When purchasing your wedding gown it is important to be mindful of petroleum- based synthetic fibers, such as nylon, polyester, and acrylic. There many other beautiful materials out there to consider that are eco-friendly and free of chemicals. Many people will even consider wearing a gown that has been in the family for years or a vintage style gown. Organic cotton, hemp, and other natural fibers are a great way to be eco-friendly in your green inspired wedding. These eco-chic designs below are all-natural and sustainable without sacrificing style!

An outdoor summer wedding is a perfect time to show off a beautiful dress. This organic cotton tie shoulder dress is a very light and simple gown. It is important to make sure that the dress you are looking to purchase is organic cotton rather than non-organic cotton. Non-organic cotton is not the greenest choice, considering 10% of the world’s pesticides are used to grow it. This dress is 100% organic cotton and made out of a fabric similar to satin. It is also available in natural or white.

The Rita gown is a unique style because it is a short bustier dress. It is made out of eco-friendly beaded wool and hemp/silk organza. Hemp is a renewable material made from the cannabis plant. Cannabis is naturally pest-resistant which means it can easily be grown without pesticides. Each dress is hand made from the highest quality sustainable, recycled and vintage fabrics.

The Rose gown is another unique take on a wedding gown. The gown is actually a full skirt that comes with a bustier. The blush pink peplum bustier has intricate pearl beading and a vintage brooch. Each dress is hand made to order and made from the highest quality and recycled, vintage products.

The organic cotton gathered gown is perfect for an outdoor wedding. This simple dress gathers at the waist and neck and is available in natural or white. Many women prefer to wear cotton gowns over anything else because cotton is light and breathable material, perfect for a hot day. This designer uses 100% organic cotton fabrics and low-impact fiber reactive dyes to create their gowns.

For more eco-chic wedding dresses, visit our Wedding Shop!

About the author:

GBG’s CEO, Kate L. Harrison, has a JD in Environmental Law and a Master’s from Yale in Environmental Policy. She planned her own green wedding in 2007 and wrote the best selling green wedding book The Green Bride Guide: How to Plan an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget.   In 2009, she founded www.greenbrideguide.com to help couples use their weddings to promote social and environmental change while supporting the local green economy.

When you pictured yourself planning your wedding, my guess is it was just that – you decision-making merrily along, envisioning bunting and tulle with maybe the help of a wedding planner and probably the help of your fiancé and definitely your mom in the picture somewhere.

Because planning a wedding typically falls on the bride’s shoulders. And I think most of us are okay with that, right ladies? However, there are times and situations which call for something that looks just a little bit different – a willing break with tradition. And honestly, today, I want to know what you think: is it possible to group plan a wedding?

For example, can the bride take on the task of the dessert table while the father-in-law tracks down the tent and the groom looks at caterers, while the bride’s mother arranges the centerpieces and her sister-in-law calls all the DJs in the area? Can you truly assign a different task to everyone who is willing to make phone calls and help put together vendor contracts…or do I sound like what I’m actually describing is a dragon with at least 12 heads?

I’m torn myself, you see. Part of me thinks that this is the best idea ever. The bride can explain her vision, make sure that the family (or friends) all understand what she’s looking for, and then we all put our hands in the middle, yell “One, two, three, break!” and the wedding is planned in mere days. Okay, maybe a week or two. It’s collaboration at its finest. You, as the bride, can let all the people who truly want to help and support you do exactly that, and the pressure of making all the specific, tiny decisions is lifted from your back.

But what if your mom, who you know prefers the floor-length bridesmaid dress with the sweetheart neckline to the knee-length bridesmaid dress you wanted, puts in the wrong order when she’s helping the bridesmaids? Or your fiancé forgets that your grandmother hates tomatoes and allows the caterer talk him into putting pico de gallo on everything? Or…

Anyway, what do you think? Would you rather plan the wedding by yourself, with the help of one or two of your best? Or does this group effort sound like a fantastic idea – you get to essentially direct traffic while your wedding planning minions gather information and pull the pieces together? Are there enough Excel spreadsheets in the world to make this work or is it a real honest-to-goodness disaster-waiting-to-happen?

Photo Credit: Simply Bloom Photography

We are so excited to be partnering with AllRecipes with a new recipe each week! Check back each Friday afternoon to discover something delicious that you can make over the weekend.

Caramel Drizzle Freezer Pie

Ingredients:

• 
  2 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crusts
• 
  6 tablespoons butter
• 
  1 (7 ounce) package shredded coconut
• 
  1 cup chopped pecans
  • 
    1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 
    1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 
    1 (16 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
  • 
    1 (12 ounce) jar caramel ice cream topping

Directions:

1. Place butter in a medium skillet and melt over medium heat. Add coconut and pecans, stirring to coat. Saute until coconut and pecans are lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whip together condensed milk and cream cheese until fluffy. Fold in whipped topping. Spoon 1/4 of cream cheese mixture into each graham cracker crust. Drizzle each with 1/4 of caramel topping. Repeat layers with remaining cream cheese mixture and caramel. Top each pie with coconut and pecan mixture. Freeze overnight.

To find more amazing recipes, check out AllRecipes. Have a great weekend!

I know that the new Gatsby came out last weekend, but I wasn’t able to go and see it. So, I am very much looking forward to catching it on Sunday. Here is a stunning Gatsby-inspired shoot at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. It’s just lovely! All of these details would be great at a 1920s wedding, but you could also just use one or two ideas to incorporate a little glam into your event. Thank you to Rebecca Marie Photography for sharing!

Vendors:

The Boardmoor (venue): http://www.broadmoor.com/

Sapphire Celebrations: http://www.sapphirecelebrations.com/

Mark’s Diamonds: http://www.marksdiamonds.com/

A Design Recourse: http://www.adesignresourceco.com/

DDG Limousines: http://www.ddgclassics.com/

Azucar Bakery: http://www.azucarbakery.com/

Marks-Lloyds: http://www.mlfurs.com/

Little White Dress: http://www.lwdbridal.com/

Becca and Andrew collected a bunch of vintage items from flea markets and estate sales to create a unique engagement session with 1985Luke Photography. From casual camping to a glam road trip, this session is full of retro fun!  Becca found her awesome dresses at Moon Zooom in San Jose, which proves that scouring through vintage stores can pay off!

Looking for those final details before the big day? Here is a selection of table numbers from Etsy that is sure to delight you.

Vendors (top to bottom):

30OneThings

AndrewsReclaimed

DivaGoneDomesticToo

EventDesignShop

LetterBeOnEtsy

NancyNikkoDesign

StartingWithTableNumbers

Piece of Pie Favors

These charming favors are perfect for a small wedding or a bridal shower. Total cost is a little under $1 not including the pie.

Supplies:

pie kits from Petit Moulin Etsy Shop (includes boxes, parchment, twine and forks!)

parchement paper

double stick tape

yummy pie (we used strawberry rhubarb)

white pen to add names (optional)

Steps:

1. Write the name of each guest on the box while it’s still flat.

2.Crease the cardboard boxes and secure with double sided tape.

3. Cut a piece of parchment to fit the box and place it inside.

4. Cut a piece of pie to fit inside the box.

5. Cut a smaller piece of parchment to fit over the top and to overlap the other parchment on the sides.

6. Tie up with twine and tie a fork on top.

7. Display on a pretty farm table or rustic tablecloth!

Tips/Mistakes:

It’s easy to let the filling smudge the sides, so be extra careful when placing the pie in the box!

Buy it:

Any of the caterers in the mywedding.com directory can help you!

We were all so excited to see Minted launch their first letterpress invitation collection! Now, we don’t have to sacrifice the style of Minted’s designs in order to have the vintage feel of a letterpress invite (confession: the one above is my very favorite)! These new invitations are gorgeous, the lettering crisp and deep. And you can have them personalized in with different font and paper options giving you an utterly unique way to share your impending nuptials with your guests.

Minted’s customer service, The Minted Perfection Team, lives up to their name.  They make sure your invitation order is exactly what you want. And perfection just got better with their new online sharing tool. Now you can work live with a one-on-one with your designer, showing them any changes you want to make along the way.

The best part of all? Minted is giving away three gift cards for their wedding collection. One reader will win $250, and two others will receive a $100 card. See all of Minted’s beautiful designs and enter to win here.

This cute couple met while swimming for Delta State University, and wanted to show off their love of water in their engagement session with Aislinn Kate Photography. After walking around Pensacola, they hit the beach and eventually couldn’t resist jumping in the Gulf!

Having a backyard wedding? If you are keeping it casual, you probably want to avoid the froufrou foods with a menu that makes sense for your locale. Here are some fun menu suggestions to make your simple affair memorable and tasty.

Southern Dinner

From cornbread to ribs, soul food is a great way to serve a BBQ style dinner without having to stick to hot dogs and hamburgers. Plus, all the side dishes like macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and fried okra are easily served buffet style.

Mediterranean Feast

Serve antipasto platters of meats, cheeses, and olives. Big hunks of bread served alongside hummus and dips, Italian pasta salads, and roasted peppers complete the meal. Because all of these foods are served cold, this is a refreshing option for a hot summer day.

State Fair

All those fried foods and decadent (and very carb-loaded) desserts? Yeah, we know that the real reason one goes to the fair is less about the rides and more about the midway treats.  Give your guests a carnival experience with corndogs, cotton candy, caramel apples, and loads of popcorn.

English Countryside

Want something more refined? Use high tea as a guide and serve tea sandwiches, scones, and tiny quiches. This idea is especially cute when your seating resembles an upscale picnic.

Salmon Bake

Are you and your honey all about camping and fishing? Why not welcome your friends and family with cold beers, yummy salmon, grilled asparagus, and soft rolls? This rustic meal would easily complement an equally laidback wedding.

Photo Credit: June Lion

Let’s kick off this week right with a classic wedding from Derrick Tribbey Photography! Linh and Jason’s wedding was a traditional affair held in Linh’s hometown of Houston, TX.

What was your vision for the day?

Red symbolizes love; therefore, I decided to go with a red theme.  Red is just a classic color that I don’t ever think it is ever going to go out of style, even 50 years from now.

Did your wedding location hold a specific significance to you?
Our wedding was held in Houston where I grew up most of my life.  Most of my friends and family live in Houston so it’s natural that I chose it to be my location for my special day.

What was the most meaningful part of your day?

It would be the part where my husband and I said our vows.  From that point on, Jason and I are linked together in life.

Was it difficult planning your wedding long distance?

Jason and I were both living in CT at the time but we were planning our wedding in Texas.  We were very lucky to have my mom and my sister to help us through the whole process.  My mom was actually the person who ran from place to place looking for the right flowers, cakes, and etc.

Any advice you’d give new brides who are just getting started?
Plan in advance.  Lots of venues are booked over a year in ahead.  Also, they should get a wedding planner or get a lot of help from friends and family.  On the day of the wedding, you and your groom will be so busy that you will need assistance to get everything in order and to run smoothly.

Vendors:

Photographer: Derrick Tribbey

Ceremony venue: Hotel Zaza

Reception venue and catering: Kim Son Restaurant

Dress and shoes: David’s Bridal

Accessories: Hair piece and earrings were from Misora Bridal

Men’s  Attire: Men’s Wearhouse

Flowers: Bouquet Florist

In my humble, humble opinion, one of the most important parts of a wedding (for the guests) is the food (sorry, bride and groom, but odds are that you will be giving hugs and accepting congratulations before you can say “chicken, not fish.”).

The food, also in my opinion, can be one of the harder pieces to put together. So many caterers, so little time. Plus, food tends to be one of the most expensive parts of a reception: together, catering and your venue should traditionally make up just about 50 percent of your budget! Here’s how to start tracking down the reception meal for you.

The Mass Email

Reach out to a lot of caterers. Find vendors in your area and go to work. Whether you mass email or call them, let them know your wedding date, a rough estimate of your guest count, what type of meal you’re looking for (Dinner? Brunch? Cupcakes?) and, if you have them, food allergies. Many caterers have sample menus up on their websites, but oftentimes they’re willing or able to offer you other options as well. Oh and keep track of them. Who gets back to you? Who is most responsive and helpful? Does their sample menu make you a little bit hungry? Good.

Pulling Weeds

Now that you have contact information, sample menus and pricing, you can start to narrow down your options. Do these vendors fit your budget? Do they have exciting menus? Do they make macaroni and cheese exactly the way you like it? And do they seem like the kind of vendors who are going to make planning your wedding easier?

Taste the Rainbow

Generally, before you sign a contract with a caterer, you’ll want to do (and they’ll offer to set up) a tasting. This is a great opportunity to not only meet your potential caterer and learn a little bit more about them, but to try the food you’ll be serving to yourself, your family and all of your other favorite people!

Photo Credit: One Love Photography

I love neighborhood engagement shoots because not only does it capture the couple, but all of the places that are significant in their lives at that moment. Marie and Alex took Annamarie Akins along for a little tour of their Georgetown neighborhood, stopping to ride bikes and grab a bite at their favorite cafe.

Lately, it seems that many real weddings feature pie buffets and frosted layer cakes. And I love the easy simplicity of that. But, there is just something about a stunner of a wedding cake. These lovelies by Charm City Cakes West are more than dessert; they are works of art.

From the groom’s family tartan to the couple’s New Orleans romance, this wedding had to incorporate a lot of things! So, Jessie and Dad got create. Tables weren’t numbered, but rather named for special landmarks in their relationship (such as the restaurant Dan almost proposed at). Hometown pride for Leesburg was shown throughout the wedding, including local coffee handed out as favors. Nods to New Orleans came in the form of jazz music and hurricane cocktails(with their own personalized flags—very cute). Thank you to Ever After Visuals for sharing!

Vendors:

Photographer:  Ever After Visuals

Venue: Raspberry Plain

Event Planner: True Wedding Events

Floral Designer: Affordable Arrangements

Cake Designer: Taylor Made Cakes

Dress Store: Hannelore’s of Olde Town

Makeup Artist: KLH Makeup Artistry

Hair Stylist:Patty Ann’s Salon & Wedding Studio

Transportation: Leesburg Trolley, Prime Transportation Services

Band: The Davis Event Group

Musicians: Laissez Foure

Caterer: Occasions Caterers

It doesn’t take too more searching to find some ugly cake toppers out there. For serious, what are these people thinking? Some of them are bigger than the cake itself! So I thought you could all use some cute cake toppers to look at. From rustic to glittery glam, these will bring that extra bit of style to your wedding dessert!

Credits:

Little foxes

Scroll flowers

Seashells

Gold hearts

Bunting couple

You know Atlantis, that insanely amazing resort in the Caribbean? Yes, that one.  Guess what? You can win a trip there. I know. Crazy good.

If you win, you could be down there in the sun, chugging umbrella drinks and perfecting your tan instead of being at work, where you are most likely reading this now (don’t worry, I won’t tell).

Atlantis is truly incredible and this 5 night vacation package will have your friends completely envious. Click here to enter.

Photographer (and proud maid-of-honor) Dana Fernandez recently hosted a bridal shower for her friend Natalie. And the event is full of inspiration for those of you looking to host your own event. Affordable and DIY’ed decorations included spray painted wine bottles as vases, potted succulents as favors, and a boa and veil-covered chair for the guest of honor!

Rentals provided by Bourbon & Bloom.

A few weeks ago, we spent some time discussing one very important aspect of a wedding reception: the food. We talked about brunch receptions, dinner receptions and cocktail hours, the pros and cons of each and, of course, how they can fit into your budget. But what we didn’t talk about was something of equal importance: beverages.

The Open Bar

Traditionally, this means that the guests are welcome to select the beverage of their choice at no personal cost – in other words, the wedding bill will ultimately include the bar tab. But you can break down the open bar scenario even further, choosing from a full bar, a specific selection of beverages, an even smaller selection of perhaps simply wine and beer, or maybe even a choice between a couple of signature cocktails. If you’re looking to provide your guests with a full party experience and stay on budget, one of the secondary options – such as their choice between one or two types of beer and a red or white wine – is sure to keep you on track!

The Champagne Toast

No, this doesn’t really have that much to do with the bar itself. But don’t forget to decide whether or not you want to have a champagne toast. If you do, bring on the bubbly! And if not, it’s just as simple for guests to hold up their current beverage in celebration.

Photo credit: One Love Photo

The second I saw this wedding, I couldn’t wait to post it. Filled with retro details and a fun attitude, Leslie and Ross’ day is exactly what a backyard wedding ought to be: laid back, refined, and non-stop good times. Thank you to June Lion Photography for sharing this very inspirational (and seriously stylish) day with us!

What was your vision for the day?

The feeling both of us wanted to create for the wedding was one of comfort and elegance. We wanted our guests to feel relaxed and have fun. My vision was a vintage backyard picnic celebration. We collected and thrifted vases and embroidered table linens for months before the wedding, adding unique details to the day. Our fathers built the arbor over the creek for the ceremony. There were some games for people to play, paper boats they could write wishes on and send down the creek, a campfire later in the evening, and good music throughout. It was important to us to incorporate our love for music into the day, and it was so meaningful to have our friends and family share their talent: two of the groomsmen performed our processional song, my brother played the father-daughter dance, and both of our uncles played during the reception.

Did your wedding location hold a specific significance to you?

We held our wedding celebration in Silverton, Oregon where we both grew up and met. We were married outside at Ross’s parents’ house where Silver Creek runs through the backyard. It was a setting that was both beautiful in nature and symbolic of the roots of our relationship.

Did anything funny or out of the ordinary happen?

We found out a couple days before the wedding that Ross’s mother had arranged for 17 doves to fly after the ceremony, and indeed they did! It was quite amazing. Another surprise of the day was that my bridesmaids converted our tent trailer into a romantic Moroccan-themed honeymoon suite. It was breathtaking.

How did you know your partner was “the one”?

We have been friends since high school, but didn’t start dating until mid-college. In the 5 years we dated before he proposed, we became best friends and I began to realize he’s the guy I saw myself growing older. We have a relationship built on trust, honesty, laughter, and love… need I say more!?

Any advice you’d give new brides who are just getting started?

Don’t over stress, make lists, and accept the help from your family and friends. The biggest advice I have is that on your wedding day, the time will move so swiftly and taking moments to embrace that you are marrying the man of your dreams is important! Also, do not let yourself become worried or stressed over ANYTHING on the day of the wedding; it’s going to be a beautiful union of two people, no matter what.

Vendors:

Photographer: June Lion

Dress: Xtabay Vintage Bridal Salon

Shoes: BC shoes

Accessories: Gilt

Groom’s Attire: Reveille

Catering: The Blossoming Lotus (pies/ice cream/cookies were all homemade)

Flowers: Three Stems