Welcome to 2009! I hope your holiday season was filled with joy and celebration.

With all the parties and celebrations that filled last month, I thought it an opportune moment to talk about ways to green your future celebrations. Here are tips on incorporating a little green into your themed (or not themed) events!

Planning

Planning a themed wedding or event can alleviate stress and create a festive atmosphere for you and your guests. Once you have determined your theme, you can simply build everything from décor to menus around your personal theme.

There are an infinite number of themes to choose from so you have the freedom to let your imagination run wild.  Whether planning a formal black and white wedding or an East Meets West Gala, these helpful tips will help you Green your Theme in style without breaking the bank!

DIY Bridesmaids Gifts

Almost any craft store carries a large selection of jewelry kits that you can easily put together yourself to create beautiful one-of-a-kind jewelry for your bridal party or special guests. There are a variety of kits to choose from including Essentials Naturals collections which offer cotton and hemp products as well as sea shells, crystals and fundamental clays. Each kit comes with detailed instructions and prices generally run from $5-$10 each. With a little time and a little imagination, you can create works of art that your bridesmaids, family members or guests can wear for years to come.

Green your Garden Theme

What could be more green than a Garden Themed Wedding or event? An outdoor celebration provides a beautiful, natural setting that can save you hundreds of dollars on having to bring in plants and additional decorations. However, when working with an outdoor venue you will want to make sure that bugs aren’t enjoying your guests while your guests are trying to enjoy your event! If you want to ensure that critters are kept at bay in a natural way, then you may want to think about purchasing Citronella Soy Candles or Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Bug Spray.

Flower Power

If you are planning your wedding or event around a certain type of flower and are planning on making your own invitations, save the date or thank you notes, you can add a special, personal touch by adorning them with pressed flowers using botanical glue.

How to apply pressed flowers to invitations, menus, programs, or any other paper product:

1) Apply one coat of botanical glue on the surface of the paper product  with a small soft brush.

2) Attach the flower quickly. Make sure the flower is completely glued down. Apply one or two more coats of adhesive on top of the flower. (Allow to completely dry between coats.)

Note: some flowers/leaves are sensitive to glue. Test one or two first to be sure the flower you use will work with this method. This method works well if the flowers are small and soft.

Going green no matter what the theme

Here are some general suggestions for incorporating green aspects into your wedding or event no matter what the theme:

Lavender Wedding Rice
Natural Seashell Place card Holders
Printable Petal Cones
Gold Leaf Pine Cones
Silver Dollar Branches
Natural Selections Candle Holder
Shades of Grey and Silver Seed Favors

Whatever type of event you are planning, themed or not, there are earth friendly possibilities for any and/or every aspect.

I hope that you have found the above suggestions helpful. If you have any questions or would like additional information on going green with your event, you can contact me directly by visiting www.pepdx.com or by sending an email to info@pepdx.com.

Yours Truly,

The Green Bride