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.

Spirit Beauty Lounge is the only carbon-neutral online boutique for luxury green, organic and cruelty-free beauty and lifestyle products.

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.

SpiritBeautyLounge.com was founded as a place to shop online for the best in organic beauty and lifestyle products safely, knowing they’ve done the research for you. (Not just for brides!)

"Brides Against Breast Cancer" Charity Gown Sale

The Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to granting last wishes for men and women suffering from Stage 4 (metastatic) breast cancer, has received thousands of wedding gowns for its "Brides Against Breast Cancer" Nationwide Tour of Gowns.

The Gown Sale Tour that began in April continues throughout the year. There is an event in May in Nashville, the Boston area, and Ft. Lauderdale. In July, the Tour continues to Seattle, Miami, and Kansas City; then to Denver, Louisville, Kentucky and Tacoma, Washington in August and September. Check the website for the schedule in your part of the U.S.

Most gowns in the collection (in sizes 2 to 22) have been donated by members of the bridal industry; some are runway samples, modeled at recent Market shows. Others are gifts from individuals across the country. The majority of the gowns have been marked down 40% to 75% below traditional salon prices. Prices range from $99 to $799 for values to $3,500. A collection of Designer and Couture bridals retailing to $8,000 will also be included, with none priced higher than $2,499.

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Wedlok "gettin' hitched in style"

Don't miss this blog with all the savvy wedding stories and bridal news from Las Vegas, New York and around the world!

Need a Wedding Planning Diversion?

"Presumably the horrid economy will put an end to the showiness of destination weddings," stated Ginia Bellafante of the New York Times, "but apparently CBS Television isn't banking on such an organic demise." On Thursday, April 9th CBS begins its 13-episode run of "Harper's Island" and ends on July 2nd.

According to Ms. Bellafante, the show is a guilty-pleasure "mystery in which various wedding guests who have convened on a secluded island in the Pacific Northwest will be killed off each week until the murderer is revealed along with an encyclopedia full of betrayals."

The Times writer asks the ultimate wedding dilemma question: "Do we think the killer bought a gift from the registry, or just picked up a little something at the airport?"

[Photograph: Jimmy Clemmons]

Le Dress Boutique

Le Dress Boutique just opened on Peachtree Road in Atlanta…recycling at its most elegant! Le Dress, an upscale consignment boutique created by Linda Morado, sells "almost new" designer bridal gowns, special occasion dresses, and fashionable accessories.

Need a fabulous cocktail dress, or something special to wear to prom, wedding, cruise, mitzvah or special party? Le Dress has luxurious selections of gently worn and gently priced dresses. 404.842.1955

Green Wedding Blogs - Now there are no excuses not to be eco-friendly for your wedding! Check out these blogs for green ideas galore... (and send us your favorites.)

Green Wedding California - Great tips even if you don't live in California.

Viva Verde - Fashion, flowers, locations, photographers, food & drink ideas...it's all here.

Malibu Weddings - You will leave this blog in love with earth, wind and ocean.

[Photograph: Julie Mikos]

New Books!

The Bride's Instructional Manual: How to Survive and Possibly Even Enjoy the Biggest Day in Your Life(2009) by Carrie Denny and The Groom's Instruction Manual: How to Survive and Possibly Even Enjoy the Most Bewildering Ceremony Known to Man (2007) by Shandon Fowler.

See what else is new (or something old that's news worthy!) in the Especially for Brides Amazon Bookstore.

From Vanity Fair magazine:

"Though the bridal dowry is now a long-since-retired custom, D. Porthault, the ultra-luxe French linen company, is bringing back another relic of an earlier era—the trousseau. The company has partnered with luggage-maker Schedoni to create a trunk stocked with everything a newly married girl might need." 212.688.1660 

Paisley Umbrella

This just announced from Paisley Umbrella in Atlanta, Georgia:

Nestled in the heart of Buckhead, the 1930's cottage is vintage-inspired and romantic, a backdrop for bridal showers, bridesmaid luncheons, baby showers and other intimate party gatherings. You can choose from their creative wedding vendors to pull together party details, from invites to desserts!

Packages begin at $250/4 hours. Call 404.274.5432 for more details.

Soolip
Soolip, the beautiful Los Angeles gift and stationery store which has become synonymous with elegant weddings, invites you to join their mailing list and have a chance to win a FREE set of custom stationery!

The Wedding Library
The Wedding Library in Manhattan — an elegant event planning enterprise — has just announced that they are the exclusive booking agent and event planner for weddings at the Museum of the City of New York. They will assist in making the newly restored and renovated indoor and outdoor party spaces at the Museum accessible to brides interested in a truly unique venue. For more information or a private tour, please call Claudia Hanlin at 212.327.0100 or email.

Victoria and Albert Museum

Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones - Now through May 31, 2009

Since some women never think about wearing any kind of head gear until they become a bride, I thought you'd be interested in this exhibition featuring HATS. Star milliner Stephen Jones curates a magical history of his craft for London's Victoria and Albert Museum, showing now through May 31st.

"The exhibit highlights the joyous diversity of heargear," reports Hamish Bowles for Vogue magazine. "From young Queen Victoria's horsehair bonnet (with Day-Glo coral silk ribbons) to Darth Vader's helmet; there's Audrey Hepburn's Cecil Beaton-designed hat from My Fair Lady and Carmen Miranda's 1940 turban piled high with artificial fruit, as well as a tribal feather headdress from Papua New Guinea." And, of course, the show includes something bridal; there is the current Duchess of Cornwall's Philip Treacy wedding headdress worn in 2005 when she wed Prince Charles.