Monique Serra Photography and Hickenloopers event planners put together quite the visual treat with this Southwestern inspired styled shoot at The Charcoal Loft. Their brilliant combination of leather, macrame, and fur décor brought the room to life with texture and color, and the addition of magnolia branches and burnt orange roses from The Potted Pansy added a romantic energy that had us swooning from the first photo! Among all the gorgeous details, none was more beautiful than the bride’s backless, bell-sleeve Rue De Seine gown, which was complemented perfectly by the groom’s casual yet stylish Southwestern vibe.
One of the words we love hearing from couples talking about their wedding planning is “intentional.” Couples are more involved in the details of their day than ever, and they are making choices based on what’s most important to them, rather than what’s trending. When it comes to carrying out their values throughout their day, more and more couples are choosing eco-friendly wedding options to say “I do” with as little waste as possible. In honor of Earth Day this weekend, we’re sharing our favorite eco-friendly wedding ideas!
Isn’t it great when the eco-friendly option also saves you money? Instead of arranging for separate florals for the ceremony and reception, make use of the same designs for both parts of your day. Your ceremony backdrop will look lovely behind your dessert table and your bridesmaids bouquets make for beautiful centerpieces.
2. Dress your wedding party in rented dresses and tuxes.
Rather than having each member of your wedding party purchase a brand new garment for your wedding day, consider using a rental service like Rent the Runway or The Black Tux. Pretty as they may be, bridesmaids dresses are rarely re-worn, making a dress rental a great option.
Something not everyone considers when planning their catering is the amount of waste created by over-ordering. Having a set headcount plenty of time in advance allows your caterer to provide the right amount of food for your guests without having to trash the leftovers at the end of the night. Bonus eco-friendly tip? Choose a farm-to-table caterer and treat your guests to a meal made from locally-sourced and earth-friendly foods!
4. Display informative signs in lieu of programs and menus.
Pretty paper has been known to make our hearts all aflutter, but printed menus and programs aren’t exactly environmentally friendly. A quick way to reduce your ecological footprint on your wedding day is to display your order of events and menus on signs for all to see. Bonus points for using a reusable surface like chalkboard, glass, or a mirror!
5. Ditch the flower arrangements and decorate with potted plants.
While flowers, no matter how beautiful, will wilt and be thrown away at the end of the celebration, potted plants are a much more sustainable option when it comes to decorating your day! Maybe it’s just us and our crazy plant lady ways, but we’re totally into the idea of filling your home with plants that were displayed around your wedding.
Not only is decorating with potted plants a major trend this season, but you double up on being good to the Earth when you give them away as favors too! Your guests will love having a growing gift to remember your day by, as opposed to a tschotske they might otherwise leave behind.
This Austin wedding hits so many amazing notes: meaningful ceremony moments, geometric boho reception décor, and surprising reception activities! Tina and Rashad knew they wanted every detail in their Barr Mansion wedding to be timelessly elegant yet totally unexpected, and we love how the planners of Bird Dog Wedding executed the couple’s vision. We are feeling so inspired by Tina and Rashad’s reception activities that included a tarot reader in a teepee and a visit from the dancers and performers of House of Yes, who performed a fun interpretive history of the couple’s relationship as well as a Cirque Du Soliel-inspired dance routine! John David Weddings photographed every moment of the couple’s day beautifully, including their Pinterest-perfect tablescapes featuring pink geodes and green fronds.
All we wanted was to throw a really fun party to honor the people that have loved and supported us throughout the years. For everything we planned, we asked, “how can the guests have more fun with this?”
Barr Mansion stood out for its rich character and architecture. There is an actual 19th century home, which, along with a towering pecan tree and expansive yard, creates a picturesque background for the ceremony. The ballroom was modernized to include an all-glass facade that floods the interior with light. It is such an elegant juxtaposition of Texas farm and modern, urban Austin.
We threw out so many formalities that the whole wedding felt personal. One thing that meant a lot to me – my best friend from childhood passed away unexpectedly a few years ago, and her father was the one to walk me down the aisle. It was both humbling and touching to have him by my side in her absence.
Our friend Patrick conducted a personalized ceremony that was quirky, hilarious and touching. He asked us each to respond to a bunch of questions beforehand, such as “what does marriage mean to you?” and “what are the little things that made you fall in love?” Using all of our answers, he wove together a sweet and thoughtful narrative about our relationship. He even roasted us a little, putting everyone in a great mood by cocktail hour. Patrick is one of the most creative and funny people we know, and his unique voice really gave life to the ceremony.
The setting for the ceremony was everything we dreamed it would be – elegant and picturesque, with the sun setting behind us and the towering pecan tree and beautiful old house above us.
Our philosophy was to ditch tradition wherever we didn’t feel like it was in line with our personalities, and add things that really express who we are. We felt that by doing so, our wedding came across as more personal, genuine and fun. We would advise others to similarly “be themselves” in wedding planning. Don’t just do what is “expected” – have fun with it, and your guests will likewise have a blast!
We brought a unique performance troupe from Brooklyn, House of Yes, to stage a performance depicting the course of our relationship – from first date to courtship to engagement and the wedding itself. Their performance incorporated interpretive dance, custom costumes and staging, and spoken word.
Later during the dance party, the performers came out and created a “Cirque de Soleil”-type spectacle, complete with aerialists and costumed dancers working the floor! They even brought out a parachute on the dance floor (like the kind from grade school).
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