ECO-FRIENDLY TRENDS

www.nationalacademy.org

Based on a recent poll on www.TheKnot.com, 86% are either considering or are definitely incorporating eco-friendly details in their wedding.

Couples are spending a lot of time and money planning their wedding and are using this opportunity to reflect their core values as a unit. We’re here to show you that you don’t have to sacrifice style to have a “green” wedding; in fact, we like to call it being “eco-chic."

Location - Whenever possible, use local resources that give back to your community. We’re here at the National Academy in Museum in NYC, where the rental fee for the reception space goes right back to the museum.

FOOD/BEVERAGE - Choose food, wine, wedding cake, and cocktails that are made from organic or locally grown ingredients, and donate your leftovers.

ORGANIC WINE - True Organic wines are certified by the USDA National Organic Program and have become much more popular. Frey Vineyards is the oldest organic winery in the country, they have been around since 1980. And the best part? Frey wine retails for under $20 a bottle!

CAKE - Along with serving organic foods or goods from local farmers, it’s a great idea to also have a cake made of organic ingredients, and to also make sure that all of the decorations on the cake are eco-friendly as well. This cake from Sarah Magid is 100% organic, including the butter, eggs, sugar, flour, and lemon filling. Even the decorations are eco-friendly, as Sarah opted for all natural gumpaste to make the poppies. Pricing – Only about $2 more per slice than a regular cake

INVITATIONS - Between the inks, toners, and solvents, traditional invites include a lot of chemicals. Choosing alternatives like recycled invitations and vegetable and soy based inks are a great alternative. Utilize wedding web-pages to inform guests of details helps to minimize the amount of virgin paper used in your wedding stationery can have a huge impact.

Recycled Invites and Soy Based Ink: Wildflower seeds are embedded in the Tree Free Paper, “Grow a note." 100% tree free using soy based inks with recycled paper envelopes. Green Field Paper Company Starting at $6 with invite and RSVP.

CANDLES - Candles are a must for weddings, but traditional, paraffin candles are produced from petroleum – where using soy wax is a renewable resource, produced from natural U.S. grown soybeans. Another great option is to go for beeswax candles.

ECO-FAVORS: Personalized plantable seed cards where your guest can literally plant the card when they get home! Butterfly-in-flight favors! Not only can you write a special note in these beautiful cards, but the butterfly can actually be planted when the guests get home

Re-conditioned Wedding Camera - Made of recycled materials, guests will love snapping shots at the reception! Lavender Wedding Rice - For sweet-smelling favors, add a small handful of these lavender buds to our Sheer Favor Bags or Cork-Topped Bottles (both sold separately). Or herald your grand exit in a shower of lavender! One bag includes enough rice to fill 40 favor bags (approximately 1/2 lb.) All available at www.TheKnot.com