What happens when the wedding planner becomes the bride? Its a must see wedding in my book!

A little inspiration for all of you getting engaged this weekend.

Wedding Planner: Rachel with Talia Events

Photo courtesy of Christina Kiffney Photography.

The Knot has a fantastic article on 4 News Ways to Propose. If you are looking for a great idea to pop the question this article is a must read.

The 4 new ways are:

1. Destination Proposals
2. The Surprise Engagement Party
3. The Casual Proposal
4. The Handcrafted Proposal

To get a detailed explanation of all 4 and how to make it perfect be sure to check out the Knot’s article!

Photo courtesy of All Things Cupcake.

Its the romance of the planning. Trying to come up with the perfect surprise, that will make the memory last forever. Nicole with Green Door Photography planned and planned with Nick. The plan was for Nicole to hike half way up to Mount Jumbo to capture Nick’s proposal to Amanda.

Nicole and Amanda had met briefly last summer. Amanda recognized Nicole so she waved and smiled.  Nick kept walking so the plan would not be blown. They came to the overlook and he stopped and dropped to one knee.

I’m so excited Nick and Amanda allowed me to share their proposal. It was sweet, romantic, and perfect.

Congratulations Nick and Amanda! Can’t wait to see the wedding photos.

This week I want to do something a little different. Spring is in the air, flowers are blooming, and wedding season is here. I feel inspired by love, weddings, and engagements. I want to dedicate this week to the one thing that keeps everyone in the wedding industry busy… proposals.

I have some inspiring posts with great ideas this week. This video has made the rounds on a few different wedding blogs in the last few months. I can’t help but share it simply because it is romantic and touching. I love this video because every time I watch it, I cry.

It is inspiring on every level. Enjoy!

Casey proposes to Amy from One Small Instrument Pictures on Vimeo.

Before I moved into my new place I had to downsize a few boxes. The boxes were full of wedding stuff. Invitations, unused gifts, favors, etc. which were all left over from my wedding. I had no idea what to do with them and I really hated the fact I would have to throw them away. I still have my wedding dress and I’m not really sure whether or not I should still keep it.

I wish there had been a resource out there to sell all of my stuff then. Well now there is! Recycled Bride is an amazing resource. If you haven’t heard of them before today you will have to go to their website and check it out! It was started in 2008 by Tracy DiNunzio, who I follow on Twitter.

She started the site shortly after her wedding when she realized she wasn’t alone wondering what to do with all the extra stuff. You can buy or sell anything wedding related from designer wedding gowns to table decorations, bridesmaids dresses, shoes, and wedding gifts. Its a free marketplace for the stylish, eco-conscious, and budget-friendly brides. You will also be reducing your carbon footprint at the same time.

Its such a great resource for brides, brides to be, bridesmaids, or anyone who has been a part of a wedding.

Tracy also has an great blog that will give you tips and inspiration for your wedding day and she donates 15% of her ad revenue to Global Green USA.  Its a must see website and blog so make sure you go check it out!

Happy Earth Day! To celebrate Earth Day I have a few suggestions on how to make your wedding day more eco-friendly.

1. The Reception Venue. Reducing your carbon footprint and saving money at the same time can be very easy. First, look into getting married outside this will cut down on water and electricity. Also, look into having your ceremony and reception at one place. This way there is no travel and you are cutting down on fuel emissions. Make sure you check out GreenHotels.com, there are a ton of eco-friendly hotels in the Rocky Mountains, you just have to look for them.

2. Stationary. Yes, you can send beautiful invitations in the mail without using trees. Use one envelop instead of two or recycled products. They have seed paper where you print right on it. The coolest part about the seed paper is your guests can plant the paper in their garden and have beautiful flowers. Also look into recycled paper or cotton. Several Stationary people do offer these products. Don’t know where to start in the Rocky Mountains? Check out Cloud 9, one of our Dylan List members. They carry a entire line of eco-friendly stationary.

3. Flowers. If you are allergic to flowers this is a simple solution.  But, if you are not here’s a few things to keep in mind. Princess Lasertron is a company you have to check out. They make bouquets out of buttons and felt. If you choose to have real flowers ask your florist about what flowers are in-season and if they can find them locally. This way they don’t have to be shipped and your cutting down again on fuel emissions. Also check out VeriFlora-certified. This means that the blooms aren’t drenched in chemicals or grown under harsh working conditions.

4. Catering. We all know that food is the highlight to any celebration. Choose wisely with your food choices because it can get spendy if your are looking into organic and locally grown food. Look for caterers that already use organic and  locally grown food. If they buy directly from the grower the food will need less time in the fridge and packaging. You will also create less trash and use less electricity. Another great idea is serving food that is in-season. For example, you wouldn’t want to serve winter squash in the summer because it will have to be grown in a greenhouse.

5. The Favors. Have favors that you or your guest can re-use in your house. This is great for the DIY projects. Have planted pots with flowers as the centerpieces so guests can take them home. Or give them something that is edible, that way they will not be throwing away or leaving your thank you gift on the tables. Another option to look into is donating to a charity. Let your guests know about your contribution via word of mouth rather than printing out cards or a sign.

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings.