The Happy Wedding

Here is a beautiful ceremony song, written and performed by Jan Goss. Photography by Don Rogers Photography. The music can be purchased, email us for details. This is a great wedding song that we trust will sweep the nation with your help. If you know anyone that might be getting married and needs a great song, please pass this along. Currently, they will have to email us for the version to play a…

In the world of engagements and wedding planning, green is the new white. From conflict-free wedding jewelry, to an environmentally-conscientious reception, with an eco-friendly honeymoon to round out the nuptials, couples are throwing out the era of Bridezilla and ushering in the age of green weddings. And it all starts with that oh-so-special wedding jewelry.

Choosing a diamond engagement ring and wedding bands are incredibly personal decisions that are also becoming ethical decisions. Socially aware couples now want to ensure that their wedding jewelry selections are not linked to human rights abuses or have not negatively impacted the environment.

Conflict-free Diamonds

Until recent years, newly engaged couples were blissfully unaware that an untold number of corrupt organizations in African countries were illegally mining diamonds that are directly linked to human rights abuses.

The good news is that more than 40 nations worldwide, including the United States, now voluntarily participate in the Kimberly Process, a system that imposes stringent requirements on imports to certify that diamonds are free from conflict. 99.8% of the global production of rough diamonds is now accounted for through the Kimberly Process.

Reputable engagement and wedding jewelry retailers readily confirm the origin of any stone. Online retailers are particularly sensitive to consumer concerns regarding the genesis of their diamonds. Leading online retailers, such as Danforth Diamond, My Solitaire, and Brilliant Earth actively educate consumers by providing helpful information on their websites to ensure that accurate information is easily accessible.

Green Gold?

For those who truly want guilt-free glitter, there are a number of retailers who offer recycled gold for wedding bands and the like. Concerned about a lackluster green ring? Worry not. Recycled gold, which is melted and re-refined, is the same quality as newly-mined gold.

NoDirtyGold.org publishes an ever-growing and impressive list of retailers who support the responsible production of gold.

Vintage jewelry is also enjoying a resurgence in popularity as brides and grooms opt to purchase estate jewelry or wear wedding rings that have been passed down from a family member.

Eco-friendly weddings aren’t just for the granola crunching crowd nowadays — and conflict-free diamond engagement rings and recycled gold wedding jewelry are just the beginning. As green weddings become more mainstream, the options and price ranges are increasingly abundant.

Earth-friendly Invitations

Wedding invitations printed with soy- or vegetable-based inks on recycled paper are a mainstay for green couples. If that’s not green enough for you, perhaps paperless invitations are the way to go; simply extend electronic invitations for guests who can be contacted via email. Emailed RSVPs offer an added bonus: guests are more likely to respond promptly, allowing you to accurately plan your headcount.

Location, Location, Location

A central wedding location that requires minimal travel for most guests will save on carbon emissions. Booking a venue that can host the wedding ceremony and reception will further reduce carbon emissions. Art galleries, botanical gardens, eco-friendly restaurants, hotels and parks are all excellent choices.

Here Comes the Bride

Something old, something new, something borrowed… something green? You betcha. Green brides can choose lovely, previously-worn gowns from vintage stores or gown consignment and rental shops. Brides can also turn to their family tree for a wonderfully sentimental heirloom gown. A number of designers have also embraced the eco-friendly trend and offer extravagant gowns made of hemp silk.

Wedding Favors as Decorations

Organic, locally grown flowers for bouquets and centerpieces offer a fresh, seasonal touch. Flower arrangements used at the wedding can perform double duty by being moved to the reception. Potted plants also make lovely arrangements and can be transplanted outdoors after the wedding or can serve as gifts that guests can take home.

The Gift that Keeps Giving

Portovert Magazine, the nation’s first and only online publication devoted exclusively to environmentally and socially responsible weddings, and NativeEnergy offer a carbon emissions calculator that can be used to evaluate wedding-related carbon sources, including travel, guest lodging and power used at the wedding venues, which can help in the planning of a carbon-neutral wedding. You can find it here: http://www.nativeenergy.com/Splash/Portovert/portovert_wedding_calc.html.

Couples can also offset the carbon emissions produced as a result of their nuptials by making contributions to an eco organization of their choice or requesting that guests do the same in lieu of a wedding gift.

Paying it Forward

Eco-friendly tours, green hotel resorts, simple outdoor adventures, volunteer work for a preservation project — green honeymoons run the gamut and cater to a variety of preferences and budgets. From relaxing and luxuriant to active and outdoorsy, newlyweds can take their dream green vacation that celebrates the beginning of their new life together and the future of our planet.

And to think that it all began with a diamond engagement ring. Green weddings provide couples the opportunity to make a lifelong commitment to each other and to their world. Every wedding anniversary, from the “small” ones to the milestones years is an opportunity to renew that commitment for now and for years to come.

Perhaps a future generation will honor that same commitment by choosing to wear your “heirloom” wedding jewelry.

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Despite the fact that “Marriages are made in heaven” we plan them and stage them on our home planet. Weddings are celebrated with much grandeur and everyone wants the best on that occasion. Once the preparation starts there is immense pressure that the couple experiences, and there are many challenges that they must overcome as well. They have to decide on the venue of the ceremony, reception, invitees, food and many such things. There should also be the final touches to make their wedding complete too. There ought to be some fun and enjoyment to make weddings memorable. A fun example that is becoming more and more popular are wedding cookies. Wedding Cookie favors will make wonderful mementos for your Wedding Day! Wedding favors play a surprisingly vital role on that special occasion that can add much more pleasure to the juncture. Let’s discuss how. *Wedding cookies: * Wedding favors may vary from culture to culture and the choices of wedding favors that a bride and groom can pick from today are immense. Some couples prefer to give traditional wedding favors for instance: In Malaysia guests are given a symbol of fertility in the form of a hand painted egg. Other cultures prefer to give candy covered almonds which are beautifully packed in boxes or wrapped with lace or tulle, later tied with a ribbon. The number of candy that is packed can be 3 or 5 depending on the couple’s choice. A new, yet elegant favor are wedding cookies. Serving wedding cookies has become an popular part of modern marriages. The practice of sharing wedding cookies as a favor or gift is used to display appreciation and help make the special day an unforgettable event. *Fortune Cookie Wedding Favors:* There are several varieties of fortune cookie wedding favors. Many are made from natural ingredients. These wedding cookies are delicious as they are dipped in a choice of fine Belgian Chocolates (Dark, Milk, or White), rich golden Caramel, or Strawberry or Peanut Butter Confections. Some cookies can even be customized with adding photos such as picture cookies; this could prove very unique as the couple can have their favorite photo imprinted right on the cookie. *Wedding Cookie Favors:* Wedding cookie favors symbolize the sweet memory of your wedding and is one of the the best choices that one can offer their guests who have come to celebrate this memorable moment with you. Wedding cookies can be just as popular as the wedding cake! Picture cookie, the most preferable type of wedding cookie is a good choice of wedding favor that can fit into any goodie bag. This is one of the best favors to deliver to your guests that will be loved by all age groups.

Most new brides and grooms want a creative wedding day that is personalized just for them. The best way to personalize your wedding day is to take something from your personal lives that shout’s you and your future spouse.

For instance if you and your fianc are really immense horse people, you can use that as a kind of theme for your wedding. This type of wedding ceremony and reception is generally considered non-traditional. You need to start from the very beginning of your wedding preparation plans.

The invitations: If you will have a horse theme for your wedding you can find an invitation type that has horses on it. It can also include an engagement picture of you and your spouse in western wear. Another key factor to personalizing your wedding is the colors you chose.

There are so many things you can have done with your engagement picture. You can have it turned into a magnet with your names and the date of your upcoming nuptials, printed on it. This is a fun way for people to keep up with your engagement picture. This is one of the many ideas that will help personalize your wedding just to you and your fianc.

Next step in personalizing your wedding day is the ceremony. Some people go really far with their ceremonies, to be non-traditional. If you have always dreamed of having a long flowing wedding gown and Read the rest of this entry »