In our daily lives, eco-conscious choices are more widely available than ever. From what we eat, to cleaning products, to home furnishings and clothing-  the same is true for honeymoon options. Many travelers now purchase carbon offsets to ease their conscience when flying, but here are some other ways to honeymoon that will create meaningful memories and reflect your green lifestyle.

Voluntourism

Give back to the global community by doing meaningful work on your honeymoon. Consider building a home for with Habitat for Humanity in Thailand (or anywhere, really), making pottery and crafts in Guadalajara, or combine a surf trip with working with underprivileged youth in Coastal Peru.

Christmas is the time for giving! You can make it easy for your wedding guests by asking them to make donations to the voluntourism organization you’ll be participating in, instead of buying wedding gift.

Honeymoon gifts are beautiful keepsakes that will recall your special moments. Here’s a silver bracelet you can have engraved for her. She’ll be reminded of your special trip each time she wears the jewelry.

Eco-Adventures

After your Christmas wedding, spend your honeymoon enjoying nature and soaking up some Southern hemisphere sun! Many of the companies that book eco-adventure vacations have educational components so you can learn more about the ecology of the region. Here are some ideas:

• Visit the cloud forests in Monteverde, Costa Rica
• Hike Tongariro National Park & World Heritage Site in New Zealand
• Go canyon tubing in Indonesia
• Take a tiger photography tour in India

For many, living green also means ethical responsibility. If this is a must for you, here’s the perfect engagement ring! It’s made using recycled precious metals and conflict-free diamonds. Here’s a gorgeous worry-free engagement ring for her that pairs with the wedding bands below.

Green Resorts

If you’re looking for luxury without compromising your values, look for an eco-conscious resort or hotel. There are many options worldwide, and the internet has a wealth of information on green-certified hotels. Take a look at this Coastal Living slideshow for some great ideas.

You can also stand up for the environment by choosing a set of these beveled wedding bands made with HARMONY Recycled Precious Metals.

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Many newly married couples already have their households set up, so giving them a toaster or a place setting as a wedding gift is becoming increasingly obsolete. Whether they have been living alone, already living together, or have been previously married – their wedding gift wish list will be different from the young engaged couple who are moving into their very first home of their own.

Of course, many engaged couples still register at a department store – there will be items they want as they combine their households. However, this list is often shorter than the traditional newlyweds (who would need everything). The guest list can easily be longer than their wish list, so gift selection can be a challenge. Here are some unique ideas:

A Literate LOL

If your two favorite brainiacs are finally getting hitched, you might consider buying them both a t-shirt subscription from The McSweeney’s store. Two subscriptions will mean that they will receive 6 matching t-shirts over the course of the year – the shirts are designed by artists and are the perfect gift for your highbrow Mr and Mrs. Plus, the fact that they will have 6 sets of matching shirts by the end of the year is just very funny – perfect practice for when they wear matching leisure suits as an old married couple.

Mr and Mrs Memory

If your friends always have the latest version of iPhone and spend a lot of time at their computers, you might consider these cute Flash drives available from Rakuten as a gift. Affordably priced, they would also make a great wedding shower or engagement party gift. Or, they could accompany a gift card.

A Bicycle Built For Two

Another unique gift: a tandem bicycle. The one below is from American bike company KHS Bicycles- they have 3 different styles to choose from:

There are many options if you want to give a unique wedding gift. It’s a good idea to start thinking about gift ideas as soon as you see an engagement ring on your friend’s finger. Don’t leave it to the last minute!

Have you given a unique wedding gift or are you looking for more ideas? Please let us know in the comments:

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Spring means flowers and weddings – a perfect symbol of this is, of course, the flower girl.

What could be cuter than a little girl toddling down the aisle in a pretty dress, scattering rose petals along the way? (Well, sometimes she has some competition from the ring bearer!)

Flower girls set the tone for weddings – their innocence and sweetness blast all of the wedding guests’ personal worries and stress away and open their minds for the ceremony they are about to observe. Weddings are full of hope for the future, love, and devotion and a chance for wedding guests to focus some positive energy towards the marrying couple and forget about their own problems for a few minutes. What a precious gift.

Gift Ideas for Flower Girls

Here are some gift ideas as a tribute to the little ones who open our hearts:

Paper Flower Crafts

This craft kit comes in a cute little purse and will keep your flower girl entertained at a rehearsal dinner or other wedding function.

Flower Earrings

These flower earrings are a wonderful gift and something that your flower girl will be able to wear even after she is a ‘grown up’- she may even start a new tradition by passing them down to her flower girl on her own wedding day.

Hello Kitty Playhouse

This Hello Kitty house from Mega Blocks can be ordered online at westfieldcomics.com so that your flower girl can help Hello Kitty set up her garden (flowers and flower pots included).

Wedding Cake Charm

This wedding cake charm is sweet – if you want your flower girl to arrive at each wedding event in a sunny disposition, consider giving her a charm bracelet at the engagement party and then a cute charm at every major event she is expected to attend. Sure it’s bribery, but if it keeps your sweet flower girl from turning sour during the wedding photo session or the exchanging of wedding rings… it was worth it!

Flower Purse Pet Carrier

Another way to keep your flower girl entertained during wedding functions is to give her a pet to play with- these Webkins continue to be popular and the flower purse pet carrier means that the pet is ready to party.

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December is a month that seems to be destined  for wonderful memories. Whether you gather around a Christmas tree, a nativity scene, a Menorah, or a Kinara – you’re hopefully spending time with family while you enjoy good times and good food. It is this focus on family that makes a December engagement so wonderful (as long as she says yes!).

The trees are decorated with lights, houses are filled with friends, family, and food – and everyone who’s not a Scrooge or Grinch is in a good mood… the perfect setting to start a new branch on the family tree.

Here are some ideas inspired by the holidays:

Ice, Ice Baby

The old song says ‘baby, it’s cold outside’ but the excitement of a new life together requires a different kind of ‘ice’ to warm your true love’s heart. Perhaps a diamond solitaire engagement ring.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

Don’t forget to present the ring appropriately – as a Christmas present, of course! Put the ring box inside a small gift box and hang it from the tree as an ornament or slip the ring over the hanger and let it rest at the top of an ornament and then watch her face when she spots it.

Deck the Halls

Decorate your sweetheart’s finger with this festive looking ring, an 18K yellow gold engagement ring with ruby side stones. The yellow gold evokes old fashioned celebrations, combined with traditional Christmas red.

Let it Snow!

If you really want to catch her off guard, give her this beautiful necklace for Christmas and then surprise her with a ring on New Years Eve! The perfect setting for this gift would be a romantic trip to a cabin: complete with a sleigh ride and snow ball fight followed by a roaring fire, warm fuzzy sweaters, dark chocolate, and this perfect snow ball to take home:

Looking for more ideas?

Check out previous big fat articles about engagements at Christmas, including some great ideas for wedding proposals.

Not ready to propose?

Just remember, the holidays are still critical if you want staying power. Try to make a good impression on his or her family and remember to make some good memories, which will pave the way for many happy holidays to come.

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Traditionally, at some point during the engagement, the bride’s friends dress her up in a silly costume and then parade her around the town.

This usually happens during the bachelorette party (also called a stagette or hen party).

Costumes for the bride to be range from cool, to cute, to very bold (and actually pretty trashy!):

Pink Ladies

Get inspired by the movie Grease and dress up as the Pink Ladies!  You can buy the jackets at costume stores. Costumeddiscounters.com even offers complete costumes for the different characters, Rizzo shown below:

Start the night off with some pink lady cocktails and 50′s themed appetizers and then cruise the main drag of your town in a rented 50′s car (with designated, sober, driver). End the night off with a pajama party and karaoke sing along to the Grease soundtrack.

Bad Girl Bride

Here is a cute head band from buycostumes.com that lets everyone know she’s the bride!

Flashy Bride

This tiara from planetbachelorette.com has flashing lights in red, green, and yellow.

Check out our previous post “Prize Ideas for Bachelorettes and Bridal Showers” for some fun party favor ideas for the event.

Getting Hitched

A sexy cowgirl theme is also a great way to round up some fun! You can get this hat from buycostumes.com.

The bride to be can wear a white hat that you decorate with a veil and the rest of the girls can wear pink cowboy hats. Don’t forget a holster so that you are ready to sling some shots, like this one from promo-wholesale.com!

Perhaps a lasso so that you can reign in her in if she really starts kicking up her heels? Or you can use it to rope your own cowboy!

Top off the night with a memento that she will have to remember your fun night out long after she is hitched- like this sterling silver lariat necklace.

Disco Queens

If your bride to be has a sense of humor, here’s an inexpensive way from halloweencostume.com to make your group stand out in the crowd!

Encourage everyone to dress in 70′s style clothing. You can be silly and sexy at the same time (think high boots, mini skirts, oversized sunglasses…). Present the guest of honor with this disco ball inspired necklace: it’s subtle enough to wear every day and sure to put a smile on her face when she remembers the good times she had on her night out! Priced under $40, everyone might want to buy one as a memento.

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Spring has been celebrated all over the world, in all types of religions – as far back as you can imagine. When the sun starts shining, the ground under our feet heats up, and the new tender greenery pokes through – it’s hard NOT to get all warm and fuzzy. If that’s not enough to cheer you up, you also have really cute little baby animals like chicks and lambs.

Here are some ideas for how to celebrate your wedding the old-fashioned way (and by old-fashioned, I mean pre-medieval!)

Handfasting

Handfasting is a wedding rite that originates from a pagan ritual, but is being used in weddings based in all sorts of faiths and by people of all different lifestyles. Handfasting is a great way to bond a blended family together, because all members of the new family forged by the wedding can participate. Check out handfasting.info for more information, as well as examples of wording for ceremonies that include handfasting.

Symbols

Oak Leaves

Oak leaves are a symbol for longevity – so the entwined oak leaves that hold two mouth-blown (and therefore completely unique) glass horns are the perfect way for the bride and groom to share a toast (mayhemltd.com). The oak tree was particularly important to the Celts,who felt that all trees were sacred.

Horns

The drinking chalices above are also horn-shaped. The horns are also an important symbol – the most famous Celtic animal symbol is the horned (antlered) stag. The stag is a symbol for sexuality and fertility.

Celtic Design

Celtic knots date back to almost 500 AD: there is the lover’s knot, the triple knot (Triquetra), and the Triscele.There are many ways to incorporate the Celtic scrollwork or Celtic knots into your wedding, including your wedding band.

Clothing

There are beautiful dresses available now that this type of wedding has become more popular. Rivendelbridal.com has a large selection, here is one example of a dress perfect for a pagan princess, or elven queen: it is called the Celtic Star.

Trees

Trees were sacred to the Celts so an outdoor wedding would be very appropriate if you are going to be influenced by this theme.

Here is a video full of imagery that might inspire you to arrange your own mystical wedding.

Language

This bronze pendant spells GRA, ‘love’, in the Celtric tree alphabet called Ogham. This pendant from celteshop.com would be an interesting and thoughtul gift for members of the wedding party.

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Here are some fun ideas for your bachelor party, bachelorette, bridal shower, engagement party, or jack and jill.

I come across so many Big Fat Fun decorations during my research. Here are some of my favorites, I hope they inspire you to come up with some unique ideas of your own! Let me know, and perhaps I can feature your party in an upcoming article.

Disclaimer: Not all items below will be appropriate for your function – this will depend on your theme, and how casual the event is.

Nosy Guests

Party cups from worldwidefred.com, that give you different noses. This is a fun way to break the ice.

Highlight of the Night

These shot glasses from envious.com light up for 6 seconds every time  you tap it on a hard surface.

Night Lights

Rather than the risk of making a decorated room look to ‘busy’, stick to one simple decoration and use a lot of it. Imagine filling a room or back garden with 25 of these lights from asianlantern.com (at around two dollars each, this is affordable!).

Casino Night

Here is a fun hanging decoration from partymakerdiscountsuperstore.com for a Casino-themed Jack and Jill or Bachelor Party. This would even work for a reception if the couple is going to announce they got married in Las Vegas!

Love Beyond Measure

I love these measuring spoons – a great favor for a bridal shower or a wedding (if the bride and groom work in a bakery?). You can order them from everythingfortablefavors.com.

Gloom Groom

This shirt from thinkgeek.com is perfect for the groom who wakes up on the surly side of the street every morning. If there’s no chance you’ll get him to wear a costume, dirty saying shirt, or anything that remotely identifies him as the guest of honor – have him try this shirt on for size!

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Black is the new White?

Black doesn’t have to be dark (see our earlier article about darker-themed weddings if that’s what you are looking for.). In the old days, black might have been a big “don’t” on the day you say “I do” but now it’s okay. More than okay, actually – black details on the big day can be brilliant. And, even better, when you incorporate the unusual into your wedding day, you often don’t have to buy it at a wedding store -making things much cheaper.

Here is an elegant cake from sedonaweddingcakes.com. The stylistic wedding cake topper is very classy and the black sugar roses are a nice touch. This cake would coordinate well with tables decorated with crisp white linens and black cloth napkins with white polka dots. This is another way to save money – some venues include white linens in their rental fee. If not, party rental companies usually charge less for white linens than for the colored specialty linens. If you are handy with a sewing machine, you can sew the cloth napkins your self. Don’t forget to launder them and iron them before the big day – a perfect job to delegate to a helpful friend, auntie, or even grandmother.

Wear something a bit racy under that demure white dress, like this black garter available from bachelorettesuperstore.com.

Your engagement ring or wedding ring could tie in to the color scheme as well, like this ring featuring black and white diamonds.

Or, wear some dark shoes and gloves with your dress for contrast! You could also add these accessories for the reception, particularly if you are having the event in the evening.

For example, here is a beautiful Alfred Angelo dress that would be perfect for a church wedding.

And here are some items to glam it up afterwards!

Black Shoes

Long Black Gloves

Like these ones from buycostumes.com.

A fascinating fascinator from folksy.com.

All of the ideas in this article would work for any color – imagine red as an accent instead of black. A little black purse would work, too (a bride needs somewhere to stash her lipstick too). A beaded drawstring purse would look great with the accessories above, perhaps a vintage purse – a great gift idea for the maid of honor to give to her best friend!

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Last week we looked at some fun prizes/gifts for Bachelorette parties and Bridal Showers. This week we feature gift ideas for the guys…

Most of the gifts featured in both of these articles would work well for a Jack and Jill party, too.

The Portable Pole Dancer

Available online at stupid.com, you plug her into your USB port and watch her dance. She also works with an iPod or MP3 player.

BBQ Sauces

You can buy a gift set of barbecue sauces or make your own gift basket, perfect for a bachelor party or jack and jill shower – particularly if the party theme includes grilling. Include tasty bottles of barbecue sauce, hot sauce, and an oven mitt. Stick with the theme and give out a funny apron as another prize.

Cultural Kitsch

Celebrate the groom’s cultural background with fun gifts, just make sure it’s not offensive.

This tee from wackyplanet.com is also the perfectly embarrassing shirt to force the groom to wear out on a pub crawl to Irish pubs!

Jack and Jill party? No problem! They also sell this shirt for the bride to wear.

This book from bachelorette.com is a fun gift, and will also keep the guests entertained during the event – I’m sure it will be passed around.

On a classier note, this sterling silver key ring from danforthdiamond.com is a great grand prize for a group fishing trip. It would also be a great gift from the guys as a memento for the groom of his bachelor party trip.

Fun badges for all of the party guests, available at the-inspirations-store. They also have some other appropriate items, such as collapsible pint glasses, talking coasters, and beer holsters.

These drink coasters from elsewares.com are made from real vinyl records and are perfect for a music lover’s party or a themed party.

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Here are some ideas for party gifts and prizes. Check out the next post for prizes and gifts suitable for Bachelor Parties (Stag parties).

TASTY PRIZES

Big Candy Ring

A big candy engagement ring is tasty bling for a bridal shower or casual engagement party. You can order the one pictured above at kidspartyfavorstore.com.

Novelty Chocolates

Tom and Sally’s Handmade Chocolates (tomandsallys.com) sells chocolate pasties, as well as chocolate thong underwear. The pasties also come with a peanut butter applicator, which I thought was a nice touch.

CLASSY PRIZES

Bracelet

Here’s an amazing grand prize if you are holding a pre-wedding fundraiser. This tiffany-style sterling silver bracelet looks like it is worth a lot more than its $50 price tag and would make a great door prize or grand prize. The heart charm fits into any wedding-related theme.

Charm

Another fun idea – give prizes away at the wedding rehearsal dinner related to the pre-wedding events. This is a fun speech to make at a rehearsal dinner (this is only appropriate if it suits the tone and if everyone there has a sense of humor!). The person acting as the Master of Ceremonies at the wedding reception can give away prizes to members of the wedding party at the rehearsal dinner. For example, he could give the groom a pair of warm woolly socks in case he gets cold feet.  In the example above, an angel charm would be appropriate for the most well-behaved guest at the bachelorette party. The MC could show the prize and say what it was for but then complain that there wasn’t anyone to give it to. Instead, he could give it to the flower girl. This is also a unique and fun way to hand out the wedding party gifts.

Spa Gift Certificate

A spa gift certificate is always appreciated. Everyone likes to get a manicure before the big day, even if they are a guest and not the bride.

FUNNY PRIZES

Magic Frog to a Prince

You can order this cute party gift at stupid.com.

Man Voodoo Doll

Pictured above, the ‘bad boyfriend’ voodooo doll from flashwear.com – complete with 10 pins.

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