Green Weddings: Carley Talks Trends on The Today Show

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The Today Show recently stopped by The Knot headquarters in New York to chat with editor in chief Carley Roney about green weddings. Carley proved that you don't have to sacrifice style in order to have a socially conscious bash. Here's a closer look at some of Carley's tips and her top picks for environmentally friendly vendors.

Green Tip #1: The Invitations
Between the inks, toners, and solvents, it takes many chemicals to create traditional invites. Finding a stationer that uses alternatives like recycled paper and vegetable- and soy-based inks is a great way to go green. Green Field Paper Company embeds wildflower seeds into their tree-free papers, and uses soy-based inks and recycled-paper envelopes.

Green Tip #2: The Gown
Eco-friendly brides have lots of options when choosing their gown and accessories. You can purchase a gown made of organic materials such as silk. Wear a vintage gown, either from a family member or purchased at a vintage store. Opt for vintage jewelry or borrow pieces from friends. Check out this gown made of 100-percent pure silk by designer


Green Tip #3: The Toast
Let you guests toast your marriage with organic wine. True Organic wines are certified by the USDA National Organic Program and have become much more popular over the last couple of years. When making your wine picks, think about Frey Vineyards, the oldest organic winery in the country, which has been around since 1980. Not only are Frey wines eco-friendly, they taste amazing and sell at a great price point.

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Green Tip #4: The Cake
In addition to a menu that is based on organic or locally grown foods, consider serving a wedding cake made of organic ingredients. This cake from Chef Lori Ann Blethen of Wildflowers is 100-percent organic, including the butter, eggs, sugar, strawberries, and flour. Even the decorations are organic, as Lori opted for organic fondant and used organic sugar to make the flowers.


Green Tip #5: The Favors
Candles are a must for weddings, but paraffin candles are produced from not-so-earth-friendly petroleum. We love soy wax candles by Welcome Home Candles, which are hand-poured with fragrant, 100-percent soy wax (a natural resource). Also, be sure to check out the Beeswax Candle Company, which produces 100-percent beeswax candles that have been filter polished (not bleached) to their natural, creamy white color. Beeswax candles give off a delicious honey scent too.

Green Weddings: Are Your Rings Earth-Friendly and Conflict-Free?

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As if buying a diamond wasn't tough enough on your wallet -- there's also your conscience to consider. Though outcry about "blood diamonds" (ones whose trade yields profits for warfare in unsettled regions) and environmentally poor mining practices has led many jewelers to adopt higher standards, it's still smart to do some homework.

Gilt Without the Guilt
Recycled gold is melted down and re-refined, making it the same quality as a newly mined metal. Many gold mines are open-pit mines, which can be devastating to the environment -- would you believe that it takes at least 30 tons of rock to make one gold ring? Shop from jewelers like greenKarat, who use recycled gold. For a list of retailers who support responsible gold mining, go to NoDirtyGold.org.

Vintage Gems
Save the energy that would have gone into mining and creating new pieces by opting for vintage jewelry -- retro styles are still super hot, so this one isn't even remotely a compromise!


Know Your Stones
Look for a ring that meets the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme provisions -- a guarantee that you're not purchasing a "blood diamond." Ask your jeweler about the origins of the stone, and if those places participate in this international agreement. A safe bet: Go with designers like Erica Courtney, who uses only conflict-free stones, or Tiffany & Co., whose suppliers use environmentally sound, conflict-free mining.

Find a Green-friendly Jeweler
The Earthwise Jewelry Collection from Leber Jeweler Inc. uses Canadian-mined diamonds and fair-labor colored gemstones.
Diamond Substitutes
If the thought of buying a diamond makes you uneasy despite fair trade regulations, consider a ring with a moissanite stone. Made from silicon carbonite -- a rare and naturally occurring substance -- moissanite can also be manufactured in a lab. This completely earth-friendly and conflict-free gemstone is less expensive and more durable than the traditional diamond. Visit Moissanite.com for details.

Stylish Synthetics
Another option is Adia diamonds, which are identical to natural diamonds, but produced in a European lab rather than mined. While some stones (like cubic zirconia) look a lot like diamonds, they actually have different chemical compositions, while Adia diamonds have the exact structure, density, and composition of naturally occurring diamonds. This is an especially intriguing option if you're looking for a yellow diamond, since they don't take as long to produce as white diamonds, and therefore cost less.

Other Alternatives
Consider wood. Yes, wood! This is for the true green heart. If you still want your piece to sparkle, artist Gustav Reyes' designs include braided silver and eco-friendly diamonds set in a wooden base. Visit SimplyWoodRings.com for additional details.