It’s the season of weddings and here at Simple Soiree, we love seeing what’s new and up-and-coming in bridal and weddings. Just like in fashion and design, weddings are always influenced by what’s popular. And every year, it’s something different.
Barn weddings, destination weddings, vintage weddings; we’ve had the pleasure of creating so many different events at Simple Soiree. Lately, we’ve noticed a new “mindset” trending among our couples that’s completely changing the norm for their big day: “The Socially Conscious Wedding”. Re-purposing Your I Do’s We’re living in a world of awareness. We celebrate Earth Day, we recycle and even compost. We use terms like alternative energy and carbon footprints. And all that is greatly influencing how some couples plan their wedding. Many couples use their wedding as a platform to showcase their eco-conscious lifestyle and as a chance to support their community. And here at Simple Soiree we help them create the details and the overall experience of their wedding to reflect their ideology. When it comes to the “socially conscious” bride and groom, some are willing to forgo the traditions and think outside the box, in the name of their beliefs and lifestyle. And there are many clever and new ideas emerging from this way of thinking. More casual weddings are becoming the norm for our couples. They’re forgoing traditional wedding customs like having a bride’s or groom’s side for ceremony seating, using ushers, or waiting to see each other until that walk down the aisle. They’re making their own rules and focusing on creating an environment at their wedding that reflects who they are and how they live. 6 Big Ideas For The Socially Conscious Wedding So, what does it mean to plan a “Socially Conscious Wedding”? We’ve broken it down to 6 key concepts for those couples looking to bring an eco-chic spin to their special day.
It’s All In The Details A socially conscious couple considers the time of year they’re getting married, especially if they are having all or part of their wedding outside. Bringing elements of the outdoors or having the whole event outside is often preferred for a bride and groom who are passionate about caring for their community and the environment. Some venues and caterers are socially conscious in their approach, as well, so they make great partners in the wedding day details. Think farm-to-table catering or a botanical garden that hosts weddings. Your Invitation Is Blooming Want to save a tree or two? Online or “paperless” wedding invitations, have come a long way and don’t require the added cost of postage. We’re a huge fan of Green Envelope and what they can do with a digital invitation. It’s way more than just an evite. Their suite of invitations include all the components you’ll find in traditional print invites like guest reply cards and even thank you notes. If traditional printed invitations are your thing, recycled paper comes in many different colors and textures and doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style. For those looking to make a real statement, how about an herb or flower garden embedded into your invite? Yes, plantable paper invites are a thing. This biodegradable eco-paper is actually embedded with seeds. Your wedding invitation could become an herb garden! Botanical Paperworks online offers a big variety of plantable paper invitations that are surprisingly eco-chic and beautiful. They also offer menu cards, thank you notes, favor tags and place cards. There’s even biodegradable confetti! Something Old Is Your Something New Decorations are another place where many bride and grooms repurpose or recycle items for their wedding. Empty wine bottles or glass jars, wood palettes, old mirrors and picture frames. A trip to the local thrift store for old books, vintage glass, jars, or plates is the perfect way to “go green” with your décor and hits four eco-conscious categories: eco-friendly, locally sourced, sustainable and charitable. Looking for more rustic and earthy elements? Step outside for affordable and even free beautiful décor. From tree branches and sticks to confetti made from leaves and scattered along tables, Mother Nature offers no shortage of options. Some brides are choosing minimal flowers and lots of greenery for a more neutral and subdued color palette. And eco-conscious florists like Splints and Daisies even source flowers locally. For those taking the whole experience outdoors, it’s the ultimate backdrop to showcase what being eco-conscious is all about. Venues like Rock Hollow Woods’s cathedral A Meal With A Mission When it comes to dining, the eco-conscious couple considers where their wedding food is coming from, literally. Farm-to-table restaurants like the Accomac means your wedding has less impact on the environment because the food is coming from and supports the local farming community. Live close to the beach or the shore? Local seafood is a no brainer. Lots of farmland and a Farmer’s Market in your neighborhood? A local organic farmer can help with fresh foods that don’t have to travel far and help the local economy. We’re even seeing gourmet food trucks being brought in for food, like a local barbeque or taco stand. How about several “street vendor” style foods served in a clever way that showcases local cuisine? And why bother with standard plates that waste water to clean them. How about compostable bamboo silverware and eco-friendly palm leaf plates? This “outside-the-box” approach is a far cry from dry chicken and a side vegetable served on standard white china. Fair Trade Fair trade is an opportunity to use a product from a developing country, purchased at a fair price. Maybe the coffee you’ve decided to serve is fair trade or perhaps you’ve selected bridesmaid gifts of bracelets made from a woman’s cooperative in Sudan. These items are sustainable to their communities, charitable because they are helping a developing country’s economy, and sometimes even recycled. Getting Married And Giving Back (add a little more detail for stand alone blog here) For some, this joyous occasion is the perfect opportunity to do some good and give to a cause that they are passionate about. Perhaps it’s a donation to the charity of their choice in lieu of a gift, or maybe something they’ve purchased or utilized for their big day offers a charitable contribution. We’ve seen non-profit donations as guest favors and donation jars on the bar or table to collect money for the couple’s cause. Eco-chic and So Unique Any detail and all elements of a couple’s wedding can be eco-conscious. How much or how little is up to them and how far they want to take it. At Simple Soiree, we love watching a couple’s day unfold from concept to creation. One thing is for sure, socially conscious weddings push the envelope (recycled, of course) with creative and new ways to say “I do”. How do you want to say, “I do”?
10 Comments
Chances are bringing up the topic of wedding coordinators conjurs images of a lavish celebrity wedding planned on a Hollywood budget. However, these days more and more brides from all different backgrounds are hiring wedding coordinators because there's just so much to consider when planning the biggest day of your life. Still, one of the most common questions I am asked by brides is “Why do I need a wedding coordinator?” Above all your
wedding coordinator is there to serve you and make sure your wedding is everything you've dreamed of and planned for. I've outlined just a few of the reasons every bride should consider hiring a wedding coordinator. 1) Save money and stick to your budget. You heard that right. Hiring a wedding coordinator will actually save you money because a good coordinator knows where to get the best deals, and can get you exclusive discounts through their network of vendors. Plus they’re wedding experts so they know how much a good florist, photographer, cake etc. should cost and they help you avoid being over-charged. Last, the wedding coordinator’s job is to stick to your budget. And since many couples find themselves spending ten to fifteen percent more than they originally planned on their wedding, staying on budget is not an easy task. 2) Save time and create a network of expert vendors. Researching wedding vendors that are reputable and can deliver the type of wedding you envision takes a lot of time. This is such special time in your life that you should enjoy it and celebrate with your fiancé, friends and family, not stressing over where the best florist is. A wedding coordinator works with all types of wedding vendors and knows who the best of the best is so you don’t have to. 3) Stay focused. Let’s be honest, planning a wedding can be stressful and overwhelming and sometimes it’s more fun to put off that pesky to-do list and catch a new movie or grab dinner with friends. If you hire a wedding coordinator you can still have a social life! Your wedding coordinator will make sure you’re on task and shoulders the burden of that ever growing task list for you. 4) Stay stress free. Nobody likes a bridezilla, least of all the bride herself. A good wedding coordinator keeps your stress to a minimum and even makes planning your wedding fun because it should be. 5) Ask an expert. Everything from how you should word your wedding invitations to how to handle seating arrangements for divorced parents….we’ve handled it all before so we’ve got the answers. 6) Mediate. Mediate. Mediate. So your mom is insisting you have a traditional church ceremony and you have your heart set on a backyard ceremony and reception? It’s great to have an unbiased third party as a sounding board in these situations. Yep you guessed it, that’s your wedding coordinator’s role. 7) Protect your Investment Hiring a wedding coordinator is a bit like purchasing insurance for your big day. You’ve put a lot of time, money, and heart into the wedding of your dreams. Your wedding coordinator is there to help make sure your vision for your day is carried out by all your vendors. We are your eyes, ears ad advocate for the day so the only thing left on your “to-do” list is “ENJOY!” |