These delightful handmade nature letters would be perfect for an outdoor green wedding reception.

Each beautiful letter is made entirely out of natural dried floral stock, such as Lavender, Pussy Willow, Wheat, Caspia, Twigs, Centaurea, Barley and more. The elegant but rustic look will fit many various wedding schemes and can be kept in your home long after the wedding is over.

Each letter is totally unique and artist Katie Leigh will custom make any letters you like. I think it’d be super sweet to get your initials created; although the simple, “Love” phrase is so sweet as well. At just $10 per letter this is a wonderfully affordable and unique wedding accent.

Learn more at Katie Leigh Designs.

If you’re having an evening reception, outside party, or just want to make your wedding tables sparkle, LED lighting is clear, beautiful and a great energy efficient choice.

Go green with eco-friendly LED lighting for your wedding.

LED lighting has many benefits over fluorescent and incandescent lighting, for example…

• LED bulbs last far longer than both compact fluorescent bulbs and typical incandescent bulbs plus offer maximum durability. LEDs hold up better if bounced around or bumped into which means if Uncle Bob has one too many at the reception and knocks into the lighting display you’ll most likely be ok.
• LED bulbs do not cause heat build-up and stay cool, perfect if kids who like shiny bright objects will be at your wedding. Since LED bulbs produce less heat they’re also great for hot summer weddings.
• LEDs are mercury-free
• LED lighting comes in an array of wonderful colors and shapes. From white to pink to green to gold and more colors along with shapes like large berries, snowflakes, stars and more you’ve got all sorts of design choices – plenty to suit any wedding theme.

BUT….

LED lighting costs more than other lighting options from the get go, with value that pays off in time due to energy savings and a long life span. This does bring up an important question though – why use more expensive LED lighting for a wedding when you may only use it once? Well, first of all, you should be thinking reuse, even when it comes to your wedding. A wedding, especially a green wedding, is no excuse to buy something with a one-time use value. From the favors to the decor you should consider reuse value.

If you use LED string lights at your wedding they can easily be saved for the holidays or another big event or given to a pal for her wedding. If you use LED candles the same applies – you can use them for dinner parties for a good long while. Lastly, LED lighting is not as expensive as you might think. Costs have gone down making them a decent choice even price-wise.

Following are some LED lighting choices:

Pure White LED Star Lights – very pretty string light accent, especially if you want to add some sparkle to a green winter wedding. OR try something extra special like Brilliant Blue Star LED lighting on ultra thin flexible wire that can be bent to any shape. Great for using around floral arrangements on each wedding table.

LED Amber Flicker Candle – nice tea lights for the wedding table. Safer and longer lasting than real candles. Plus these LED candles fit most standard sized tea light candle holders. You can also go bigger with LED Amber Pillar Candles.

Decorative warm white railing lights feature flicker-free LEDs that are vibrant and perfect for decorating interior or exterior railings along stairways or decks for an outdoor wedding.

LED lanterns are one more way to utilize LED technology. Beautiful modern Soji LED Solar Lanterns in wavy white or pure white are both fun.

To brighten up outdoor evening weddings the White Led Cherry Blossom Tree is a unique and lovely choice.

You’ve got plenty of flower choices for a green wedding, but some pack a bigger eco-punch than others. Luckily it’s easy to break down.

First some general eco-friendly flower buying tips:

• Going local is almost always more eco-friendly than not. With carbon transport issues, packaging, and weird non-fair trade practices buying local flowers is a good way to keep your flower footprint small. Even if a local grower is not certified organic, you may want to check them out. Not being certified doesn’t always mean that a grower doesn’t use sustainable growing practices. You can search Local Harvest for flower growers near you.
• Try to choose seasonal flowers, although if you have a specific theme or color in mind this is not always possible.
• Aim for a less is more approach. Simple bouquets and less flowery decor means your wedding has fewer flower waste and a smaller footprint. To flush out your flower decor you can always make some awesome wedding flowers with recycled paper. You can also use gift-worthy live plants and bulbs in pots as decor which doubles up (decor/favors) and doesn’t contribute to a large waste issue.
• Grow your own – if you’ve got the time you can grow all your own wedding flowers or even force bulbs for table settings if you’re short on time. This costs less (except for the time commitment) and ensures you get VERY local, pesticide free flowers.
• Pay attention to the containers and wraps. Eco-friendly flowers loose some points if you place them in icky plastic containers or floral foam (which is not biodegradable). Your florist or you can create bouquets using eco-friendly alternative such as glass vases (mason jars look amazing actually for vases and serve more than one purpose), bamboo vases and pots, and paper plus instead of foam to keep flowers steady use rocks, beans, or reusable and recyclable glass marbles.
• If you have your garden in the spring or summer in a natural setting – say a community garden or park, you may not need as many cut flowers because of the natural appeal of growing flowers.

Flower labels and campaigns to watch for and support…

USDA Certified Organic: Flowers with this label are free from toxic or synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Organic flowers are a great choice, but hard to come by in the flower world right now.

Fair Trade and VeriFlora both impose strict environmental and labor standards on farms, such as pesticide use is limited and workers must be paid fairly. However, neither label requires that flowers be fully organic. If you can buy flowers that are both USDA certified organic and either Fair Trade or VeriFlora certified. NOTE: it is very important to recognize the distinction between “Fair Trade” and an organizational term such as TransFair USA. The difference is that “Fair Trade” does not guarantee fair wages for coffee harvesters while “TransFair USA” does.

ILRF’s Fairness in Flowers Campaign has promoted the occupational health and safety and the labor rights of workers in the cut flower industries of Colombia and Ecuador since 2003. According to this group, “Most of the roses and carnations produced in these countries are exported to the United States where they are sold in florist shops, supermarkets, and on online retail sites. There are 40,000 flower workers in Ecuador and over 100,000 in Colombia, working to grow, harvest, and package these flowers” and workers aren’t always treated fairly. Learn how you can support flower growers.

Just for fun - check out the most popular wedding flowers requested by NYC brides and another top ten wedding blooms list from the wedding experts at The Knot.

What sort of flowers do you want at your green wedding?

The WishFrame is a perfectly sweet and memorable way to capture the thoughts, dreams, and wishes of your wedding guests at your green wedding.

The WishFrame made by the always delightful Cardboardesign, is a cardboard frame with tons of tiny honeycomb pockets for holding wishes. Guests can write on the included tiny slips of paper and then slip them into the honeycomb pockets for not only a dazzling affect (very Light Bright like) but a super keen way to capture memories from your special day.

After the wedding the WishFrame is an enchanting eco-friendly home keepsake of your wedding. WishFrame is crafted in the USA with chemical-free, bleach-free, recycled and recyclable fibers. An also eco-friendly WishChest holding 500 colored leafs of paper is included. For a wedding with LOTS of people there’s also a WishWall – much larger than the WishFrame, and very cool.

These sustainable doilies are anything but old school. Not stale, but fresh and modern and a totally brilliant decor move for your green wedding.

The Doileez from Modern-twist is made with eco-friendly and reusable silicone and fresh minimalist patterns. FDA grade, hand-silk-screened Doileez, are not only easy to clean (no more trying to get stains out of fabric dollies) but can be used again and again, long after your wedding is over. They’re available in a range of Modern-twist’s signature patterns including natural styles and even some perfect for a modern wedding. You could use these in so many different ways at your green wedding, for example…

• Under the wedding cake or wedding cupcakes.
• Under flowers as a minimalist table decor.
• On the buffet table.
• As an accent piece under wedding favors.
• And more.

You can find Doileez at Velocity Art & Design.

Today a product review of Scandle Candles for you – this could make a great wedding shower favor and it’d be excellent as a honeymoon gift.

PRODUCT: Scandle Essentials 4oz Travel Tin in Uplifting Blend – Pink grapefruit & spearmint essential oils create the uplifting blend – this Scandle comes in a square lightweight travel tin for easy application.

INGREDIENTS: According to Scandle, these candles are “Made from 100% natural ingredients” – the label on the candle says “This product contains soy and other nut products, if you are allergic to these products, please do not use. (May contain soy butter, shea butter, aloe vera, jojoba oil, and fragrance or essential oils).”

USE: The Scandle Candle burns at 2 degrees above body temperature to produce a soothing oil for massage, manicures, pedicures, or as a daily moisturizer. Or of course, you can use it as purely a candle to light up your space. (including soy), The Scandle emits less soot and toxins into the environment than traditional paraffin candles. Scandles feature refillable/reusable canisters and sustainable packaging options. Burn time 15-30 hours.

COST: $12.95

ECO-PERKS & OTHER GOOD STUFF:

• Soy is an eco-friendly candle option when compared to paraffin candles, emitting less soot and toxins. They’re not 100% safer if you have allergies or are sick, but way better than wax candles. Soy is also biodegradable.
• I think they’re made with fairly natural ingredients, but if you look below in cons, you’ll see that I can’t 100% guarantee it. They don’t smell fake though, they smell as if they were scented with essential oils vs a fake fragrance.
• Feel great on your body. You can pour or dip into the candle and use it for massage, cuticle rub, or to smooth dry skin. Not oily or too hot on your skin, and the scent is subtle, not obnoxious. I also like the scent that fills your room when you burn this candle – very nice and yes, uplifting as the product notes.
• VERY long lasting. I’ve burned and burned this candle and it just keeps going and going.
• The candles are multi-use and long lasting.
• Candles come in great little reusable tins that can be used for any number of small objects; rings, beads, etc. If you buy their larger candles they offer refills which is excellent and saves on packaging.
• 100% Vegan.
• Cruelty free – member of PETA’s Caring Consumer Program.
• Zero petroleum or mineral oils added.

PRODUCT CONS:

The ingredient listings are sketchy. The website does not list a full ingredient list and neither does the packaging. Some terms used to explain the ingredients at the website include…

• Scandles are made with FDA approved ingredients.
• Hypo-Allergenic.
• Cosmetic grade soy oil.
• Those allergic to nut based products should not use Scandle, because the Scandle contains soy, jojoba, and shea oils.
• And as noted above my packaging says, “May contain soy butter, shea butter, aloe vera, jojoba oil, and fragrance or essential oils.”

So basically, I’m not sure what exactly is in this candle. It’d be easy to include an actual ingredient list and I wish the company  would have. I was able to find more info when I looked up the fragrance mixes, because it noted that my blend is pink grapefruit & spearmint essential oils.

According to Skin Deep, this company has not signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and there’s no info on their product ingredients listed there.

Not made with organic soy or organic essential oils as far as I can tell.

OVERALL SCORE:

Three out of five little trees. Because I can’t find a full ingredient list anywhere and because this product is not organic so far as I can tell, it loses some point. The cost is fairly comparable to other soy candle companies; maybe a little less on some products, and I’m guessing you might be able to work out a bulk buy situation with them if you wanted these for a green wedding favor. Overall, I’d recommend Scandle Candles because they smell great and work well as both candles and a moisturizing + massage tool. Plus they have nice reusable containers – a great green choice.

However, if you want a totally green candle, I’d suggest Evergreen Candleworks – an organic soy candle company who also makes a soy massage candle but they use organic soy.

Visit Scandle Candles to learn more.

See my green product rating system and green product rating criteria.

If you’re looking for some beautiful natural wedding touches you absolutely need to check out Etsy shop Natures Cabinet. Natures Cabinet has so many pretty little extras that would be perfect for a simple, natural wedding – really; your eye will pop. Take a look at these…

1. Natural Home, Wedding Garland – This jute garland is 6 feet long and has 10 garland flowers with no two alike because each pretty white organza flowerets is hand cut and layered. The end of the jute has loops for hanging. Soooo pretty!
2. Decorative chalkboard on vintage glass bottles – these are lovely. You could write lovey words, or the names of  the bride and groom, or even just draw little hearts or flowers. Fill with pretty flowers or a vine and you’re good to go with a charming wedding table vase.
3. Natural Driftwood Candle Holders – perfect for wedding tables and because these were made with found driftwood, each is unique in color and shape. Logs were found on the ocean shores in Pebble Beach, CA then cut to size, drilled, kiln dried and all edges were lightly sanded. Many different sizes and styles available.

Visit Natures Cabinet to see more.