Guest blogger: Kate Harrison, creator of greenbrideguide.com.
After planning her own green wedding in 2007, Kate wrote the best-selling green wedding book, The Green Bride Guide: How to Plan an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget (Sourcebooks, 2008). In 2009, she founded greenbrideguide.com to help couples use their weddings to promote social and environmental change while supporting the local green economy. Kate has a JD in Environmental Law and a Master's from Yale in Environmental Policy.

From the bridal bouquet to the floral arrangements, the average couple spends $2,000 on flowers. "What could be more naturally beautiful or green than a floral arrangement?" you might ask. Well, unfortunately, there are lots of problems with conventionally grown flowers. 

First, there are the environmental concerns. About 60 percent of the flowers available in the United States are imported, and because flowers are not eaten, the government does not regulate the levels of pesticide residue on imported blooms. With each watering, pesticide residues are washed into rivers and streams, polluting the aquatic habitat and contaminating drinking-water supplies, both in the country where they are grown and again here, when florists rinse the flowers before arranging them.

Guest blogger: Liz Sellassie, Owner and Manager of Designer Loft bridal boutique, a Manhattan bridal salon serving brides over the past decade with a variety of unique designers under one roof, in an atmosphere without sales pressure and snobbery. Designer Loft features today's top and emerging bridal couture designers, including a number whose work is shown exclusively at Designer Loft. The gowns reflect a variety of tastes, sizes, and styles, celebrating the diversity of every Designer Loft bride. Service is what makes us different! For more info and to see a listing of bridal designers and upcoming trunkshow events, visit designerloftnyc.com.

Photo Credit: Judy Pak Photography

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, here are some of our favorite ways to honor your Irish heritage in your wedding day. 

With warm weather around the corner, some of you may be looking forward to your outdoor summer wedding. You’ve no doubt tried to think of everything, from what type of décor is best to the farewell favors. Let’s see: indoor location or tent in case of rain? Check. Bottled water provided for guests before the ceremony? Check. Pashminas on hand for cool breezes — or parasols at the ready for bright sun? Check. But what about those most unwelcome of guests that might just show up and ruin your party: the dreaded insects! You know, those annoying buzzing flies and mosquitoes that bite and bother everyone?

Well, here’s a terrific solution to ward off these pesky visitors: ThermaCELL’s new bronze-colored lantern (priced at $22.99) not only looks great but will keep the pests away allowing you and your guests to thoroughly enjoy being outdoors.

Good news: The ThermaCELL Lantern’s repellent mat contains a natural insecticide found in chrysanthemum flowers and each one creates a 15 ft. x 15 ft. comfort zone with up to four hours of protection (3 mats are included with each lantern). They’re silent, odorless, and the lantern’s light just needs three AAA batteries. You can use the lit lanterns with or without the repellent mats to give your tables a soft glow as night falls.

Guest blogger: Kate Harrison, creator of greenbrideguide.com.
After planning her own green wedding in 2007, Kate wrote the best-selling green wedding book, The Green Bride Guide: How to Plan an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget (Sourcebooks, 2008). In 2009, she founded greenbrideguide.com to help couples use their weddings to promote social and environmental change while supporting the local green economy. Kate has a JD in Environmental Law and a Master's from Yale in Environmental Policy.