E! - Carlafornia

The Bridal Bar has gone international - sort of :). We had a visit last week from E! Canada who was in town shooting a new reality show called "Carlafornia." The show follows a Canadian actress who moves to America and marries Hollywood royalty. Carla and crew came by for a visit and bit of green wedding planning. She LOVED the new and nearly new couture of Encore Bridal has to offer (and eco-friendly too)...Plus the organic, fresh lemon and other yummy flavors of Fantasy Frostings organic cake options. And who could forget Tic Tock eco-friendly arrangement...locally-grown organic blooms like echinacea, structured within a glass vase placed inside the wooden container (to avoid using oasis, a not-so earth-friendly floral product).Stay tuned, Carlafornia may be coming to E! in the states too!

Opps, she did it again!

Kim at Papeterie is sharing with us her newest invitation - a second round of shower invites for a second shower for Jessica Alba. Hummm...two showers with similar invitations? Could it be twins? Congrats Jessica and congrats Kim on a fab eco-friendly invite (the invite has seeds in the paper and is meant to be planted instead of tossed!)

Happy Earth Day!

Today is Earth Day, and while every day should be Earth Day, we wanted to remind you of a few fun ways to keep in mind your event impact on our planet.

Looking for out of the box ways to go green? The industry is making big strides, so take note!

The Cotton Bride by Chris Kole takes the comfortable, classic fabric of cotton and makes is classic, couture, and perfect for the eco-chic bride.Go tree-free for invitations. Couture letterpress studio Hello!Lucky is a trend-setting design studio and going green certainly doesn't mean sacrificing beauty...their work is inventive and environmentally sound.Location is key, we all know that. So select a natural setting that pays homage to our earth and doesn't destroy it.Photo by Isabel Lawrence Photographers.

On the beach? In a park perhaps? Why not wed in the day. End your fete at sundown and save on electrical output at your event. You've got the whole evening to spend with your new husband that way...Photo by Isabel Lawrence Photographers.

With this elegant daytime event, you have the ability to create a rustic-chic tablescape for your guests to enjoy. Opt for a wooden table top that requires no linen (less chemical cleaning required) and dress with minimal florals (locally grown and organic of course) and embellish with soy-based candles and reclaimed containers and accessories. Classic Party Rentals makes a fantastic collection of "descanso" furnishings to fit the bill. The result will be a unique conversation-starter and a detailed decor backdrop your guests will love.Photo by Isabel Lawrence Photographers.

When your guests sit down to dine, make sure their food is fresh, locally grown, responsibly-harvested, and from an organic and eco-friendly catering company if at all possible. And if you end up with leftovers, look for your local charity like Angel Harvest to donate the excess to a food bank or shelter.Photo by Robert Evans Studios.

We've barely scratched the surface, so stay tuned for more tips. But we will leave you with one more...when Honeymooning, stay in eco-style at properties that participate in environmentally responsible practices like those of the Leading Hotels of the World Green Initiative and the Fairmont PropertiesPhoto by Robert Evans Studios.

Greener Cleaning

As we enter into April, Earth Day is on the horizon. So it's time to go green, and not a moment too soon. Check back with us for tips, trends, products, and services to bettering your event and the environment.

Let's work backwards...what's one of the last things on your checklist? Dry cleaning your gown after the big day. Yuck! Chemicals, preservation techniques, tacky boxes, oh my. Think again.

Encore Bridal, now offers greener cleaners for your gowns by Forever Treasured. So, what makes Forever Treasured different from a dry cleaner?

They spot clean your entire gown, inside and out, to remove stains, oils and soils.

Then they perform a specialized wet cleaning process on each gown individually based on the age, color and fabric.

Next, they will air dry your wedding gown to protect the beads and sequins from harmful heat.

After pressing, they place the gown in a specially designed archival museum preservation box, which is acid free, lignin free and buffered.

When the preservation process is completed, the boxed gown is ready for you to view for final approval.

They will instruct you on how you can safely open the preservation box any time and as often as you want, without causing any damage.

Forever Treasured has been recognized by Green Peace as an eco-friendly cleaner and is actually better for the gown too! Available at Encore Bridal in Los Angeles and across the country through shipping.

Your grandchildren will thank you, for their earth, and their preserved heirloom.

Pimp my Prius?

That’s what we said. Econation now books chauffeur service for the eco-minded traveler, so why not bride-to-be? While the flashy stretch suv limo won’t come rolling down your driveway, think about how great your getaway photos will be in a tricked-out Prius! Econation is a fleet of Hybrid and Alternative Fuel vehicles with the class, services, and quality of the super-stretch you’re used to.

Why not go green when going off to your wedding night?

Portovert - The Greener Side of Life

Our favorite green guide has got to be Portovert, the brain child of Meghan Yudes Meyers' after years in the traditional publishing realm. Portovert has the inside scoop on all things eco-friendly. Touted as the gateway to greener weddings, you can find some of our favorite friends on their site, including Encore Bridal (new and nearly new couture - in green-speak - refashioned bridal gowns.)

Thanks to Portovert for the recent shout out on The Bridal Bar!

Recycled, Refashioned Jewelry

Amanda Jaron's jewelry has graced the necks, hands and ears of some of Hollywood's hottest (think Angelina Jolie and Selma Hayek.) But now she serves a higher purpose. Amanda has launched a division of custom refashioned pieces.

“It’s about taking that dated chandelier and pulling off fun jewels,” says Jaron, who then suggests stringing some of Grandma’s pearls on fishing line to create a link that connects the crystal to a necklace. “It’s instantly a one-of-a-kind piece that makes a sparkling statement all its own.” Jaron will take that old broach, add some contemporary elements and create for you a red carpet-ready, elegant piece of recycled jewelry.

Incorporate a piece close to your heart and pay homage your favorite grandma when you walk down the aisle. The possibilities are endless, the concept easiest enough to do yourself if on a budget, and oh yeah, did we mention her designs are absolutely, insanely beautiful?!?!?!

Eat Organic...panties??

We came across this cute, cheeky line of organic cotton panties and thought we'd share it with you wives-to-be looking for new lingerie. It isn't your typical honeymoon swag, but in an effort be green (even in the bedroom) we thought you might find these fun! The organic cotton underwear by Buenostyle are made with 96% organic cotton and 4% lycra so they keep their shape. They use only low-impact dyes which are less harmful to the environment and the organic cotton is very soft to touch. Their website explains that there is a message behind the message. "You'll laugh when you read the pun, but you'll be making a smart choice.""Did you know that regular (non-organic) cotton farmers apply nearly one-third of a pound of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for every one pound of cotton harvested? Now why would you want that fabric next to your beautiful, delicate skin? These underwear are environmentally conscious, but with a sense of humor."

So remember to always "eat organic." :)

Shades of Green: Your Wedding Day

Pick up the newest issue of Your Wedding Day Magazine and you'll find a cover feature by The Bridal Bar. The "Shades of Green" article details tips to hosting a sustainable wedding.
With interviews from eco-friendly companies like End Design and green resources like Native Energy there are countless trade secrets from some of the cleanest in the business.For more great green wedding resources, check out the online eco-friendly magazine, Portovert. The founders have searched high and low for ways to reduce your use on your wedding day.

Hostess With The Mostess Contribution

The Bridal Bar now has the honor and privilege to contribute occasionally to one of our FAVORITE websites and blogs...
HostessBlog.com and Hostess with the Mostess.com (the creative genius of Jennifer Sbranti).

Our first contribution was a short feature on green events with five easy ways to make your dinner party, rehearsal dinner, wedding, brunch, or birthday as green as possible without sacrificing design, decor, or style elements.
Be sure to check it out and check the Hostess Blog regularly for unique do-it-yourself party tips, great product finds, and everything entertaining!

Moving in with Your New Hubby? Pack Green...

Today's edition of Daily Candy featured a green moving box company! Used Cardboard Boxes.com allows you to purchase recycled moving and storage boxes. Their premise is that they "rescue truckloads of quality used boxes from businesses that might otherwise be thrown away." They also purchase new boxes from both overruns in production and misprints by manufacturers. The boxes are as good as new and ready to help you pack up and move into that new home now that you're married!

Just because your wedding is over doesn't mean your environmental efforts are too!

Weddingish Sample Sale & Greener Tee's

Reminding everyone to come out this Saturday, April 28th from 1pm to 4pm to The Bridal Bar for fun drinks by Martini & Rossi, yummy cookies and treats by Weddingish and great gifts, deals, and GREEN finds from Weddingish.

Check out their new line of organic cotton tanks for the bride and maids and come shop 'til you drop this weekend!

The Bridal Bar
624 N. Doheny Drive
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(cross street is Santa Monica Blvd.)

Saturday, April 28th
1pm to 4pm

Make Every Day Earth Day

So yesterday being Earth Day and all we thought it not appropriate to flip the switch and log on to blog. Instead we speant the day in the beautiful Los Angeles outdoors "hugging people and planting trees," the sentiment Paul Frank Stores are suggesting. We hope you had a wonderful weekend outdoors as well and we will be back with more news soon...like the celebrity wedding shot by one of our photographers over the weekend...stay tuned!

Docuvitae's Very Own Green Wedding

Docuvitae's owner and founder Laura Kleinhenz had a little wedding of her own last fall and now we're here to tell you a little 'bit about it.

Laura and Daniel (and their dog) make one adorable family, but before they settled down in married town, they hosted an intimate affair with a few friends and loved ones by their sides. Shot of course by talented team members at Docuvitae Photography & Super 8, take a look at some of their vintage (a.k.a. green) details. They used and re-used family heirlooms to make their ceremony personal and eco-friendly. Wed under a vintage chuppah using an heirloom Kiddish cup they celebrated in their families' past and paid respect to their new family's future. At dinner, vintage champagne flutes and cloth napkins were used by guests in the outdoor, natural setting of a loved one's home.

Keeping it simple kept the event elegant. Laura and Daniel wed in the daylight which made for some beautiful images and saved on wasted electricity. Minimal florals meant minimal waste (and cost) and yet no detail was left undone. So, well done Laura & Daniel and congratulations on your nuptials (we just love it when one of our own leaves the nest)!! For more on this fabulous wedding, you can see the happy couple on E! News running now.

Hello!Lucky Green Invitations...

Hello!Lucky has been green with their custom designed invitations long before green was the new black. The girls are getting green, brown, and all kinds of colors in their letterpress studio these days.

Using 100% recycled fiber & tree-free stocks, now your invitations can actually save a tree! Not into the cause quite as much? The normal paper stocks used in the Hello!Lucky line are 100% cotton rag paper, which is also a renewable resource.

Invitations can cost our environment a lot more than your pocketbook will feel. Be conscious when ordering and save on the waste of your wedding right from the start!

End Design: You will be Green with Envy!

End Design is a full service floral and decor house with vast knowledge and experience in the greener side of life.

Having designed Alicia Silverstone's nuptials back in 2001, Eden Rodriguez, owner of End Design, knows how to go so green, your wedding can even be vegan! Whether you opt to wed outdoors in a natural setting (one location saves on fuel omissions versus two venues) or a formal hotel affair - find one that implements recycling programs and other eco-friendly business practices, your decor can come from the earth, not harm it.

With little touches of soy-based candlelight instead of energy-exhausting prop lighting and pulling decor from the spot where you wed, green decor is easier than you think. Vintage mason jars (pictured below) make for great recycled decor, as do an eclectic array of gathered chairs for seating (pictured above), the options are truly endless (at End Design - hehehe)...

Call Eden for more information on how she can honor your dream wedding and the earth equally!

GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK

The Bridal Bar and many of its fabulous vendors practice eco-conscience business and offer "green wedding" services. EARTH DAY IS THIS MONTH, APRIL 22nd! And so in honor and celebration of this widely popular trend and this special day, we will be dedicating many blog entries over the next few weeks to those who can help you host a sustainable wedding. Speaking a foreign language to you? Going green simply means saving the environment wherever you can when planning your wedding. It can be as simple as selecting one venue instead of two in order to cut down on gas and the fuel emissions of guests travelling to multiple venues. Or it can be as elaborate as using reclaimed wood in building your decor, seeking out vintage details instead of buying new ones, hiring an organic caterer and florist, or even traveling to an eco-friendly hotel for your honeymoon. The bottom line, no matter how dedicated to the cause you are, there are baby steps that can be taken (as well as big ones) to limit the waste your wedding produces. So check back in the weeks to come and we will update you with tips and trends to help make that happen!