If you are planning a wedding this year, why not consider going green?
As with any wedding, there are lots of choices to make when planning a “green” wedding. Depending on how environmentally-friendly you want to get, here are some the options to consider:
Choosing the perfect venue
•Choose a venue that is located close to your home.
•Choose a venue that is on a bus route for guests who may want to use public transit.
•Find a venue that is eco-friendly (e.g. uses natural lighting and low-flow toilets, donates leftover food to charity and is actively involved in recycling and composting).
•Make sure you can rent the dishes, cutlery and linens.
•Choose a venue that is on a bus route for guests who may want to use public transit.
•Find a venue that is eco-friendly (e.g. uses natural lighting and low-flow toilets, donates leftover food to charity and is actively involved in recycling and composting).
•Make sure you can rent the dishes, cutlery and linens.
It's all about the food
•Look for caterers that offer seasonal, local food and wine. This will cut down on the gas that is used to truck in the food.
•Serve organic food, coffees and teas.
•Serve vegetarian or vegan food, or find free-range chickens and sustainable seafood.
•Donate left over food to charity.
•Serve organic food, coffees and teas.
•Serve vegetarian or vegan food, or find free-range chickens and sustainable seafood.
•Donate left over food to charity.
Invitations with a green touch
•If possible, send email invitations to avoid using paper and ink.
•Use only 100% post consumer recycled paper if you decide to make your own invitations (look for Green Seal Certified paper) or order invitations from companies that use only recycled paper. http://www.twistedlimbpaper.com/
•Use a website or a phone number for RSVPs to avoid sending out an extra card and envelope for the reply.
Choosing smart transportation
•Encourage guests to travel together, rent a hybrid electric car or use public transit.
•Have the ceremony and the reception in the same building or within walking distance.
•Have the wedding in an eco-friendly hotel where all the guests stay.
•For those that must travel by air, purchase carbon offsets for them
•Have the ceremony and the reception in the same building or within walking distance.
•Have the wedding in an eco-friendly hotel where all the guests stay.
•For those that must travel by air, purchase carbon offsets for them
Choosing your rings
•Recycle old jewelry - mining diamonds is harmful to environment.
•Forget the engagement ring and just purchase wedding bands.
•Forget the engagement ring and just purchase wedding bands.
A more than beautiful dress
•Borrow a dress from a relative or friend.
•Purchase the dress from a consignment shop or thrift store.
•Have the dress made from organic cotton or hemp.http://www.greatgreenwedding.com/attire.PHP
•Find a dressmaker close to your home to cut down on gas for frequent trips.
•Purchase the dress from a consignment shop or thrift store.
•Have the dress made from organic cotton or hemp.http://www.greatgreenwedding.com/attire.PHP
•Find a dressmaker close to your home to cut down on gas for frequent trips.
Decorations and Favors with the Earth in mind
•Give your guests useful environmental gifts such as flower seeds or tree seedlings.
•Treat your guests to organic chocolate with minimal wrapping.
•Ask your friends if you can reuse their wedding decorations.
•Buy reusable vases or candle holders.
•Use all natural beeswax candles or soy candles, which are made from a renewable resource.
•Treat your guests to organic chocolate with minimal wrapping.
•Ask your friends if you can reuse their wedding decorations.
•Buy reusable vases or candle holders.
•Use all natural beeswax candles or soy candles, which are made from a renewable resource.
Oh the flowers!
•Hire a florist who grows local organic flowers.
•Ask friends and family to supply you with flowers from their gardens.
•Get married in a garden with a natural floral setting.
•Ask friends and family to supply you with flowers from their gardens.
•Get married in a garden with a natural floral setting.
A picture says a 1000 words..
•Find a photographer who works close by.
•Have the photographer put the photos on a CD and only print the pictures you want for your photo album.
•Find albums that are made with recycled paper.
•Have the photographer put the photos on a CD and only print the pictures you want for your photo album.
•Find albums that are made with recycled paper.
And finally, planning a green honeymoon!
•Choose a location that is close to home.
•If you choose to travel by air to a far-away destination, buy carbon offsets to lower your carbon footprint .
•Honeymoon in a location where you can walk or use a bus instead of rent a car.
•If you do rent a car, rent a hybrid electric vehicle.
•For those who are really green and adventurous, leave the reception by canoe (if there is water nearby), bicycle, rickshaw or horse and buggy.
•If you choose to travel by air to a far-away destination, buy carbon offsets to lower your carbon footprint .
•Honeymoon in a location where you can walk or use a bus instead of rent a car.
•If you do rent a car, rent a hybrid electric vehicle.
•For those who are really green and adventurous, leave the reception by canoe (if there is water nearby), bicycle, rickshaw or horse and buggy.
Many of the “green” options will also save you money. And by showing your friends and family that you care about your environment, you may just encourage them to make more environmentally-friendly choices as well.
