Wedding invitations can create a mountain of waste and the costs for this seemingly simple process can really add up when you factor in the “traditional” elements of the wedding invite–invitation, invitation envelope, response card, response envelope and postage.

Below are some tips that you can use to reduce waste, save money and add a unique, personal touch to your wedding invites!

•    Create your own design – This can easily be done on your home computer. You can scan your favorite picture of you and your fiancée, or download any other stock photo of your choice. I created the design for my own wedding invitations using Microsoft Powerpoint. I took a stock photo (www.istockphoto.com) added text and created two slides (one for the cover of the invitation and one for the inside of the invitation). I then saved both as a JPEG file, saved it on a jump drive and took it to a local paper company. I recommend Paper Zone (www.paperzone.com) who has a large selection of paper stocks and envelopes, will help you choose the right one and then will send your file to a preferred local printer to be placed on the card stock of your choice.

•    Use recycled paper stock and envelopes- If you decide to pursue this option, make sure that the paper and envelopes that you choose for your wedding invites are made from at least 30% post consumer fibers. To take it even one step further, you may want to choose a matte finish rather than gloss as the printing process, (matte finish is more environmentally friendly).

•    Skip the response cards- Response cards can add hundreds of dollars to the cost of your wedding invitations (depending on the number of attendees). Also, when you factor in the required response envelopes and additional postage, you are looking at added expenses and unnecessary paper waste. One simple, cost effective solution is to purchase a toll free 800 number (you can purchase these numbers and create your own personal message for about $10 a month), add the 800 number to your wedding invitations and ask people to phone in their RSVP. This saves money, reduces waste and will add a personal and fun touch as you get to listen to messages from friends and family members calling to RSVP in their own voice. The line can very easily be canceled after the wedding.

Look to these websites to get you started: www.ringcentral.com, www.phonepeople.com, www.onebox.com

•    Electronic thank-you notes- In an effort to further eliminate waste related to your special day you may want to consider forgoing paper thank-you notes and instead collecting email addresses and sending out electronic thank-you cards

Check out these electronic greeting card sites: www.greeting-cards.com www.bluemountain.com or www.yahooamericangreetings.com. For members of your family that might not have access to email or a home computer, you will want to send a personal thank-you note via snail mail. One of the joys of widespread technology is the reduction of unnecessary paper products.

The above examples are just a few quick and easy steps that you can take to help you save time and money in planning your special day!

Yours,

The Green Bride

Architects who follow their creative impulses, pushing limits and concepts outside of traditional standards, spark my internal flame and keep it lit.

I recently wrote a post called, the rise of the renaissance generation, where I talked about a new book, RenGen: The Rise of the Cultural Consumer and What It Means to Your Business, which explores the concept of creatives (like you and I) giving birth to a new type of renaissance - one that just might lead us into the next generation.

In keeping to the theme of celebrating new ideas, here are some design concepts on the future of architecture by the Next 20 Gene Project - An international group of architects out of Taiwan - for the Venice Architectural Biennale.

You might not resonate with all of these but that’s really okay. They are interesting enough to get us to start thinking differently.

Villa Paladio by Ian+ is named after a famous 16th century Italian villa. The idea according to the architects is to allow ‘villa to become the interface of nature and scenery.” My first reaction was unfamiliarity and thefore a bit uncomfortable, yet as I continued to look more closely, I became more attracted to the idea.  The movement and texture of the roof feels harmonizing to me. An abundance of natural light brought in by all the open windows is carefully considered and very attractive. There is movement and flow, a soft vertical water feature on the right side with the exterior linear features balancing out and giving focus to the structure.

The concept behind Chromosome-H by Hsueh-Yi Chien is fasinating. There is the correlation to the human genetic code and the movement of messages from one part of the body to the other.  That idea is transformed into Chromosome-H - a facilitator of dna replication. My translation: Each area of the space speaks to the other in a linear, more scientific context. I’d be doing some major softening in the interior design.

Calligraphic House by Yu-Tung Liu is my favorite of the three here. The architect talks about, “drawing a wild cursive on Mother Earth” which actually put the biggest smile on my face. The intrinsic nature between a calligraphy line and the lines in the Earth is evident. There is something very light about not having a linear roof above when inside a space. And imagine all the natural light coming in from those grand windows. That would be a dream space to decorate.

For more fascinating examples of Gen20, visit their website: www.nextgene20.com. Make sure to click on English.

Hi Loyal Readers,

I am looking for positive thinkers of all shapes and sizes who are passionate about an idea, a book, the earth, culture, music, design, photography, the arts, your product or service (or maybe you’re just a good storyteller?), to guest blog on Planet Pink n’ Green.

Anyone interested? I can offer you a permanent position here with your favorite photo (of yourself, that is), a short bio (we want to know who you are) and a link to your website or blog page.

I ask for three posts a month minimum and give you creative freedom to express yourself. Note: We’re not into overselling or pushing a product or service. We are into authenticity and sharing information that makes us better humans or at least feel like we are.

If that sounds like you, please don’t be shy and let me know. This is a great opportunity to give yourself a voice and receive support on your project or business.  If the above description sounds like someone you know, can you please spread the word?

By the way, the above photo was not Photoshopped. That’s actually me in the forest in the Columbia River Gorge.

Thank-you, Cheryl

That would be us; you and me and several million others out there who, according to the new book, RenGen: The Rise of the Cultural Consumer and What It Means to Your Business, by Patricia Martin, are directing the future of the world economy in a distinctly positive direction.

Who are the RenGen (Renaissance Generation) exactly? Well, see if this sounds familiar in an exert from the New York Times interview with the author:

The sociological definition of a generation is a 30-year swath of individuals living contemporaneously. The conditions we are facing today are what it looks like right before a renaissance.

Two things are going on simultaneously, and they live in creative tension. One is that we are ending one civilization and we are creating a new one. Witness what is happening on Wall Street. The second is the outpouring of creativity facilitated by the Internet. There is a generation that will lead us into what will literally be a second renaissance.

As for their characteristics - they are eco-conscious; they take their cues from nature so they are willing to accept products that are flawed but authentic rather than slickly produced and inauthentic.  They want to make a difference. They want to live many lives. They don’t want to be told, “You can’t be an architect and a poet.” They are sensualists. Because they are both idealistic and cynical at the same time, they have learned to trust what they experience rather than what experts tell them. That is why design and aesthetics are so elevated right now.

I went through the above checklist and um, authentic? Yes, that’s me. Cares about the environment? That too. I actually prefer products that have distinct flaws. They feel more human to me. And yes, I trust my personal experience and how I feel over what any individual might have to say, no matter what qualifications they have. For example, I didn’t choose my financial adviser based on her experience (although it is vast), but rather on how I felt about her. She is a woman who is naturally connected to the energy of money, a philanthropist and has high ethics.

This idea that cultural consumers are on the rise really resonates deep within my core. There is an internal knowing that this is true. “After all”, I thought,  “I am the director of my life as are those I interview and meet (online and off) on a daily basis.” I see successful creative entrepreneurs (introducing unique products and services that care about the environment and humanity) all around me that are not affected by the current state of affairs.

If we just sit back now for minute, take a deep breath (or two) and not allow the fear of the economy to cloud our direction, we can continuously move forward in a tour de force unlike any seen before. And that (imho) is what it means to change the world. Stay focused.

Recently I purchased some Compact Fluorescent (CF) bulbs for some bedside lamps. As I thought about the bulb choices available to me in the lighting aisle of the local supermarket, I was reminded that sometimes eco-friendly products come in eco-unfriendly packaging. Pictured to the left is the bulb I ended up purchasing.

There were some CF bulbs available in recyclable, paper-based packaging, but not the shape and wattage I needed. I noticed that most of the CF bulbs available at this store were packaged in thick plastic envelops.

That reminds me of something that would be funny if it weren’t so indicative of the (sad) larger situation. One of my most used, and most valuable tools is a pair of heavy-duty kitchen shears (thanks Mom for these. They’re one of the best gifts you ever gave me!). I use them so much that the one time my housemate mis-placed them, I almost panicked! I use them for: opening the heavy sealed plastic envelopes that many items are packaged in, cutting pizza into slices, snipping price tags off of clothing, and lots of other household chores.

And that day I used them for opening my eco-friendly light bulbs that were packaged in eco-unfriendly packaging.

I think manufacturers can do better. In fact, I know they can, because from time to time I see examples of what better looks like. A few months ago I got a pannier for my bike. It looked like this, (photo on right).

If you look closely, you can see that the information tag attached to this item is hand-tied with a red ribbon! I can’t tell you how much that small touch made my heart sing!

When faced with the choice to use a plastic tie and a hand-tied piece of ribbon, this manufacturer made the right choice. And that gives me hope that more manufacturers will do the same.