Tip of the Week
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Clean your makeup brushes the natural way! When we dip cosmetic brushes into our favorite organic makeup, they also collect residue, surface oils and dead skin from our face. It's important to clean your brushes on a regular basis to avoid a nasty buildup of bacteria which can later cause acne, rashes and even infections. Look for brushes made with synthetic fibers and a bamboo handle. Always rinse the bristles with warm water and a little bit of organic baby shampoo, a plant-based facial cleanser, castile soap or a few drops of tea tree oil mixed with warm water. This is gentle enough so that it will not damage the fibers! Air dry the brush by laying flat. This process limits the use of drying with paper towels and harsh chemical brush cleaners. Photo Credit: Ehow |
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Rent an Alternative Fuel Powered Food Truck! Food trucks are the hottest new way to serve food to your guests! Why not look for a local place that uses green fuel alternatives for their trucks? Keep your guests happy and stay green at the same time. Ask your favorite local restaurants if they serve organic meals out of their food trucks. More vegetarian and vegan restaurants are on the rise, so many food truck options are available. On your wedding night after all the dancing and celebrating, feeding your guests a late night snack is effortless. Once the food truck rolls up all they have to do is walk right over and order at the window! |
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Create your own all natural beauty products at home! If you want to save money on a trip to the spa and stay green at the same time, try a homemade remedy for your skin. You can mix natural ingredients together that are often found in your home. Try lemon juice on your face and neck to lift and tighten, chamomile or green tea bags to de-puff or a combination of avocado and honey to leave skin super silky and smooth. Try this easy DIY face mask: Place avocado in a small mixing bowl and mash with a fork. Drizzle honey into a bowl and stir to combine. Slather over your face and leave on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water. If you own a food processor you can puree it for a smoother product. For a more exfoliating effect, try oatmeal and honey blended together with 1 tsp olive oil. Make the oatmeal with less water than normally called for so it forms a thicker paste. Slather on and rub into skin to slough off those dead skin cells. Your complexion will be glowing in no time! |
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Choose an Alternative Gift Registry! Skip the traditional wedding gift registry and choose a charity that you and your loved one feel passionate about. You can also ask for an "experience" registry where you can sign up for classes or adventures together. There are a number of artists and charity groups who raise money to support victims of violence, abandoned animals and other marginalized groups by selling artwork. You can also set up a registry with a local artisan or craftsperson. This is a wonderful way to acquire one-of-a-kind handmade ceramic plates, blown-glass vases, and other household essentials. Photo Credit: Daily Delights She Knows |
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Green Your Drinks! This time of year is perfect for green drinks, and we mean this in the literal color and the environmental sense! Read our blog on five "green green" drinks! All the organic and local ingredients you need are fresh, ripe and ready for spring. Toast to a green life on St. Patty’s day and every day--Slainte! |
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Destination Wedding Decor A destination wedding often has less of an environmental impact than a lavish affair back home. You can dress down your wedding party and decor by using local flowers to adorn your wedding arch or chuppah. Bring repurposed fabrics and ribbon from back home and decorate your wedding chairs to match your color scheme. You can also support the local economy and buy fair trade decor items unique to your location. Although it may be expensive or hard to schedule, it is important to go to the location at least once before the wedding to meet with the coordinator and to make sure everything is in order! Photo Credit: Adventure Wedding Spv |
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Send unique invitations from Mango Ink! Send your guests fun save the dates and invitations from Mango Ink. Owners Ryan and Heidi strive to create cards with more than just a generic message inside. They want each message to your loved ones to be juicy, unique and beautiful...just like a mango! All cards from Mango Ink are printed on FSC Certified papers. Use the coupon code greenbridelove for 10% off! |
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Refer a Friend! Do you know someone who recently got engaged or is attending a wedding this year? Send them a $20 gift card to our Green Wedding Registry & Gift Shop for FREE! Recommend our site to 5 friends and get a $20 gift card to spend on yourself! With $20 billion a year spent on gifts, purchasing and registering for eco-friendly gifts is an important way to support the green economy. Thanks for sharing the love! Photo: Hip2Save |
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Use Green Apps to Plan your Wedding! There are so many cheap (and free!) green app options for phones now, that it is a perfect tool to use for planning your green wedding. Use them to find green local businesses, find sustainable venues, locate green travel options or even calculate your carbon footprint. Apps like Green Genie offer tons of great green tips and tricks. Try Green Goods, which has a built in bar code scanner that you can use while shopping for your wedding. This allows users to check the environmental impact of their items before purchasing! |
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Choose your plantable favors according to season! When choosing an earth-friendly gift for your guests, the season is the determining factor. Choose Tree Beginnings for green plantable wedding favors! Spring and fall are the best seasons to plant trees, as flower bulbs are available all year round and the flowers change depending on the season. For winter, herbs and flower starter kits are a popular indoor growing option. Tree seeds that can be planted indoors or out are a big hit all year round!
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