Mother Nature Sabotages European Weddings!?!

Wow, so lately I have been freaked out by all the curve balls mother nature has been throwing at us. We've had more sizable earthquakes in the past year than I can account for in my lifetime. And our most recent event, a volcano spewing enough ash into the sky disrupting airline flights! I have never witnessed that before. It really got me thinking about our local flower growers.

I found it really surprising how the flower industry was affected by this recent volcanic activity, and how dependent we are on foreign flower exports. About 1/3 of the cut flowers sold in the European Union are grown in Kenya. Under normal circumstances, produce is same day harvested, packed, chilled, and trucked to Nairobi's international airport where it's loaded on passenger flights to Europe. Kenyan produce is typically in shops in Paris or London within 72 hours of being pulled from the fields in Kenya!

At the top of their foreign exchange earner, Kenya freights 1,000 metric tons of roses, carnations, French beans, snap peas, and other produce daily on overnight flights to Europe. Since the volcano eruption, Kenya has destroyed, composted or given away more than 10 million flowers (mostly roses). Jane Ngige, the chief executive of the Kenya Flower Council, estimated that $8 million worth of flowers had been wasted and would have to be composted.

This really got me thinking: Why are we so reliant on foreign grown flowers? Do we need those perfect red roses off season for our wedding? At the cost of our environment? 

Where are your flowers coming from? Ask your florist about what flowers will be in season locally at the time of your wedding. Why not try to incorporate them into your bouquets? And no, I am not predicting that a volcano will pop up and stop flowers from being delivered on your wedding day... But I think that this story shows us how reliant we are on foreign flower supplies. And that we should really try to support our local flower growers. They are our neighbors. We can lessen the environmental cost of freighting, trucking and shipping long distances and reduce the carbon footprint the wedding industry leaves behind. Hey, it can't hurt to ask your florist, right? Every little bit helps. 

information from: the associated press

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P.S. For all of my fellow Bmore gals, the Flower Mart is coming up on May 7 & 8 in Mt. Vernon! There's sure to be some local flower power there! http://www.flowermart.org
AND the Baltimore Farmers Market starts back up May 2nd and will run every Sunday through December. Vendors set up under the JFX at Holliday and Saratoga streets. http://www.bop.org/index.cfm?page=events&id=3
 

Finding your size when buying a used bridesmaid dress.

One of the hardest parts of buying a bridesmaids dress is the sizing! Why don't they just make them the same size as every day clothing?!?! Many bridesmaids and wedding gowns are sized small. So if you normally wear a size 8, in bridal fashions you might wear a size 12!!! Wow, thanks a lot bridal industry, that makes me feel goooor-geous... Why do they do that to us?

Don't get me started! Instead, I'll talk about what we are doing to help girls save money and get the right fit for bridesmaids and wedding gowns.

We know that when you are shopping used and online predicting the fit can be a difficult task. So, in order to help you out we have been compiling a list of sizes from different manufacturers. It can be easy and fast to get the best measurement for you without leaving your house. The only thing you will need is a measuring tape (or if you don't have one a string and ruler will do). It's best to have someone, like a friend or your mom or sister, help you measure yourself.

HOW TO MEASURE YOURSELF FOR PROPER SIZING
Bust: Measure at the fullest part of bust and around the back.
Waist: Measure around your "natural" waist (this is the narrowest part of your waist, above where your pants sit).
Hips: Measure 8” down from your natural waist, at the fullest part of your hip, this may be 7” for petites. (fyi: Your “Low Hip” is 8” below your waist, this is most commonly used as the Hip measurement. Your “High Hip” will be only 4” below natural waist.)

FITTING TIPS
• If possible get a friend to measure for you, or use a mirror to make sure the tape is straight.
• Go with the largest measurement, if its not a perfect match (it most likely won’t be). It can always be taken in if needed. It's easier to take something in rather than let it out.
• Take into account the cut of the dress. Usually the hip measurement is not a factor in sizing, unless its a tight fitting dress at the hips. If its an A-line dress, for example, you will be ok just using bust and waist to size.
• When buying a strapless dress it's more important that the bust size matches and is fitted. This can easily be taken in as well.

Here is a link where you can find our measurement charts: http://www.ruffleswap.com/servlet/the-template/sizingtips/Page

See a popular dress maker that's missing? Or have your own fitting tips? Let us know by commenting! We are always updating and adding to the chart to keep it up to date! Good luck and don't let those exaggerated sizes make you feel not-so-gorgeous. (Seriously, can someone tell me why that is industry standard?)

xoxo