What things need to go on my wedding website?

A wedding website is a wonderful "green" way to share information about your wedding. My husband and I use Wedding Window and were very happy with the results.




The following is taken from our new "Quick Guides" page.

Wedding Website - 11 Must Haves
1. Date, Time and Location. Make sure to include all the basic information about the wedding, including the date, time, and exact location (e.g. The Garrison Resort, the Wingate Room). Include information for all pre and post wedding events as well.

2. Transportation Options. Your website should have information about the closest airports, train stations and car rental companies. If you have set up a carpool website (see transportation section of chapter 7 in The Green Bride Guide) or contact person, include this information as well.

3. Driving Directions. Always include comprehensive driving directions along with a link to an interactive map service like Mapquest. Make sure to test the directions before you post them.

4. Contact Information. Make sure your website has contact information for the two of you (a.k.a. where to send gifts), and for any hotels, restaurants or other locations that you will be using for the wedding.

5. Lodging Options. It is polite to do the legwork for your guests and include a number of different lodging options in the area. Try to find a good range, from cheapy cheap to high-end. Many hotels will hold blocks of rooms for your party at a discount if you make arrangements ahead of time. Include a note (e.g. “be sure to mention you are with the Harrison-Muchnick party”) along with a contact person for each hotel and make sure to release any unbooked rooms before you are charged. The cut off date will be different for each place, but is usually several weeks before your wedding.

6. Schedule of Events. Especially if your wedding is a multi-day affair, be sure to include a comprehensive schedule of events with their location and start times. To see an example Click Here.

7. Dress Code. It is nice to include a quick note about appropriate attire so your guests can plan accordingly.

8. Packing List. Along the same lines as the dress code, consider including a packing list – especially if you are having a destination wedding or a multi-activity event.

9. Registry Information. Include a link to any registry sites you have set up, so guests know what to get you and don’t have to bother your mother or father.

10. Engagement Story. It is nice to add either your engagement story or the story of how you two met. This will give guests who do not know you or your fiancé well a chance to learn more about you and will give them something to talk about at the wedding.

11. Pictures. Pictures of the two of you, pictures of your families, pictures of the bridal party members with bios, pictures of the wedding site, really any and all pictures you want to include will make the website more interesting and fun!

On that note...

You mentioned that you can use the holidays to help you entertain and decorate - can you give some examples?

Sure! Hope this helps:

o New Years - Have your reception first and nuptials close to midnight. Make sure you have some way to see the ball drop.

o Easter – Have your wedding in a garden or tearoom, use locally grown lilies, give chocolate favors and have an Easter egg hunt.

o Fourth of July = This patriotic day is a fun time to have a period wedding in a historic building. Let the fireworks be your entertainment.

o Halloween – Have a costume party wedding. You can have a pumpkin carving contest during the afternoon and use the results as your centerpieces or as luminaries to light the walkway to the reception. Make your friends dance to Thriller, and let jars of Halloween candy do double duty as the favors.

o Thanksgiving = Thanksgiving is the perfect time to have a wedding if you want a small family affair because many families gather for the holiday anyway. Follow your nuptials with a blow out organic thanksgiving feast at a long banquet-style table. Have a table of seasonal pies instead of a cake.

o Chanukah = Use menorahs on every table to create festive lighting - give out bags of gelt and dreidels in lieu of favors.

o Christmas – Have your wedding in a fancy hotel in front of a huge Christmas tree. Use live fur trees at the tables decorated with candy canes. You can also hang ornaments with your guest’s names,which can act as place cards and take home favors. Don’t forget to have someone play Santa!

(Have more ideas you want to share? Please leave a comment!)

We want to take our dog on our honeymoon like you did - any advise?

According to an American Kennel Club survey, 18% of all dog owners (and 27% of dog owners under 30) report that they either have or would include their dog in their wedding ceremony. Many people, myself included, also take pets on their honeymoon with them. The hardest part is finding lodging. To find pet-friendly places to stay in the United States, search online or pick up one of the many pro-pet books out there, like 500 Places to Stay With Your Dog, put out by the Automobile Association (AA).


If you plan to fly with your pet or take an extended road trip, follow the five tips below, adapted from Travel Sense (www.travelsense.org) for a safe and healthy voyage:

● Get a check up. Before taking your pet on any significant journey, go to the vet for a full check up. Depending on where you are traveling, your pet may need additional shots or boosters to be safe. Some airlines and destinations require a clean bill of health dated no later than ten days prior to your trip, so try to schedule your vet visit as close to your departure date as possible. You may want to get a prescription for anti-anxiety pills or tranquilizers to make the trip less traumatic for your animal, so be sure to tell your vet about your travel plans.

● Paperwork. In addition to a clean bill of health, some states require pet entry permits. If you are traveling abroad, there may be automatic quarantine requirements, so be sure to contact the appropriate embassy or consulate for more information.

● Flying high. If you will be flying, try to book an uncrowded non-stop flight to your destination. Make sure your pet is wearing ID tags and bring color photos, in the off chance your pet gets lost along the way. Place food, a bottle of water, collapsible bowls and instructions in your pet’s carrying case incase there is a delay or unforeseen separation. Have the words “Live Animal” clearly printed on the outside of your pet’s kennel and make sure to thoroughly exercise, feed and water your pet as close to your boarding time as possible. Never bring a sick, pregnant or very young pet on a plane.

● In Cabin. If your pet is small, usually less than 15 pounds, you may be able to take it on the plane with you in an approved case tucked under the seat in front of you. This is less traumatic for your pet and assures that it will not get lost and will not be subjected to extreme temperatures. You may have to pay an extra fee and make advanced arrangements, so be sure to tell your travel agent or to book online with an airline that allows pets to travel onboard.

● Car Travel. Sadly, many pets die every year from heatstroke after being left in unventilated cars. In hot weather, it does not take long for the inside of a car to heat up to dangerous levels. Always park in the shade, keep the windows cracked open and provide your pet with plenty of water when you are out of the vehicle. Cold weather can also be dangerous and it is unwise to leave a pet alone in a cold car for long.

We are interested in taking a Volunteer Honeymoon but don't know where to start - help!

What a great thing to do! I hope this excerpt from my book helps:

Volunteer Vacation
While definitely not for everyone, a great way to make a difference while getting to travel abroad is to take a volunteer vacation (as an added bonus, most trips are either heavily subsidized or are tax deductible). Companies like Cross Cultural Solutions do not require any previous experience and offer 1 to 12 week programs working in clinics, homes for the elderly, schools and day care centers around the globe. For slightly pricier but extremely exciting trips, look at the Earth Watch Institute expeditions page, where you can search by date and continent to find a wide range of trips, from collecting butterfly data in Vietnam to documenting folk song sand dance in Russia. Along similar lines, the fair trade site Global Exchange offers reasonably priced educational “Reality Tours” to politically complex countries like Cuba, Brazil and China and, for the brave of heart, volatile areas like Iran, Afghanistan and North Korea. Finally, Cheap Tickets offers a number of Volunteer Vacation deals which you can view by clicking here :Cheaptickets Volunteer Vacations.

I want to use eBay but am worried about it - do you have any tips?

Although it may feel overwhelming if you have never used it before, eBay is an incredible resource, especially for buying vintage or pre-worn items. (To see the pair of Vera Wang shoes I bought on eBay for my wedding click here) To ensure you have a good experience, always do the following:

Research. Before buying anything on eBay you should research the item’s retail price. Then consider the eBay listing closely. Make sure you read the item description and return policy carefully and double check the shipping costs, because they are often higher than you would expect. Look at the seller’s rating and only buy from sellers with positive feedback in the high nineties. Contact the seller if you have any questions or would like more information about an item (for example, check to make sure the item comes from a non-smoking home or it will almost certainly smell upon arrival). Watch out for items that say, “reserve not met yet.” Even if you win the item, if there is a reserve that has not been met you have not really “won” and the seller is not under any obligation to give the item to you.

Evaluate. Think carefully about how much you want an item and what you are really willing to pay for it. It is almost impossible to undo a bid without repercussions once it is placed, and if you underbid and the item goes to another person you may be very disappointed. If you really love something, consider the “buy it now” option if there is one, which may cost a little bit more, but ensures the sale (this option disappears from a listing as soon as someone bids). To further decrease your environmental impact, you can sort identical items by distance and choose the one that is closest to home, which can also decrease the cost of shipping.

Payment. Make sure you will be in town and able to get online within a day or two of the auction’s end, as sellers can re-list an item if they do not receive prompt payment from you. Set up a Paypal account because some sellers do not accept other forms of payment, and it allows you to pay with a visa or bank account instead of a check. Paypal also has a protection plan incase the item does not arrive in good condition.

If you are interested in buying or selling wedding wares I also recommend checking out the new site which is like an eBay or Craigslist just for weddings: Recycle Your Wedding <--- Click Here

Gifts for Teens?

It has become common (although not required) for couples to give the members of their wedding party thank you gifts. If you have any teen attendants, this means trying to figure out what "green" things teens these days are into. Having several teen nieces and nephews in my family, I decided to ask around. Here are a few of the sure fire favorites.

1. Recycled Messenger Bags. Cool at any age. Good for boys and girls - or ehem - young men and women. (Image is link)


2. A Recycled Wrapper Clutch. Probably only good for the young ladies. Colorful and fun - turning bubble gum wrappers into something mature. (Image is link)


3. A Recycled Can Wallet (sticking with the bag theme) - how can you not love it?


4. Anything with a bike chain - they are edgy. See Recycled Items and search for the item below.


5. Sports equipment - now you can find a Fair Trade Soccer Ball.


6. Things made from Elephant Poop.


7. A T-shirt with a message (made in USA).


Update: April 8th, 2008 - I have included these items along with many others on the new "interactive look book" Teen and Tween page.

Where can I find recycled paper invitations?

Did you know that for every ton of paper that is recycled, we save 17 tress, 380 gallons of oil, 4,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, 7,000 gallons of water, and 60 pounds of air pollution from being released into the environment? It's a lot right? They key is finding invitations that have been crafted from post-consumer waste (PCW) paper as opposed to regular recycled paper which is made from leftover paper from the processing plant (most of which would have been re-pulped anyway).

The good news is that the number of vendors offering recycled paper invitations is growing every day. If you want to do the assembly at home, Twisted Limb Paper has a number of styles (see example in top right photo). Naturally Ever After offers paper with 30% PCW, and Green Field Paper Company has some beautiful designs (see top left photo).

What are some "green" forms of transportation?

Every gallon of gasoline burned releases 19.4 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere so it is important to think about alternative forms of transportation on your big day. Here are a few ideas:

(1) The easiest way to decrease the transportation emissions from your event is to have your wedding in a centralized location so your guests do not have to travel as far to get there.

(2) You can use services like Trip Hub to help guests organize carpooling.

(3) You can rent a bus or van to bring everyone who lives in one area together (a Philadelphia bus, a New York bus etc.).

(4) Ask your guests to take public transportation and offer a shuttle from the nearest bus or train station.

(5) Rent a hybrid. If you or your guests have to rent cars see if you can get hybrids or alternative fuel vehicles. Enterprise now offers the Toyota Prius at some of its locations. If you live in California or Arizona try EvRental. If you are in Hawaii you can use Bio-Beetle.

Get a free upgrade on your next rental at Enterprise.com

(6) See if you can arrange for non-motored transportation, like pedi-cabs or horse drawn carriages - so romantic!

(7) Reduce monetary waste by using an online flight finder like Kayak.

No matter how you travel - consider offsetting the carbon emissions from your travel.

What is the best eco-friendly kitchen gadget?

While there is obviously no one answer to this question I will tell you what one of my unexpected favorites was - a seltzer maker from Soda-Club Home Soda Makers. It does not need to be plugged in, the bottles are reusable and recyclable, and the seltzer tastes great! I liked it so much I bought it for my mom for her birthday. I drink a lot of seltzer and was feeling guilty about all of the plastic and the fuel used to ship water. I did not know that things like this exist and I am totally addicted. While it is an unconventional gift it is a great option for fizz lovers.

What are a few "Green" Kitchen things worth registering for?

It really depends what you need. Most couples today already have dishes, glasses etc. so think about registering for a few special items. Perhaps you have always wanted a dishwasher or a convection oven? If so - use the Energy Star program to find energy efficient models (which, in addition to being better for the environment will save you money in the long run) and use a tool with a partial purchase option like Felicite.com to register for larger gifts. For gorgeous serving platters, recycled glasses and more try Viva Terra.
Gaiam is a good source for useful kitchen wares like composting bins, recycling systems and water purifiers. They also have wonderful sustainable wood products (like the bowl in the picture above). I found this coupon for their site this month: Free Shipping – no minimum order. Use coupon EASTER. Expires 33108 For glassware, try to buy recycled products whenever possible, like these Recycled Glass Tumblers from Green Feet. Bamboo products, like this Bamboo Cutting Board are another good choice, because bamboo is fast growing, sturdy and comparatively sustainable. It is also important to choose products that will last a long time (and preferably come with lifetime warranties), like Wusthof knives or a Kitchen Aid mixer. You can register for these items through Amazon.

What's the best online site to buy a woman's designer dress?

The good news is that there are are a number of ways to wear a couture gown and still be green.  If you are looking for a specific designer, you can buy a once worn gown from designers like Oleg Cassini, Amalia Carrara and Vera Wang at the Wedding Dress Market and Save the Dress.  If you live in New York, try The Bridal Garden (54 W. 21st st) which raises money for the non-profit Sheltering Arms Children's Services. If you want to wear a new gown, Brides magazine ran a Something Pink issue featuring designer gowns whose sales proceeds go to support breast cancer.