Eco-Fair Trade Bride To Be

Calling all brides and grooms!  There are so many ways to "green" your wedding, that it is hard to know where to start.  In case you didn't already know, "green" is also part of what the Fair Trade Movement is about, so when you invite fair trade products into your wedding plan, you can be assured that many peoples' lives were protected, as well as our planet.  Let me begin by sharing with you that the World Village Fair Trade Market in Hampton Bays, New York, is a one-stop shopping experience for everything from fair trade organic chocolate, coffee, home decor, furniture, clothing to recycled and re-purposed products.  This is where you can begin (if you live on Long Island!)

Here are a few ideas for you to consider when preparing your wedding that will eliminate sweatshop and child labor-free products, dangerous and toxic chemicals, while at the same time bringing a memorable beauty to your day and dignity to workers worldwide.  Let's begin!

1.  "Save-The-Date Notices and Wedding Invitations" made from recycled products that are made from pulp that eliminates cutting down trees, or pulp made from recycling fabrics, or even, if you can imagine, using elephant dung.  All papers are 100% recycled, fair trade and eco-friendly.  Many non-toxic colors are available.  

2.  "Bridal Party Gifts" - there are too many to mention here, but you could begin by thinking of what color your ladies or men will be wearing and then go from there with jewelry, scarves, pocketbooks, pottery, bowls, etc.  Jewelry can be found in bracelets made of beans, rolled paper, tagua nut, grass, and the traditional mediums of silver, brass and copper.  Colors and designs abound!  Pocketbooks can be found in raw silk, woven straw, rubber inner tubes, newspaper or telephone books, etc.  One particular bowl (or coasters, desk organizers, napkin rings) that is unique and attractive is the recycled chip bags in multi-color or just the silver side from what we know is a potato chip bag!  Fair trade gifts that will bring a smile to your bridal party and give a ray of hope to others to sustain their lives in poverty-stricken areas.

3.  "Chocolate" - there is too much child slavery in the world of chocolate, so we suggest having organic/vegan/fair trade chocolate to sweeten, not only your day, but the lives of cacao growers worldwide.  Chocolate, individually wrapped in colorful pink or red foil hearts, is delicious dark or milk chocolate, or you may prefer a 3.5 oz. bar which can have a distinctive custom wrapper around it with your wedding day memories and thoughts for your guests to take home as a favor.

4.  "Favors" - today brides/grooms are very creative with their favors to thank their guests for coming to share their day.  Some are adopting the tradition of making a donation to their favorite cause (see below) in the names of their guests.  Others are realizing that many people already have too many little shelf-sitters with no shelf left to sit!  Try a custom-labeled 4 oz. bag of organic/fair trade coffee.  The label can be your two names, such as "Smith-Ford Blend," or you can be comical or use your song as the coffee name.  These bags of vacuum-sealed coffees can be combined with a pottery mug and then placed in a bag as a gift.  Favors are a personal way to say thank you and only you will know what touches your heart most.  We listen to your hopes and dreams and then try to find the right match!

These are only a few ideas for you to consider, but making the choice to be environmentally conscious or green/fair trade, will bring you double the joy just knowing how much you've done to protect planet and peoples' lives.  Let us know if we can help you find the right match!

(Sobornost For The World Foundation, Inc., is a Long Island, NY, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, since 2003 supporting hundreds of orphans in sub-Saharan Africa with food and an education, as well as promoting and selling fair trade products from over 35 developing countries. 100% of your tax-deductible donation is given to help support these two missions.  - Contact:  Pattye Pece, President of Sobornost For The World Foundation, 101 W. Montauk Highway, Suite 4, Hampton Bays, NY  11946.  631-728-7880 or email her at:  villagefairtrade@yahoo.com)