In general, this book promotes stylish and beautiful weddings for the socially responsible couples who would like to celebrate their special day with customary splendor but without sacrificing the environment. In the introduction, the author--Emily Elizabeth Anderson--starts out by pointing at the wedding industry’s financial hold on couples and their families as she concentrates on the three tenets of conservationism: reduce, reuse, and recycle.

The reduce, reuse, and recycle ideas include the money spent on the setting, because where and when to hold the wedding ceremony is the first and probably the most important consideration. Among the writer’s suggestions are a park, the jungle, or a vineyard.

In the initial chapters, the subject of wedding rings comes up. Although I am not sure I agree with Anderson on faux diamonds, the idea of a family heirloom ring or a ring designed by a local artist makes a lot of sense. The wedding attire chapter is a brilliant one, since I am a cotton person; and even if I wore the color white myself a very long time ago, I always hated white on a bride. White has chauvinistic and--in some cultures--ominous connotations and is rarely reusable.

The following chapters are on wedding registry, invitations, flowers and design, favors, health and beauty, menu, and transportation, followed by two more chapters on honeymoon and married life. Each chapter is full of practical ideas and lists for resources. At the end of the book in the appendix, more lists of resources are offered. Throughout the entire book, the author advises to choose companies that care about recycling by not placing their products inside needless packaging.

socially conscious people who want to have a wonderful wedding without spending too much money or hurting the environment.

that the language of the book is clear, crisp, and direct, and the style of the author is convincing.

her idea of substituting faux pas diamonds instead of the real ones.

Emily Elizabeth Anderson is a freelance writer, certified yoga instructor, and an advocate of sustainable style. She lives in New York City, and her website is EmilyAnderson.com. Anderson has worked for Vanity Fair, Donna Karan New York, and Martha Stewart Living as the Event Director. She has studied interior design at the Parsons School of Design

“eco-chic weddings” is a resource not only for brides and grooms but for everyone, because the author urges and inspires the readers to live responsibly and take care of the environment.

Interested in buying this? Support Writing.Com by making your purchase of Eco-Chic Weddings: Simple Tips to Plan an Environmentally Friendly, Socially Responsible, Affordable, and Stylish Celebration   from Amazon.Com!

Created May 08, 2007 at 2:45pm • Submit your own review...