One of the best things about the arrival of spring and summer is the opportunity to spend time outside with friends and family. In Naperville, as well as across the country, homeowners are recognizing the benefits of improving their residential landscaping, particularly in the backyard. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors, American homeowners invest $6.2 billion yearly for outdoor improvements.

Backyard Luxury Retreat

From homeowners to real estate agents, landscape architects to homebuyers, everyone agrees that turning your simple backyard into a luxury retreat will make your home infinitely more desirable when it comes time to sell. “A well landscaped house sells itself,” said Jim Rose, owner of JR’s Creative Landscaping. A well-planned landscape can also improve in value. “As the trees and shrubs grow in, their value can double,” said Barry Conlin, owner of C.B. Conlin Landscapes.

Other landscape elements also hold their value well. According to the National Association of Realtors, outdoor lighting can yield a 50 percent return-on-investment . The ROI of building a deck is 77 percent according to a cost vs. value report from Remodeling Magazine. However, professionals say the ultimate ROI for any landscape project varies greatly depending upon the quality of your design and installation, your neighborhood, home value, how long you’re in the home and the specifics of the improvement.

The introduction of popular and unique backyard elements such as outdoor kitchens, fire bowls, TVs and roofed structures remain in high demand. Today’s homeowners come to their favorite landscaper armed with eager inspiration from their sun-soaked vacations at luxury resorts and spas, hoping to incorporate similar opulently landscaped, alfresco dining and lounging spaces into their very own backyard.

Here’s what’s trending on the wish list of Naperville homeowners.

Much More Out the Door

“In the past, people simply built a deck or a cement patio,” said Conlin. “Now, homeowners are looking to create more of an entertainment area that they can enjoy with their family. They want to do something that blurs the line from the inside and the outside.”

A 2013 survey of Top Outdoor Living Trends by the American Society of Landscape Architects reveals that 94.5 percent of respondents agree with the trend. Today’s homeowners want their backyard to be an extension of their indoor living space. No longer is there a desire simply for a deck or patio, but a continued outdoor living space featuring several adjacent wall-less rooms. According to the survey, high on the list of popular amenities are fire pits, fireplaces, grills, seating and dining areas, terraces, patios and decks, and low maintenance landscapes.

The exterior kitchen has replaced the basic outdoor grill and now includes classic indoor features like granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances like sinks and refrigerators. The patio is replaced by the great room concept that may feature any or all of the following:

• An inviting fire pit or fireplace for gathering.
• Ample, comfy couches for lounging.
• Weather-proof flat screen LED televisions for watching the big game with a crowd.
• Soothing water features like a fountain, waterfall or ornamental pool for quiet meditation.
• Shelter from an overhead pergola or pavilion for intimacy and protection from the elements.

Give Me Shelter

Building an overhead structure gives an outdoor living space an indoor feel. Pergolas are typically four-columned, large wooden structures that provide shade cover with a partially open, trellised, or beamed roof. The more luxurious option is the pavilion, which offers a completely closed, often shingled roof with partial walls. “While you may spend up to 40 percent more to build a pavilion instead of a pergola, you get complete shelter from the sun and rain and more usable time in the structure,” said Rose.

Conlin explains that he creatively adjoins or separates the living areas using various landscape elements. For example, changing the type of flagstone or flooring between the areas with different materials or colors can clearly define the kitchen from the dining area. He also adds dividing borders of stepping stones, water features, or hedges to form hallways into different patio sections. Similarly, Rose said that when using pavers, he lays them in a different direction to define areas.

Nice and Easy

Landscapers agree that a low maintenance landscape is high on the Naperville homeowner’s list of must haves. And thanks to the many options available in landscape materials and accessories, homeowners no longer have to choose between beauty and low-maintenance. According to Rose, low-maintenance, pondless water features are on the rise. These bubbling urns with basins recycle the water used without a pond and include long-lasting, IonGen™ purifiers that keep the water sparkling and algae-free. Plantings can be selected for minimal maintenance and built-in seating areas embellished with strategically placed urns that need only be changed seasonally with available blooms or evergreens at the holiday time.

New and improved construction materials also contribute to the low maintenance landscape. While natural stone is still a beautiful, quality choice, innovative wet cast pavers are now on the market and mimic the characteristics of natural stone at a considerable time and cost savings. “Wet cast products are incredibly durable and can withstand up to 17,000 psi (pounds per square inch) of pressure, several times more than concrete. They are impervious to salt, sun and moisture and don’t require sealing. It’s the new wave of the paver industry,” said Rose.

Decks, long considered one of the more maintenance needy structures in the backyard, have low-maintenance options too. Conlin encourages homeowners looking for low-maintenance, real wood decking to consider ipe (pronounced ee-pay), an extremely dense, hard as nails, splinter-proof tropical wood that stands up well to the elements. It compares in price to the premium composite material decking but has the advantages of wood.

Fire!

Fire features are more popular than ever and add a rosy, warm glow to any backyard living space. The typical fire pit has evolved into outdoor fireplaces and beautiful fire bowls that range in price from hundreds to thousands of dollars and are typically gas powered. Homeowners like to install them onto columns to pierce the night with hypnotic, spiraling gas flames that add interest to any landscape.

Now and Later

It’s typical for a homeowner’s dreams to exceed their budget so landscapers encourage you to implement a design in phases. For example, Conlin suggests designing the $100,000 dream yard now, but only adding the essentials such as the deck and patio right away. “Your biggest investment is your home. It’s OK to do things gradually so you get exactly what you want,” he said.

Rose said he also provides dream plans that are turnkey down the road. “We create the plan, and then install everything needed to hook up water, fire, and electronics features later on when the homeowner is ready,” said Rose.

Creating an outdoor living space can be exhilarating and challenging. It also requires plenty of research, thought and decision-making. A qualified landscape architect can help you create a master plan within your budget that will satisfy your needs for a fabulous backyard improvement, now and in the future.

Top 10 popular items to consider in designing an outdoor living space

1. Outdoor kitchens
2.  Grills
3. Counter space
4. Sinks
5. Refrigerators
6. Entertainment Areas
7. Pergolas/Pavilions/Gazebos
8. Gardens/Landscaped Spaces
9. Fire Pits, Fireplaces or Features
10. Seating/Dining Areas (traditional and bistro), Installed Seating (benches, seat walls, ledges, steps, boulders)

Imagine taking a truly relaxing vacation without packing, making transport reservations, or leaving the city. It’s called a spa-cation and it’s become quite a trend in Naperville.

When the economy dipped a few years ago, many spa owners expected a decline in their business. Surprisingly, many reported an increase. “Instead of spending thousands of dollars on a vacation, people are choosing to treat themselves to spa services,” said Anne Marie Kollias, Coldwater Creek Spa director.

Vacating your cares and worries with a decadent spa treatment for even a few hours can help you re-enter the world feeling healthier, energized and perhaps even feeling younger. Fortunately, Naperville offers some of the most unique products, treatments and services in the country. So if travel is out of the budget this year, get away to one of these four Naperville spa-cation destinations for a brief, yet satisfying, adventure.

TIMELESS SPA AND SALT CAVE

Timeless offers many unusual, holistic and alternative treatments, but their biggest draw is the salt cave.

Timeless operates one of only a handful of available spa therapy salt caves in the country. The beautifully simulated indoor cave is actually a 400 square foot room, awash in 11,000 pounds of Himalayan pink salts that were transported and installed over a three-month period in 2009. Visitors pay $25 for 45 minutes to breathe the salt air in the comfortable, 78-degree cave. As the lights dim, clients settle back in zero gravity beach chairs and enjoy the twinkling fiber optics above that simulate a peaceful, starry sky. So why breathe salt air?

“It contains 84 different minerals our body needs,” said Jodi Buckle, owner of Timeless Spa and Salt Cave. The salt charges the air with negative ions that trap free radicals in the body to promote healing from the inside out. Although results are individual, the cave air is supposed to boost the immune system and reduce inflammation. Buckle has clients who credit the cave with helping them reduce their medication, lessen their chronic pain, and stay healthy during office flu epidemics.

The Zen Bed at Timeless is a relaxation therapy offered at only five other spas in the country. The Zen bed claim to produce the equivalent of a full night’s sleep in twenty minutes. With lights dim in a solitary room, this author laid “mummy style”, wrapped in a waterproof heavy plastic sheet, before being submerged six inches and embraced by cozy water. As vigorous jets kneaded my tired back muscles, I relaxed to a state of near sleep for the entire session. It indeed energized me for the rest of the day.

ARISTA SPA & SALON

In Greek, Arista means “the best” and owner Mae Calamos had the definition in mind as she carefully appointed the visually stunning, Mediterranean-inspired Arista Spa and Salon. “We want the spa to supply the backdrop for life’s special moments,” said Laura Lambert, Arista Spa & Salon director.

Arista’s adjacent, full-service salon specializes in hair care, Deborah Lippman nail services, and makeup applications for that special day. The spa features individualized treatments, based on the client’s preferences. For example, each heavenly massage session offers six different techniques at the client’s discretion. The Aromatika massage lets clients create their own personalized aromatherapy blend oil which they are allowed to take home any extra.

Arista’s unique beauty treatments include the Ageless Facial, which claims visible and lasting results thanks to the unusual collaboration of Natura Bisse products and a vibrating tuning fork. The aesthetician places the vibrating tuning fork on the facial trouble spot and the vibrations combine with the lotion to stimulate the collagen and create a smoother, younger appearance for the client.

Couples can reserve the private room that features side-by-side massage tables and dual stone soaking tubs. While indulging, couples can sample exotic tastes of Mediterranean delights paired with a delightful vintage.

Even without their ladies, Lambert says men feel comfortable at Arista. The spa tailors treatments to men and has a locker room with a sauna, steam room, and an optional 65-degree Poseidon’s shower to cool down quickly after a good sweat.

KARMA MEDSPA AND WELLNESS CENTER

Karma Medspa and Wellness Center offers a vast array of services designed to help clients restore, rejuvenate and revitalize.

Karma was opened this fall by Dr. Mathai Karingada, a licensed internist and Dr. Sajjad Murtaza, a specialist in interventional pain and physical medicine and rehabilitation. They envisioned a Medspa model that would offer comprehensive wellness services, conveniently located under one roof, and supervised by an on-site, collaborative staff of medical professionals in their specialty areas. “Our team’s goal is to help the client take their next step towards looking and feeling their best, whether they need to restore function with physical rehabilitation, rejuvenate with a cosmetic procedure or revitalize their health with fitness classes or nutrition counseling,” said Dr. Karingada. “We can address all their needs at Karma.”

Karma’s staff also includes a plastic surgeon, OB/GYN, licensed aestheticians and fitness experts. The facility hosts a 1,000 square foot gym for Zumba, strength training and yoga classes, a physical rehabilitation area and multiple patient treatment rooms for cosmetic procedures that reduce signs of aging and erase imperfections with the state-of the-art Sciton laser and medical grade products.

Karma also offers some hard-to-find procedures in the area of women’s health and cosmetic gynecology. “Cosmetic gynecology is more common on the West coast, but more women nationwide are realizing its benefits,” said Dr. Sameena Rahman, Karma’s staff OB/GYN who performs the latest vaginal rejuvenation procedures, cosmetic labioplasty and g-spot augmentation. “For many women the procedures are not about appearance or vanity, but about increasing intimacy with their partner and improving their sexual health and function.”

COLDWATER CREEK THE SPA

Located in the Naperville Promenade, Coldwater Creek The Spa is one of seven in the country. “The owner of the apparel store wanted to offer something new to his customers and he thought carrying the brand to a spa would help them feel comfortable here,” said Anne Marie Kollias, Coldwater Creek Spa director. The Spa resembles the store, but is a respite from hustle and bustle. “We are strictly a spa, with no salon services. The energies are different and we believe it is hard to combine them,” she said.

Coldwater Creek is known for its famous pedicures. Like all treatments, it begins with a peppermint foot soak designed to help clients transition from the outside world and relax them for the coming experience. Customers recline in a zero gravity chair and enjoy a warm neck wrap, eye pillow, and comfy blanket for the duration of their treatment, which can also include a lower leg massage.

The spa is also sensitive to creating comfort for an often overlooked spa patron—plus size women. “We have ample robes designed to fully cover everyone,” Kollias said. “We’ve even had women moved to tears at feeling so comfortable in a spa environment.”

Coldwater’s healthy, loyal following and distinction as a Best of Naperville Spa in 2009, 2010, and 2013 keeps them well booked. Pedicure appointments, even on weekdays, require reservations several days in advance.

Timeless Spa and Salt Cave
1324 E. Ogden Ave. Suite 100
630.428.0700
www.TimelessDaySpa.com

 Arista Spa & Salon
2155 CityGate Lane, Suite 201
630.579.3650
www.aristaspasalon.com

 Karm Medspa and Wellness Center
710 E. Ogden Ave., Suite 200
630.946.6672
www.KarmaMedspa.com

Coldwater Creek the Spa
55 S. Main Street, Suite 200
630.527.9298
www.coldwatercreekthespa.com

It’s that time of the year again when our thoughts turn to holiday planning and entertaining. The end of the year has always been a favorite time to gather family and friends to hearth and home. But a few years ago, with the downturn in the economy, caterers noticed a drop-off in holiday entertaining. Now with the future looking brighter, the holiday party is back and stronger than ever.

“Our corporate bookings are getting stronger,” said Karen Garlough of My Chef Catering. “And more small companies are holding their holiday parties in the home of the manager or president.”

Whether you’re planning a holiday event for your co-workers or your family, you’ll want to have all the bases covered. Here is a guide to hosting the event of the season right in the comfort of your own home.

Pick a Date

The holidays are busy for everyone, so it makes sense to choose a date as soon as possible, especially if a caterer is involved. Garlough encourages clients to hold their holiday party in January, as she herself does. “My husband and I call it the ‘Last Christmas Party of the Year.’ People are more relaxed, able to attend and stay longer,” said Garlough.

Choose a Party Format and Time

Remember the people you invite may potentially have multiple party invitations for the same day. So, while a formal dinner party is always an option, an open house format is a good choice because people can come and go as they please. “95 percent of our holiday parties are buffet,” said Tim Belgio of Belgio’s Catering. “Guests can graze, take the portion size they want, and come back for seconds.” Also, decide on the time of the party. “Typically, 4 to 5 hours is a standard length,” said Belgio.

Build the Guest list

Create the guest list and try not to let it balloon. When you contact the caterer, know the approximate number of guests you are anticipating.

Pick a Caterer—or Not

The choice to cater or do it yourself is a personal one, depending on the size of the party and the host’s own time management and party planning skills. Hiring a caterer is an investment, but according to Belgio, hosts that do it themselves often overlook some of the details that may end up costing them money. “It’s a challenge to have an ample supply of everything, but not too much,” said Belgio. “Caterers supply what is needed and you don’t pay for or store those extra cases of beer at the end of the night.” They also provide those overlooked, last minute details that can add up, like plenty of ice and fresh fruit for drink garnishes.

Caterers also allow the host to be a guest by handling the set-up, serving guests, replenishing food supplies, bartending, and offering other special touches like receiving coats, parking cars, and providing ice sculptures. “We have a martini luge ice sculpture. You pour your drink down the track and into the glass,” said Garlough.

The best part is at the end of the night the host can relax while the staff cleans up. “After we leave, it’s like you never even had a party,” she said.

Set the Budget

Catering costs vary greatly depending on the menu, rentals, and services requested. However, a good estimate is anywhere from $10 to $22 a person for food and additional cost for drinks. Alcoholic bar service can add another $10 to $16 per person depending upon the type of brands served. However, there are many ways to cut the budget even when you are throwing an elegant party. (See sidebar)

Choose the Menu

“I tell clients to plan the hors d’oeuvres menu like a balanced meal, with a selection of protein, vegetables and starches,” said Garlough. Popular holiday favorites include beef tenderloin, shrimp and seafood, imported seasonal cheese trays and slider bars, which are little hamburgers, tilapia or mushroom sandwiches that guests can top with special fixings like BBQ onions and different types of cheeses.

Many caterers are experiencing an increase in special requests for vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free selections. “The trend in eating these days is healthier food in smaller portions,” said Belgio. “For buffets, choose ‘walkable food’ to minimize spills. Skewered food like chicken and fruit kabobs work well,” he said. Belgio also suggests offering smaller portions in greater varieties, like a sweets table featuring smaller-sized brownie bites, cheesecakes, and cannoli.

Plan the Flow

Caterers usually know the best place to set up the buffet so it will not impede the traffic flow of the party. Or, set up food stations as an option to the buffet. “Pasta, salad, or carving stations where guests can make a sandwich work well,” said Belgio.

Sit-down dinners call for ingenuity. Caterers require a private staging area for assembling food and serving dishes, like the garage or laundry room. During the meal, Belgio suggests butler passing—where the serving staff walks the dishes around the table so guests can serve themselves.

Deck the Halls

Having a party is the perfect excuse to go all out on your holiday decorations. Judy Kreidler is a freelance florist who regularly decorates homes for the holidays, including stops on the Naperville Garden Club’s annual Cup of Cheer house walk. “I tell homeowners their accessories are jewelry for the home,” she explained. This year, glitz and elaborate decorating is in, with the use of sparkle, rhinestones, and feathers. Kreidler also offered these suggestions for homeowners:

• Check your cupboards for unique containers like vases, crystal ice buckets, footed cake plates, etc. to decorate.
• Use fresh or silk flowers in unique places like wine glasses and empty cookie jars.
• Scour the backyard for seasonal, natural decorative items like fresh greens and pinecones.
• Try asymmetry on the mantle-—something high on one side and low on the other.
• Don’t overdo the tree. “When I take half the ornaments off the tree, my clients remark that now they can see them,” said Kreidler.
• Don’t buy an accessory without a plan. Chances are when you get it home, it will be too big or too small.
• Decorate functionally, so the family can live with the arrangement.
• Try decorating off the beaten path places like the bathroom.
• Always look for balance and scale when arranging accessories and florals.

Budget Party Planning Tips

• Prepare some food yourself. “Some hosts have their two or three special dishes that they have to make for the party,” Garlough said. “Then they have us fill in the rest.”
• Work with the caterer to provide your own liquor.
• If you are serving alcohol, consider a rider on your homeowner’s insurance just for that day.
• Discuss using your own glassware, plates, and silverware to cut rental costs.
• Serve at highboy (bar height) tables to eliminate the expectation for sit-down fare.
• Hold your party after the dinner hour so hors‘d oeuvres will suffice.
• Ask family and friends to help staff the party.

LOOKING FOR MORE DECORATING IDEAS?

The Naperville Garden Club Cup of Cheer^™ House Walk will showcase four, professionally decorated homes along with a Holiday Market and Tea on December 5 and 6. For more information visit www.napervillegardenclub.org.

After a summer whirlwind of family vacations and obligations, did you ever wonder how the season could have passed without a special outing just for the two of you? It’s not too late. Autumn is a perfect time for

a romantic retreat and these five venues are guaranteed to have you cuddling together in the crisp fall air.

DOOR COUNTY | Wisconsin

That funny little peninsula with the string of islands pointing northeast from Wisconsin is known as Door County. It’s an easy 250-mile drive to this treasure trove of charming little towns and intriguing islands that you can explore as a couple.

With five state parks, autumn color is plentiful in the “Door”, and can be enjoyed from the water on a boat tour, in the air with a scenic airplane ride, or from one of the area’s lighthouses or observation towers, such as the one in Peninsula State Park near the town of Fish Creek. Peninsula offers plenty for outdoorsy couples to enjoy, like picturesque hiking and bike trails, as well as an 18-hole golf course, a lighthouse to explore, and a beach.

To properly discover the “Door”, hop in your car and take the scenic Circle Tour. This drive covers both sides of the peninsula. Stop to enjoy one of the many local towns and the harvest festivals along the way. The tour route will take you to the northernmost end of the mainland where you can catch a ferry to explore Washington Island or the remote and rustic Rock Island.

The area hosts an impressive array of full service resorts, bed and breakfasts, and everything in between. After dark, couples can fend off the night chill at a traditional Door County fish boil, where a fresh catch is prepared for dinner over a blazing campfire.

GALENA | Illinois

Sitting on the shores of the Mississippi River, Galena is a mere three-hour drive across the state, and was recently hailed as one of the “friendliest towns in the world” by Condé Nast Traveler. “Many of our unique bed and breakfasts have been designed with couples in mind,” said Celestino Ruffini of the Galena Convention and Visitors Bureau. Two properties in particular have been recognized for their romantic charm: The Inn at Irish Hollow, a country estate on a 500-acre working farm; and the stately Goldmoor Inn, which offers stunning vistas of the Mississippi River. Both offer bed and breakfast rooms and private, intimate, cottages and cabins with fireplaces.

View the color-splashed, rolling hills of Galena from a romantic hot air balloon ride, or take one of the popular scene road trips. A leisurely drive down the historic and curvaceous Great River Road, Blackjack Road, Stagecoach Trail, or Derinda Road will give you and your partner plenty of time to muse about the future and share an occasional adventure at the small towns along the way. In town, explore galleries from various artists, fine or casual dining, or join a tasting tour of each of the area’s four wineries.

SAUGATUCK | Michigan

Drive south and east from Naperville and hug the Lake Michigan Shore for about 150 miles – you’ll end up in Saugatuck, Michigan, a boater’s paradise on the Western shores of Michigan. The beautiful Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area is one of the 11 most endangered ecosystems in the world and sunset is the perfect time for couples to explore its beauty and majestic views. You can also view the allure of the shoreline aboard the Star of Saugatuck cruise boat, or pull out all the stops and charter a private yacht or sailboat for a truly intimate and romantic experience.

“Fall is all about the arts,” says Felicia Fairchild of the Saugatuck Convention and Visitors Bureau, and that includes the performing and culinary arts as well as the galleries and shops that made this small town famous. You and can join the gallery walk celebration in mid-October to meet some of the area’s most influential artists. Explore the town’s culinary scene with a romantic dinner, or spend a morning on a walking or driving culinary tour, featuring visits with local merchants and plenty of sips and samples of Saugatuck’s seasonal delicacies.

LAKE GENEVA | Wisconsin

Only a couple hours northwest of Chicago, Lake Geneva has always upheld high standards for its local amenities, earning titles like the “Newport of the West” and “Chicago’s playground”. Here couples will find a smorgasbord of world class resorts, luxurious spas, shops and galleries, and restaurants ranging from classic, upscale steak houses to modern, trendy bistros.

Every autumn, the lakeshore bursts forth with a foliage display that’s dazzle by design, according to Grace Eckland, director of public relations for Lake Geneva. Throughout the town’s history, the prominent Chicago citizens who built their mansions along the lakeshore specifically chose their trees for their autumn palette. The lake is completely ringed by a 21-mile long wooded footpath that is perfect for strolling hand-in-hand with your loved one and enjoying views of both the water and the historic mansions. Boat cruises are also popular, and for romance, nothing beats a sunset dinner cruise. Top the night off with an intimate, horse drawn carriage ride through the downtown, lakefront and historic Maple Park District.

ST. CHARLES | Illinois

No time for a big road trip? Just 15 miles from Naperville you’ll find yourself a world away at the Pheasant Run Resort, where couples can experience upscale dining, entertainment and luxurious spa services without leaving the property. The resort caters to couples with packages that bundle accommodations such as a romance couples massage featuring complimentary mimosas, champagne, chocolates, dining and entertainment. Depending on your mood, you and your sweetie can take in a play or musical at the Pheasant Run Mainstage Theater or laugh the night away at Zanies Comedy Club. If the great outdoors is more your idea of bonding, hit the links. The resort’s 18-hole golf course awaits you with manicured greens and tree-lined fairways.

Click links for more information:

Door County

Saugatuck

Galena

Lake Geneva

St. Charles

After the euphoria of the engagement announcement dies down and an engaged couple dives into the ocean of decisions surrounding the planning of their big day, they are usually guided by their individual tastes, family expectations, and tradition. Some, however, take into account the needs of another key player in their future lives together—the environment.

“Having a green wedding can kill two birds with one stone,” says Carol Sawka of O’cei Floral. “You can help the environment and keep the costs down.”

The GreenBrideGuide.com reports that the 2.5 million weddings in the U.S. this year will produce an average of 62 tons of carbon dioxide and 400 to 600 tons of garbage between transportation, food waste and disposable decorative items like flowers, runners, paper, food, etc. In fact, if you place all of those disposable aisle runners end to end they would circle the globe twice.

Many brides are planning a new kind of wedding, known as the “eco-chic” wedding, which is environmentally conscious without sacrificing style or elegance. The trick is to apply the old adage “reduce, reuse and recycle” to the wedding day. Here’s how:

Reduce: Distance and Paper

Some brides are saving carbon emissions and hassle for their guests by having their receptions near or at the same place as the ceremony. For example, holding the wedding on the grounds of the reception banquet hall means guests will not have to travel to a second location.

The amount of paper involved in the typical wedding is considerable, from the save the date mailing, to the place cards at the reception. Choosing recycled papers and soy inks is environmentally responsible, but some couples take it to the next level by forgoing paper altogether and instead sending a cute, creative video for their engagement announcement, save the date, or actual wedding invitation. GreenBrideGuide.com even identifies personal recycling services that will take reception paper waste, such as invitations, place cards, menus, etc., and recycle them into thank you cards for the bride’s use. Voila! A zero waste wedding.

Reuse: favorite things

Carol Sawka remembers how one of her favorite eco-chic weddings developed from the mother-of-the-bride’s desire to reuse some old, antique wooden cheese boxes. “The reception was already being held at a historic location so we went with the theme,” said Sawka. Soon, the whole event had a romantically elegant, rustic feel to it, including floral arrangements which featured the cheese boxes, bouquets with wild flowers and herbs, and the use of old metal milk containers as the centerpieces.  Sawka reminds brides that using family heirlooms like table linens, doilies, broaches and collectibles will add a memorable, personal touch to the big day, and can also be considered a green effort.

Keeping in the eco-chic style, Sawka says recyclable, biodegradable burlap bags and mason jars are big this year for holding the flowers, votive candles, party favors or anything else needed on the special day. “I’ve even seen burlap chair ties and aisle runners,” she said.

Recycle: the remains 

While it’s common to rue the fact that the bridal flowers, decorations, etc. were created for one day alone, there are many ways to make the wedding accoutrements live another day.

Sawka rents vases for the wedding florals so they can be used again for another wedding. Some brides deliver their centerpieces and flower arrangements to hospitals and convalescent centers after the event is done. GreenBrideGuide also suggests delivering leftover reception food to shelters and those in need or offering it to guests to take home before they leave the hall. Of course, brides and grooms can easily check with their venue to make sure it offers a proper recycling program for bottles and cans from the reception.

Green Trends in Sweets

The wedding cake creates a beautiful focal point at the reception. Today’s brides are grasping at the opportunity to stray from the traditional wedding cake design, while keeping the environment in mind.

For the past five years, Sugar Monkey Cupcakes in Naperville has offered beautiful towers of cupcakes topped with a smaller layer of cake as a unique alternative to the traditional cake. “It’s a fun way to do your wedding because you can really customize each cupcake,” said Neda Darwish, owner of Sugar Monkey Cupcakes. She says the trend toward cupcakes at weddings began several years ago but today’s green brides and grooms appreciate the minimized waste at the end of the night with a cupcake wedding. “The cupcake becomes the party favor and can be easily packaged in a Chinese take-out container to travel home,” said Darwish. Couples also appreciate the no cut element of the cupcakes, the slightly lower cost compared to traditional cakes, and the ability to easily order a variety of flavors for their guests.

At The Artful Baker in Naperville, Karina Kappel said her brides are also ordering different flavors for each of their wedding cake layers this year. Sometimes, Kappel even customizes a flavor to match a theme. “Recently a bride had a fall themed wedding and I created a caramel apple cake for her,” said Kappel. This year’s brides are also favoring cake designs inspired by lace and their bridal dress fabric. They are also embracing a bold use of color instead of the all traditional white cake.

Kappel also accommodates requests from eco-conscious brides who request local or organic fruit for their cakes. She also recycles cake boxes and wooden cake bases and ensures that the bride’s count is accurate before baking an order to minimize waste. She doesn’t believe in baking an extra layer to freeze and eat on the first anniversary. “Ultimately it’s wasteful because everyone forgets about it in the freezer and it doesn’t taste as good anyway,” Kappel said. “So, I offer brides a complementary anniversary cake on their first anniversary. That way it’s fresh and tasty, and not thrown away.”

Remember the iconic plastic bridal couple standing on top of the wedding cake? Kappel says most couples are opting instead for fresh or sugar flowers which are greener alternatives to a traditional cake topper.

Green to Go 

The desire to go green has also extended to that last detail of the evening, the wedding party favor. Perhaps the most popular, most personal eco-friendly gift is a donation to a special cause or charity made in honor of the guests at the wedding. However, the useful and creative items listed below are among the most popular eco-friendly favors this year. Package them in a burlap sack, mason jar, or other biodegradable container for an environmentally responsible, no-waste favor.

• Coffee, tea, or mulling spices 

• Homemade doggie biscuits or pet treats 

• Bookmarks 

• A keychain 

• Candied apples 

• Personalized CD with the couple’s favorite songs 

• Homemade granola, hot cocoa, or other edible mix 

• Signature soda pop (jonessoda.com)

• Personalized flash drive with music, photos, and information from the couple 

• Plants, seeds, or seedlings 

With plenty of ways to “go green” from choosing the venue, to the recycling of disposables at the end of the night, couples can easily plan their wedding with the environment in mind. Surely they agree that minimizing waste and leaving a minimal carbon footprint is a great way to start a new life together.