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.