I thought I would start the week off with a green tip! Actually, this green tip is courtesy of Jennifer Stambolsky, founder and design director of EarthlyAffair.com, an online boutique of eco-chic wedding invitations. She also has a fabulous blog, Earth Friendly Weddings (http://www.earthfriendlywedding.blogspot.com) that offers tips and eco-friendly vendors a place to promote their products to eco-conscious brides! I asked Jennifer if she would answer a few questions and she said yes! So without further adieu…..

1. If you weren’t a stationery queen, what would you want to be? This is a tough question because I really love what I do. I might like to try writing a book or being an independent artist.

2. What are some ways that a bride can personalize her wedding details? There are so many unique and wonderful ways. One of my favorites is incorporating family heirlooms and memorabilia, such as placing old family photographs in centerpieces, offering a favorite family recipe for the wedding favors, or altering a grandmother’s wedding dress to fit the new bride-to-be.

3. What are the wedding trends for 2009? One of the biggest things I’ve noticed is the incorporation of collected thrift store and vintage items. Whether it be for cutlery, tableware, or centerpieces, I think it’s a great way to re-use vintage items and take advantage of an eclectic style at the same time.

4.  Which is your biggest crux…..Facebook or Twitter or something else? I don’t know if I would consider either of them a “crux.” I have found both to be important and difficult to master at times. Embarrassingly enough, it took me a while to learn that I could use Twitter for more than writing about what I had for lunch, but now I love it. I love “meeting” new people on there and twitter makes it so easy to connect with others in the wedding and blog industry.

5.  Tell me about your blog. Earth Friendly Weddings is the official blog of EarthlyAffair.com. I originally started it in hopes of spreading the word about EarthlyAffair.com, but it’s really taken on a life of its own. It’s been a great way for me to depart from the daily invitation stuff and to also share info that brides and event planners might find useful or inspiring.

6.  What can brides hope to learn from your blog? There is a wide variety of information available on our blog. We focus primarily on eco-friendly vendors, fashion, lifestyle products, and real-wedding and event inspiration.

7.  Why is it so important to incorporate green practices into your wedding plans? It’s always better to inspire people into action rather than by demanding it, and when a couple incorporates their own earth friendly values into their wedding, they do just that. Sometimes it’s just the simplest things, like having a vegetarian only menu, using recycled invitations, or buying locally grown flowers that prompts guests to think more seriously about their own actions.

Here are some beautiful examples of her invitations! Thanks Jennifer!