Go Green on Your Wedding Day
Weddings are simply a beautiful time when two individuals are joined as one, and friends and loved ones gather to witness the glory. Weddings are also a good way to go green and make a statement about your concern for the environment.
An eco-friendly nuptial ceremony can truly make a positive impact on Mother Nature, as well as make the guests aware of the importance of saving energy and reducing waste.
Go Green While You Invite
Invitations are a very good and simple way to make your special day cleaner and greener. There are so many environmentally friendly products to choose from, it's almost staggering.
You can opt for 100% recycled, partly recycled, or treeless invitations. The good news is that these options can be applied to save the date cards, engagement announcements, shower invitations, thank-you notes, place cards, menus, and programs.
If you want to take your greenness one step further, you can leave out paper invitations altogether and contact everybody online. Electronic wedding cards would be unique, innovative, and most of all, it would save you a ton of money.
Eco-friendly Flowers
Flowers are a major focal point in a wedding ceremony, so this is an excellent way to show your guests that you care about the planet. A large amount of flowers are imported from overseas, which means a lot of emissions are released and an unthinkable amount of pesticides are used. A better option would be to use a local florist who can provide fresh and organic flowers.
Another alternative would be to grow your own flowers. Gardens have been proven to have a positive effect on the environment, so I would highly recommend this idea.
You could also reuse the ceremonial flowers during the reception by placing them as centerpieces, or donating them to local hospitals and nursing homes.
Green Dinner
The menu is extremely important for a successful reception, so this is another great way to think green. Local and organic foods and wine should be used as often as possible, so try to find a caterer who can follow these guidelines.
You can opt for dishes made out of biodegradable and/or recycled materials such as bamboo, straw, sugarcane fiber, or corn starch. After dinner is over, creating a compost out of leftovers and recycling all unused paper products is another great way to help the environment.
Green Attire
The bride and groom have a lot of green clothing options that are still chic and stylish. One idea is to wear used clothing from a local thrift store or auction. There are a lot of beautiful dresses to choose from and since they've already been worn, you don't have to worry about the emissions and energy usage that comes with a brand new dress. The groom could go in the same direction by renting his tuxedo, as well as those for his groomsmen.
Another advantage to wearing pre-worn clothing is that it's substantially cheaper than brand new clothing, so this is a good way to alleviate the budget. The rings can also be environmentally safe if they are either vintage or made from recycled metals and stones.
Even if you would really prefer a new dress or tuxedo, you can still be reduce your carbon footprint by purchasing something that is locally designed and manufactured. Again, this would really cut down on pollution and emissions.
Green Favors
Earth-friendly wedding favors are a good way to keep your guests thinking about the green theme even after the nuptials are over. A good tip is to continue with the idea of buying local because it reduces the smog and fumes that result from long distance deliveries.
You can also give your guests something organic such as a small plant, seeds, or bulbs. This way, when they plant these favors they will know that they are helping improve the quality of the air we breathe.
Green Transportation
Transportation is one of the most common ways that people waste energy and create pollution. One way to combat this issue is to ask your guests to use public transportation or carpool to the ceremony.
You can help make this easier on them by choosing a location that is reachable by public transportation. With the increasing gas prices, I'm sure everyone will thank you for helping them save in this manner.
A green marriage ceremony is a good way to both help the environment, and make your guests more aware of things they can do to, as well. Another advantage to following my advice is that a lot of the things I mentioned are energy and cost-efficient. With all of the money you end up saving, you could go on a spectacular honeymoon!
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