I make an effort to minimize my carbon footprint by being vegetarian, choosing to live in a small, central home, and getting around by bicycle whenever possible. These are all small things but I know every little act of green adds up. Since today is Earth Day, I’d like to feature some amazing Ottawa businesses that can help you plan your green wedding.
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With Love Bridal Boutique
Planning your wedding and looking to reduce, reuse, and recycle along the way? One of the easiest places to apply these eco fundamentals is by purchasing a dress on consignment. With Love Bridal Boutique dedicates an entire floor of their beautiful bridal shop to consignment allowing brides the opportunity to pass on their once loved wedding dress to another lucky bride-to-be. The dresses are all three years old or younger, have been dry cleaned and are in like new condition. Dana and Becky are the two lovely ladies behind With Love working together helping brides find the perfect dress and making sure it fits like a glove.
Local creations: With Love offers beautifully hand crafted jewellery by a variety of local artisans as well custom veils, hair accessories, clutches, sashes and flower embellishments that can all be created in-house!
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Full Bloom Floral Design
Erin of Full Bloom is a natural genius with flowers. She creates gorgeous, modern and memorable wedding floral design by using the best quality local product and recycled materials whenever possible. Erin’s work stood out to me immediately and now that I have got to know the woman behind Full Bloom it was no surprise to discover how knowledgeable and sweet she is! Not only creating creative eco-friendly work, but Erin has charitable ideas that can help spread the love: “In lieu of guest favors, tell your guests that the flowers from your event will be donated to brighten someone’s day. Once your event is over, we will arrange for the flowers from your event to be sent with a personalized card in your honor to the organization of your choice.”
Forever green: Each of Full Bloom’s clients are given “The Eternal Tree” in an effort to pay it back to the environment and to decrease our carbon footprint. After the wedding Full Bloom will plant a tree seedling in the newlywed’s honour to symbolize the eternal love and strength of marriage. A photo and map is then emailed to the couple to let them know where their tree is located so they can visit and watch it grow along with their marriage.
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Auntie Loo Weddings
Since 2009, Mandi & Kate have been offering 100% vegan custom designed wedding cakes as delicious as they are beautiful. Auntie Loo Weddings uses mostly organic ingredients shopping through local vendors wherever possible. All of their cakes are 100% custom designed and one-of-a-kind as they believe that each wedding should be as custom and unique as the couple. They work with weddings or orders of any size they do their best to work with a client’s budget, and will come up with different options to help stay within a certain price range. Their establishment is also 100% pride-friendly!
Sweet service: Make sure you and your attendant’s bellies are full before you walk down the aisle with a “Wedding Morning Breakfast Pack” which includes yummy croissants, cinnamon buns, and danishes that are freshly baked for your wedding morning.
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Chelsy Anne
I first met Chelsy at Wed by Hand (an awesome alternative wedding show featuring DIY, handmade and eco-friendly services) and fell in love with her designs. I was so enchanted by her stunning Orb earrings and just had to have them! Chelsy’s work is beautiful and eco in every-way. All materials are sourced within Canada, such as vintage findings, fair trade recycled glass, art clay silver, reclaimed leather & fabrics, as well as semi-precious stones. She also offers two different ways to recycle your jewellery into new work through re-working or trading it in. And of course her business cards are 100% recycled, all packaging is biodegradable and made from recycled materials.
Eco blossoms : Chelsy’s jewellery tags are an extra special mix of earthy beauty and great design. Created by the fabulous Papillion Press, they are formed with eco-friendly paper made with post-consumer waste which recycles itself into wildflowers when you plant it!
{ SPA SERVICES }
Oresta Organic Skin Care
Have you heard about Ottawa’s all natural spa services specializing in luxe organic skin care, makeup and personal beauty products? At Oresta Organic Skin Care they believe in beauty without compromising your health. This unique spa uses handmade, organically grown herbs, spices, fruits and vegetable based skin care products free of parabens, synthetic fragrance and colour. I met Oresta early last year when visiting the award-winning building (green and gorgeous with thanks to her husband’s artwork) was so impressed by her services and the product lines she carries. You can now shop and be pampered at two locations: Glebe and Hintonburg.
Organically beautiful: Oresta suggests booking a facial six months prior to the wedding. This way you can experience the signature organic facial package called “Glowing Bride” – specifically designed to achieve radiant and camera-ready wedding day skin!
Happy Earth Day today and everyday!
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One of my mantras is talk less, listen more. So whenever I am asked to do an interview I need to make the sometimes challenging shift from observer to participant. But with the help of a great person conducting the interview, it can be really fun. Enter Kim Sullivan from 
