We learn some of the greatest tips from our clients….

I’m working with a couple for their August wedding, and recently the groom’s aunt from Southern California planned the bridal shower….

We thought we’ve seen it all… traditional showers, couples showers, kitchen shower, wine shower…

This was a Day of Service – all the guest {both men and women} participated in a community service project where they weeded, cleaned up flower beds and planted new flowers for a local horticultural society…

At the end of the day of service they planting a tree in honor of the couple…

The wrapped up the day with a great family meal…

I’m LOVING this idea…

 by Rebecca Druckenmiller

The Queen of Hearts team had such an incredibly busy weekend but it was tons of fun and we’re so happy for our clients that were married. Christina led the team for Kristen and Cedric’s wedding on Friday night in south Jersey while Mark had a double header with Heather and Kevin’s wedding on Saturday at the Sofitel and Shira and Jacob’s wedding at the Crystal Tea Room Sunday.  We had such nice weather all weekend for these amazing couples and congratulations to all of them from the The Queen of Hearts team! 

On top of all this, I ran the Broad Street Run (a ten mile run through Philadelphia).  I ran it with my sister and cousin and we had such a great time but it got me thinking at the end of it when I was rubbing my feet that the whole Queen of Hearts team could probably use a trip to the spa after this crazy weekend. 

We are such huge fans of Tierra Mia, an organic nail spa in Rittenhouse Square.  I want to make an appointment this week, wait let me clarify, I NEED to make an appointment this week.  The spa features incredible nail treatments using all pure, organic, non-toxic solutions.  All of their polishes are water-based and the spa space itself is made of all VOC-free (volatile organic compounds), recycled and sustainable materials from the floor to the ceiling.  Their “3-free” motto (“non-toxic”, “organic” and “natural) ensures that you can enjoy all of their spa services without putting toxic chemicals onto your skin. 

I really want to try the Bagazo del Coconut hand treatment.  They soak your hands first in warm, infused organic cinnamon water and then fresh coconut meat is shredded and massaged onto your skin.  Then they rub organic coconut cream oil onto your hands as an ultra-hydrating mask.  Finally they wrap your hands in steamed towels to absorb the coconut and then they paint your nails with their water-based polishes.

They also have various massage treatments that I could really use right now.  I’ve also been informed that you can host parties in the spa too!  It would be so nice to treat my bridesmaids to spa services as their gifts. I really want to bring all my girls there and to get our nails done while we enjoy some cocktails.  Check out their site for all the organic services they have to offer!

Great job Rebecca – Congrats on finishing the Broad Street Run! Now go get a maggase!

.

We at Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants try to do as much as we can in both our personal and professional lives to leave as small of a carbon footprint on the planet as possible. 

 by Rebecca Druckenmiller

We’ve already talked about how we recycle all of our non-sensitive paper, use recycled stationary and Mark even just got a composter!

But there are great ways that brides can “go green” too! 

We all know how important it is to some of you to get your gown preserved for future generations, but there is a way to preserve the planet in the process too!

The Association of Wedding Gown Specialists offers Zero Carbon Gown Preservations. 

Unfortunately when cleaning a gown or preserving it there is no way to be totally green because the solvents that are used produce carbon emissions.  But, the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists has partnered with Carbonfund.org and calculated the carbon footprint of cleaning your wedding gown and with the donations they make to Carbonfund.org from your cleaning fee they are able to offset the emissions produced by the cleaning or restoration of your gown. 

 The donations made to Carbonfund.org are used to fund reforestation projects that offset that carbon footprint.  How cool is that? All the information can be found at www.weddinggownspecialists.com

So, in honor of Earth Day, think about what you can do in your life to decrease your carbon footprint. 

And for all the brides out there, if you need help thinking of ways to make your wedding more “green”, give us a call, we have tons of ideas!

.

I’m really excited to be attending the 4th annual SustainaBall Friday, April 23rd  at The Chestnut Club at Arcadia Theatre for an evening of local food from Cosmic Catering, eco-chic cocktails & dancing to live music by Jim Fogarty and The ToneBenders.

This fundraiser for the Sustainable Business Network includes great food, entertainment and a silent auction -  gift bags of green products, gourmet, artisan chocolate tasting featuring John & Kira’s Chocolates and an  Earth Day-themed cake from The Night Kitchen Bakery.

Tickets are still available through the Sustainable Business Network

I’m excited to be attending this great event and have the chance to network local leaders of the Philadelphia green and sustainable business community and to be able to check out new, local eco friendly products for our clients weddings.

.

It is my pleasure to introduce our guest blogger, dear friend and amazing make up artist Béke Beau!

Béke’s work with our clients has been nothing short of stellar and her commitment to the environment and going green in both her personal life and business is a great example to all of us…..

If you are a bride planning an eco-conscious wedding, you have a lot to think about: your venue’s carbon footprint, the sustainability of your décor and favors, transportation, and more, depending on how strong your convictions.   You may also consider making eco-friendly choices in terms of your personal style, such as your dress, and the make-up you’ll be wearing.   And while you want to stay true to your principles about environmentally sound practices, you also need your make-up to stay on.

Green beauty or not, you still have two choices: do your make-up yourself or hire a make-up artist.  If it’s the former, and you’re going to go it alone, then using so-called natural and/or organic products will be in order: “so-called,” because manufacturer labeling is not a perfect science, particularly in the United States, and just because a cosmetic is called “natural” or “organic” doesn’t mean that it is, or that it’s necessarily better for you.   Fear not; there are some helpful resources available online for educating yourself on making healthy cosmetic choices, including the Skin Deep Database, which rates the safety of thousands of products based on their ingredients.  

The fashionable eco-blog Fig & Sage will link you to natural beauty websites, including Nature of Beauty and Spirit Beauty Lounge where you can purchase ingredient-conscious brands like RMS Beauty (excellent concealers), Alima Pure (huge selection of eye shadows) and Revolution Organics (multi-tasking color balms).   The same rule of long-lasting make-up application still applies: set creamy products, like eye pencil, concealer and foundation, with a powder product, or before long, your carefully applied face will fade away.

While just about every category of conventional make-up has an effective natural alternative, the one product that is still problematic in terms of being both safe and long-lasting is mascara.  Brides and big lashes are a match made in heaven, and many of the natural brands can be a letdown, because they have yet to demonstrate the staying power of brands like L’Oreal or Lancome.  Get around this issue by wearing false lashes—Lashgrip Eyelash Adhesive from Ardell rates fairly well in safety on the Skin Deep Database, and false lashes, with care, can be reused.  Or, if your lashes are naturally light in color, try having them tinted black with vegetable dye by an esthetician.  If you still have your heart set on natural, long-lasting mascara, try Korres Abyssinia Oil Volumizing formula, which is remarkably smudge-free and thickening. 

If hiring a make-up artist is your plan, then your job is to find a professional who is well-versed in natural/organic products and uses them to your advantage.   If you are working with a wedding planner, rely on them to help you find an eco-conscious make-up artist.   If not, start by checking artist websites for information about the products they use and what, if anything, they do as professionals to be environmentally-friendly.    You can also contact them for a list of brands in their kit, or to ask if they would be willing to work with products you supply. 

Finally, remember that “green” beauty is a process, and will require some compromise.  Do your best for the planet, but do what’s best for you too on this one important day out of a lifetime to come.

Thanks Béke!

I’m sure you’ll be seeing more eco friendly make up tips from Béke in the future…..

.