landlocked bride® | midwest + mountain west wedding inspiration

Bloomin’
Boulder, Colorado

If you know me in real life, or well, even on Twitter, you know I have a mild obsession with sustainability and eco-friendliness. I think it stems from the compost pile I helped my Dad build as a kid. But, I digress.

Upon moving to Colorado, I stumbled on Bloomin’.  They are a Boulder, Colorado-based stationery company that designs and prints wedding invitations on seed paper (aka, your guests can take your invitations and plant them – yes, plant them).  Their designs are fresh and modern AND you can pick the type of seedling paper they are printed on. I wish I had known about them before I planned my own wedding, but the fact that I found them at all just makes it all worthwhile.

What type of services do you offer to brides and grooms?
At Bloomin, we offer brides and grooms 16 striking, fully plantable seed paper invitation suites that can be customized to perfectly match their wedding’s theme. We are also open to working with custom artwork the couple has created and would like to print on seed paper. We go through a thorough proofing process and take the time to make sure the invitations are exactly what the couple had imagined.

What is your biggest source of inspiration when designing?
Our inspiration comes from the natural beauty in mother nature. We incorporate earthy designs and colors into all of our suites in order to really emphasize the eco-friendliness of our invitations and entire production process. We also have vintage undertones in many of our letterpress printed suites. The rich texture of our signature seed paper takes letterpress printing very well, and finished product has an old world appeal with an eco chic twist.

What type of couples do you like to work with (traditional, modern, etc.)?
We love working with any couples who are looking to add an eco-friendly message to their wedding. Whether it’s a modern couple looking say their vows with the least impact possible or a traditional couple who would like to give the gift of flowers to their guests, we are happy to help them plan their special day.

What do you think sets you apart from other vendors in the industry?
We really pride ourselves on the uniqueness of our handmade product and the fact that we have the highest germination rate in the industry. Once planted, the diverse mix of annual and perennial seeds in all of our suites will bloom into a vibrant wildflower garden, ensuring that your guests will be reminded of your special day year after year. We also believe our commitment to making gorgeous invitations in the most environmentally way possible sets us apart. Our paper is made entirely from post-industrial waste, embedded with wildflower seeds, printed with water soluble and soy-based inks, and produced in our solar-powered facilities in beautiful Boulder, Colorado.

What advice would you give to a bride and/or groom who is on the hunt for their perfect invitation suite?
Really try to incorporate your personal styles into your wedding invites. These are not simply a piece of paper telling people about your wedding, but are the first glimpse your guests are given about your wedding day. We also urge bride and grooms to consider the environment when hunting for their perfect invitations. Instead of choosing products that harm the environment, try something that shows your commitment to the planet as well as your commitment to each other.

If you weren’t already aware, I can be somewhat of a huge eco-friendly nerd.  Not sure where it started, but I do know it has rubbed off on my Mom, and am hoping to share a bit of it with the wedding industry.  Incorporating eco-friendly and green concepts into a wedding may seem hard.  And, to some, it may seem like a fad, but I think it’s easy to incorporate just a few small elements.  And, small they may be, but they can make a difference.

And, the first and one of the easiest? Reuse old vases, do not go out and buy new ones.  In fact, may venues actually have a surplus of vases from previous brides (so ask!).  Other ways to find vases? Visit garage sales, eBay and even Craigslist (I’ve mentioned this before).   Chances are you’ll save a few bucks, too!

Images courtesy of Earth Friendly Weddings

By finding vases from all over and collecting them, not only are you doing the Earth a favor, but you’ll give your event some depth and character in your design.

(And, on a completely unrelated note, Happy Birthday to my Mom!)

Most couples are opting out of the traditional wedding guestbook for obvious reasons (what do you really do with a book of everyone’s name and/or addresses other than send out thank you cards).

So, what is the new trend?  A guestbook photobook of your engagement photos.  Guests sign on a blank page of a book filled with images of you and your fiance.

BUT, when I saw this idea last week, I thought this was a fantastic idea!

Image courtesy of Jonas Peterson via Earth Friendly Weddings

It’s a “Wedding Tree.”  Have each of your guests place their thumbprint somewhere on the tree.  Then, the happy couple can have it framed and put it in their home.  The “Wedding Tree” is a great memento and a great guestbook alternative.  It would probably work best with a smaller wedding, but if you have a hefty guest list, you could do a few different trees and have a collection of artwork for your house.  It’s fun and different, and just plain awesome.

A big “thank you” to Martha Stewart for this one.  Not only is this a great way to recycle old magazines, but it is great a for holiday decor or for wedding decor.

Image courtesy of Amy Atlas

You can spray them in festive colors like the gold and silver above, or do colors that coordinate with your wedding.  And, because I’m a lover of almost all things Martha Stewart, I had to share with you the steps on how to make them!  You can also visit the Martha Stewart site for a video tutorial.

Tools and Materials

Old magazines of any size
Gold, silver, or clear spray paint
Glitter in desired colors
Bone folder (optional)

Magazine Trees How-To:

1. Open magazine and bend to break spine.

2. Fold individual page from top right corner to inside seam. Fold same page from bottom right edge to gutter.

3. Fold bottom triangle of each additional magazine page up, making the bottom of the tree flat. Then, fold top of all pages down to form tree shape.

4. Spray-paint folded tree desired color. Immediately sprinkle glitter over wet paint. Let dry.

Tip: Use a bone folder to smooth paper edges if desired.

Happy Holidays!

(Directions from the Martha Stewart website)

So you’re planning a backyard soiree, but you want to remain eco-conscious as well.  How can you make sure you reduce your waste while hosting an army of people over to celebrate your marriage?  Start with your dinnerware and utensils.

Ultra Green via Sara Snow

This great little kit comes with 12 sets of plates, cups, napkins and sets of utensils. The plates and paper products are made from sugarcane and biodegrade in 60-90 days. The utensils and cups are made from cornstarch and biodegrade in 150 days. Both of which is great news, since plastic cups and utensils generally don’t biodegrade, and traditional paper plates are not made from recycled products.

Next time you’re in the grocery store, take a look in the napkin/paper plate aisle. I bet you’ll find a new variety of eco-friendly “party-ware.” Try using it at your shower, engagement part, or even at your wedding if your opting for paper plates. They may cost a little bit more, but you are significantly reducing the damage to the Earth by using them.

Hope you were able to find some great gown options in last week’s post!

This week, I’m featuring The Cotton Bride by Chis Cole. The second I found these gowns during my gown search, I had to find a shop in town that carried them.  I was in love with the idea of wearing a simple, cotton gown.  If you have never heard of Chris Cole’s “The Cotton Bride” line, trust me when I say that you’ll be shocked that these gowns are made of cotton.

This first one was one of the first one’s that I had my eye on, but the shop in town did not have it in their samples. Sigh. I love the detail on the bodice and the pleats.

The Cotton Bride via Brides.com

Here’s a close up of the bodice for ya!

The Cotton Bride via Brides.com

I’m not a huge lace fan, but the fact that the skirt and bodice of this gown has a cotton lace overlay blows my mind.

The Cotton Bride via Brides.com

And, again, a close up for you.

The Cotton Bride via Brides.com

For more beautiful designs, be sure to check out The Cotton Bride website.  Plus, I did some research on the prices for these gowns, and they appear to be in the lower end (under $3,000).

And, as a side note.  I tried to do a little bit more research on whether Chris Cole uses treated cotton or organic cotton and was not able to find out much information.  But I must say that a treated cotton is much better than using a polyester or other processed materials.  Their site does claim to use natural materials, which is one step closer than using a non-natural material!

Of course, I love anything ec0-friendly that can be incorporated into a wedding.  It’s a fantastic way to decrease your carbon footprint.

Julianne Smith via Budget Savvy Bride

The Budget Savvy Bride recently featured eco-friendly garters by Julianne Smith.  Julianne creates a wide array of grosgrain ribbon garters to match your style and colors.  But she recently added four new garters to her collection, which happen to be green (as in eco-friendly).  The material is made from recycled plastic bottles!  And they look just as chic as the rest of her collection!

Julianne Smith via Budget Savvy Bride

Plus, she swears they are just as soft as her regular garters! Just think, the next time you toss that soda or water bottle, you could be contributing to a bride-to-be’s garter!

Are you looking for something fun and different to incorporate into your wedding?  How about custom-designed fabrics!

Enter Spoonflower.

At this site, you can upload your design and they will have it printed for you.  This comes in handy if you are looking to do something like this, that Cheree Berry did at her own wedding, which was featured in the Summer issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.

Martha Stewart Weddings

For $15-$32 a yard, you can have a custom designed napkin or handkerchief to hand out to guests, your wedding party or family.  And, some of the great features are that there is no minimum needed to order, and it is all eco-friendly textile printing.

You can even incorporate this great site into a wedding shower or bachelorette party!

In keeping with the dress talk from earlier today, I’m gonig to show you some fab gowns, which happen to be eco-friendly (bonus!).  And, in the next few weeks, I will be sharing some great gowns from other designers that happen to be eco-friendly, too.  It’s just a ltitle way I want to encourage you all to live a more earth conscious life, and know that being green can be stylish!

Our first designer spotlight is Justin Alexander and the new Pure collection.  Each of these gowns is made from organic fabrics featuring natural accents.  You can completely feel great about wearing these dresses, and feel great in them! All of the gowns featured in today’s post are part of the Spring 2010 collection.

This is a great dress for that “short dress” bride, or even as a getaway dress.

Justin Alexander via Chatterberries

This next one is a great classic, yet simple gown. Has a beautiful sweetheart neckline, with some simple beading detail just below the bust.

Justin Alexander via Chatterberries

The last featured dress is a great option for a beach or summer wedding. It has great beading detail around the neck, so much so in fact, that the bride would not have to wear a necklace at all. It is very similar to the first dress above.

Justin Alexander via Chatterberries

Have you thought about purchasing an eco-friendly gown? Or, even just incorporating little green/eco-friendly ideas?

Stay tuned next week for the next featured eco-friendly bridal gown designer.

And, no, this is no post about the adorable Kermit the Frog.

I’m always on a mission to find ways and ideas to incorporate green and eco-friendly concepts into our daily lives and our wedding.  I love coming across new websites and blog posts about anything eco-friendly.  They get added to my Google Reader and bookmarked right away.

That’s beside the point.  Our initial idea was to come up with an ec0-friendly favor for the guests.  The first idea was plantable trees, but that can be costly, especially for a large wedding.  The second idea was to use plantable seed paper for our invitations or menus.  Something the guests can plant, rather than throw away.  Nothing seemed to be coming together.

These are the plantable tree favors:

Source

Today, I found these.  Albeit, they are cute, but really, what is the purpose?  Would you really want to have it dangling around on your phone all of the time?  And, what about the guys?

Source

Yes, they are real plants.

So, we’ve been struggling with green favors. We have an idea for a different favor in mind, which we will share at a later date once the details are finalized.

Did any of you have a hard time deciding on a favor for your guests? Did you keep the environment in mind when deciding?