As I was browsing I knew I had to find something special for my smallest and newest niece. At 6 weeks old, she’s a bit too tiny for a tutu, so I settled on this sweet hooded towel that I was able to personalize with some mickey/minnie mouse ribbon and her name embroidered in the Walt Disney font. As Brooke’s mom is a big Disney fan, I’m pretty sure this one will be well-received.

And finally, I’m absolutely IN LOVE with these eco-friendly reusable sandwich and snack bags!!! I ordered a set for some friends who are like-minded and am excited to fill them with goodies to start them off.

Of course, as I was browsing Etsy, I couldn’t help but take a peek at all the fabulous things that could be used for a winter wedding!! I found so many beautiful decorations, favors, jewelry, etc. Winter weddings are truly beautiful! I got married in June. I chose that time of year so we could have an outdoor wedding and so I could have tulips everywhere (my favorite flower!); but I have to say, the possibilities for a winter wedding rival those of a spring or summer wedding! I just love their cozyness!

This boutonniere is fabulous!! I adore the use of the pinecone. It exudes a bit of manliness, doesn’t it? And the hair piece is flirty and classic! I’ve become a big fan of fun things, such as feathers and flowers, in the hair, so I think this is perfect!

Decorations at your wedding are oh-so-important as they not only help impart the mood of your event, but they speak of who YOU are as a person. Fancy, classic, elegant, whimsical, FUN, rustic, urban, country, etc. You get the idea! In my opinion, home-made decorations are ALWAYS the best because they will be more YOU than anything else! And you’d be surprised at how easy it can be to do. However, it can also be very time-consuming. So, when you need a little help, what better place to turn than etsy (if not just for ideas!). I really like these snowflake place cards. And these ornamental balls would add a very elegant touch! They remind me of mistletoe (perhaps this is why their creator calls them “kissing balls”), which is just perfect for a wedding!! Perhaps my favorite, and most simple, of the decorations I looked at are these perfectly romantic and simple mason jar lanterns. And these would be such an easy DIY project!!!

Finally, favors are another element to your wedding that you can use to carry out your theme. I thought these pillow boxes topped with Poinsettias would be a nice complement to a Christmas wedding theme. The splash of bold color will make them stand out nicely on white or cream colored table clothes.

So now you see what I’ve been doing with my time! Okay, I haven’t spent ALL of my time surfing etsy, but I sure could!!

Since rings are often one of the first things purchased, I thought I’d begin my “Green Weddings” series with them. I have recently learned a lot about various options for going green with your ring, and I thought I’d pass the information along. But first, this is in no way meant to make anyone feel guilty about the ring they already have, or guilty about the one you want to buy! My own rings are not eco-friendly (as far as I know), so I’m in no place to point fingers. I just want to help inform those who really are trying to go all out green, and perhaps give a push to those who are considering it as an option.

Because your rings are going to be such precious symbols of your commitment to one another, you will likely put a good deal of thought into your choices. And surprisingly, there are a number of ways to be green, or eco-friendly, with your ring purchase! By going green you can help cut back on damage done to the earth through gold and diamond mining, and you can add your voice to that of others in protest of civil wars in Africa (and thus, loss of life) due to exploitation of the diamond trade. (If you want to know more about these things, do a quick Google search on gold mining and “blood” or “conflict” diamonds.)

Following are several suggestions for getting your rings from ethical and environmentally responsible sources. I really love some of this stuff and wish I had known about it back when Rich and I were purchasing our rings. Hindsight is always 20/20, eh?

My favorite suggestion by far is to look for an antique ring! There are a lot of gorgeous, previously loved rings on the market! I’m not a huge fan of eBay, mainly because good deals seem few and far between, but you could start your search there. You could also check out local estate sales; you can really hit the jackpot at one of those! Of course, searching estate sales for the perfect ring can be extremely time-consuming. So why not let someone do it for you! There are a number of people who make a business out of finding antique jewelry, polishing it up, and selling it. Check out Doyle & Doyle, one place that I have fallen in love with! They have some really beautiful, very unique rings, most of which are antique or estate pieces. Most of the diamonds in their rings are old cut stones. This means they were mined, cut, and originally sold in the 1940s or earlier, so you can be assured that your purchase is not going to fund any current conflict.

If you don’t like the idea of a previously owned ring, then why not look for a jeweler who uses recycled metals and either conflict-free diamonds or synthetic diamonds? Many jewelers take old metals and refashion them into beautiful new settings. You’d NEVER know the difference!! And many of these same jewelers offer diamonds guaranteed to be mined, cut, and polished with socially and environmentally responsible practices. Two such jewelers are Brilliant Earth and Leber Jeweler.

If you want to avoid mined diamonds of all kinds, consider lab created synthetic diamonds. These diamonds are chemically, optically and physically the same as diamonds made by nature; these created stones are, in fact, real diamonds! And the fact that testing laboratories must use sophisticated equipment to determine if a diamond is nature-made or lab-grown suggests that these stones are indistinguishable to the average person. Two places you can look for synthetically created stones are greenKarat and Apollo Diamond.

Finally, an idea that I am very intrigued by is a wooden wedding ring. Simply Wood Rings creates their rings out of salvaged lumber. But don’t let the word “lumber” fool you. This wood, as they note on their website, might come from anywhere….such as “the elegant neck of a violin….or the wood from the baseball bat of a mother’s young son.” To that I say SWEET!!! But wait! There’s even more. You aren’t limited to rings made of only one type of wood, though they are available in abundance. You also have the option of combining wood with recycled silver or bronze, jade, turquoise, stone, SAND from the SAHARAH DESERT(!!!) or another type of wood! They can even mount a diamond on a wooden band!! The options are pretty much limitless. I love it!

As you can see, there are MANY options out there for the eco-conscience bride and groom. And you don’t have to sacrifice beauty, uniqueness, or quality to incorporate your rings into your green wedding. The more I research planning green weddings, the more I wish I had done this for my own wedding! However, I do believe we’ve gotten a second chance with at least one ring! Rich lost his wedding band only five months after we were married, and it never has been replaced. I’m thinking he might be really happy with a wooden one! And that would make me pretty happy too.

I have been honored to be a part of SMP’s Little Black Book of the best wedding vendors since its inception. And it truly is an honor as they pick only three vendors in each vendor category for each city. In my case, I am one of only three photographers listed for Dallas (though I also shoot in Ft. Worth, Austin, San Antonio…..and everywhere else!). But they cover so much more than photographers! Looking for a great caterer? How about a florist? Or an event planner? Videographer? Maybe even a ceremony officiant??? Yup, Style Me Pretty has you covered!! They have done their research and recommend only the best of the best.

Perhaps you have all your vendors in place, but need some inspiration for the look of your wedding? Check out their thoughtful and beautiful inspiration boards and color palettes! Or perhaps you’re a DIY’er (that would be “do-it-yourself’er”). They share numerous DIY projects for things such as favors, bridesmaid’s gifts, decorations, activities for the kiddos…and more! If you’re at all crafty, you’ll be in heaven!

All I have left to say is, I sure do wish SMP was around when I was planning my own wedding. But then, I would have spent SO much time on their blog I never would have gotten anything done!

Give me a shout in the comments if you found my blog (or website) through Style Me Pretty! Pretty please? It would be entertaining for me.

And for those of you who have never been to the Style Me Pretty site….scoot!!!

So, consider this the first installment in a series on “greening” up your life, and more specifically, Green Weddings!! I thought I would begin by sharing how Rich and I try to live a bit greener in our personal lives. In preparation, I gave myself an assignment! I made a list of all the ways Rich and I live earth-friendly, and then I phogographed some of the more tangible things.

The biggest thing we do is buy primarily organic foods. By doing so, not only are we supporting those who don’t spread harmful chemicals around or inject animals with needless drugs, but we are supporting our own health too! I do all of my own grocery shopping, but if I didn’t, I would use Greenling, a company that delivers local, organic foods right to your door! We are also careful about the cleaning agents we use. Rather than using harsh chemicals, we go the natural route. Seventh Generation is a brand of products that we really like, and they have everything!! Another brand we use is Method. Though both of these earth-conscience companies make fabulous products, what I REALLY want to do is start making my own cleaners. I actually think it would be fun! So if anyone has some good “recipes” for detergents or other cleaners, send then my way!!

Something that I really LOVE doing is using reusable bags when I shop. There are so many benefits to using these bags! Many of them are made from recycled products (such as water bottles), I don’t have mounds of plastic bags taking over my home, they are stronger and hold about twice what a plastic grocery store bag will hold, and I get to carry fun, cute bags when I shop! My favorites are from Whole Foods Market and Central Market. Every time they come out with a new design, I want it! But I don’t limit myself to using these only when I’m grocery shopping. I use them for everything!

Rich and I also love clothes and shoes made from earth-friendly and/or recycled products. Clothing (and even sheets and towels) made from bamboo is phenomenal!! It is extremely soft and comfortable, and even better, it is made from a renewable resource!! Organic cotton is another material we love. You can find some great clothing at Whole Foods Market (they have a clothing aisle!), Whole Earth Provision (Texas stores only) or online at Gaiam and The Green Loop. Great shoes made from recycled materials can be had from Rafters and Terra Plana. Something else to consider is the factories that produce your clothing (or anything else you buy). The type of material used is only a part of the equation. What kind of energy do companies use to make the things you purchase? There are some businesses that rely on wind or solar energy, an abundant resource most don’t take advantage of. Also, do they do things to preserve the environment around them, or do they continuously harm it? These are not factors I usually consider when I make a purchase, but I’m going to make a more conscience effort to pay attention to these things.

Finally, Rich and I have shared a single car for two years. Has it been hard and inconvenient? Heck yeah! But, we realized that we didn’t really NEED two cars, and that the benefits might outweigh the inconveniences. So, we sold my little Toyota Corolla and kept the Honda Accord. The benefits, you might ask? Well, we save on gas, maintenance, and car insurance! We are also contributing less pollutants to the air. Oh, and our Honda has some sort of gadget (no idea what it is exactly) that allows us to use Ethanol (E85), a corn-based alternative to gasoline, which is a renewable resource, biodegradable, low in toxicity, and causes little environmental pollution as it burns. But the jury is out on whether we get the same gas-mileage using E85.

While we would never win the Mr. and Mrs. Green Award, we do try to do our part. Things that we still need to do include recycling on a consistent basis, buying and using a rain barrel and composting bin, and harvesting wind and solar energy for our own use at home. Some of these things will simply take time (and money!), but they have a firm place on the must-do list.

Feel free to share any new ways/ideas you implement green living in your own life. I’m always up for suggestions! And keep your eyes open as I begin discussing how to plan and execute a Green Wedding. Right now my plan is to discuss the dress, the rings, the invitations, the favors, the cake/food, and the decorations. Is there anything else you’d like to hear about? If so, let me know and I’ll research it!

A.  First Look

I always ask each couple if they are decidedly against seeing each other before the ceremony or open to forgoing tradition for the sweet moments of a First Look. About half of my brides and grooms want to stick with tradition, and that is definitely okay. But, for those who are willing to be a little UNtraditional, I believe a First Look is the best way to go for a few reasons.

1.    This day is a celebration of your love and lifetime commitment to each other. But weddings don’t actually allow much time for you to talk to each other (seriously!), let alone have a private moment together. It all goes so fast, and before you know it you hear the words “man and wife….”, you’re swept away in the festivities, and find yourself craning your head for a glance at your new spouse for the rest of the day. On your wedding day you should have a few moments to simply enjoy each other and soak it in. If you opt for a First Look, you won’t be limited to stealing glances at your soon-to-be Mr. or Mrs. standing next to you during the ceremony, trying to contain all of the thoughts flying in and out of your head. Rather, you’ll see each other for the first time alone, with the freedom to react to each other, talk, cuddle etc. without hindrance. And often, the images I capture during this time will be among your favorites! These are sweet moments that simply don’t have opportunity to happen when your first glimpse of each other is from down the aisle. After you have a few moments drinking each other in, we’ll take some time to get a few relaxed, intimate portraits of the two of you while you are still fresh, the light is still beautiful, and you don’t have the pressure of knowing guests are waiting on you at the reception.

2.    A First Look can actually be a stress-reliever! There is always going to be something you’re worried about or obsessing over on your wedding day. But, once you see the reason you’re there standing in front of you, and you can hug, kiss, talk…. all of that stress just melts away. You begin to simply enjoy yourself, your soon-to-be-spouse, your day. That is what it’s all about.

3.    You can get ALL of your portraits done before the ceremony, and save some time doing it, if you choose to have a First Look. If you see each other before the ceremony, not only can we get portraits of the two of you done, but we can also get portraits of the whole wedding party AND your family done too! When attempting to get these portraits done after the ceremony, you often find yourself swarmed by family and friends who want to congratulate you, and it can be difficult to disentangle yourself. And without fail, an important member of the wedding party, or a family member you want in the pictures, disappears in the direction of the bar or hors d’oeuvres and a search party has to be dispatched. And then sometimes a back-up search party has to be dispatched for the original search party. You get the point. It can be chaotic. Getting all of your portraits done before the ceremony will free you up to head directly to the reception or cocktail hour to mingle with your guests!

*I request 30 minutes at minimum alone with the bride and groom for a first look, but I love having even more time if allowed! After all, you don’t want to rush what will likely be the most memorable moments of your wedding day!! After your “alone time” (with me!) we can move into getting some group portraits with family and/or bridal party done too!

**Even if you decide against a First Look, I do encourage you to consider doing group portraits that don’t require you to see your intended before the ceremony. These can include bride with bridesmaids, groom with groomsmen, and any family portraits you may want with your families that don’t include your spouse.

B.  Getting Ready

Something else to consider as you map out your timeline is how much of your “getting ready” time you would like me to photograph. It is always a good idea to have me arrive while your hair and make-up are being done, and before you are dressed. This allows me time to get some shots of your last-minute beauty preparations, as well as shots of your dress, shoes, and jewelry before you put them on and while you’re putting them on. I recommend a minimum of 45 minutes for this. Also, keep in mind the fact that you need to leave plenty of time for yourself to get ready, regardless of when I arrive. This is your wedding day!! You will take longer than usual to get ready. Guaranteed. So, build in some extra time!

C.  Must Have Family Portraits

Finally, you need to plan your “Must Have” family portraits. I request a detailed list of must-haves from each couple. I prefer to start with the largest groups and work my way down so that as I finish with various people, they are free to move on. For example, a list might look something like this:

1. Bride and Groom with all of bride’s family – aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, siblings, neices and nephews. (aunts, uncles and cousins are free to leave after)

2. B&G with bride’s grandpa A and granny A (free to leave after)

3. B&G with bride’s grandpa B and granny B (free to leave after)

4. B&G with bride’s parent’s and siblings (and any spouse/offspring of siblings) (free to leave after)

5. B&G with all of groom’s family – aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, siblings, neices and nephews. (aunts, uncles and cousins are free to leave after)

6. B&G with groom’s grandpa A and granny A (free to leave after)

7. B&G with groom’s grandpa B and granny B (free to leave after)

8. B&G with groom’s parent’s and siblings (and any spouse/offspring of siblings) (free to leave after)

Of course, you are free to include anyone you like in your portraits! But as you plan your must-haves, keep in mind that the longer your list, the longer it will take to get through said list. Plan for about 3 minutes per group portrait. Some will take less time, but larger groups may take more time. Also, it is a good idea to hand out copies of a “portrait schedule” to everyone you want included in portraits. That way they know where to be and at what time to be there. I recommend handing this out at the rehearsal dinner.

Once you have made decisions concerning a First Look, time needed to get ready, and family portrait “must haves,” organizing them around your ceremony and reception start times will help you plan an adequate wedding day timeline.