Planning a Gorgeous Green Wedding
-Sarah Cronin
For many people, a wedding is the most money they will ever spend on a single event. You can make a real statement with what you choose to spend your budget on. Now more than ever, we are seeing that supporting our local small businesses is so very important. Choosing to reduce the ecological impact of your special day in small ways or in big ways can have a ripple effect, just as these big or little things do in our daily lives. A green wedding does not mean that it will not be breathtakingly beautiful. Read on for gorgeous green wedding ideas.
Invitations and More
Long before the party starts, you can make an earth-friendly statement to your family and friends through your invitations. Of course you can pick paper made from recycled materials. The same goes for any of the paper products that you will be using - programs, table placement cards and more. Some paper companies will even go a step further and use part of your purchase money to plant trees. To make an even larger impact, you can choose to go digital with your invitations. This does not mean your invitations have to be just a Facebook event either. Amongst others, there are very beautiful options in the digital world that include sending your guests their invite through email.
Attire
Vintage wedding and bridesmaids dresses? Yes please! There is a reason choosing attire from a bygone era is popular - it is absolutely gorgeous and so fun. If you are lucky enough to be able to have a dress tailored for you that has been handed down through your family, even better! This adds not only beauty, but a deeper meaning to what you are wearing.
Of course anything that you can rent for your wedding is going to help the environment - reduce, reuse, recycle! This goes for attire for the guys and gals as well. Borrowing vintage or estate jewelry can be unique and fabulous. If your wedding theme does not cater to the vintage look or you would rather own than rent, you can still have eco-friendly attire. Do not forget silk, hemp and organic cotton are all natural fibers. Purchasing from a socially responsible manufacturer goes a very long way in formal wear too!
What are your plans for your dress after your wedding? Preserving it and putting it away from your family is a beautiful option. Passing it along for someone else to use gives it an extra life. There are also really wonderful nonprofit organizations that take wedding dresses and use them for a good cause. You can check with your local hospital or organizations such as Brides Against Breast Cancer to see if they will take your dress.
Decor & Flowers
Do your research on who you are buying from. There are many companies that produce in a socially responsible manner. For items that you are not going to reuse in your home, rent!
Local florists and locally grown flowers are a great way to give your floral arrangements a way to make a statement. If it suits your style, less can be more. Choosing a venue that has an outdoor space that can provide nature’s decorations is another great way to leave less of a footprint with your day. As a bonus, it also saves you some money! Silk flowers that are rented from your decorator or wedding planner can be a win-win as well.
Food
There are many options throughout your wedding event from before to during and after to support local. The food you choose is a great way to source locally. There are so many eateries and caterers out there who use organic, earth-friendly, free-range and sustainable food sources. These vendors can help you choose great vegetarian dishes if you choose to do so as well. Not only would you be making a statement to your guests through your caterer and restaurant choices, but you would also be supporting an eco-friendly business who will continue to serve the planet after your celebration. Your beverage choices can make a difference too! Consider serving fair trade, organic coffee and tea. Perhaps you could support a local brewery. Many brides and grooms consider their wedding cake to be one of the most important parts of their reception. Talk to your baker to see if they can customize your ingredients to be locally sourced and organic.
Venue
Your rehearsal and event venues, as well as your guest lodging is a larger budget item for your wedding. Picking a venue that makes a difference can make a large impact in itself. There are many venues that support non-profits or are even owned by non-profits. Do a little digging to find these in your local area. A quick Google search can show you hotels that are certified green.
Gifts
Show some earth-friendly love through your gift registry. Look to your kitchen tools and gadgets to see where you can “go green”. Register for organic cotton materials. If you are not in need of a bunch of new things, set up your registry as a charitable fundraiser and support a good cause.
You can support local or even world-wide charities in your gifts to your parents and wedding parties as well. Perhaps you have a maid of honor who loves cats and dogs. Make a donation to your town’s animal shelter in her name! Make a donation to a charity you love as party favors and include a cute note (on recycled paper of course) at each plate setting. If you prefer something your guests can hold in their hands, consider seed packets, succulents, organic coffee, tea or candies.
The After-Party
Don’t forget to continue to support locally after the dancing ends for the night. In your after-party midnight snack, you still have an opportunity to support your local food places. If you have a lot of food and drinks left over, you can donate these to your food pantry or churches. Churches, hospitals and retirement homes often take donated florals too.
As you plan your honeymoon, research those green hotels again. Eco-friendly vacation rentals are more prevalent than they ever have been before. You can support green restaurants on your travels. Airbnb has become a popular choice for travelers. The company itself is an earth-friendly business that supports green travel world-wide. Of course, you can vacation locally too!
Right now, many couples are pivoting their wedding day plans. They are rescheduling their days or changing what those days are going to look like. But things will return to normal. Keep planning and dreaming! Your wedding is the day to celebrate your commitment to one another with your friends and family. It can also be a day to show your commitment to the planet, investing not only in your future together, but the future of our beautiful Earth. Whether you choose to do this in little ways, or in many big ways, you can make an impact through your actions and your purchases. Either way, you will be an inspiration in love to others.
