Yummy Eats, Hot Beats

Last night, Michele and I had the pleasure of attending a tasting with Ravishing Radish at the Yacht Club on Lake Union. The food is organic, locally sourced and delicious! We started with the night's signature cocktail, a martini mixed with vanilla vodka, Midori melon liqueur and lemon. So sweet and smooth.

We moved on quickly to the tasting where we sampled Organic Lemongrass Chicken, calamari, baked Brie with cranberry and pistachio and so much more. I have to say my favorite was the salad with organic greens, candied walnuts, blue cheese and beets. So tasty and served on cute plates from Totally Tabletops. I highly recommend attending a tasting. You will get a really good feel for how your event will be handled with fresh food waiting to be scooped up at the buffet. The women behind Ravishing Radish have really thought out this event.
Setting the mood for the party was DJ Tecumseh of Bamboo Beats. He spun records that started out jazzy and progressively got more lively. JoJo, the DJ's wife, attends each wedding and works directly with the coordinator to ensure an event will flow smoothly. They help you to "green" your wedding and practice it in their own lives. Most of all, they will add the perfect soundtrack to your event.

Michele and I stayed late and had so much fun talking with other vendors, all of whom I am sure I will talk more of soon (flowers, photo, linens, and a planner). A very nice evening!

Love + Tastings,
Megan

Eco Style in the City by Megan

Eco-Style in the City - Behind the Veil by loveplusmarriage

It's your wedding day and you can do it the same way you live your life, in an environmentally, socially conscious way. Spending your money wisely, doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style and special details. My husband is from New York where you get fined for NOT recycling so in our household, we make sure we are doing our part.

When choosing your wedding bands, put Reduce/Renew/Recycle to work for you and ask your family and close friends to donate their used jewelry. greenKarat will take the jewelry and melt them down into your wedding bands. Can you imagine how honored your family and friends would be to have such an important part in the symbol of your marriage? I love it!

I am a keeper, but other brides aren't so sentimental. Luckily, almost any dress can be found online at the various once-worn websites. You can even help other causes by shopping on websites such as Brides Against Breast Cancer. I suggest going into dress shops and getting the experience of trying on wedding dresses, seeing which styles look best on you, seeing what you will fall in love with. After the wedding, consider donating your dress to a charity or resale it to the highest bidder on ebay to pay off the honeymoon. Or do like me and wait to have your future daughter reuse it when she walks down the aisle.

For flowers, check out the selection of clay bouquets handmade by individuals on etsy. The flowers are lifelike, each petal is created individually and they will last forever, which you know I love. They will do custom orders so you can choose your favorite flowers, even if they are out of season.

While you are on etsy, click over for email templates for your Save the Date email. You will cut back on extra paper and postage and, if you're like me, most of your addresses are email addresses rather than mailing addresses. Ask people to RSVP with their street address and you can send them a formal invitation closer to the wedding date.

When choosing food for the reception, think like the girls on Lipstick Jungle and be a locavore - choose a restaurant or caterer that only uses local food. Taste, at the Seattle Art Museum, uses all fresh from the market, sustainable and seasonal food. This is no sacrifice, the menus are custom and delicious! Ask them to donate leftovers to a shelter and your spread the joy to other bellies.

Every decision you make can be a conscious, responsible one. It just take a bit of extra thought and a few computer clicks to find the best resources.
Love + saving the earth,
Megan

Eco Friendly by Michele

Wedding by Michele Simmons
Today's theme is eco-friendly. These days there are so many ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Even without trying very hard you can make a difference on the earth! There are so many recycled papers and companies that use recycled paper to make invitations, dinner ware and more. Reuse and reduce!

Simple white Christmas lights strung between the majestic evergreen trees give the night an enchanted feel. Jars of different shapes hold candles and flowers and surround the perimeter. Your dress is simple, eloquent and yours. Short, so the forest floor does not collect on your dress. You can purchase your dress from such sites at OnceWed or Bravo Bride and after you can sell your dress on these same sites. The groom is simple too in a suit and tie.

Your cake can be a marvel in itself by added a few natural items such as a sprig of flowering buds, rose petals or baby pine cones. This wedding is not only eco-friendly but family oriented. The food is not purchased or catered but potluck style. Your Aunt's secret recipe meatballs are a hit! The tables are dressed in table clothes of different prints purchased from vintage and thrift stores and non matching chairs wait to seat your guests. In the background a soft guitar is playing. The night will be one to cherish forever!