Some traditions, such as re-using a family member’s gown, are gaining popularity as a way to help protect our environment.
Photo courtesy of Brandpoint Content
Photo courtesy of Brandpoint Content
Environmentally correct weddings are a hot trend, according to TheKnot.com, a leading wedding-planning website. If your vision of the perfect wedding marries eco-friendly green with winter white, here are some tips and ideas to help you turn your vision into reality:
Friendly feasting
Sensational food is an essential part of any wedding, whether you’re serving a sit-down dinner or just hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. When you’re planning your menu, however, keep in mind how the foods you choose may impact the environment. For example, is that fish entree net-caught, line-caught or farmed?
A dish’s environmental impact depends on several factors, including how the product was raised and harvested, how it was transported and how far it had to travel from point of origin to plate. By choosing locally grown products or those grown and harvested using sustainable practices, you can reduce your wedding feast’s impact on the environment.
Reuse, recycle and revel
Brides in bygone generations once gladly wore their mother’s wedding dress, but the practice fell out of vogue as more brides wanted a unique look for their wedding day. But the green movement’s emphasis on reusing and recycling has breathed new life into the tradition. And brides are finding that recycling a wedding dress has other advantages. It’s possible to achieve a vintage look with a used wedding dress – whether handed down from your mother or found in a second-hand store. A new gown can cost thousands of dollars more than a repurposed dress.
Wedding favor wonders
How environmentally correct is that custom-imprinted beer cozy some couples give to the groomsmen? Wedding favors are a way of thanking guests for sharing in your special day, but many popular items are made from less-than-eco-friendly materials.
To green your wedding, consider favors that are useful and organic, such as organic baking mixes or spice mixes. You can find a plethora of these delectable, green-minded options from purveyors such as Simply Organic (visit www.simplyorganic.com). Dress up favors with decorative netting and ribbons, and you’ve created a unique favor that’s good for guests and the environment.
Greener invitations
The invitation is often your guests’ first impression of your wedding. While every bride wants invitations that will wow guests, keep in mind the costs – both monetary and environmental – of all that paper. Many eco-minded brides are switching to invitations made with recycled paper or, better yet, electronic invitations.
No raw materials are consumed to create e-vites, and what’s more, you can find online services that not only help you create them, but send them and monitor responses all online. Such services can help you keep better track of RSVPs.
Another imaginative option is an invitation printed on recycled paper with flower seeds imbedded in the paper. Your guests can plant the invitation in their garden and remember your special occasion every time they see the beautiful flowers growing. Visit www.greenfieldpaper.com to learn more.
Little things that mean a lot
Some other steps that might seem small – choosing locally grown, in-season flowers – can also make a big difference in how your wedding impacts the environment. Whether you opt to replace cut bouquets and centerpieces with artificial ones that can be reused, or choose acoustic music that requires no electricity to keep guests dancing, it’s possible to find green options for almost every aspect of your wedding.
– Courtesy of Brandpoint Content
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