With Vintage being a very hot theme for weddings right now, we’ve been seeing a lot of classic silver coming back into play.  For awhile this may have been considered too much of an old-style way of decorating your table, but with today’s trends you can really make silver look amazing.  Here are a few ideas to play around with, but there are several more things you can do with it.  It’s time to get out the silver polish!

Photo Credits:

Julie Roberts Photography

pico soriano designs

Lindsey Hawk Photography

Women sometimes consider themselves a specific type or style of ‘bride’, which is reflected in their wedding planning decisions – what type of dress you choose, your decor, the ceremony, the vows, and what traditions you follow, or don’t follow for that matter.  We’ve compiled some of these “types” of brides in case you wanted to see if you classify into one of these categories, but remember this is just for fun – we are all about being original and who you are!

1. The Traditional/Visionary Bride

Your gown is timeless, but relevant at the same time.  You believe that elements of your wedding should reveal a piece of where your from.  You believe in subtly captivating your guests with simple, yet elegant details.  You’ve known exact what type of wedding you’ve wanted since you were little.

2. The Modern/Functional Bride

You want your wedding to feel like the Modern Museum of Art.  Your dress will be a piece of art, something that does not conform to the traditional gown.  You are well organized, knowing exactly how you will go about planning your wedding.  The decor will be textured, similar to modern art sculptures – symbolizing your outlook into the future of style.

3. The Individual/Savvy Bride

This bride makes a statement that is all her own. You are not following the trends, but rather creating ones that show off your own personal sense of style. You want your wedding to be a “forum of self-expression”.  You have set your expectations high for your big day, and go to all extremes to make them happen. At the same time you’re very organized about your planning process, knowing exactly who to contact, and have your checklist on hand at all times.

more Bride Styles in {Part 2}

Photo Credits:

Rowell Photography

The Collection

Eclectic Images

Information gathered from:

Vera Wang Weddings

The Susan Southerland Secret

Tips from the Green Bride Guide

Green Your Travel

The impact of wedding-related travel is significant. Consider a small-ish wedding of about a hundred guests; even if four guests pile into a car (which is unlikely; most cars probably only carry two guests), that’s still twenty-five vehicles driving from one location to the next and contributing to global warming. One of the easiest ways to cut down on your wedding’s travel footprint is to have your ceremony and reception in the same place.

If a single location for both parts of your wedding celebration is not a good option for you, consider hiring a bus or van to move everyone en masse. If you provide snacks and drinks on board, a wedding bus can be a real highlight for you and your guests.

Photo Credit: Studio Mathewes

According to The Wedding Report, about 75% of couples travel to and from their wedding in a limousine, at an average cost of $674. What about a more eco- and potentially budget-friendly option? Imagine the attention and excitement you and your intended would receive if you traveled to your wedding on some form of public transportation. Even better, consider the unique, arty photographs that could result from a ride on the trolley, bus, or subway. More romantic and personalized options could include a tandem bicycle for the athletic couple, an elegant horse and carriage ride, or a rowboat or sailboat for the wedding at water’s edge.

Photo Credit: Jeff Downie

Choose to Reuse

Much of the wastefulness of weddings comes from the multitude of single use items that are associated with them. Clothing, décor pieces, and even leftover food can find a use beyond the trashcan if you plan ahead.

When you consider bridal party attire, think with future use in mind. The men can purchase new suits that they’ll wear again and again, or coordinate their looks with formalwear they already own. If tuxedos are a must, rentals are the best option since most men do not have a need for a tuxedo in their personal wardrobe. Women’s attire can be a little trickier, but matching gowns in one color are the hardest type to reuse. Instead, bridesmaids and children in the wedding party can be given a color palette from which to choose something they already own, or to purchase something they will wear again.

The bride herself can consider refashioning a family or vintage gown, or buying a once-worn gown on a site like SmartBride Boutique. If her heart is set on a new gown, she can consider reselling or donating it afterward. Bridal shoes are also typically a one-time wear. Like gowns, these can be bought once-worn and then resold after, or the bride can choose shoes in a color besides white that she is more likely to wear again.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Canlas

Leftover food and flowers can also find another use after the wedding, but these details require advance arrangements. Contact local hospitals or nursing homes ahead of time to see if your flowers can brighten up their patients’ days after your wedding. Arrange to donate your leftover food to a shelter or soup kitchen so none of it goes to waste.

Even décor pieces can be repurposed or reused. Sites like Recycled Bride and Brideshare allow couples to share or resell décor pieces to save money and cut down on waste. Think creatively when it comes to décor pieces that have the potential to be one-time use items, and get tossed in the trash after your wedding. For example, many couples choose a disposable aisle runner for their ceremony. Instead, why not use a sprinkling of organic flower petals to demarcate your aisle?

Photo Credit: Michele Waite

Other options include using a runner carpet from a special family member’s home, or framing your aisle with soy candle-filled mason jars for an elegant touch to an evening ceremony.

Meaningful Favors

How will your guests remember your day? It can be hard to come up with a small gift to give to over a hundred guests that will be a meaningful token of your appreciation, and a fitting reminder of your day. More often than not, guests leave a wedding with a tiny trinket that eventually gets thrown in the trash.

Consider instead something that your guests will be happy to see every day as they remember your special day. Plantable items, like seeds and tree saplings, are growing in popularity as wedding favors, especially because of the wonderful symbolism they provide: they grow and blossom, just like your love.

Colorado Blue Spruce sapling favors

Photo Credit: Frederick Ng

Edibles make perfect eco-friendly favors too. Chocolates are a popular option, but if you’re looking for something a bit different, you still have choices. You could create a candy station and allow your guests to fill a kraft bag with their favorites. Perhaps there is a local specialty in your area that would be a delicious reminder of your wedding day, like a tiny bottle of maple syrup for a Vermont wedding, or a miniature bottle of wine for a vineyard celebration. You might even gift your guests with a sweet and creative take-home treat: cookies cut and decorated to coordinate with the theme and colors of your wedding.

Apple-shaped cookie favors

Photo Credit: Ellie Grover

In our final article next week, we’ll be sharing tips about incorporating eco-friendly DIY projects, greening your décor (no matter what your wedding colors are!), and offsetting the aspects of your wedding that can’t be reduced, reused, or recycled.

Photographer: Kristy Ahumada of Volatile Photography

Event Site: California Academy Of Sciences

Event Design: Jess Flood Event Design

Attention Los Angeles area newlyweds: Did something happen on your wedding day to turn wedding bliss into a wedding disaster? Would you like a chance to do it all again? KTLA and WeddingWire are giving one lucky couple a second chance at the perfect wedding with the I Do Redo, but the couple only has one week to plan!

Click here to upload a video clip of your nightmare in action, or just submit a clip telling your wedding disaster story, and you could win a complete wedding redo at The Ebell of Los Angeles, with the help of bridal consultant extraordinaire, Wedding Jeannie!

Finalists are named June 12th, the winning couple is announced on June 19th and the wedding will take place June 26th, live on air during the KTLA Morning News. Enter now!

Participating vendors include: