Going Green

Posted on 27. Mar, 2010 by in Tips

You want your wedding day to be special and memorable, but you also want to cut back on lots of spending and environmental waste which accumulates just on your wedding day. So why not go for a green wedding? It’s actually a lot easier and simpler than you first may think. Consider some of these options to create your ecological wedding.

One of the biggest ways to go green is to rent instead of buying. This goes from your clothing to the chairs to the food utensils. Renting allows items to be used and reused, instead of purchasing everything and throwing it away afterwards. Rent your wedding dress and the groom’s suit. Most likely, neither of you will ever need to wear them again, so why waste the material on a one-time purchase? Renting the plates, chairs, and other decorations allows them to be used again for many other weddings, too.

When you do decide to purchase instead of rent, make sure you can use the purchased items later. Buy shoes you will be sure to gets lots of use from. If you do choose to buy the groom’s and groomsmen’s suits, choose ones they can wear later. If you have always dreamed of a brand new wedding dress, look for one made out of planet-friendly material, such as linen or bamboo.

Use recyclable invitations or invitations which have been made out of recycled paper. Opt to send postcards instead of numerous pieces of paper through the mail. This cuts down on the amount of paper you have to send, and your guests still know all the details about your wedding. Have them email or call for their RSVP. Create a wedding website and include the link on your invitations. Use the website to put all your extra information, such as directions, in order to save more paper and ink for your mailed invitations. Really go all out green with your invitations and do all you inviting via email.

If your groom and you already have many of the things you would commonly put on a gift registry, consider setting up a green registry at Changing the Present . Here guests can donate money towards charitable organizations or in support of environment care.

Wisely choose your guest list. Keeping it shorter cuts back on the number of people you have to prepare for and who have to travel. Then to reduce the amount of driving guests have to make, choose a wedding location which is the most easily accessible. Make the reception site the same as the ceremony to cut back on unnecessary driving. If possible, plan your wedding to be outside. It’s more natural, and it cuts down on the amount of decoration you have to use.

Hire a green-conscious florist, or grow your own flowers. Or have friends grow flowers for you to help them feel included in your wedding plans. Use flowers which are local and in season. Later, donate your flowers to a hospital to cheer up patients.

Find a local caterer who is uses organic food products and utensils. Plan foods which are in season. At the end, donate the extra food to a local homeless shelter.

For wedding favors, consider making them. You will be cutting back on the cost of your gifts, too. Make natural soaps or beeswax candles. Or provide seeds in recyclable containers.

Use your green wedding as a chance to tell your guests about your efforts to help the environment. Encourage them to lead a greener life. Simply taking this opportunity can lead to a much greener environment as your example spreads to others!

Tags: ,