The Good Beginning

By Beth Helmstetter Events

FAIR TRADE WELCOME BAGS FROM THE LITTLE MARKET

If you haven’t checked out The Little Market, it’s a must. Filled with so many products that empower women artisans through the world, this lil company makes it super easy to give something beautiful while making an impact. We are especially loving these Fair Trade Burlap bags which happen to be available for all of the top wedding destinations from Aspen to Hawaii to Jackson Hole and more.

Each purchase supports Corre Jute. Corr Jute empowers destitute, rural women in Bangladesh through handicraft production. The women artisans, who are mostly illiterate, make beautiful handicrafts with local materials during free time between household activities. Corr Jute not only creates market access, but also provides job training and develops leadership skills. The women are able to supplement their marginal family income, contributing towards better living conditions.

FESTIVE HOLIDAY COCKTAILS THAT CHANGE THE WORLD WITH ONE HOPE WINE

If you don’t know of One Hope Wine, you’re missing out. We covered them in more detail here, but this little label is changing the world one glass at a time. With a huge percentage of their profits funding many charitable initiatives, to date, their foundation has fed 1,592,189 meals to children in poverty, provided 95,161 with life changing medications, provided clean drinking water to 42,238 and so much more. You can read all of their very impressive stats here. Oh yeah, and it’s delicious to boot. So, obviously, their wine can just be enjoyed straight up, but also, if you want to get a bit more creative this holiday season, their blog has a variety of holiday inspired cocktails that everyone can stand behind. Here’s three of our personal favorites for the season! And if you’re in need of the perfect foods to pair with these cocktails, you’re in luck, as you can find lots of delicious recipes on the One Hope blog. 

MULLED SANGRIA 

Ingredients:

ONEHOPE Merlot
1/2 c. ONEHOPE 29Twelve Dessert Wine
1 Vanilla Pod
3 Cinnamon Sticks
1/2 Lemon, Sliced
1 tsp. Cloves
1 tsp. Fresh Ginger

Preparation:

Mix ingredients into a medium pot
and bring to simmer for 15 minutes.
Turn off heat and serve immediately.

HARVEST PUNCH

The first is this Harvest Punch, made with ONEHOPE Riesling.

Ingredients:

ONEHOPE Riesling
Ginger Beer
Apple Cider
Mandarin Vodka
Sliced Apples & Pears

Preparation:
Mix ingredients into large carafe, stir and serve!

SOLSTICE SPARKLER

 

Ingredients:

ONEHOPE Italian Prosecco
Vanilla Syrup
Whipped Cream
Rosemary Sprig for Garnish

Preparation:

In a champagne flute, add vanilla
syrup and fill with Prosecco. Then,
top with whipped cream and garnish
with rosemary.

EAMES & ETHICAL: A STYLED WEDDING SHOOT

We’re back with another guest post from maker and storyteller, Praise Santos of ComePlum Photography! For those of you who haven’t heard of her yet, she is a San Francisco based photographer that we have a MAJOR crush on.  Please hop over to her site, ComePlum, and soak up all the beauty of her photography that creates more awareness around the Ethical Weddings movement. But in the meantime, we’re excited to have her share this Ethical Styled Shoot inspired by the movers and shakers of the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic, Charles and Ray Eames. Check out the original post here.

I get excited about a lot of things (Tuesdays, all the fake National Instagram holidays, the rumor of Miss Frizzle and the Magic School Bus making a come back, etc.), but the one thing that really gets me up in the morning? A generation of people who want to make a positive difference in the world through their wedding day. This is Ethical Weddings.

Allow me to break down the buzzword of ethical (which is in the same pool party as sustainable, impactful, conscious, etc.): Ethical Weddings collaborate with ethical vendors (local, small business or vendors that donate their time, product, or profit), incorporate ethical products (thrifted, up-cycled, fair trade, charitable, or from a social enterprise), donate to a good cause in lieu of gifts, and/or appreciate the environment by reducing waste in innovative ways.

And the groovy part?
There are a many, many ways to make one’s wedding day ethical, to make it an investment back into a community and the environment instead of simply consuming it!

Who wouldn’t want that? I see all your digital hands raised!

But, I get it, we barely know where to start sometimes.

So, I’ve collaborated with some of the most talented makers and creatives to put together this styled-shoot to help you dream of what an Ethical Wedding could look like.

Inspired by the movers and shakers of the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic, Charles and Ray Eames, this shoot has splashes of the 1950s and 1960s sprinkled throughout and highlights sustainable, impactful, and hellah cool products and vendors.

Grab a drink, enjoy, and show my fellow creatives some love!

Photographer/Creative Director

Praise Santos | http://www.comeplum.com

Planning

Liza Bourkard | http://www.studiodbi.com

Models

Stacey Ann De Leon | http://www.staceyannloves.com 

Hair & Makeup

Floral Design

Styling

Apparel

Kali Made Garments | http://www.kalimade.com/
Celia Grace Wedding Dresses | https://www.celia-grace.com/

Venue

Props

Accessories

Catering

Beverage & Dessert

Sutherland Distilling | http://sutherlanddistilling.com/

MINIMALIST WEDDING DETAILS

Minimalist wedding details are HOT right now and we are totally feeling that less is more vibe. Because let’s be honest, the focus should be on your love as a couple instead of hidden behind that giant centerpiece or buried under those seven layers of tulle on your dress. But, we get it, as a bride there are certain aspects of your wedding that you want to stand out – like the stunning floral backdrop that you just HAVE to have or the extravagant photobooth set-up to make long-lasting memories. Remember: just because you are choosing to go with minimalist details, doesn’t mean that you can’t put your own personal touch on your big day. Here are 5 inspiring ways you can incorporate the minimalist trend into your own wedding style.

1 | WEDDING DRESS

Say YES to a fair-trade wedding dress! We’ve had a crush on Celia Grace for as long as we can remember and that’s definitely not going to change anytime soon. The delicate details in her designs will certainly turn heads when you walk down the aisle. Plus, they donate a school uniform to a child in need in Cambodia for each dress sold through a local nonprofit partner. How cool is that?!

2 | CEREMONY DECOR

We are HUGE fans of DIY decor and this garland from Design Love Fest is simply stunning. Sometimes it really is the little things that make a beautiful ceremony. You can use this garland for your escort cards, to hang your favors or even display your wedding menu. By creating a day that is all about you, the options truly are endless.

3 | BOUQUET

Doesn’t picking all your own wedding flowers seem kind of fun? Just imagine frolicking through a field of wild flowers on the morning of your wedding day, handpicking your favorites to add to your bouquet. It’s no secret that the cost of wedding flowers really adds up and then there’s the question of what to do with them after the event. By picking your own flowers or carrying single stems, you’ll be cutting back on both the cost and waste while still looking fabulous.

4 | CAKE

We’re not going to say that dessert is the MOST important part of your wedding, but it’s pretty high up there. If you have a baker or a wannabe baker in your family then now is the time to start sucking up to them and telling them how much you *love* their signature recipes. A homemade cake on your wedding day is the perfect way to get exactly what you want without having to deal with a 6-tiered buttercream cake that will undoubtedly go to waste. Even better, have a mini bake-off where your favorite family bakers each bring a pie to create a dessert table with options. Everyone loves option!

5 | TABLE DECOR

There is a lot that goes into setting the scene for your reception dinner; the menu planning, the seating charts, the type of dinner service. By choosing a minimalist table setting, your guests will be able to enjoy their food without being too overwhelmed by which utensil to use for what. You can keep it classy by choosing a color scheme that matches your wedding colors and really only decorating the table with the bare essentials.

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for even more wedding features, travel inspiration, charity awareness and ethical education!

PHOTO CREDIT // CELIA GRACE | DESIGN LOVE FEST | JESSICA SIMONS PHOTOGRAPHY | ARTFUL DESPERADO | LOVE MAEGAN

5 SIMPLE WAYS TO BE A CONSCIOUS CONSUMER // GUEST POST FROM THR3EFOLD

We’re back again with Thr3efold today, who if you haven’t heard by now, we just love. You can read all my gushing here as well as get a peek at her last guest post. For those of you not familiar with her, however, please hop over to her site and soak all the conscious consumer, sustainable fashion, ethical angelness that she offers. In the meantime, we’re excited to have her share her tips on being a more conscious consumer which is helpful for every bride, newlywed or new family. Check out the original post here. 

You’ve got a busy life, but you have a big heart and you want your life to mean something. We get you and we are on the same page. So today we are giving you the down and dirty list of 5 really, really ridiculously easy ways to be a conscious consumer and still live your life large. You’re welcome.
1 | Buy What You Need Not What You Want
You will still have needs so cut the Catholic guilt and start leaning into how to buy better i.e. with intention. Wait a week or even a month before purchasing an item, it tends to take out the emotion and leaves you left with what you actually need, like the perfect new jeans to replace your super worn out pair.
2 | Support the Good Brands
Not sure what brands to buy? Subscribe to our weekly Conscious Consumer emails where we highlight the best brands in ethical & sustainable fashion that are cute and making change happen.
3 | Join in the Conversation
Follow us on Instagram for even more brand features, travel inspiration, and ethical education. But even more important, comment, tag your friends and jump on the ethical fashion train. You’ll make friends who love what you love and find even more fun going on in this side of fashion. What are you waiting for? Dive in!

4 | Host a Clothing SwapWhen you are ready to say goodbye to some old flames, your friends may be ready to take them off your hands and vice versa! It’s simple. Just invite them over, have them all bring old clothes. Try said old clothes on and pick your new favorites. Then take a trip to the nearest clothing donation center to properly recycle your old garments for someone else to use.

5 | Be a Writer
We are always looking for contributing writers to feature great brands and give a glimpse into their life as a conscious consumer and show how easy and empowering it is! Apply to be a writer by submitting your article ideas along with some sample writing work to get started. Email us here.

You see? Super easy. Now that you’re armed with knowledge go out and change your world through your small but significant choices as a conscious consumer. We’re so proud!