10 Steps to an Eco-Friendly Wedding

April 21, 2009

Weddings are notorious for being high-priced wasteful affairs. Food, flowers, decorations, invitations, dresses, etc. It seems like it would be pretty hard to scale back such a fancy event, right? Not! While Billy Idol might screech “It’s a nice day for a white wedding!” (I know; I’m really dating myself) the cry these days is for a “green wedding.” Many couples don’t want to start their lives together by expanding their carbon footprint.

Here are ten easy ways to make your nuptials more eco-friendly.

1) Invitations
On one end of the spectrum, you can send out electronic invitations from places like Evite.com and pingg.com so as not to waste any paper. But for brides that feel digital invites are a tad too informal, choose invitations made from recycled paper with non-toxic ink from sites like Urbanic Designs and Twisted Limb. For something really, uh, unique, Randi Ragan of GreenBliss Eco Spa recommends Mr. Elli Pooh’s paper products made of 75% elephant dug and 25 % post consumer paper. “The paper is unbelievably soft and lovely,” she says. “It’s as organic as it gets!”

2) Registry
Depending on how much “stuff” you really need, you can opt to register with your favorite charities and have guests make contributions in your name – as opposed to contributing to a toaster. If you do need stuff (as many newlyweds do), you can register at Viva Terra, an eco-living company with housewares, bedding, etc. that offers an online registry.

3) Rings
Just try the old-fashioned way of proposing – use your grandmother or mother’s ring! Personally, I think that’s a lot more meaningful, but I was never a big diamond person. If that’s not a desirable option, you can buy a beautiful conflict-free diamond ring made of recycled gold or platinum at BrilliantEarth.com.

4) Transportation
Simone Hudson of 5Senses events suggests using a hybrid vehicle, instead of a limo or SUV, for the bride and groom, a renting a shuttle to transport guests to and from the reception and ceremony. If that option is cost prohibitive, encourage carpooling. And lastly, if your heart is set on a destination wedding, you can offset your carbon footprint (for all aspects of the wedding as well) by donating to an organization like Carbonfund.org.

5) Venue
Consider having your wedding in the afternoon either indoors at a building with a lot of windows or having an outdoor afternoon wedding where you don’t need extra electricity for lighting and heating or cooling, suggests Kelly Hardin of Artistic Wedding & Event Planning. “Locations such as your local winery, community park or garden will offer natural beauty and décor and save money and the environment by to not having to do any decorating.” Another suggestion is to pick a place where you can have both the ceremony and reception or at least have them close together to cut back on driving. And lastly, be sure the facility recycles, and has other eco-friendly practices.

6) Food & Drink
The easiest way to be eco-conscience when it comes to food and drink is to try to use local and organic  as much as possible, prepared by a local caterer. And all experts agree -- plated meals produce much less waste than a buffet. But you never want your guests to go hungry which means there is usually more food available than consumed. Have your caterer arrange to donate leftovers to a local food bank or soup kitchen. And lastly, use meat in moderation. The more you reduce your meat consumption the more you cut down on greenhouse emissions.

7) Dress
The average bride spends a lot of green on a dress that she’ll wear just once. Again, consider using a family member’s dress – with alterations, if necessary. Or do what I wish I did, and more and more brides are doing, shop on Pre-OwnedWeddingDress.com for a used dress at a fraction of the cost. Then, after the big day, donate your gown to the I Do Foundation or the Glass Slipper Project that use wedding donations to help charitable causes, suggests Ragan.

8) Favors
There are several ideas for sustainable favors. Some include organic gifts like honey, soap, and candles found on etsy.com or products you can find at a local farmers’ market, suggests wedding planner Lisa Marie Rovito. There are also companies like Spirit Beauty Lounge that specifically offer organic wedding favors in eco-friendly packaging. But the most eco-conscious favor of all is – no favor. Trust me, your guests won’t miss it.

9) Flowers & Decorations
Again, as with your food, use locally grown seasonal flowers if possible. Tara Murney of Green Tie Affair suggests using potted plants as centerpieces that your guests can take home and replant after the wedding, or a basket of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Another elegant eco-friendly idea is using candles to light and/or decorate the room (soy candles are more environmentally friendly and burn slowly).  And always use reusable linens and tableware, never disposable.  Lastly, consider reducing your paper consumption by ditching the place cards, programs and menu cards and communicating the necessary information in a more creative way (perhaps a chalk board or framed seating chart).

10) Honeymoom
Ah, that well deserved treat after months of wedding planning hell (well, it was for me). Some ideas to continue with your green wedding theme include using an eco-conscious travel agency such as Natural Habitat Adventure or Travel Moor Agency. Be sure to stay at eco-friendly resorts (of which there are many these days to choose from). You can also choose to try a volunteer vacation where you can help victims or naural disasters or build houses with Habitat for Humanity. Yoga instructor Sadie Nardini who’s getting married this August opted to forgo a wedding registry entirely and asker her guests to contribute to a “Honeymoon Fund.” “That way, everyone can donate what they wish and in this economy it helps us afford a nicer trip than we might have had otherwise,” she says.

Are you planning a green wedding? Have you attended a green wedding? Share your ideas and suggestions. Also, celebrate Earth Day with Planet Green.

Get more green lifestyle tips from our experts.

Comments

[JewishWedding]

These are great tips- thank you!
We've also got some eco-friendly Jewish wedding ideas at http://tinyurl.com/c75y46