Coverall Featured in Eco-Beautiful Weddings!

Hi Everyone,

I'm very excited to announce that one of our fabulous weddings has been featured in the Summer 2010 Issue of Eco-Beautiful Weddings. Darlene and Tobin's wedding was an eco-filled day with beautiful, socially-responsible touches at every turn.

I'll be giving more details on this spectacular event when I post the wedding in our Real Weddings Section but for now you can get a sneak peak by checking out the latest issue of Eco-Beautiful Weddings HERE!

You'll find Darlene & Tobin's wedding starting on page 43.

Yours,

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Organically Gifted: Ottawa Eco Ideas

I was so excited to have stumbled upon this site that I had to share it with you. Organically Gifted is a local company with an online eco gift store. They create unique, toxin-free, organic gifts and baskets for every occasion! You can choose from their inventory of gift baskets or build your own!

They've got tons of great ideas for organic and eco-friendly wedding favours. And perhaps best of all, 1% of every purchase made goes straight to the David Suzuki Foundation!! It's definitely worth a look!

Happy Friday!

Sophie

eWedding

There are tons of wedding website services out there. My personal favourite is eWeddings where you have the option to set up a free site or pay for additional features. Plus there are TONS of template options.

If you've decided to skip the formal paper invites altogether a wedding website is a must have.

Sophie

Thirst Relief International: Grace Ormonde Benefit Shoot

According to UNICEF more than 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. That's 1 in 6 people on the planet! Statistically, there is 1 death every 15 seconds caused by water-borne illness; 90% of those deaths are children under the age of 5.

Thirst Relief International is a water development organization founded by wedding photographer, Jim Davis-Hicks. In August of 2009 Thirst Relief teamed up with Grace Ormonde, several designers, and 15 U.S. wedding photographers to create one of the most beautiful wedding gown shoots I've ever seen.

All of the gowns, which each contained a touch of blue, were designed specifically for the Tanzania shoot. You can check out some of the photographer's photos from the trip here. For photos from the shoot check out the Spring/Summer 2010 issue of Grace Ormonde.

Visit the Thirst Relief website for information on how to donate. What a wonderful "In Lieu of Favours" gift this could be for your wedding!

Happy Planning!

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Sock Boutonnieres

Here's a project for a few of those odd socks you've got sitting around. Here's what you'll need"

1 odd sock (preferably a thick woolly one)
Floral wire
Floral Tape

Step 1: Cut the end off your sock about 3 inches from the opening.


Step 2: Cut the piece lengthwise so that you have one long piece.


Step 3: Start rolling the sock from one end. There are a number of ways to do this. Try playing with the shapes you can make before proceeding to the next step.

Step 4: Pinch the fabric together at the bottom.

Step 5: Once you've found a shape you like poke a piece of floral wire through the pinched end of the sock and wrap the wire tightly around the outside so that the flower holds its shape. Leave a little tail at the end to wrap the floral tape around.

Step 6: Wrap the floral tape around the wire. After I finished this step I coloured the floral tape black with permanent marker so that it matched the colour of the flower.

Here are three finished boutonnieres. Unfortunately I only had dark coloured socks on hand but some colourful woolly socks would be really stunning too.

You can also add in some felt leaves, beads, buttons, and other decorative elements to really personalize these pieces. If you make your own sock boutonnieres be sure to send us some photos!

Cheers,

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Tomato Favours

If you grow tomatoes in the summer you're likely used to passing baskets of tomatoes along to family and friends (and anyone else who will take them) once they've ripened. Why not put some of that delicious fruit to work for your wedding this year?

Here are some ideas on how you can make your tomatoes work as guest favours:

1. Seedlings


If you're getting married in the spring you won't have a chance to grow your tomato plants large enough to produce fruit. Instead, why not grow them into small seedlings and pot each seedling so that your guests can plant them at home and benefit from their own fruitful gift.

2. Tomato Baskets

If your plants grow well and produce enough fruit you can create small favour baskets for your guests so that they can take home their very own ripe, delicious tomatoes to use in their favourite tomatoe recipe. A small assortment of cherry tomatoes makes for a colourful gift.

3. Salsa

If fresh tomatoes are not an option perhaps whipping up a special salsa recipe is the answer. Can batches of your salsa to give to your guests as a tasty gift that they can enjoy whenever they wish.

Do you have ideas on how to create tomato favours? Leave them in the comments section or send them here.

Cheers,

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Ottawa's Wedding Gown Consigment Store

December has become gown month on the Coverall blog! I've had two posts on wedding gowns in as many weeks. I wonder what will come about next...

This week I want to let you know that Ottawa FINALLY has a wedding gown consignment store!! White Haute Bridal is now accepting dresses from past brides (by appointment only) and opens its doors to new brides in January.

The store offers a selection of once loved and never worn dresses at a fraction of the original sale price. All dresses are dry-cleaned and restored to like new condition.

Personally, I love consignment stores for their eco-friendly qualities. Imagine if half of all wedding gowns were purchased on consignment and if every new wedding gown was sold on consignment once used. The impact in terms of materials and chemicals used and the transportation required to get new dresses out to the market would be significantly reduced. (John Lennon's Imagine comes to mind, ha ha).

My dreams of a more socially responsible planet aside, this is a fantastic way for new brides to save some money on their wedding gowns and for newlywed brides to make a bit of money on their once loved dresses. You'll want to call to make your appointment soon as I'm sure White Haute's calendar will be packed in no time!

You can check out the White Haute Bridal website here.

Happy Planning!

Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination

Made in Canada

I received this FW in my inbox today and felt that it was important enough to share with you. This message is talking about everyday items like light bulbs but I think that with the amount of money spent on weddings these days couples could make a big impact by choosing items for their wedding that were made in Canada as well.

Cheers!

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

My grandson likes Hershey's candy . I noticed, though, that it is marked made in Mexico now. I do not buy it any more. My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico now. I have switched to Crest... You have to read the labels on everything .

This past weekend I was at Wal-mart. I needed 60W light bulbs. I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off brand labeled, "Everyday Value. " I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats - they were the same except for the price. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in - get ready for this -in Canada at a company in Ontario.

So throw out the myth that you can not find products you use every day that are made right here. My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in Canada - the job you save may be your own or your neighbour’s!

If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others so we can all start buying Canadian, one light bulb at a time!

We should have awakened a decade ago. Let's help our fellow Canadians keep their jobs and create more jobs here in Canada.

The Bridal Expo Cornwall 2009

The Bridal Expo is a unique concept in Cornwall. The show is geared at the modern bride; but who is the "modern bride" anyway?

Well... here are a few tips for recognizing her: The modern bride is the bride who is taking control of her wedding (instead of handing the reigns over to her mother or mother-in-law); the modern bride is a do-it-yourselfer and has her hands in at least one creative project for her wedding; the modern bride is budget-conscious because she works and she's contributing a big chunk of her own money into her wedding; and the modern bride doesn't have time to mess around - she wants the best of everything she can afford and she has little time to find it all.

Do any of these descriptions sound like you?

This show is geared at helping brides set a path for their wedding to create the best possible event that they can with the resources at their disposal. The show boasts a roster of the Cornwall's top wedding vendors who you can interview and book at your leisure (this will cut back on much of the research time you would have spent on your wedding). But this isn't where the show is unique - the show is truly unique in it's presentations and seminars. This is where you'll have a chance to learn a bit of DIY info to really put you in the best possible shape to take on the planning ahead.

So keep your calendar open for Sunday, November 8 and ask a friend to keep her day free as well (or hey, you could take your fiance). Doors open at 12-noon.

For more information check out The Bridal Expo Website and Register today!

Cheers,

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Unique Engagement Rings

If you type "engagement ring" into Google you're going to wind up with hundreds of pages containing image after image of beautiful diamond rings. But maybe you're not a diamond-kinda-girl? Maybe you're looking for something special? Something unique? Something a little more... you?

If that's the case, I've got just the thing to get you started! I've selected a handful of beautiful engagement rings that are absolutely stunning but that contain something other than clear white diamonds as their focal point.

I love these pearl engagement rings.

Another great option is to go with a coloured diamond or a different precious gem (the black diamonds are really stunning!).

These wooden engagement rings are my new favourite find! They are absolutely beautiful and, if you go about it the right way, they would serve as an appropriate eco-friendly touch as well.

Okay, this one is a bit of a cheater because it does have a diamond in it... but it's still very unique!

These rings are fabulous! The man's ring has a piece of wood where the gem would traditionally be placed.

Hope that gets the wheels turning! Now go out there and find your perfect ring!

Cheers,

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Eco-Friendly Weddings: The Flowers

[Photo from Stylehive.com]

Eco-friendly wedding flowers?

That's right. The flowers you choose can actually have a huge impact on the overall carbon footprint of your wedding. Here are a few things to consider when selecting your flowers:

1. Are the flowers locally grown? Clearly, locally grown flowers will have an impact on the overall transportation tally of your wedding.

2. Are the flowers Fair Trade? Fair Trade basically means that the people producing the goods are paid appropriately for their work. They work in safe and healthy conditions and they earn enough money to actually make a living.

3. Are the flowers organic? Some farmers are making a very concerted effort to ensure that they work with nature instead of against it. So they use agricultural techniques that protect the surrounding air, water, and wildlife. Ask your florist if your flowers were grown on an organic farm.

[Photo from Deviant Art]

Or hey, maybe you'd prefer to go with hand-made origami flowers made of recycled paper? Lovely!

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Eco-Friendly Weddings: The Dress

[Photo from Adele Wechsler]

Having an eco-friendly wedding gown no longer means sacrificing style. Some companies advertise "eco-chic" gowns - but in some smaller towns it can be tough to find a supplier that carries and eco-chic line of dresses. Here are some things you can ask about the dress you're considering to find out if it's an eco-friendly choice:

1. Where was it made? And who made it? This falls partly into the transportation factor of an eco-friendly wedding; clearly, the closer to home the dress was made the better (and this includes where the materials originally came from... not just where the dress was tailored). The second question is an uncomfortable one to think about - but just consider this, you want to make sure that the person who made your dress did so in healthy and safe working conditions and that he/she was paid fairly for his/her work. Period. Typically, locally made dresses cost a little more because the dress-maker was paid appropriately for his/her work.

2. What materials were used in making the dress? There are certain fabrics that are more "socially responsible" than other. Natural fibres including hemp, organic cotton, peace silk and bamboo are among some of the more popular options.

3. Looking for something white? Choose a colour that's not perfectly white. Those ultra-white wedding dresses didn't get that way all on their own. Making a dress really white requires the use of harmful chemicals. So go for a shade that's not quite white.

Among my favourite eco-chic wedding gown designers is Canadian designer Adele Wechsler in Toronto. Her gowns are GORGEOUS and oh so environmentally friendly! Some of the world's top eco-chic bridal gown designers include Morgan Boszilkov, Deborah Lindquist and Tara Lynn.
Can't find the perfect eco-friendly dress?

Choosing an eco-friendly dress doesn't have to be difficult. If you can't find a dress that's eco-friendly why not consider wearing something second-hand? After all, "Re-use" is one of the three Rs, right? Why not perk up a gorgeous vintage gown. Not only will it be eco-chic but it's so romantic!

Cheers!

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

[Photo from Weddingbells Blog]

Eco-Friendly Weddings: Transportation

[image courtesy of Southampton Cycling Campain]

Transportation is one of those crucial items that can really add to the carbon footprint of a wedding. You may not even realize how much transportation is required for your wedding until you consider some to the following items:

- How many guests do you have coming from out-of-town?

- Will your guests have to travel far between to get to the ceremony and then again between the ceremony and the reception (and of course, to get home again)?

- Think about where various items are coming from. Your dress, your food, your wine, your shoes, your jewellery, your invitations, your rings, your decor, and so forth. Are you choosing items that were made locally?

- Do you require rental items that are not already on-site? Such as chairs, tents, tables, linens, tableware, etc?

Those are just a few things that will add to the overall travel total of your wedding.

Cutting back just a little on travel time can be very easy. Choose a one-site wedding where you can have your ceremony, your photo session, and your reception all in one place. If you must travel between locations consider using bicycles, row-boats, or a horse and carriage.

Select as many locally grown/produced products as you can.

Cut your guest list down and/or ask guests to carpool.

Reducing the overall transportation requirements for your wedding can be very simple. Give it some thought.

Cheers!

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Eco-Friendly Weddings: The Venue

There are many things to take into consideration when searching for an earth friendly wedding venue. Here are some ideas to get you started:

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1. Choose a local venue to reduce travel time to and from.

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2. An outdoor ceremony is ideal as you reduce/eliminate the need for heating/air conditioning, electricity, lighting, decor etc. (Think park, farm, garden, field, lakeside, mountain, etc).

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3. Consider a single-site wedding (ceremony & reception at one location).

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4. If selecting a location that offers catering ask if they use local ingredients.

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5. Reduce your guest list in order to use a smaller venue (and thereby, less resources).

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Happy Planning!

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Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Eco-Friendly Weddings: GREEN is the new WHITE

We hear a lot of talk about the environment these days. It ranks among the top issues on the government agenda and as time goes on more and more companies are “going green” with eco-friendly products.

We're also learning about ways to reduce our own carbon footprint in our day-to-day lives and as more and more people become aware of the environmental impact we're having on the planet we are searching for more ways to change.

But what does it mean to "go green" on your wedding day? Why do people do it? And how can you do it too?

This is the topic I’ll be focusing on for the next couple of weeks. We'll explore the many ways that your wedding can have an impact on the environment and the types of things you can do to soften the blow. Some things are easier than others so don't feel that you need to follow green wedding guidelines to the letter. Even very simple changes can make a difference.

So why this shift toward planet-friendly nuptials? Most people don't realize the enormous impact that a single wedding can have on the environment. Consider, for example, that the average wedding emits approximately 14.5 tons of CO2. To most people that number is fairly meaningless; however, if you compare it to the fact that most people emit only 12 tons of CO2 over the course of the entire year you start to get an idea of where the motivation is coming from.

Emily Anderson wrote a fantastic book on how to incorporate planet-conscious elements into your big day while still demonstrating your own unique style. You can also check out her blog for some great tips on planning your day.

We'll be discussing how each aspect of your big day can impact the environment and I'll be offering tips and resources throughout for more eco-friendly solutions.

So stay tuned over the coming weeks and feel free to leave comments and ask questions as we go.

Cheers!

Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination