Wedding Tips and Ideas

Planning a Wonderful Wedding on a Realistic Budget

2010-02-17T11:13:00.001-05:00

Contrary to what they say in the magazines and on-line now, you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a wonderful, memorable wedding. I tell my clients and my readers that the most important part of making a wedding memorable is focusing on and prioritizing what you want to achieve. Fortunately, that same focus will help you save money as well!

Planning a Wonderful Wedding on a Realistic Budget

Tips For An Amazing Maid Of Honor Wedding Speech

2010-01-24T15:32:00.001-05:00

Tips For An Amazing Maid Of Honor Wedding Speech

You have been chosen as maid of honor for your close friend's wedding, and even though the event is still weeks away, you are already fretting about what you are going to say in your maid of honor wedding speech. The maid of honor wedding speech is one of the most important duties of the maid of honor. The words spoken to the bride and groom, and their wedding guests, should convey the importance of the day and connect the guests with the couple on a more meaningful level. Even though the maid of honor wedding speech seems a little overwhelming, with a bit of early preparation and creativity, your speech can easily become one of the highlights of the bride and groom's special day.Read more...

Best Man Speech tips and ideas

2010-01-22T15:44:00.002-05:00

Best Man Speech tips and ideas

A best man's speech can make or break a wedding but by using common sense you can make sure your toast is remembered for all the right reasons

A wedding is certainly a nerve racking day for the couple of the day, but the nerves also extend to the best man who has the difficult job of coming up with a memorable speech at the reception.

The main problem people have with their speech is that they overcomplicate things and make things harder for themselves. A good best man's speech should be short and snappy - more than five minutes and people's thought start to wander, longer than seven and people start to get bored. While brevity is important, it's good to use two minutes as your minimum marker. Read more...

The Joys of Selecting Wedding Themes

2010-01-22T15:30:00.002-05:00

The Joys of Selecting Wedding Themes

The Joys of Selecting Wedding Themes
For the imaginative couple, you may want to break away from the traditional church and reception hall theme. And many more couples are trying something outside of this standard, so you're sure to find whatever the two of you can think of.

What do you like?

Many couples come up with wedding themes based on where they met or what they like to do together. For example, a couple that met in a particular city may want to celebrate that city, or even hold the nuptials there.

Although more extreme, some couples have exchanged vows while jumping out of an airplane or skiing down a mountain. Why not pledge your love in the waters of a tropical island or create a traditional renaissance fair?

Make up a list of all of the things that you might like for your wedding. Let it be everything that you could imagine enjoying. This celebration is for the two of you, so let the wedding reflect the couple that you are. Read more...

Suggestions for booking wedding entertainment. How to choose a DJ, band or wedding musician

2010-01-22T15:23:00.002-05:00

Suggestions for booking wedding entertainment. How to choose a DJ, band or wedding musician

Try to remember the last wedding you attended. Was it six months ago? A year? Perfect. Now try to remember what hors'douvres were served during cocktail hour. Tough one, right? How about this, do you remember the favor you got? Maybe, maybe not. Now here's an easy one: Did you have a good time? Did you dance all night? Was the entertainment great? Or was it horrible?

If you are like most people, chances are you'll remember the entertainment more than anything at a party. Entertainment leaves the most indelible memory after any affair. So it only stands to reason that the guests you invite to your wedding will have the same impression. Long after the memory of how your flowers looked has faded from their minds, long after they've forgotten about those invitations you sent out, they'll remember how great a time they had, dancing and celebrating with the Bride and Groom.

It is for this reason that you should book the entertainment for your wedding reception early. You should be very clear about what you want and how you want your day to run. You should shop around. You should call references. You should see your Band or DJ live, not just on videotape. You should insist on guaranteeing a specific person or specific players once you reserve your entertainment. And, it is for this reason, that if you're going to cut some financial corners at your reception, you should try someplace else. Don't order match books for example, or go with the three hour open bar instead of five.

Spend your money wisely on your wedding day for entertainment, and you are virtually guaranteed to have a memorable, fun, exciting day. The following are some tips to help you when "shopping around" for entertainment. Many of these suggestions apply for other services as well, your photographer or videographer for example, but for the purpose of this article we'll deal strictly with Entertainment services for your reception: Read more...

Wedding Tips & Ideas: Rehearsal Dinner/Welcome Party Combo

2010-01-19T23:42:00.003-05:00

Nicole and Blake kicked off their wedding weekend with an elaborate rehearsal dinner and welcome party.Read more....

The Brides Guide to a Makeup Trial Run

2010-01-18T20:08:00.006-05:00

The Brides Guide to a Makeup Trial Run

On movie sets it is called a screen test, an actor never goes on the big screen without trying different makeup looks for that character...same thing in the wedding world, it is called a "trial run", both are extremely important when it comes to you looking your very best as you star in the biggest production of your life...your wedding day!Read more...

Wedding related articles, wedding planning, wedding advice and etiquette

2010-01-12T12:47:00.002-05:00

Grooms: Find the Most Flattering Tuxedo Style

2010-01-11T16:12:00.004-05:00

Grooms: Find the Most Flattering Tuxedo Style

You've never had so many pictures taken of you in your life, so make sure you look great. Keep these tips in mind for choosing the suit that best becomes you.Read more...

Groom Basics: Real Grooms Tell All

2010-01-11T16:06:00.003-05:00

Groom Basics: Real Grooms Tell All

Rehearsal Dinner/Welcome Party Combo

2010-01-11T16:04:00.003-05:00

Rehearsal Dinner/Welcome Party Combo

Happy New Year

2009-12-30T16:57:00.000-05:00

Have a safe and wonderful New Year!

Honeymoon ideas for adventurous newlyweds

2009-12-28T14:54:00.006-05:00

Ten unique trips for couples who want to step out on the wild side

After the months, sometimes years, of planning and stress that go into pulling off that perfect wedding fete, nothing’s sweeter than boarding the plane en route to post-marital bliss—a.k.a. the long-awaited honeymoon.

But when it comes to honeymooning, where does one even begin in choosing a destination? The good news is you’re not limited to an all-inclusive Sandals resorts or over-the-top Caribbean cruise. Nor do honeymoons have to be restricted to beaches and umbrella-garnished boat drinks. In fact, many more intrepid honeymooners are choosing the path less traveled and opting for cold-weather jaunts as an alternative.

Read more...

7 Wedding Cake Trends

2009-12-22T13:45:00.009-05:00

7 Wedding Cake Trends

Wedding Photography: 85 Great Photo Suggestions

2009-12-22T13:39:00.004-05:00

Wedding Photography: 85 Great Photo Suggestions

Landscape Centerpieces - 5 Hot Wedding Trends - In Style Weddings

2009-12-22T13:34:00.006-05:00

Landscape Centerpieces - 5 Hot Wedding Trends - In Style Weddings

Top 10 Trends for 2010

2009-12-22T13:21:00.006-05:00

Plan ahead with these top tips for your 2010 wedding.

Engaged over Valentine’s Day and getting ready to set your date? As you begin to plan you 2010 nuptials keep in mind these top trends you’ll see next spring. Buttercream, organic green, backyard weddings – all great ideas to help get you down the aisle.

1. Back to Basics
Events will focus on the attention to the details, the foundation of the event, not the drama or grandeur of the evening. Consider spending more on the lasting memories than the showmanship of the event. Spend a bit more than the average budget allotment on photography mediums rather than abundant floral. Or consider a bit of a longer stay on your honeymoon and a little less of a party at the reception and you’ll be grateful for your decision in the end.

2. Home Weddings Hit Home
Intimate and personal affairs in the backyard are bigger than ever. Going home incorporates the continued trend of personalizing the wedding day experience.Smaller size guest lists, more intimate settings, grass roots weddings, elegant and detail driven, but in no way small on what counts.

3. Buttercream on the Big Day
Fondant is falling behind, buttercream corners the market.Tools and techniques now allow for buttercream to look as smooth as fondant when applied by a skilled artist. You have the option of better flavor, more natural ingredients, and less costly cakes that no longer suffer or lack in design.

4. Favor Comeback
Personalized appreciation is back. The effect that an event has on the guests is more noticeable than ever before so the importance of a favor is felt more than ever. Be sure to appreciate to those in attendance - it’s not just an afterthought, omission, or generic item. Think local artisans, locally grown products, personal mementos, and on-the-spot print outs.

5. Nearby Destinations
Nearby destination weddings are taking flight over the exotic and far off locales. The ever popular destination wedding will remain but guests will get out of town by car (within driving distance) so couples can create a weekend, guests get an escape, but no one breaks the bank. Enjoying the US destination locations, spend within your own local economies, create a greener effect, experience undiscovered backyards, and stay sensible about cost while you’re at away.

6. Colors
Monochromatic palettes - this doesn’t mean muted colors, just single color bunches. Vibrant Colors: Orange, green, yellow, and pink. Metal Colors: Gold, silver, copper, and pewter. And black is definitely the new black. Break the rules and show off the darker side of your event.

7. Greener Conscience
Immerging will be the newest phase of eco-conscience: A better understanding of the gray shades of green. You will see more emphasis on the smaller changes that are less recognizable to the guest (i.e. cleaning green, composting, solar and LED lighting, no more oasis in floral arrangements, less catering waste). It’s no longer about making the event appear “organic” – it’s about understanding how things are made, disposed of, and where/when events take place. Learning to make better choices that are unseen by the guest are just as important as those tree-free invitations everyone is talking about. Don't forget your favors. Go green with enviromentally conscience favors.

8. Video Integration into Events
We’ve all seen the photo montages of your childhoods during dinner but the next phase in video at your event comes in several different forms. Video DJ’s are immerging, allowing your dance party to dance to the visuals of the music videos; ceremonies are being broadcast on screens for better viewing from the back; and time lapse photography is being shot and integrated into video for current day montages of you and your fiancé. Love to party? Set up crane camera and project the event as it unfolds on screens around the dance floor (budget permitting of course).

9. HD Video
Videographers have already gone hi-def. But next year all or most will make such a transition, making HD and even Blu Ray the norm in wedding videography. Upgrade now and appreciate the quality later. This also means smaller cameras on site and less intrusion into your event, all around a better (though more costly) option on the big day.

10. Visual Combinations
Professional grade still photo cameras like the Canon 5D Mark II DSLR are being released with HD video capabilities included. It is recommended to have both a videographer and a photographer at your wedding to capture every moment of the big day. Tech-savvy brides looking for a new experience, may like to experiment with a visual professional (videographer or photographer) who has this technology. In the future, you will begin to see an emergence of two-in-one companies. Companies like Engaging Films and Video Keepsakes of Beverly Hills in Los Angeles will shoot video and take stills, but use only one piece of technology.

New Products

2009-12-21T20:48:00.015-05:00

What a great idea! Decorate your tables with these lovely favors. Murano art deco collection wine charms & Murano art deco collection wine stoppers

Favor and Decorating Tip

2009-12-01T15:28:00.006-05:00

Well Ladies, I've seen a wedding trend lately that I would like to share with you. It seems that alot of you ladies are waiting, almost to the very month...even weeks before your event to purchase your favors. I would strongly advise against this. From my experience, if you wait to purchase your favors, it is highly likely that whats hot, trending, and seasonal will not be avaliable. Also, don't forget to consider order processing time and shipping time. Remember....if it takes UPS 3 business days to deliver to your area from the shipping location, don't forget to add the order processing time, which can be anywhere between 2-14business days, depending on the item you're purchasing. Now your looking at a total of up to 17 business days to get your order. Best Tip?? Order early. It saves time and is less stressful.
Take our Poll and let us know when you plan to order favors and decorations...

Free Wedding Planning!

2009-11-29T11:14:00.006-05:00

Check out this site, One Stop Wedding Planner, that offer FREE wedding planning. Keep track of your Budget, your Floor Plans, your Guest Lists, and much more!! Everything in one place..

New Products

2009-11-28T13:08:00.007-05:00

Well, we've updated our site for winter. It has a more seasonal feel now. We are working on spending more time bloggin too! So stay tuned....

Creating Personal Traditions: Writing Your Own Wedding Vows

2009-11-25T11:51:00.001-05:00

Writing your own wedding vows may suit your personal wedding style, but it can be a bit of a daunting task to begin with. If you are trying to write your own vows, don’t let the task overwhelm you or intimidate you. Writing your own vows should begin and end with how you feel, not what others are expecting. If you are creating your own wedding ceremony and style and you want to write your own vows, here are a few questions to consider in creating the vows you want to make.

When and where did you first meet?
What was the state of your life before the two of you met?
At what point did you realize you were in love? Describe the feeling.
What inspires you about your loved one?
What life goals and dreams do you share?
What have you learned from each other?
What qualities make your love unique? What qualities will keep it strong?
How has your view of the world changed since you fell in love?
What do you most look forward to about life with this person?
What are some special moments in your relationship? Use them all, even the sad times as well as the happy, moving, or profound.
What happened the day you asked her to marry you? How did you feel?

Reading the vows you have written yourself during your wedding ceremony can be one of the most romantic things you’ve ever done. It’s the kind of thing that really helps you create your own personal wedding style. Writing your own vows is a kind of personal touch that cannot be replicated by any other style of vow.

Correct Invitation Wording

2009-11-18T15:09:00.000-05:00

With so many blended families, levels of formality, and types of hosts, it can be difficult to know what the correct wording is for your situation.

Traditional Wording
For the bride and groom who cherish long-standing traditions, conventional wording and spelling will govern their invitation choices. Some specific rules for formal wedding invitations are as follows:

The invitation to a wedding ceremony in a house of worship reads “Mr. and Mrs. Julian Bruce Clemens request the honour” (using the traditional “u” spelling) “of your presence.” “Favour,” as in “the favour of a reply,” also uses the traditional spelling.
No punctuation is used, except after abbreviations such as “Mr.” and “Mrs.” or when phrases requiring separation occur in the same line, such as in the date.
Numbers in the date are spelled out, as in “the twenty-sixth day of July,” but long numbers in a street address may be written in numerals: “1345 Hubarb Drive.”
Half hours are written as “half after four o’clock” -- not as “half past four” or as “four-thirty.”
Less Formal Wording
When less formality is desired, alternatives to traditional wording can be used.

Semiformal wording may read, "The pleasure of your company is requested at the marriage of..."
Informal wording may read, "Please join us as we celebrate the marriage of...”
Destination Weddings
You needn’t add anything special to your destination-wedding invitations, but you should mail them much sooner than you would typical wedding invitations -- at least four months prior to the wedding. You should also strongly consider sending save-the-date cards or emails prior to the wedding invitations so that guests can arrange their schedules accordingly (and perhaps make a vacation out of their trip). If your destination is a popular vacation spot, you should definitely get in touch with guests early on.
Additional information, such as guest lodging and travel information, can be mailed separately to those who send positive response cards; don’t try to stuff it all into your wedding invitations. Posting such information on your personal wedding website is ideal and will speed the process for your guests -- they can book travel and hotel accommodations right online.

Save on Wedding Cake Prices

2009-10-27T10:15:00.001-04:00

7 Ways to Save on Wedding Cake Prices

Let them eat wedding cake - without eating up your wedding budget…
Wedding cakes should be eye-catching, fabulous, and of course, tasty too! And just like every other aspect of your wedding day – wedding cake prices can creep skyward. But don’t let a tight budget stand between you and the ultimate wedding cake. Size and design are the main determinants in wedding cake cost. You can play with these elements to create a confection that is super-fab….and kind to your catering tab.

Have your cake (and eat it too) with these creative ways to slash wedding cake prices

Cut that Guest List- As with all cost-per-person aspects of your wedding, narrowing down your guest list will result in a significant drop in wedding cake prices. Less mouths to feed = less slices; you get the idea. And any cake cutting fee, typically charged on a per slice bases as well, will also be reduced.

Hip to be Square Square wedding cakes yield more slices than round ones. So go square – and make a deliciously modern statement!

Go Natural- Hand constructed gum paste or sugar paste flowers can quickly rack up your wedding cake cost. Substitute these costly adornments with fresh fruits and flowers – an inexpensive option that is equally stunning.

Keep It Simple- While intricate, over-the-top cakes evoke the ultimate in wedding day opulence, today’s shift towards modern minimalism can foray into the world of cake design. Simple wedding cakes can be deliciously chic. So lose the ornate adornments and infinite skyward-stretching tiers, and opt for a clean design with an impeccably smooth surface. Add simple details such as a Swiss dot pattern or wide ribbon around the base. Stick to one flavor, as multiple flavors will increase the bottom line.

One Stop Shopping- If your wedding venue offers an onsite caterer, employ their services for your confection as well, and save on delivery and service fees. You will also ward off chances for a transportation mishap – a headache you surely want to avoid on the big day. Many reception sites offer a wedding cake as part of their package deal, so be sure to inquire when scouting reception sites.

“Dummy Cakes”Fancy a towering and dramatic wedding cake but don’t want to shell out the extra cash? Instead of paying for extra layers, ask your baker to create faux layers consisting of iced Styrofoam. Trust us – your guests will never be the wiser; it will be our little secret.
Outside the Proverbial Cake PanOf-the-moment brides are breaking with tradition and forgoing the cake all together - presenting instead pies or pastries on tiered platters as the centerpieces of their wedding receptions. Depending on your selection, this can be an uber-chic way to save. Dare we say it, even doughnuts are in vogue and have been spotted at some of the poshest black tie events!

Ten Steps to a Green Wedding

2009-10-21T10:52:00.005-04:00

10 Steps to a Green Wedding

Every engaged couple wants their wedding day to be a special celebration that reflects who they are and what they care about. Going green is a great way to make the festivities unique and meaningful--and show friends and family just how fun, beautiful, and delicious a sustainable lifestyle can be. Here's how to start planning the kind of wedding the online nuptial gurus at TheKnot.com have anointed "the hot new thing":
1. With this ring...A green wedding begins where any engagement does: with a ring. Don't start off on a sour note. The beautiful alternatives to "blood diamonds" (those that are mined in war zones and fund conflicts) include:
vintage rings, whether a family heirloom or an antique find (you can even have old gold melted down and refashioned)
lab-created diamonds (greenKarat's are set in recycled gold too)
diamonds mined in peaceful Canada or Australia, like those from Brilliant Earth, Cred Jewellery, or Leber Jewelry's Earthwise line
diamonds certified as "conflict-free" under the Kimberley Process, an ongoing effort to reform diamond mining in Africa (ask your jeweler the questions in Amnesty International's buyer's guide)
one-of-a-kind wooden bands

2. Location, location, location. Your choice of venue sets the tone for your wedding day--and accounts for a big chunk of the money you'll be laying out. Spend it wisely! Consider:

choosing a setting that's convenient to the most guests to minimize travel impacts
having the ceremony and the reception at the same place, or providing ecofriendly transportation between them
picking a unique local spot--like an art gallery, nonprofit space, organic restaurant or farm, green hotel, botanical garden, or green-roofed building--that supports a cause you believe in
an outdoor setting that will infuse the whole event with a natural sensibility (and require less decorating too!)
arriving at the ceremony in a horse-drawn carriage, cycle rickshaw, or hybrid car
offsetting your guests' travel (or asking them to do it as your wedding gift)

3. Please join us...Your invitation is the first impression guests will get of your green wedding. Look for:

recycled, handmade, or plantable papers processed chlorine-free and printed with vegetable- or soy-based inks
tree-free paper made out of hemp, banana stalks, bamboo, kenaf, or organic cotton
a printer who will use paper with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled content
papers that aren't metallic or plastic-coated, characteristics that make them hard to recycle
opportunities to reduce paper use, like sending a postcard (instead of multi-enveloped notes) for your save-the-date, or using online invitations and a wedding blog to let people know about the bachelor/ette parties, rehearsal dinner, and gift registry
In your invitations, let guests know about the ecofriendly hotel and transportation options in your area, whether it's hybrid rental cars or directions to the ceremony on public transportation. And don't forget to pick up some extra green paper products for your guest book, place cards, and thank-you notes. (You will be writing thank-yous, won't you?)

4. The final flingPlan bachelor and bachelorette parties that will keep the green theme going:
Stay local (and spend more time with your friends, and less dealing with travel stress).
Offset your trip if you choose a "destination" party.

Travel by train (and start the party early in the bar car).
Indulge in organic wine (or beer) tasting or an organic spa treatment.
Take a class and learn to make your own wedding flowers or jewelry.
Do something low-impact and outdoorsy like a camping, surfing, sailing, kayaking, or fishing trip.

5. Here comes the bride......in a gorgeous hemp-silk gown. When it comes to outfitting the bridal party, green options abound. You can:

go vintage (and update your look as necessary with tailoring and modern shoes and accessories)
pick clothes made from hemp, bamboo, and organic cotton or silk--or find a dressmaker who will make a one-of-a-kind item out of these sustainable fabrics (men's suits and shirts come in organic cotton or wool too)
borrow an elegant gown from a stylish friend
buy something you'll wear again (and let your bridesmaids do the same)
accessorize with a unique recycled purse and/or jewelry
use vegetable dyes on your shoes (or go barefoot for a beach wedding)
accentuate natural beauty with all-natural makeup
donate the dresses to charity after the event

6. Set the stageAdd beauty and style to your wedding décor, naturally. Here's how:
opt for organic flowers

find a florist who's diligent about recycling packaging and will source locally raised flowers
have bridesmaids carry matching purses or silk bouquets instead of cut flowers
decorate with branches, dried grasses, grains, greens, berries, or live plants (potted or dried arrangements can double as favors)
choose beeswax or soy-based candles over those made with paraffin, a petroleum byproduct
arrange to have decorations moved from the ceremony to the reception (if you opt for separate sites)
use leaves or other natural objects as place cards
throw biodegradable confetti or organic rose petals instead of releasing butterflies
donate the flowers to a hospital or rest home at the end of the day

7. Eat, drink, and be merryShowcase green gustatory pleasures (and spoil your guests) by basing your menu around local, organic, and seasonal foods. Don’t forget the organic wine, beer, and spirits, and the free-trade, shade-grown coffee and tea! Some tips:

Ask the venue's preferred caterers and bakers if they can do your event organically.
Find a local organic restaurant that does off-site catering.
If your wedding won't be complete without a specific type of food, get married when it's in season.
Find a caterer you trust to pick the best seasonal selections (since you may not be able to taste those exact items ahead of time).
Consider vegetarian selections and seek out cruelty-free meats and wild, rather than farmed, fish.
Make sure the venue offers comprehensive recycling facilities, and ideally composting too.
Have your cake decorated with organically grown flowers or other natural materials instead of plastic toppers.
Rent real glassware, dishware, and linens instead of using disposables.
Go for a chic eclectic look by mixing and matching thrift-store plates and dishes (and donating them back when you're done).
Use biodegradable utensils and dishes made out of cornstarch, potatoes, wheat, or sugar cane--if your venue can compost them.
Make arrangements to donate leftover food to a local food bank or homeless shelter.

8. Lasting memoriesWhether you prefer film or digital photographs, look for a photographer who will do digital proofs to save paper and chemicals. Avoid single-use cameras, but ask friends with digi-cams to share their photos with all the guests online in a free Flickr group or Snapfish group room you set up for your wedding.

9. 'Tis better to give...OK, OK, giving and receiving are both great! For your gift registry, consider:
asking for gifts to charity instead of material goods
registering with the I Do Foundation or another site that gives a percentage of gift purchases to your chosen cause
registering with stores that offer local, fair-trade, handmade, organic, or other ecofriendly products like Branch, Gaiam, Greenfeet, GreenSage, Ten Thousand Villages, UncommonGoods, or VivaTerra.
registering for outdoor gear or contributions to an ecofriendly honeymoon
creating a custom wish list of ecofriendly items like a fresh-produce subscription from a local farm, organic gardening supplies, organic linens, park and museum passes, gift certificates to organic restaurants, and subscriptions to green publications or memberships in green causes

For your favors, give something your guests will really use and enjoy, not disposable plastic souvenirs. Some ideas:
gourmet organic chocolates or another organic or local food item
attractive bags of fresh or dried organic herbs
seeds in a commemorative container like this one
reusable cloth tote bags
a small plant
natural soaps
soy or beeswax candles
a compact fluorescent lightbulb
a downloadable playlist of your favorite songs
a small charitable donation in each guest's name
place cards made of seeded paper that can be planted at home

For your helpful, loyal attendants, you'll want to up the ante a little, perhaps with:
gift baskets of organic skin-care products
recycled jewelry, wallets, handbags, or drinking glasses
selections of organic coffees, teas, and chocolates
recycled paper journals and stationery
great bottles of organic wine

10. Happily ever after...Begin your new life with a honeymoon that's light on the Earth. Consider:
going somewhere local (you're going to be spending a lot of time in that hotel room anyway)
engaging in ecotourism, which can be as rugged or luxurious as you want it to be (find listings that suit your style through Conservation International, National Geographic, Planeta.com, or ResponsibleTravel.com)
taking a trip that benefits an environmental group; perhaps boating in Florida's Dry Tortugas, birding in Alaska, or walking the Italian Alps with Sierra Club Outings
skipping the cruise and taking a relaxing, romantic train trip
getting around at your destination by renting bikes or taking public transportation (the better to enjoy the sights instead of arguing about your spouse's driving habits)
staying in a family-run B&B or inn, a luxury teepee or yurt, or a green hotel that's working to save resources and reduce waste
offsetting your trip’s carbon dioxide emissions