The Bridal Garden: A Collection of One-of-a-Kind Gowns

A not-for-profit wedding boutique in New York City that benefits city school children. The by-appointment-only shop sells couture and top designer gowns—that have been donated by the designer as well as by stores—for up to 75% off original price. 212.252.0661

The Spring 2009 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings features diamond rings and other diamond jewelry in an article by Fan Winston called Eye Candy. Not only exquisite to look at—up close view of 75 different diamond ring styles—but the article acts as a great guide for you. Beautiful, sparkling and expensive! (If you miss the issue, photos by Sang An are online.)

See the Cornelia Recommends page in this issue for another twist! Buy vintage for your wedding jewelry for greater value and finer quality of design.

Sundance Channel – EcoTrip

Here’s something that caught my eye! Robert Redford’s Sundance Channel has a new program, EcoTrip: The Real Cost of Living, hosted by 30 year-old David de Rothschild.

The viewer joins this handsome green-evangelist, eco-adventurer, and banking fortune heir on his globetrotting journeys via boat, plane, or car where he looks at a common product—a chocolate bar, a T-shirt,  a cellphone, a wedding ring, etcetera —and takes us back to its origin. An upcoming feature takes to the air above the Nevada gold mines to see how a wedding ring is made! I don’t have any other details at “press time”…check the Sundance Channel EcoTrip schedule.

CUSTOM “GREEN” GIFTS & FAVORS FOR BRIDES

For a truly custom green wedding, brides can do their one-stop-shopping for gifts and favors at Spirit Beauty Lounge, which offers custom party favors and gift packages for the green bride’s wedding, shower, and event needs.

Spirit Beauty Lounge allows customers to choose from four eco-friendly packaging options including fair trade recycled paper gift bags, recycled jewelry boxes, recycled pillow boxes with organic cotton, and sustainable raffia ribbon. Then choose any combination of luxury organic products from the site’s entire inventory to create a custom bag or box.

The company was launched in fall 2008 as a one-stop shop for organic and sustainable beauty products from companies with clearly defined humane, ethical, and environmental policies. Spirit Beauty Lounge also carries recycled and vintage jewelry, hard-to-find European skincare lines and non-toxic household cleaning products.

Popular Relationship Book Updated!

The Weekend Marriage: Everything Harried Marrieds Need to Know About Love and Romance

by Mira Kirshenbaum (2009)

From the best-selling author of Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay comes this marriage guide designed for our fast-paced lives. Updated from the successful hardcover original, this is a revolutionary streamlined approach for couples who want to make the most of every precious moment together.

In this marriage guide for the twenty-first century, Mira shares the proven secrets of people who have figured out how to nurture their love no matter what their schedules. She offers four realistic, easy-to-follow recommendations for transforming a time-starved relationship into a thriving and fulfilling marriage.

Carl House

The Carl House, an elegant wedding site located in North Georgia close to Atlanta, has just been voted in the “BEST OF ” category by The Knot Magazine for the third year in a row and voted “Bride's Choice Award 2009 ” by WeddingWire.com. Owned by the dynamic and beautiful BB Webb, who is focused on bringing out the heart of your wedding, the Carl House offers outdoor wedding ceremony ideas and country wedding receptions in their elegant ballroom or their lovely Southern style gardens. 

Check the Carl House website for a list of wedding reception “specials ”...

Wed Alert – Want to know when/where details of all the upcoming Bridal Shows in the U.S.? WedAlert.com is your personal bridal show and expo finder!

Reminder:

Bride's Against Breast Cancer Gown Sale Nationwide Tour Continues!

We gave you all the details in the last issue of Weddings of Grace, but this is too important not to repeat & repeat again! Read the details on the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation website...for a city near you to buy a discounted designer gown or perhaps to donate your gown or just to help spread the word!

Maria Cooke's The Ritzy Bee Blog

“little details that make events, weddings, life so charming & fun!”

Maria is an extraordinarily creative wedding & event planner in Washington D.C., however her blog is universally appealing! Packed with delightfully chic ideas no matter where you are.

Don't miss it!

Just Released!

Bridal Moments: A Survival Guide to Wedding Chaos

by Helen Dugdale & Brendan Moffett (2009)

This book is the antidote to the Bridezilla condition. It is a practical and straightforward guide to the joys and perils of getting hitched. Laced with humor and wit, the authors divulge bits of advice on just about everything “wedding” for brides and grooms to be!

It's GREEN down South!

Looking for eco-friendly locations for your wedding festivities? Here are three recommended places in the Southeastern U.S. (Perhaps you know of others in your area to suggest to Weddings of Grace readers? Let us know.)

• Amelia Island Plantation - This beautiful Florida beach resort just received their green lodging certification last year. “For weddings,” according to Breathe magazine's “Green Wedding” article by freelance writer Melissa G. Lamkin, “this means options like using organic and locally grown fare for dishes and biodynamic wine selections. The resort will donate your excess food to local homeless shelters. ”  So you can stroll barefoot on the beach knowing your wedding shares the love in more ways than you ever thought of!

• Airlie Center - This lovely meeting facility and grounds in Warrenton, Virginia (near Washington, D.C.) “takes pride in their commitment to green wedding ceremonies, ” Breathe magazine tells us. “There are various garden locations available for ceremonies and the property's sustainable organic vegetable garden is the source of most of their produce.” Surrounded by people you love and healthy food—perfection!

• Proximity Hotel - Breathe magazine informs us that we “won't find many destinations as green as this year-old hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina. The hotel has large windows that ensure natural lighting, furniture in the rooms made from recycled materials, and art designed and created by local artisans. In the plans: a green vegetated garden on the roof of the restaurant to reflect heat and minimize the energy needed for refrigeration and cooling of the building.” New World Moxie and Old World Hospitality — a great marriage!

Lovely Fakes!

Usually I’m not a fan of “fake flowers”—but you may want to check these out! A recent article in the New York Times featured a new line of silk-like polyester flowers by designer and Elle Décor editor Carlos Moti. The special collection was created for the Home Shopping Network. Roses, hydrangeas, peonies, ranunculus, and the like in bloom all the time!