Special Section to: Greenwich Post I The Darien Times I New Canaan Advertiser I The Ridge eld Press I The Wilton Bulletin I The Redding Pilot I The Weston Forum I The Lewisboro Ledger

HERSAM ACORN NEWSPAPERS

I Do,I DoSPRING BRIDAL 2014

Theres a dirty little fact about weddings that Kate Harrison, author of The Green Bride Guide: How to Plan an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget, will share: The average wedding produces 400 to 600 pounds of garbage.

But theres a movement of eco-conscious couples look-ing to avoid contributing to that kind of statistic. This year, over 70% of couples will include green elements in their weddings, said Harrison, also founder and CEO of the New Haven-based website GreenBrideGuide. But where to start?

The most popular items to green are the invitations and favors, because there are so many choices and they are rela-tively inexpensive, Harrison said.

Options include using recycled materials, or paper that has seeds in it so guests can plant the invitation after its pri-mary intended use, said Sacha Patires, owner of Whimsical Weddings & Events, a Midwest-based event planning firm. I have also had clients that gave away tree saplings as party favors.

Harrison is seeing a growing emphasis on local flowers and food, too. They not only make up the bulk of a typi-

cal weddings budget but also have a huge environmental impact.

She shared this example: Conventional flowers cost on average $2,000 and are usually shipped in from South America, covered in pesticides, sprayed with artificial scent. And [they] can make workers ill. Local, organic flowers cost $200 to $400.

Farmers markets are a good place to meet local growers, Patires said. And caterers purchasing from nearby farmers can create a fresh and authentic menu for your wedding.

Couples choosing a same-site ceremony and reception are, whether intentionally or not, being greener. The same goes with limiting the guest list. Both reduce the amount of travel, and, hence, the carbon footprint, or impact of the event on climate change.

Weddings produce an average of 63 tons of CO2, Harrison pointed out. GreenBrideGuides carbon calculator

by Melissa Ezarik

ITS EASY BEING

GREEN...

Green Wedding continued on page 8Kate Harrison, founder and CEO of the New Haven-based website, TheGreenBrideGuide, and author of the book, The Green Bride Guide.

1

Marisa Baratelli Trunk Show

March 7th, 8th & 9th

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2 I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers March 6, 2014

One of the most common things our brides communicate to us is that they want to look like the most beautiful version of themselves while looking different from their friends who have recently gotten married. Here are a few ways we help them achieve their distinctive dress dream.

ColorIncorporating color, like blush and taupe,

can make a traditional style stand out. Sareh Nouris Sophie has all-over blush coloring. Kelly Faetaninis Edan includes blush as part of its subtle, yet striking ombre pattern. Liancarlo features two gorgeous gowns in a pale pink hue. One is perfect for the bride who wants a little sparkle, while the other is perfect for the bride who wants to mix a more tradi-tional lace with the more modern blush color.

Taupe is also gaining a big presence in bridal gowns and is often used to highlight and accentuate the beauty of a particular lace. Anna Maier works a taupe charmeuse into many of their designs, such as the Bianca and Gemma. Their gorgeous, luxurious lace is offset by the taupe underlay. Alvina Valenta also recently introduced a taupe varia-tion, a color called latte, into one of their ballgowns, resulting in a gown that is an effortlessly elegant show-stopper.

Some designers have chosen a slightly bolder color route for fashion forward and outgoing brides. Sareh Nouri introduced a beautiful tulle ball gown in grey and ivory, as well as a gown of mint green lace (by famed lace design house Sophie Hallette). Perhaps one of our favorites is a fitted stunner called Nikola, by Kelly Faetanini, which features a silver guipure lace pattern over an ivory lining.

Unique embroidery and fabricsNon-traditional sometimes means more ele-

gant and breathtaking than traditional.

Several of our designers have introduced exquisite embroidery into their collections. Liancarlo has a floral organza in platinum that is absolutely gorgeous. The non-traditional element of the platinum embroidery ups the romance and elegance of the gown. Sareh Nouris Field of Love (pictured at right) features a gorgeous hand-sewn lace adorned with intricate floral details opulent and romantic. Judd Waddell offers the uniquely understated Claudette with Chantilly lace.

The last way we suggest achieving a non-tra-ditional look is through vintage-inspired gowns.

They arent technically vintage, because they are designed and made in the present day, but

they evoke past eras and styles. The Kelly Faetanini Luz and Madeline have that vintage feeling to them. Alvina Valentas recent collection had several vintage-inspired styles as well.

Use of accessoriesPerhaps the most com-

mon way we see brides make their mark is through acces-sories. The birdcage veil can help brides do something a little different. Sara Gabriels Bailey veil is one such veil. It can be worn over the face for the ceremony and then flipped for the reception to make a fun headpiece. Other fun headpieces are the Natalie clip, Jaclyn headband, and the oh-so-Gatsby-esque Angela hair swag. Even traditional veil designer Toni Federici has incorporated some less tra-

ditional veils into their collection. The Lyra veil is non-traditional in the way a portion covers the hair, versus being attached to a comb, but is nonetheless stunning and elegant.

Lets not forget jewelry! Vintage costume jew-elry is timeless and sophisticated, and many are slightly bolder than todays creations. What bet-ter way to differentiate yourself than to pick out a one of a kind piece that no one else will have?

More info: 203-309-5110, ashley@alittlesomethingwhite.com, ALittleSomethingWhite.com

by Ashley Krauss, Owner, A Little Something White Bridal Couture, Darien

Upcoming trunk shows Liancarlo trunk show:

March 21 and 22

Judd Waddell trunk show:

March 28 and 29

Kelly Faetanini trunk show:

May 2 and 3

Sara Gabriel veiling and headpieces

2

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March 6, 2014 I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers 3

Want to create your dream wed-ding without breaking the bank? Brides.com asked 50 brides to share their best cost-cutting secretsfrom crafty cocktail parties to a totally genius use for pashminas. Ready, set, save!

Get intimateFor the rehearsal dinner, we

threw a casual outdoor barbecue for just our families, the officiant and the bridal party. Keeping it low-key and super-small meant we had more to spend on the wedding itself. Shannon M., New York City

Bail on the ballroomGet creative with your wed-

ding venue. We married on a 1920s theater stage, then had a reception upstairs. Everyone raved about how different and fun it was. And it only cost us a few hundred bucks to rent the whole thing. Samantha S., Harrisburg, Pa.

Get married by a palA friend from high school

officiated at our wedding. He got ordained through the Universal Life

Church for free. Swan C., New York City

Skimp on StampsWe chose postcards for our save-

the-dates. It saved us money on postage and envelopes. Kelly N., Omaha, Neb.

Pay with plasticWeve been saving credit card

points for two and a half years. Our honeymoon is practically paid for. Alexis J., Forest Hills, N.Y.

Choose an off dayHaving your wedding on a

Friday night is so much cheaper than doing it on a Saturday. Rachel P., New York City

Pick a public placeThis gives new meanng to a des-

tination wedding.My fianc and I booked our cer-

emony and reception at a state park it was only $160 for the whole day. And since its such a pretty location, we barely need any dcor. Ashley N., DeFuniak Springs, Fla.

Box 1019, Ridgefield, Conn 06877203-438-6544

Julie Butler, editorBryan Haeffele, designer

Thomas B. Nash, publisher

For advertising information,

call 203-438-6544

Copyright 2013, Hersam Acorn Newspapers, LLC

MARCH 6, 2014

I DoI Do

Ways to slash your wedding budget

3

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4 I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers March 6, 2014

The favour of a reply is requested. RSVP card tradition-alists know and love this wording, but its certainly not writ-ten in stone. In some cases, its not even written on paper.

Almost every one of our couples shares details on their relationship, the bridal party and wedding day specifics via a wedding website, said wedding consultant Heidi Hanson, owner of Always and Forever, with offices in Easton and Granby. With these sites allowing guests to RSVP electroni-cally, tech-savvy couples are forgoing traditional snail mail RSVPs. It is a great way to save time (less assembling), save money (no return stamps), and save the planet (no RSVP cards to be printed). Oh, and did we mention how easy it is for your guests, you and the wedding planner? she said.

Email alerts, automatic tallies of accepts and meal selec-tions, and seating generator tools are other practical reasons to choose an e-RSVP.

Zachary Rose of New York City-based Green Education Services took an eco-friendly approach to his own wedding, offering only online responses. The results were amazing, he said. Most weddings have a very slow response rate, but we had our final numbers locked just two weeks after send-ing our invitations!

And Hanson said it worked out well for clients planning a Westport wedding while living in London, who literally had guests from all over the world. U.S. guests got a tra-ditional paper RSVP, but everyone else was asked to reply online.

The editor of the website WeddingWire, which offers online RSVPs as part of its free wedding websites, is seeing couples trying it out. Almost a tenth of WeddingWire users with an active wedding website use online RSVPs, said Kim Forrest.

As a planner, I recommend using a combination of tra-ditional RSVPs for those guests that you know are highly unlikely to respond via phone, text or email, and for the remaining technologically-friendly guests using the alter-native methods, said Sacha Patires of Midwest-based Whimsical Weddings.

Online RSVPs: taste vs. comfort levelThe reaction many guests have with the electronic RSVP

concept, however, is more about taste than comfort level. Denise Buzy-Pucheu, owner of The Persnickety Bride, a Sandy Hook-based business offering invitations, custom favors and accessories for brides and wedding planners nationwide, said she doesnt know of any clients who have chosen e-RSVPs. Most have actually told me (along with their moms, who often handle the responses, and fiances)

that they find it tacky. Considering we are dealing with very electronic-savvy brides, I find their response refreshing.

Amber Harrison, the wedding and etiquette maven at the invitation website Wedding Paper Divas (affiliated with Shutterfly), concurs. Our recent research has shown that the majority of people are still taking the traditional route and using printed cards when it comes to wedding RSVPs, she said.

Still, tradition and technology can meet in the middle. Harrison has seen many couples using their RSVP cards to direct guests to their wedding websites, or to share event-specific hashtags for easy social media documentation of the day.

Electronic save-the-dates are another option. In fact, 28% of brides had created and/or sent them in 2012, compared to 19% in 2009, found a Real Weddings Survey of 17,500 brides conducted by TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com.

Couples using the wedding website creation tool Squarespace are using it for save-the-date emails and to col-

lect mailing addresses. In one fell swoop they communicate a save-the-date request, effortlessly collect mailing address-es, said Jeremy Schwartz, who works on business develop-ment for the site.

When only the traditional RSVP format will do, there are still ways couples are getting creative and having fun with these functional cards.

Busy-Pucheu has seen couples have two RSVP versions printed, with different response dates to accommodate the B list of guests. And RSVP card wording, she said, is going everywhere, from fun casual with little quirky state-ments to very formal and gold-gilded.

Harrison sees creative copy as part of the huge, every-thing-personalized wedding trend. In addition, some cou-ples are making RSVP cards more interactive. For example, guests may be asked to reply with their top song requests listed or with memories of the couple.

Will we be seeing lots more electronic and alternative RSVP options? I dont think the classic RSVP cards will ever go away, Forrest said, but I think online RSVPs will cer-tainly increase in popularity as couples do more and more wedding-related tasks online.

by Melissa Ezarik

Fun e-RSVP Ideas Augmented reality cards: A couple sends what

appears to be a standard invite, but when the recipi-

ent takes a photo of it with a smartphone, a three

dimensional video appears and interacts with the

user. More info: howstuffworks.com/augmented-real-

ity.htm

RSVP by text: Guests reply and can opt in to

receive follow-up messages, which may contain fun

questions like, Whats one bridezilla moment from

the couples engagement? More info: txtrsvp.com

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March 6, 2014 I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers 5

Pre-wedding jitters are not necessarily a sign of cold feet; it is something that happens to almost everyone who ties the knot. Its a big step and the future is always uncertain, so feeling anxious and ner-vous is normal. There are some things you can do to soothe your frayed nerves and enjoy the moment. Here are five simple tricks

1) Learn centering techniques. When you learn to center yourself, you can calm your nerves almost instantly. A quick way to do this is to close your eyes, breathe slowly and imagine roots growing from your feet and into the earth below you. Imagine those roots curving back up on both sides and going back down into the crown of your head a never ending cycle. Visualize this for a few minutes until you feel centered and grounded.

2) Breathing techniques. Have you ever been so nervous that you feel light-headed? Most of the time, this is due to breathing too quickly or hyperventilat-ing. Practice breathing slowly; in through your nose and out through your mouth. Inhale slowly for eight seconds and then pause for eight seconds before exhaling for eight seconds. Breathing slowly will help

you get your nerves under control.3) Sneak a cocktail. You dont want to go down

the aisle smelling of booze, but having a pre-wedding cocktail can really calm your anxiety and allow you to enjoy the process rather than being a bundle of nerves.

4) Chew peppermint. You can settle your tummy by chewing on peppermint candy before the wed-ding. The plus is that your breath will be minty fresh for your kiss with your new hubby!

5) Stay in the moment. Many people have a defense reaction where they feel like theyre moving through a blur when theyre nervous. Force yourself to stay in the moment by noticing various things. For instance, This is my wedding day. There is my future husband standing at the altar. This is my fathers hand that Im holding. Keep noticing small details like this to keep yourself firmly in the present.

Each of these techniques can help you calm down so that youre able to enjoy the day and remember it clearly when you look back.

From eweddings.com

5

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6 I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers March 6, 2014

Wedding flowers are an important part of any matrimonial celebration. Whether used for decorative purposes or more traditional reasons, flowers can enhance a wedding. With typically 10 to 15% of the wedding budget allocated to flowers, its important to buy quality flowers that can last for the duration of the day. The bride isnt the only one who car-ries or wears the wedding flowers on this spe-cial day; other wedding party members need them, as do locations, such as the ceremony and reception sites.

Historical emergence of wedding flowers

The Flower Expert attributes the start of the wedding flower tradition to early Roman brides carrying certain herbs under their wedding veil. This custom was designed to help in promoting fidelity and fertility. Greek brides also wore crowns with herbs and flow-ers, which was considered a gift from nature. Weddings that occurred in ancient Greece had brides using ivy in their bouquets to represent enduring love.Bouquet options

According to Brides.com, the top five tradi-tional wedding flowers are roses, hydrangeas, peonies, gardenias and sweet peas. Roses are the perennial wedding choice, since they rep-resent love and passion, and can be found in many summertime bouquets. With so many different rose types and colors to choose from, rose bouquet options abound.

Most bridal or bridesmaid bouquets coor-dinate with the wedding colors. A popular type of bridal bouquet is a nosegay, which is a smaller arrangement featuring smaller flowers with greenery. Tightly or loosely secured, the round bouquet has a large number of wed-ding flowers. A recent addition is the wired bouquet, where flower heads are secured to the arrangement. Bridesmaid bouquets can be miniature replicas of the bridal bouquet or can be a single flower tied with a ribbon.

Although real wedding flowers are most common, silk flowers are an option that can cost a fraction of what real flowers do.

Wedding party flowersIn addition to the brides and bridesmaids

bouquets, it is customary to outfit other mem-bers of the wedding party with flowers as follows:

Mother of the brides and grooms cor-sages

Father of the brides and grooms bouton-nieres

Flower girls bouquet Ring bearers boutonnieres Grandmothers corsages Grandfathers boutonnieres Grooms boutonniere Groomsmens boutonnieres

Ceremony and reception flowersWhether the wedding ceremony is at the

beach, in a backyard, garden, park or church, wedding floral arrangements can add stunning decoration. Lattice archways can feature babys breath, pew rows can showcase bows and stargazers, and the front of the aisle can dis-play an arrangement of calla lilies. Oftentimes, the arrangements coordinate with the colors of the bridesmaids dresses.

Many times flowers decorate the reception area or adorn the gift or guest tables after the wedding ceremony. Other popular locations include the head tables, archways or bath-rooms. The wedding flowers should reflect the receptions formality. If it is a casual affair, then the flowers should be casual and inviting. If it is more formal, then taller and elegant flowers are more appropriate.

Who to use/choose Fairfield County is teeming with florists, many of whom are independently-owned mom-and-pops, as well as other, larger flo-rists. Look through the pages of the newspa-per into which this special section has been inserted for florists that are advertising in your town.

If you are so inclined, you can act as your own florist, and gather fresh, locally- grown flowers from a farmers market for the bou-quet, the altar, the reception and more.

A who, what, where guide to wedding flowers

Aaron Marsh

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March 6, 2014 I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers 7

Picking out the perfect thank-you-for-being-in-my-wedding gift might, at first glance, seem pretty easy, but once you consider the tastes/styles/personalities of your bridesmaids, the decision can sometimes be as dizzying as choosing the perfect wedding dress.

Bridesmaid gifts run the gamut in terms of price, style, and individuality. Some brides spend hundreds of dollars, while others chose to spend only a few, or chose to make the gift themselves.

You can give everyone the same thing, or gift a different item for each woman. Get cre-ative. Thinking outside of the box can make the traditional thank you memorable, as well as useful.

The following are 20 possibilities:1) Tickets to a musical or dinner theater2) A set of movies, themed around her

favorite actor or director3) A gift certificate to a local boutique4) A gift certificate to a luxury spa5) A hair and beauty makeover at a local

salon

6) A hand-painted platter or vase, designed at a local ceramics studio and personalized with her favorite colors

7) A personalized poem, framed8) A monogrammed set of bath towels9) Personalized jewelry10) A gift certificate for an introductory

ballroom, salsa or flamenco dance class11) A gift certificate for a session with a

personal trainer, Pilates instructor, reflexologist or nutritionist

12) Vintage ashtrays, lace bureau scarves or Depression-era glass

13) Silk pajamas14) Personalized clutch15) A gift certificate to a movie theater or

music venue16) A flight bag, camera case or classy travel

kit bearing her initials17) Personalized flip flops18) A gift certificate to a favorite restaurant19) Gift baskets full of lotions, soaps and

other indulgent items20) A deluxe picnic basket

Get creative with your thank-you token

by Julie Butler

Short cocktail dress, long gown, strapless, or arms covered, silk, chif-fon, taffeta or sequins, sexy or tailored, jacket, stole or neither and oh yes, then there is the color.

There are so many choices when choosing the perfect dress for your spe-cial occasion.

No one wants to look like a mother of the bride or groom, said Erica Jensen, owner of the Helen Ainson Shop of Darien for the past 36 years. My customers want an elegant dress or gown appropriate for the occasion which makes them look younger and thinner than they really are.

Believe it or not, dressing is an opti-cal illusion. Depending on the shape and body type of the customer, we can actually find the style which does accentuate the positive while minimiz-ing the negative, Jensen said.

When choosing your mother-of-

the-bride-or-groom dress, it is always important to first discuss the dress code on the invitation, the time, the day and the location for the wedding in order to decide how dressy one should be. Your personality should be taken into con-

sideration as well as the most flattering color depending on ones skin tone and hair color.

We always suggest the proper lin-gerie, jewelry, shoes and evening bag to give the total look. Above all, Jensen said, we must stay within the comfort zone of that individual customer.

Find the perfect dress within your comfort zone

Give the gift of Love. Love Sees is a selection of sterling silver bracelets and necklaces with a mes-sage, designed by Nancy Diehl of Wilton. I got the idea last February while driving and thinking about how I could use my gifts and talents to help make a difference, Diehl said. I wanted to share my understanding of the power and importance of love. All the jewelry comes with a selection of different love phrases, from Love Hopes, Love Accepts, Love Frees, Love Creates, Love Laughs, Love Protects, Love Saves, Love Listens, Love Heals, and Love Teaches. Each piece comes in a box with quote inside: Wear this knowing that Love Sees your destiny and purpose and that you have the power to give love. Ten percent of proceeds from each item sold is donated to teen suicide prevention and awareness. Bracelets are $38; necklaces are $42. Sold online at lovesees.net. Email: Info@lovesees.net

We always suggest the proper

lingerie, jewelry, shoes and

evening bag to give the total look.

Erica Jensen, Owner of Helen Ainson

7

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8 I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers March 6, 2014

Trying to fit into that dress for the big day? Diet the right way for better results.

Many brides-to-be, and even some grooms-to-be, express concern about their weight in the weeks and months leading up to their wedding. Losing weight is a goal for many engaged cou-ples, but its important that couples who want to shed a few extra pounds dont sacrifice safety for the sake of slimming down.

According to a Cornell University study of 273 women with a wedding day approach-ing, 70% wanted to lose more than 20 pounds before their weddings. However, reality indicates that a weight loss of five to 10 pounds is more attainable more so if the weight loss regi-men is spread out over several weeks. The term brideorexia has entered the vernacular, and it is associated with brides who are taking extreme measures to lose weight. Taking laxatives, engag-ing in fluid-only diets and even using tobacco or drugs to serve as appetite suppressants are just some of the measures some brides have taken to shed weight before their wedding days.

There is no magic formula to shed pounds, but there are certain ways to jump-start and maintain the process of healthy weight loss so brides can look slimmer and healthy for their big day.

EatAlthough initial calorie curbing can help

shed weight, eventually your body may adapt to your new eating habits or go into survival mode, which means conserving fat reserves. Researchers at Penn State University found that fasting signals to your body that it is being starved, triggering a lower metabolic rate. Brides-to-be should never cut out food entirely. Eating anything less than 1,200 calories a day will encourage the body to try to conserve energy by lowering its metabolism. Severe calorie restric-tion is not an effective way to lose weight.

ExerciseStep up your exercise regimen. Reducing

food intake alone will not help you lose weight quickly. The goal is to burn more calories than you consume. Therefore, adding more cardiovas-cular activity to your routine can help burn calo-ries more efficiently. According to a clinical study from researchers at Italys University of Padua published in the 2011 International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, eat-ing a light meal before exercising helps you burn more fat and keeps your body burning fat even

24 hours after the exercise.Salt and non-filling food

Reduce sodium intake. Sodium doesnt nec-essarily lead to weight gain, but it can make it appear so. Sodium contributes to water reten-tion in the body, which may make you appear heavier or bloated. Cut back on foods that are high in sodium, especially as the wedding draws close, to reduce water retention.

Identify sources of empty calories. Fruit juices, soda and other beverages are often the culprits with regards to unnecessary calorie consumption. Therefore, choose your bever-ages wisely and limit them to water, teas and unsweetened drinks. If you want to drink fruit juice, consider diluting it. In addition, most alcoholic beverages have 100 calories or more. While it may be tempting to celebrate with wine, champagne and mixed drinks during your engagement period, your waistline may ultimate-ly pay the price for such indulgences.

Eat smaller portions Oftentimes, its not a matter of what you are

eating but how much. Most portion sizes served in restau-rants or even at home are double or triple the amount that you should be eating. When in doubt, cut everything in half.

Fill up on fiber or protein. Instead of resorting to pills to suppress an appetite, simply eat foods that will fill you up naturally. High-fiber foods will bulk up in the stomach and keep you feeling satiated longer. The same can be said for lean proteins, which take longer to digest, thus fending off hunger pangs.

Finding the right lightThe right photographer can help

you from having that extra 10-pounds in pictures.

Hire a good photographer. A camera allegedly adds 10 pounds, a reason many couples panic about their wedding day. A photo is a 2D image of a

3D object. Therefore, the photo reduces depth perception and flattens an image, which may make some items look like they have more bulk. A professional photographer will know how to manipulate lighting and angles of the camera to ensure a more flattering shot.

While losing weight for a wedding is many couples ultimate goal, the best way to tackle this task is in a healthy, responsible manner.

Before saying I do Green Wedding

page (greenbrideguide.com/plan/carbon-cal-culator) helps couples offset emissions from their big day. The site also offers carbon neu-tral shipping on products.

Another reason to limit the guest list: Less guests equals less waste, Patires said.

Can destination weddings, despite the travel factor, be green? Sandy Malone, a for-mer executive at a Connecticut-based com-pany who moved to the island of Vieques near Puerto Rico to open a wedding planning busi-ness with her husband, has made it happen. Weve done menus of entirely organic food offerings, and a few where everything had to be locally sourced. That can be a challenge when youre working on an island seven miles off the coast of another island, said Malone, whose business, Weddings in Vieques (wed-dingsinvieques.com), is the focus of the TLC reality show Wedding Island.

Brides and grooms are all over the map with their requests. Some relate only to food. Some relate to paper products. Some relate to the good stewardship of the island on which theyve decided to get married, she added. They dont do anything with fake products in their decor.

Couples wanting to go far with eco-friend-ly festivities planning may also consider:

A vintage ring. Diamond mining leads to water pollution, erosion and flooding,

Harrison said. Its also responsible for 3.7 million deaths in African conflict

zones. A once-worn gown. After all,

said Harrison, wedding dresses can use up to 16 yards of fabric. Most

of those fabrics are made from petro-leum products bleached with toxic

chemicals and shipped from China. Average cost of a once-worn dress: $200.

Wedding day recycling. This may include composting leftover food, Patires

said. Or even plates and utensils. The organic bamboo Veneerware plates and sporks from Bambu (bambuhome.com), for instance, are compostable.

Non-toxic outdoor bug protection. One provider of organic mosquito and tick services thats often called in for weddings and other events is Pure Solutions (puresolutions.com), which opens a Westport branch this spring.

No matter what eco-friendly I Dos are proclaimed over the course of the wedding planning, Patires said to remember that guests values may not match. So try choosing green methods such as recycled paper invitations that you know will be utilized by everyone.

Continued from page 5

heavier or bloated. Cut back on foods that are high in sodium, especially as the wedding draws close, to reduce water retention.

Identify sources of empty calories. Fruit juices, soda and other beverages are often the culprits with regards to unnecessary calorie consumption. Therefore, choose your bever-ages wisely and limit them to water, teas and unsweetened drinks. If you want to drink fruit juice, consider diluting it. In addition, most alcoholic beverages have 100 calories or more. While it may be tempting to celebrate with wine, champagne and mixed drinks during your engagement period, your waistline may ultimate-ly pay the price for such indulgences.

Eat smaller portions Oftentimes, its not a matter of what you are

eating but how much. Most portion sizes served in restau-rants or even

or triple the amount that you should be eating. When in doubt, cut everything in half.

Fill up on fiber or protein. Instead of resorting to pills to suppress an appetite, simply eat foods that will fill you up naturally. High-fiber foods will bulk up in the stomach and keep you feeling satiated longer. The same can be said for lean proteins, which take longer to digest, thus fending off hunger pangs.

Finding the right lightThe right photographer can help

you from having that extra 10-pounds in pictures.

Hire a good photographer. A camera allegedly adds 10 pounds, a reason many couples panic about their wedding day. A photo is a 2D image of a

While losing weight for a wedding is many couples ultimate goal, the best way to tackle this task is in a healthy, responsible manner.

ness with her husband, has made it happen. Weve done menus of entirely organic food offerings, and a few where everything had to be locally sourced. That can be a challenge when youre working on an island seven miles off the coast of another island, said Malone, whose business, Weddings in Vieques (wed-dingsinvieques.com), is the focus of the TLC reality show Wedding Island.

Brides and grooms are all over the map with their requests. Some relate only to food. Some relate to paper products. Some relate to the good stewardship of the island on which theyve decided to get married, she added. They dont do anything with fake products in their decor.

Couples wanting to go far with eco-friend-ly festivities planning may also consider:

A vintage ring. Diamond mining leads to water pollution, erosion and flooding,

Harrison said. Its also responsible for 3.7 million deaths in African conflict

zones.

said Harrison, wedding dresses can use up to 16 yards of fabric. Most

of those fabrics are made from petro-leum products bleached with toxic

chemicals and shipped from China. Average cost of a once-worn dress: $200.

Wedding day recycling. This may include composting leftover food, Patires

said. Or even plates and utensils. The organic bamboo Veneerware plates and sporks from Bambu (bambuhome.com), for instance, are compostable.

Non-toxic outdoor bug protection. One provider of organic mosquito and tick services thats often called in for weddings and other events is Pure Solutions (puresolutions.com), which opens a Westport branch this spring.

No matter what eco-friendly I Dos are proclaimed over the course of the wedding planning, Patires said to remember that guests values may not match. So try choosing green methods such as recycled paper invitations that you know will be utilized by everyone.

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