Got Green?

March is the perfect month to celebrate our GREEN side! 

New-to-you shoes saves more energy than

an average household uses in

a day.  Way to reduce that

carbon footprint!

Shown: Touch Ups Ronnie

Buying a pre-loved silk dress saves 95% of the CO2 needed to make a new one.  That size fits all!

Pictured: Ann Taylor 222563

Using an online wedding album service like The Wedding Lens saves printing costs when friends try to send hard copies.  Also, centralizing photographs reduces the number of PCs and servers needed to store and share!

Go Green! Get Green! Save Green!

Skinny on the Skirt

Wedding Dresses come in many skirts!  The Green Hanger Shop has the skinny on each one!

A-Line

Ballgown

Princess

(A-line without a waistband)

Mermaid

Sheath

Soft

Pickup

All of these are being offered for sale at The Green Hanger Shop.  If you were a skirt, what would you be?

From the Neck Down: Real Brides

As I was posting the last blog, a reader jumped in and reminded me that halter was a neckline I had missed.  It seems to be a popular choice among the comments received.  So I quickly found one in The Green Hanger Shop and added it.

I also learned of the wide variety of neckline choices out there.  One bride was sweet enough to share a picture of her dress that proves once again that just when you think you have thought of everything...

You learn something new everyday, or at least I hope so!  This great dress has an Elizabethan with a scoop neckline.  I love this.  She tells me that she was married on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. She loved that this Jessica McClintock dress was tea length, making it very maneuverable.  This combination of lace, Elizabethan and sea seems very romantic to me.  (This one is not for sale.)

So there you have it.  I know there are more necklines to uncover. In fact, I found a portrait neckline on a dress at The Green Hanger Shop that I did not post.  If you're curious, go here.

Next time,

the skinny on the skirt.

From the Neck Down

One of the most exciting perks of a bride-to-be is trying on those gorgeous dresses!  I know I dreamed of the day I would get to see my daughters choose THE dress. I thought it was fun. We set aside a Saturday when all three of us could go. Yes, without sister, there can be no cheering section. After five or six gowns, it gets old for the tryer onner.  In fact, it can get frustrating.  So here is my suggestion.  Try on different types of gowns in very broad categories and narrow what appeals to you or looks the most fabulous.  Think neckline, skirt line, fabric, embellishments, and train.  Here are some real brides in real dresses.  Let's start with the neckline. Yes, there are other dresses besides strapless!

Off the Shoulder

Scoop

Bateau

Sweetheart

V-Neck

Square

Strapless

Halter

All of the dresses pictured are available at The Green Hanger Shop.  Now, what neckline have I left out?  Please tell me your favorite.

Giving O' The Green

The Great Green Giveaway Winner!

I am so happy to celebrate the arrival of March and the approach of spring with the announcement of our giveaway winner.  Congratulations to Dana!  I hope she enjoys the Artecnica tranSglass® Jug from CSN Stores.  Dana, an email is on the way.

I welcome all the new followers, and I hope I can make it worth your time to hang out with me here.

Happy March!

A Great Green Giveaway

Pull up a bar stool and let me pour you a little sip of something cool while I tell you about the GREEN part of the shop.  You see, I was a teacher of wild, wide open sweet, innocent ten year olds for many years.  It was one of my responsibilities to teach them how to take care of the environment while all around us consumerism was winning the war.  The icing on the proverbial cake for me was when I spent months planning weddings and buying expensive gowns and dresses that were worn once when the whole wedding and its events were a done deal in just a matter of hours.  It's the kind of thing that leaves you scatching your head and wondering, "What just happened here?"  I was left with these gorgeous dresses that cost enough to be worn hundreds of times, not once!  Weren't they made to last forever, too?  It didn't fit my philosophy to store them away, and I encouraged both daughters to sell them if they could or think of other uses for them.  But wedding gowns weren't the only dresses that were going to waste. There were bridesmaids gowns, my dresses, shoes, jewelry.  So I started an eco-conscious business that allows me to encourage the reuse of these made to last dresses.  And I get to help newlyweds and brides-to-be save a ton of money, too.  It really is a win/win proposition. 

Speaking of win/win, I have a fantastic giveaway to celebrate our green practices!

Artecnica tranSglass® Jug

CSN stores, including http://www.allmodern.com/, is offering the followers of The Green Hanger Shop blog a chance to win this sleek and chic Artecnic tranSglass Jug, a $48.00 value.  I selected this piece for you, dear readers.  Read on about its origin...

 "Since its launch, the tranSglass Jug has become one of Artecnica’s best-selling items. The unique design of this jug makes it visually appealing and a great accent for the home! With its recycled origins and sleek, fluid design, tranSglass conveys a positive attitude towards the environment, affirmed as an Artecnica Design With Conscience project.
With the help of Aid to Artisans, a non-profit organization providing assistance to artisans worldwide, Artecnica collaborated with Guatemalan craftsmen to bring Emma Woffenden and Tord Boontje’s designs to the market. Combining old-world craftsmanship and sophisticated design, each tranSglass vessel is a unique, one-of-a-kind piece. tranSglass is included in the permanent collection of MoMA New York."

So let's get this giveaway going!  Here are your opportunities.

1. First, to enter, you must be a follower with a registered user name.  This allows me to find you if you win!  Please use the follow option in the upper left sidebar and comment that you added yourself or are already one. This is a required minimal entry.  Here are additional entry chances.
2. Follow me on twitter @greenhangershop and tweet "I entered the Great #Green Giveaway at http://www.thegreenhangershop.blogspot.com/" and leave me a comment telling me you did. That's 2 entries! One if you follow, and one if you tweet!
3. Write a mention of this giveaway in your blog with a link back to this blog. Again, come comment with a link so I know you did this.
4. Become a fan of The Green Hanger Shop on facebook.

So there's five chances for you to win the Artecnica jug!  Giveaway starts February 21st and ends February 28th.  Winner will be chosen at random. Remember, if I can't find a contact email or link for you, you can't win,and I will select a new winner.

Cheers!

~Judy

Going to the ...

The venue for weddings and receptions is a major decision.  It sets the tone for the rest of the decor and can even dictate the type of wedding gown that will be needed.  My daughters were both married in churches, so they wore formal bridal gowns and picked other attire and flowers that would be elegant in the sanctuaries.  One daughter chose a country club for her reception and they provided the catering on site.  Easy, breezy.  But not cheap.  The other daughter chose to use the church reception hall and had a coordinator to well, coordinate, the details of her dessert reception.  A little less expensive, but a little more hands on planning was required.  I loved both and thought they fit the couples' personalities very well. 
In the order of planning, I suggest first budget, then guest list, next set the date, and then set up the ceremony, reception and caterer arrangements.  Don't be shocked at how quickly dates get taken, especially the popular months, and be prepared to go to a second or third choice on your date.  If you are considering a planner, now is the time to secure one.  They can be a tremendous help in arranging these details and can often save you money through their network connections.

I thought it would be fun, and hopefully, helpful to think of other places besides country clubs and church halls where receptions could take place.  So here is a list to start, and I invite you to add to it.