ETHICAL WEDDING SHOWERS AND FLOWERS – OH MY!

Weddings can take a lot of energy to plan, so it’s a huge relief that somebody else handles the bridal shower. When my mom and aunt brought up mine, one of my first thoughts was, “What am I going to wear?”

My biggest love affair, other than my soon-to-be husband, was fair trade fashion. Naturally I had to wear a dress that was not only fun and pretty, but made with integrity. And since Mata Traders always hits the mark, I went with a beautiful pastel floral print from the SS’15 collection (Afternoon Allure dress in blue – sold out but similar here).

Looking to Mata’s current spring/summer season, floral prints are abound and featured on flirty silhouettes.

For the bride who loves her accessories and enjoys a pop of color, the black and white Mod Motion dress is perfect. Pair it with accessories that match your wedding colors, or let your shower guests adorn you with all those ribbons.

Feel like wearing your something blue at the shower? The Sydney dress’ indigo floral print will have your guests gushing over you. Go bold with gold and white accessories, like the Archer necklace in ivory and the Layered Spike earrings in cream.

And for brides who love a touch of sophistication (maybe to impress the in-laws), the navy Eva Wrap dress is cut just right. Pair it with daintier jewelry like the Tiered Tube necklace or gold Chime In earrings and a pair of wedges.

The week of my shower, I was very excited about receiving gifts, but not just so I could have more stuff. I was more enthusiastic about the great stories behind these beautiful products. I wanted our apartment to be filled with conversation pieces that could spark discussions with friends and family on the importance of fair trade and other ethical practices, and of course, make the place feel more like home!

If you’re also craving a change of pace from the standard registry, and want unique, fairly-made pieces, I found two great fair trade websites to register on for my shower. Serrv and Ten Thousand Villages both have a wide array of home goods to browse through. From kitchen utensils (how cool are these?) to furniture, to serving bowls (like these nesting bowls made in Cameroon), and garden pieces, there’s something for everyone. Or, register with a site like Thankful and add your favorite ethical products from whatever shops you like (I love these towels from Giraffe).

It seems like 99% of brides register at Target, and understandably so (what don’t they sell?). You probably want electronics and other items that may not have easily found ethical alternatives. So if you’re already planning to register at Target, I have exciting news for you! One of my favorite online shops, Accompany now has product featured on Target.com. Add linens, decorative bowls, mugs, jewelry boxes, and more to your registry. Accompany has a beautifully curated collection of fair trade and artisan made goods, so it will be hard to choose!

Of course, there are always the type of guests who won’t shop online (think: grandma and her sisters). In that case, encourage them to shop local, or even pass down something special from their own marriage (if you’re like me, you love the story, right?).

When it comes to shower day-of details, it’s surprisingly easy to add an ethical twist!

Serve fair trade chocolate (Divine Chocolate has a ton of fun flavors) and fair trade coffee from Equal Exchange. And to sweeten up that lemonade? Try some fair trade sugar.

DIY-ing the decor and using local vendors for food and flowers is a great way to support your local community, fuel your creativity, and minimize your environmental impact.

Now knowing your shower is good for the world, it’s time to sit back, relax, and try to soak in all of the love being poured over you from dear friends and relatives.