Green Wedding Dresses & Gowns

Seven green ways to personalise your wedding day - Day 1

With a week to go before the Spring Equinox and Earth Day on April 22nd we thought it an appropriate time to highlight seven green ways to personalise your wedding day. So here goes for day one:

GO LOCAL
And order hand made, bespoke wedding outfits. A unique gown or suit made by a local designer/dressmaker or tailor can make your outfits really personal. Admittedly it's a more expensive option than off-the-peg or hiring, but you will want to look really gorgeous and more importantly you can make sure it's something you will both want to wear again.

There will be a talented dress maker living close to you who can create a beautiful made-to-measure wedding gown tailored especially for you using organic and natural fabrics. Some may offer a couture collection to choose from, others will work to your own design. Find talented and affordable wedding dress designers and makers in our directory.

Posted in Green Wedding Dresses & Gowns , Inspiration

Awards all round!

We're delighted to have discovered that GreenUnion partner Conscious Elegance has walked away with the Environmental Agency/North Tyneside Business of the Year Award for 2007.

The judges decision was immediate and unanimous, due to the fact that Conscious Elegance is a completely green enterprise. The company strives for 100% sustainability, from the fabrics to the recycled packaging materials. No factories or sweatshops here and CE makes a point of sourcing from other small businesses, especially those that allow mums to earn an income while staying at home with their children. We like that!

Founder and designer, Lori Del Genis says, 'Conscious Elegance is all about making easy choices that have far-reaching effects. Being eco-conscious can also mean thinking outside of the corporate box. For example, we offer fabric choices for vegan brides who wish to support their values with a wedding dress that's every bit as gorgeous as they would see on the high street."

Posted in Green Wedding Dresses & Gowns , News

Vintage trend

There's a huge trend to go vintage this year and wearing it on your wedding day's perfectly eco chic. The London Vintage Fashion, Textiles and Accessories Fair being held this Sunday in Kensington, London has heaps of gorgeous dresses and suits to choose from. Arrive early and snap up a delicious little number for yourself or get your groom gorgeously kitted out in a retro suit.

My advice to brides is to wear brand new shoes with a vintage number to keep it right up to date and grooms will look so on trend with a snappy new shirt, preferably made in organic cotton, and a colourful tie or no tie at all.

Sunday 13 January 2008 from 10am to 5pm
Olympia Hilton Hotel, Kensington High Street, London
Admission £5.00 (Early entry: 8am - 10am £10.00)
Image: Vintage Wedding Dress Company

Posted in Green Wedding Dresses & Gowns , Grooms

Looking for a unique wedding dress or vintage groom's suit?

Eco chic brides and grooms should get along to the London Vintage Fashion Fair this Sunday 14 October between 8am and 5pm at the Olympia Hilton Hotel, 380 Kensington High Street in London.

A great idea to show your individuality and know you won't see any other bride in the same wedding dress is to wear vintage, the ultimate and chicest form of recycling!

The fair offers an extraordinary collection of exhibits from circa 1800 to 1980. You will find an abundance of vintage clothing, textiles, handbags, linen, embroidery, shoes, hats, textiles, beads, trimmings and costume jewellery. You never know you may just find that elusive wedding gown or groom's suit you've been dreaming of for your eco friendly wedding day.

Posted in Green Wedding Dresses & Gowns , Grooms

Organic Fortnight - Wedding Dresses

There's been a lot of talk lately about organic clothing on the high street and, while quite a few of the big names are paying lip service to the idea by stocking mini ranges of organic cotton, mostly at the casual end, there are some dedicated top designers producing fabulous ranges using organic fabrics.

So what's available to the eco chic bride wanting to use organic fabrics for her wedding attire? Not a lot to be honest, if you want to go the conventional dress route. This is, in part, due to the lack of certified organic fabrics which will give the style, cut and drape expected of a wedding dress.

Posted in Green Wedding Dresses & Gowns

Trash the dress ... or not

Image by Hollye Schumacher Photography from Trash the Dress

Ever thought what you'd do with your dress after the big day?

I have a confession to make, my gorgeous hand made dress is in the attic. Because it's not a typical wedding dress, I thought I'd dye it and my shoes an interesting colour and wear them to parties and balls in the future or, at least, my daughter would want to dress up in them and dream of her marriage to a handsome prince.

Sadly, the parties didn't call for such a frock and we weren't blessed with children so my beautiful wedding dress still languishes in the attic, and now I've grown out of it. But I'm still not sure I can give away this very tangible memory of one of the happiest days of my life.

So what will you do with yours?

Posted in Green Wedding Dresses & Gowns , Photographers

Recycle your wedding dress and exchange it for everyday clothes

If you think you won't wear your wedding dress again, how about indulging in a bit of recycling at Whatsmineisyours, where you can sell or swap your clothes for others on the site. A new wedding section has just been added to the site, so its quite small at the moment, but give it time and numbers will swell.

They have a fabulous selection of vintage dresses which would suit a bridesmaid or a bride who's looking for an unconventional outfit for her wedding like this stunning original 1950s tulip style evening dress.

Also on the site there's a detailed guide to buying vintage for your general knowledge. Buy and swap to your heart's content happy in the knowledge that you can come back and recycle time after time.

It would be good to see a bit more vintage and interesting menswear on the site too, for those alternative grooms who don't want to hire the conventional wedding suite or leave a huge footprint on the earth.