories and wedding décor items online, you can:

• Recoup about 50% of the cost of your items
• Clear up space to make room for shared closets
• Love the Earth! Recycling a wedding gown reduces carbon emissions from shipping

Not sure how to get started? Keep reading for our top 6 tips to sell your wedding dress...

1. There’s no time like the present!

• Post your dress for sale as soon after your wedding as possible. Trust us, you're not going to wear it again, so why leave it hanging in your closet?
• Used dresses continue to hold their resale value for roughly 2 - 3 years after they’re purchased and worn (depending on the style) but generally sell for the most money within the first year.

2. Use a Fabulous Photo
Buyers will want to see your dress looking its best, so be sure to use photos that show off the potential of your dress. After all, it could a potential buyer's dream wedding dress!

Photo Courtesy of Maggie Sottero.com

When selling your dress online it’s best to include:

• A full length picture of the front & back of your dress (preferably on a person or mannequin)
• Close-up picture of any detailing, beading or embellishments on your dress
• A close-up picture of any damage or stains on the dress.
• A picture from the manufacturer

Posting less than stellar photos (i.e. on a hanger like the example below, a badly lit photo etc.) or no photo at all, will make it more difficult for the potential buyer to visualize the dress and could hurt your chances of making that sale.

3. Be Specific

• Brides will be scanning many listings in their search for a wedding dress, so providing more information will likely sell your dress more quickly.
• Be specific about color, brand and model number. Often, brides-to-be will try the dress on in a store before they search online for a budget-friendly version, so the more information you can provide, the better.

4. List any Alterations
It’s important to be up-front about the condition of your dress. Describe any alterations that were made and specify whether or not they’re reversible.

For example, the original dress might have been a size 10, but if it was altered to fit a size 8, buyers need to know. Warn potential buyers of any damage to the dress such as stains, tears or runs. Be honest and you won’t waste your time or a potential buyer's time.

5. Get it Cleaned
It’s important to clean your dress right away. A clean dress communicates to the buyer that you have cared for and loved your dress, and presents better to potential buyers.

6. Be Prepared to Sell!
Once your dress is posted with great pictures and all the details, ensure both you and your home are ready to show the dress to potential buyers.

                  3 easy steps to prepare for the sale:

                  -Make time to meet buyers. Try to be available on evenings and weekends if possible

                  -Create a place for buyers to try on the dress, preferably with a full length mirror.

                  -Be ready to negotiate the price and know your limits so you can make decisions                     on-the-spot.

About SmartBride Boutique:
SmartBrideBoutique.com is a premium wedding classifieds website, helping today's savvy brides create the wedding day of their dreams on a realistic budget without sacrificing designer names, fabulous style or the environment. Past and present brides connect online to buy, sell and save on everything wedding. Smart Brides can have their cake and eat it too!

Looking for environmentally friendly and creative ways of displaying images in your home and office? Look no further! Here are some great DIY photo project ideas for your green home, or as gifts for your friends and family.

Photo-frame Shadowbox

As you might imagine, I love photography but I always have trouble choosing which images to hang in our home. I like to change it up a lot to keep things fresh and exciting. That said, it seems wasteful to get new pictures framed, and then if I did, where would I store the other ones?

The solution I created is a sort of photo-frame shadowbox: Imagine a box of whatever size (it needn’t be very deep) with a picture frame on the lid and maybe a clasp to keep it closed. Now imagine having more prints in the box so that you could slide a new image into the frame whenever you felt like a change. This could be affixed to the wall like a shadowbox (a sort of display case that is hung on the wall) or placed on a counter, and would make for a lovely holiday gift! You could also take it a step further and update your photo-shadow box with the seasons by using seasonally relevant photographs and decorating the photo mats with items such as holly, fall leaves, snowflakes, or flower blossoms. Don’t forget to use archival-acid & lignin free materials in order to guarantee the long-term preservation of your images. 

Online Wedding Album

The online wedding album is a digital album with all the trimmings; great layout and images that are connected tastefully in a way that tells a story and communicates the excitement of the day. Before printing albums, photographers and album designers create a digital layout of the images. This does require some work but would be less costly (both fiscally and environmentally) than the physical album.

Online albums are a win-win in today’s society as families and friends become more and more separated in space, so these would make a great holiday e-gift for family!  If you feel the physical album is a must for you, the online version makes a great addition to your hardcopy, allowing you to share your images in their narrative format with loved ones both near and far.

Whether your album is online or in print, don’t forget to keep a safe backup – just in case.

Photo Credit: Kiss My Flash Photography

DIY Digital Photo Album

If you are feeling crafty yourself and want to take things a step further, you might like working on a mixed media art piece incorporating your photographs. You can include important elements of the day such as the theme or wedding color, motifs from your stationery, lace, dried flowers or petals, paint, confetti or champagne/wine labels from the event. Check out this fabulously inspirational resource by Darlene Olivia McElroy (the collage goddess) to get your creative juices flowing.

If you are not sure you are up to the task creatively, you could always collaborate with an artist or graphic designer you admire to help you create your art piece. Remember though, whether working with an artist or doing this yourself there is no need to go out and buy lots of new supplies. You will probably find lots of great and perhaps more meaningful materials around the house already. For added inspiration, take a look at this fabulous mixed media work by Carol Owen.

Creative Display Ideas

These ideas can require a little extra legwork but if you are looking for a creative outlet this could be just the ticket. Consider Sunday treks through flea markets, garage sales and thrift stores finding and mix-and-matching different frames. Feel free to experiment by mixing different color, size and textures. Imagine bringing your treasures home and working on them: cleaning, perhaps sanding, painting and varnishing them (with no-VOC paints/stains of course.) Upcycling old frames for your wall displays is not just environmentally friendly, but often a fun conversation starter. A quick search on Etsy left me with tons of inspirational ideas, like Sidhe’s Boudoir’s chic upcycled collections or creative concoctions by Round The Bend Shop.

Be Proactive!

Ultimately, if you really want to be creative with your photographs, my suggestion is to get creative before they are taken because there is nothing more inspiring to display than a well thought out image. So here is a little bonus tip: If you are looking for a creative way to immoralize your winter wedding reception or holiday family reunion this year, consider an interactive photobooth. This is kind of like a traditional photo-booth where guests jump in and get their pictures taken but with an actual photographer providing feedback, direction and support. This can be done indoors or outdoors at almost any kind of event and you can customize the background, as you like. The results can be especially touching for important family occasions such as weddings, births, and even, with the right mindset, for funerals. People who are regularly very shy and closed in photographs can really open up with the right photographer and produce some beautiful images. Extra bonus: It is a wonderful form of entertainment too and guests often talk about it long after the event itself.

Written by Kiss My Flash Photography

Kiss My Flash Photography is a Greener Photography certified business based out of Vancouver that is co-owned by Kat (Catherine McLaren) and Mause (Eugene Lin). Our clients split our work pretty evenly between wedding and commercial photography and we are a little bit different from your conventional wedding photographers in that we specialize in Green, Fusion (inter-ethnic) and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) weddings. Check out our environmental commitment in the Green Bride Guide Vendor Directory!

Kat is both a photographer and a bride to be (yay). She was born to Zimbabwean parents and grew up traveling the world. Her experiences with different people, places and cultures lead her to do a psychology degree, specializing in intergroup relations and conflict management. She has been shooting for a decade but has only recently taken her work to the professional level.

Mause is a Singaporean born Canadian with a diverse list of interests and skills ranging from audio-visual control systems to performance art. He has a degree in both Human Geography and Visual Arts and has taken three years of photography at Langara and Focal Point. He has been shooting professionally for over six years now. 

Photo Credit: Abigail Seymour Photography

Lesson 1:  Silk or not?  Every bride should know the answer to that question because the fabric of your gown is everything.  Silk is a hollow fiber so when you spill something on silk, or other natural fibers such as cotton and linen, the spill bonds with the fiber and acts like a dye.  Even water is absorbed by natural fibers and leaves marks.  Silk also crushes more easily for the same reason.  On the other hand, spills can roll right off artificial fibers, and a damp cloth is sometimes all you need to remove a stain.  Plus most wrinkles shake out easily.

Lesson 2:  Garment bags are almost never full enough to protect your gown without flattening the skirt.  When you take your gown home from the bridal shop, remove at least the skirt portion from the bag so that it can open fully.  If you remove the gown completely, be sure to hang it somewhere it will be safe from children and pets.  You can also wrap your wedding gown in a clean sheet or freshly-washed muslin to protect it from light and dust.  If the skirt of your gown is very full, two fitted sheets pinned together are even easier to manage.

Lesson 3:  If you are traveling by car with your gown, it may be best to leave it in the garment bag provided by the bridal shop until you reach your destination and can touch it up.  If you are traveling by air, the airline will almost certainly insist you stuff the garment bag into the overhead space.  You can do that and hope no one puts another bag on top of it or you can pack it so that is protected.  If you carry your gown in a suitcase, you may have to check it and risk losing it when you change planes.  Better yet, try our recyclable green Destination Wedding Kit.  [Link]  You can carry your gown with you through security, and it never leaves your sight.  The kit comes with instructions for packing and easily fits in the overhead above your seat.  Bonus:  also comes with a stain stick (safe for silk) for wedding-day emergencies.

Lesson 4:  If you decide to lightly press your gown, make sure the iron is set to the temperature that is right for the fabric (see Lesson 1 above).  Most steamers spit drops of water so if you use a steamer (hand steamers are great if you are a destination bride), be sure to cover the head of the steamer with a towel or washcloth to absorb the water.

Lesson 5:  Most emergencies the day of the wedding can be managed with a needle, thread, and safety pins.  Scissors are also useful.  If nothing else, put some safety pins in the lining at the bottom of your gown so they will be handy if your bustle breaks. 

Lesson 6:  Learn the basics about stains.  After all, your other clothes need care, too.  There are three kinds of stains.  Wetside stains such as coffee, tea, and wine will dissolve in water.  Dryside stains such as lipstick and grease require a “dry” solution to dissolve the oily content.  The third kind of stain is “complex” because it is composed of both wetside and dryside elements--think gravy or salad dressing.  But remember, silk or not?  Almost anything you use to try and remove stains from silk will leave a ring.  If you try a Tide stain stick, be sure to test its effect on an inside seam before using it on your gown.  For silk gowns, it may be best, especially with greasy stains, to mask the stain with chalk, baby powder or cornstarch, which absorbs grease and does not damage the finish.  If you gown is not silk, you can use a wet washcloth on coffee, tea, or wine spills.  For lipstick and grease, cigarette lighter fluid or other dry solvent will work.  You can find suggestions for treating spills at  http://www.weddinggownspecialists.com/emergencygowncare.htm

Lesson 7:  The longer you leave your gown uncleaned, the less likely all of the stains can be removed when you do take it to be cleaned.  Don’t wait for your husband or your mother to complain the gown takes up too much room.  Look for a Wedding Gown Specialist and ask lots of questions about where and how your gown will be cleaned.  And be sure to ask, today or twenty-five years from today, who will honor the guarantee your gown will not yellow!

Class dismissed.  Have a wonderful day and remember to enjoy every minute,even if there are spills.  The day goes by all too quickly, and your family and friends are there to celebrate your happiness—not to look for wrinkles and stains!

Sally Lorenson Conant, PhD, is a Certified Wedding Gown Specialist™, the President of Orange Restoration Labs, and Executive Director of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists. Learn more about Sally and her expertise in gown restoration and preservation.

Let’s be honest here.  What is the #1 most important, winner-takes-all, priority for you on your big day?

Looking fabulous, of course!!!

Everyone knows that the Bride alone will outshine all of the bridesmaids, colorful flowers and gorgeous evening wear combined!  Which means that next to finding the perfect gown, your mission critical is getting a set of stunning adornments to highlight your dress, personality and eco-lifestyle. 

So where should you begin?  How the heck do you find eco-friendly jewelry?  And, once you do that, how do you make sure it’s the right style for you and your wedding dress?  Let’s break it down…first the jewels, then your style

1. Fair Trade.  One of the most understated aspects of conscious consumerism is the concept of Fair Trade.  Sure, that’s great that Walmart is now carrying an organic clothing line.  But if the t-shirts are $5 a piece, someone in a sweatshop somewhere is getting a raw deal.  In your search for ethical jewelry, you must make it a priority to understand how the materials that were used in the jewelry came to be…or came to be put together.  Companies that are paying higher living wages want you to know about it.  Their pricing may be a bit higher (naturally, because they are paying people their true worth) and so they will make sure you know why.  If a company has no literature or content regarding their Fair Trade policies, they are likely getting their jewelry or materials from underpaid, overworked factory labor.  If it seems too cheap to be Fair Trade, it probably is.  It doesn’t matter how “green” the materials are if someone’s quality of life is being negatively affected by it.  The cost of this “dirty” jewelry cannot be measured in dollars and cents.
2. Green-washing.  Just because a jeweler uses the words natural, organic, recycled, handmade or green somewhere in the description of the product does not automatically make the entire piece environmentally sound.  Find out more.  A truly eco-friendly jeweler will tell you where each and every single component came from; not just stamp the “green” label on the jewelry because it has one single Fair Trade gem among dozens of other conventional not-so-green components.  What type of material is it?  Was it made according to Fair Trade standards?  Is every single component in that piece of jewelry green and/or socially responsible?
3. Recycled metals.  The jewelry should be made with as close to 100% recycled metals as possible.  Metal mining is the leading toxic polluter in the United States and one of the top reasons our drinking water has been contaminated with mercury and heavy metals in various areas throughout the country.  There is plenty of silver and gold already in circulation, including chains and findings, so we have no excuse not to reuse or recycle it.  Look for, or ask about, the recycled content of each individual component that goes into that piece of jewelry, particularly with handcrafted jewelry, which involves a lot of little pieces.  If the jeweler is truly doing their due diligence, you won’t have to ask...it will be listed in the product description on their website.  Also, be sure to investigate the recycled content of any chains used.  Silver and gold chain uses more metal than most other components that go into a piece of jewelry.  Even if the chains are the only thing about the jewelry that is recycled (or reclaimed), this is still a great start.
4. Natural, Untreated.  To reduce land and water pollution from toxic chemicals and radiation, choose a jeweler that uses all natural, untreated gemstones and pearls.  If they must be treated, such as in the case of freshwater black pearls, make sure they are done so organically.  Most semi-precious and precious gemstones are treated with a variety of potentially harmful methods, such as irradiation and chemical enhancement; so it’s nice to find untreated alternatives when you can.
5. Sustainable, organic materials, such as tagua nut, coconut shell or acai berry, are breathtaking works of art when properly carved and polished.  Use liberally.  These natural elements are fully renewable each year and support the emergence of green businesses by artisans internationally.  Again, make sure they are sourced under Fair Trade practices.
6. Vintage and Recycled.  Look for jewelry with recycled glass and vintage or second-hand materials.  Avoid pieces that use brand new crystal.  Swarovski and knock-offs do not release their manufacturing processes to the public and, thus, there is no way to determine how safe or unsafe the materials and their chemical treatments really are...but it’s likely that they are not very eco friendly.  The mass production of these beads may contribute to industrial pollution and because Swarovski and others do not have public sustainability statements as of this writing, how can we know what they are doing to minimize or offset the damage?  Instead, opt for designs that incorporate vintage and second-hand crystals and materials.  You can never go wrong with a chic new take on classic finds.
7. Green Business.  It isn’t enough that the materials are eco-friendly; the company’s practices should be too.  How are they greening their operations?  Are they an advocate to their industry and customers, offering education and programs for green living and environmental reform?  Do they offer recycling programs to their customers?  Do they give back to environmental NGOs and non-profits?  Look for jewelers that are a member of One Percent for the Planet, No Dirty Gold Pledge, Green America and other similar organizations.  You can seek out jewelers that will refashion your old fashion accessories and fine jewelry, allowing you to reuse your materials in new pieces.  You can also find jewelers that offset their carbon footprint.
8. Your Dress.  OK, now to YOU.  You’ve located some genuinely eco-friendly jewelry, now how do you pick the right style for you? The style and neckline of your dress will absolutely determine the structure of your jewelry.  Is your gown strapless?  Does it have beading in the bodice?  Is the neckline a halter, sweetheart, off the shoulder or other?  Follow these tips to match your gown with your accessories:

Beading - Avoid competing with any bodice beading or detail.  Plain pearls are a natural choice if your dress has a lot of artwork.  If your dress is over-active, you may want to skip the necklace and opt instead for a classic set of pearl studs and coordinating bracelet.

V Neck – V-drop, lariat, pendant.  Dangle earrings are a delicate touch.

Scoop – Don’t hold back…just about anything will go with this shape, especially the classic princess and choker.

Square – Stick with princess and choker necklaces.  Multiple strands will help tone down the angles.

Strapless Straight – Watch the length on this one, no more than 18”.  Multi-strand chokers are the sexiest pick for any bold, strapless classic.    This neckline gives you a lot of flexibility though.

Strapless Sweetheart – This heart-shape beauty offers quite a bit of flexibility, but if you really want to knock ‘em dead, opt for a Y-drop or pendant to draw maximum attention to your feminine neckline.

Halter – This one is a bit tricky.  Necklaces can sometimes pull away from the halter style, so be selective.  If the cut is low on the chest, go with a multi-strand princess or a pendant or Y-drop.  If the cut is high, skip the necklace and focus on a show-stopping bracelet instead.

Bateau or Jewel – Super long rope or opera length necklaces look fabulous with this neckline.  If you’re going for a chic, 1920s feel, opt for an extra long multi-strand pearl necklace.  If not, then skip the necklace and try some bold earrings or bracelets.

Queen Anne – You don’t want to compete with this stunning collar, so save the necklace.  A flattering set of Victorian-style earrings will take this look from high class to untouchable.

Asymmetrical – Don’t make your guests think.  A necklace will only confuse them.  Go with short, symmetrical earrings and a multi-strand pearl bracelet…or even two…to fully accessorize for a fashion-forward finish.  One bracelet on each wrist will balance you out from head to toe and take your complete look up a notch.

9.  Your Budget.  Every bride is on a budget of some kind.  Let’s first establish the benefits of investing in quality eco-friendly jewelry and then discuss your options for wallet-sensitive fashion.  Green jewelry has three main benefits:

• Good for the environment
• Good for people
• Lasts a lifetime  (unless its refashioned using old costume jewelry)

By choosing to invest in eco-friendly jewelry, you are a making a powerful statement about the importance of metals recycling, environmentally responsible mining and ethical labor practices.  Jewelers will never be motivated to reform if consumers don’t pressure them with their dollars. 

That said, let’s talk about quality.  If you invest in heirloom-quality bridal jewelry, you can wear the piece again and again and even pass it down to loved ones in the future; which means that it will pay for itself very quickly.  Keep this in mind when you are deciding whether to allocate that budget line of $200 toward your perfect eco-chic look or the cheap, plastic, land-filling favors Aunt Milly insists you buy. 

Regardless of your current budget, you do have options.  If your jeweler is in tune to your needs, they will offer you custom design, in which you can clearly state your requirements in style and taste, while also working directly with them to create a set that fits into your budget.  The fastest way to both your goals, eco-friendly and affordable, is open communication with the jeweler.  Let them know what you want and how much you can spend and they will tell you whether it can be done.  With Fair Trade practices, no green provider will ever be able to compete with big box, mass manufacturers who use penny-on-the-dollar overseas labor and turn that savings into rock-bottom product pricing.  However, they often have resources that a big box would never dream to use and could get pretty creative when putting your pieces together.  If you’re truly counting every penny, this is the best route to go.

If you still find that eco-friendly jewelry is out of your range at this time, consider your local resale shop.  You never know what unique finds may be lurking around the corner.

10.  Your Bridesmaids.  Don’t let all your green efforts go to the wayside when its time to shift focus to your sidekicks extraordinaire.  Whomever you’ve chosen to share the limelight with resides in your top tier VIP and they are shelling out a lot of time, effort and dough to make sure this is one of the greatest moments of your life.  One of the most touching ways you can show them a little love is with a close-to-your-heart gift that will last a lifetime.  Quality, eco-friendly jewelry will not only be a treasure they can enjoy for decades to come, it will also carry with it a sentiment about your values that they will never forget. 

As you might with your own jewelry, ask your jeweler about custom designed sets for your bridesmaids.  You may find that, on top of being able to work within a set budget, ordering multiple pieces affords you a bulk discount.  You never know until you ask.

Katherine DalPra is principal and lead designer for Green Diva, an eco-friendly jeweler using 100% recycled metals, sustainable elements, vintage materials and Fair Trade gems.  Green Diva specializes in custom bridal jewelry for your themed wedding: vintage, destination, cultural, classic, nature-inspired, custom and more.

Read more by Katherine DalPra: An Interview with the Green Diva