Something old or Something new? 5 Re-gifts for the Newlywed Couple
Weddings are a time of new beginnings, but the same doesn’t have to be said for your wedding gift. Gifts made from recycled materials are the greenest gifts you can buy, which is important since you’re already buying the greenest giftwrap—the reusable type. With wedding season just around the corner, we wanted to give you a few ideas for “re-gifts” that fit perfectly in our spring wrapping bags and bridal furoshikis.
1. Recycled Bangle Votives
$15/set of 6: http://www.vivaterra.com
Made from hand-painted glass bangle bracelets, these votive holders add a touch of color to the happy couple’s backyard décor. Throw in a few tea-light citronella candles to ward off bugs during summer barbecues or garden parties.
2. Original T-Bag Designs Glass Tea Bag Coasters
$44/set of 4; www.originaltbagdesigns.com
Original T-Bag Designs was started by, perhaps not surprisingly, a British expat living in South Africa who wanted to do something to alleviate the poverty she saw. She organized a small collective of artists who take discarded tea bags that have been sun-dried, emptied, and ironed, and then paint and mount them on mirrors, tea boxes, canvases, and a variety of other decorative pieces.
3. Uncommon Goods Recycled Windshield Beer and Wine glasses
$20–$22/set of 2; www.uncommongoods.com
Artisans from Columbia have come up with a creative way to keep people from drinking and driving: turning your car into your beer glass. Even established couples can use extra barware for entertaining, and these simple serving pieces come with a great story and are affordable enough to buy one of each and still keep within your budget.
4. Ella Vickers Recycled Sailcloth Collection Spinnaker Shower Curtain
$79–$96; www.ellavickers.com
Is the groom an avid sailor? Ella Vickers, an America’s Cup winning sailor, turns worn-out sails from racing boats and cruising yachts into simple, stylish shower curtains. Not only are they recycled, but the Dacron fabric used in the sails is just as water-resistant as PVC vinyl but won’t expose the new homeowners to phthalates, hormone-disrupting plasticizers that can also trigger asthma and respiratory problems.
5. Vintage Silver Bud Vase
$25; www.etsy.com
You can’t get much greener than antique collectibles. Add to a bride’s heirloom silver collection with some vintage silver serving pieces or table decorations, like candlesticks or a classic silver bud vase.
–Emily Main
Emily Main | Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
