My Eco Wedding in Africa: Green Wedding Planners

Friday, January 29, 2010

Eco Wedding Categories

I know that the idea can be daunting because the concept is new and information and suppliers for green weddings seem to be in hiding. I have spoken to a number of suppliers and will be discussing each section and adding suppliers at a later stage, so keep checking back to source possible service providers.

Jewelry: Fair Trade and Recycled Jewelry.
Invitations and Stationery: Recycled Paper, E-Invites and E-albums.
Beauty and Health: Organic, Fair Trade and Bio-degradable packaging.
Venues and Transportation: Have ceremony and wedding in one place reducing driving. Use horse drawn carriage for your entrance.
Bridal Attire: Rent, rent, rent! or if you must buy use fair trade fabrics that are eco friendly like silk, hemp or cotton.
Bridesmaids Attire: Let your bridesmaids wear there own dresses, just apply a colour scheme.
Table settings and decor: Rent, rent, rent. Once again, try not to buy anything, its not necessary, use suppliers to rent all your tables, tents, chairs and decorations. They have spared no expense when they bought the goods and you can probably find linen tablecloths and napkins, silverware, crockery, candelabras etc.
Flowers: Use organic, seasonal and local florists. Donate to a charity or old age home thereafter.
Catering: Local and organic. Check with your caterer or venue that they only use local produce and that the most of the food and drink is organic. (Next blog will be on organic wines)
Favors: Make your own, my absolute favorite at the moment are the bird seed hearts. They are very easy to make and look so beautiful.
Gifts: If you are just starting out choose an on line eco friendly registry or keep looking at my blog and I will show you some really amazing products that are eco certified. However, you could also give people the option to donate to a charity of your choice. If you already have everything, this would be a wonderful initiative.
Photography: This is really simple, keep all the photographs digital, this way you only print the photographs that you love and you can post them with ease to your online wedding album. Be sure to send me some of your photographs, so that I can show the world, your green wedding.
Honeymoons: Try and keep your honeymoon local and make it an eco adventure. Remember that offsetting your flights and encourage your guests to do the same, if they have flown to your wedding.
Green Planner: Use my green wedding planner to get more in depth information.

During the next few months, I will be showcasing and testing a number of products from local suppliers, for you. I am hoping that you will eventually be able to find all the information you would need on my blog and my website. My website www.myecowedding.co.za will be up and running soon, so keep watching this space. I will also be allocating eco wedding hearts to each supplier or service provider, under the various categories. At the moment I am investigating South African organic wine farms. They will be providing their contact details so that you can purchase the wines directly from them.

Thanks for coming by and remember "be the change that you want to see in the world"

Faye
These images have been found on the web and do not belong to me, nor do I claim them as my own. I do have to say though, they are beautiful and you can get some fabulous ideas from them.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Eco Wedding Planner

Planning Timeline

6 to 12 Months Ahead

Start by considering what type of wedding you have always dreamed of. Will it be formal or Informal, large or small, a daytime picnic celebration or an evening wedding. Also think about where and when you would like to have your wedding. All these things will impact the budget and cost of your wedding.
Set the budget. If your or your future parents in law are helping with the payment of your wedding, try and include everyone in the budget discussion. Remember that an elegant and stylish wedding does not have to be store bought; a natural wedding can be even more romantic and personal.
Finalize the wedding date.
Hire an eco wedding planner if you are to busy, they have some fabulous ideas and have connections which are worthwhile in keeping within budgets. You can also make use of my blog to find suppliers.
Compile a guest list in order to establish how many guests you will have to cater for.
Book your venue and ceremony. It is always best to have the reception at the same place as the ceremony; this reduces the emissions of travel from one venue to another.
Start making a bridal party list, with maid of honor, bridesmaids and best men.
Start looking around for a perfect dress. Shop vintage stores, dress rental companies and then dressmakers. If you are having a dress made use organic cotton, hemp and silk. Use stores that you know have bought these fabrics using fair trade ethics. Try Hemporium in Cape Town.
Book an eco friendly florist and be specific about your flower choices, your reusing ideas and arrangements. Keep all flowers organic and seasonal.
Book an officiant.
Reserve a caterer if you plan on having an outdoor wedding or are not using a venue for your ceremony. Remember to use a caterer who uses local and organic food in new and interesting ways. Also, if you are vegan and are considering a vegan menu, spend time with the caterer to induce some mouth watering meals.
Book photographers, videographers and musicians or disk jockeys for your special day. Remember to ask the photographer to use a digital camera, that way you will only print what you need and post the rest on a website. A string quartet is also a lovely addition to a daytime wedding and uses a lot less energy.
It is important to book your honeymoon. Remember there are quite a few South African eco friendly destinations with wonderful eco tours and accommodation. There are also some fantastic places hidden away in their natural surroundings, offering little or no impact to the environment. Remember to offset your flights once you have booked them.
Order wedding stationery. Remember to use recycled paper and soy or vegetable ink on your invitations, thank you cards and reply cards. Otherwise there are some fabulous e-vite sites that help you send automatic invitations to guests e mail addresses.
Order your organic wedding cake.

4 to 6 Months Ahead

When you register for gifts, register at places that support local communities and organizations that use the eco friendly ethos in their businesses. You could also register for a charity of your choice and have guests donate money to that charity instead of buying gifts.
Confirm postal and email addresses for guest list.
Purchase wedding rings – always buy fair trade diamonds.
Have your groom reserve his suit or if he is purchasing a suit, ask him to make it a suit he would wear again.
Discuss your attendants outfits with them and come up with a colour scheme.
Finalise lingerie and jewelry, as well as other accessories.
Start organizing your wedding favors, if you are making them yourself, allocate time to get this done.
Organise transportation to the venue or ceremony for guests.
Help out of town guests find accommodation in an eco friendly establishment, so that they can learn something and have a new experience in line with your values.
Book a room for your wedding night at a hotel that has green or at least some eco principles.
Make final decisions on your flowers, table arrangements and decorations.
Confirm all your arrangements with your suppliers.
If your caterer does not already have equipment, reserve rental equipment such as tables, chairs, and linens. Confirm all your arrangements with your suppliers.
Finalize your eco honeymoon plans.
Discuss and finalise details with your officiant regarding your ceremony details, vows, music etc.
Finalise your menu.

2 to 4 Months Ahead

Plan ahead for the ceremony. You may want to think about a program (recycled paper, soy ink).
Plan the reception. Make sure that all your suppliers have a copy and that everyone including the venue is happy with the schedule of events. Also make sure that the master of ceremonies has a copy to stick to, as well as your maid of honor, so that you might be as relaxed and care free on your day.
If you are having a traditional first dance, discuss the music with your DJ or musicians playing at your wedding. Also discuss some sort of playlist for the wedding.
Schedule rehearsal time and a rehearsal dinner.
Practice your first dance with an instructor.
Book your trial hair and your actual hair appointment at the same time. Also book manicures and spa treatment. Have a nice massage the week before with a facial, and you are sure to glow on your day. Remember to use organic and eco friendly products. You could make your own and have a home spa with your bridesmaids.

1 to 2 Months Ahead

Take care of paperwork
Obtain marriage license.
Prepare name change documents if needed.
Send change-of-address information to post office.
Look over insurance policies (car, life, medical, and home) to see if any changes will be necessary.
Make appointments for blood tests if required.
Contact local newspapers about publishing your wedding announcement. Take care of paperwork
Finalise wedding guest list numbers.
Have your final dress fitting, be sure to bring all accessories, including jewelry, veil and shoes.

2 to 4 Weeks Ahead

Notify caterer or venue of guest numbers for food and table seating’s.
Begin seating plan for reception and make place cards.
Make sure that the bridal party is aware of the schedules for the ceremony and the reception. Also make sure that they are happy with their tasks and understand their assignments.

1 Week Ahead

Confirm final headcount.
Reconfirm honeymoon details, and provide travel itinerary to family member or friend in the event of an emergency.
Pack for honeymoon.
Make sure that groom and wedding party are on track with their attire and have plans to pick up rented formalwear.
Have your manicure and massage.
Reconfirm transportation arrangements for ceremony and reception.

1 Day Ahead

Rehearse the ceremony, enjoy a relaxing rehearsal dinner with family and friends and have a run-through of responsibilities.
Prepare tip and payment envelopes for officiant and vendors, and arrange for the best man to distribute them.
Arrange for the return of rentals after the wedding, and plan for delivery of flowers to hospitals or nursing homes and leftover food to homeless or childrens charities, most eco friendly establishments have charities in place for left overs and this should ideally be covered by the venue.
Give the rings to the best man.

Wedding Day