I have become absolutely obsessed with finding ways to make the wedding more environmentally friendly. I know that weddings are inherently wasteful--the entire event is built around extravagance and excess for one day. The penultimate wedding symbol is a ridiculously expensive dress that will only be worn for one day. I know that it will be impossible to avoid all of the excesses, but here are a few suggestions I found on Eco Chic Weddings:
- Print invitations on recycled or recyclable paper
- Reduce your carbon footprint by buying food and beverages locally
- Make sure that venue/caterer recycle bottles
- Buy local/native flowers that are in season (not only does this reduce the use of fuel, but it is also uses less pesticides)
- Let your bridesmaids pick out dresses they will wear again or encourage them to donate the dresses to the Princess Project
- To the extent possible, decorate with items that you already own, or that you can borrow, rent, find, and/or reuse
- Give out favors that people will actually use or, better yet, ones that give back like donations to your favorite charity
- Have your wedding and reception in the same location
- Organize a shuttle for your guests
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Please let me know if you have any other ideas!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
It's a nice day for a green wedding
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2 comments:
First of all, CONGRATS! I love being married... I'm sure you will too. After our ceremony, we got everyone together and partied. No formal lunchens, lines, or evening receptions. Just good food, music and friends. The best part -- Todd and I were out of there by 4:00! Good luck!
First off I love that you're being mindful of this! Heres some ideas...
1. Use recycled paper for your invitations and thank you notes, and when possible, paper that is certified that it comes from sustainable forestry programs.
2.While it isn't possible to have all your photos done digitally, when working with your photographer, try to have all the proofs done digitally. This will minimize the use of toxic chemicals and paper in developing and you can be sure that the only prints made are the ones you want.
3. The internet can help you communicate all aspects of your wedding experience. There will be lots of information that needs to be disseminated so reduce the number of mailings and phone calls by setting up a wedding website and using email notifications.
Also, maybe instead of having extensive invitation mailings you could set up a wedding information page online and send a simple postcard asking them to visit the site... check out this site;
http://www.greatgreenwedding.com/invitations.php
4.When booking your honeymoon, consider tour operators that offer eco-travel options.
5. Consider local/organic food for your reception.
6. Flowers...I love the idea of using real wildflowers- you know they haven't been grown with pesticides and shipped in for somewhere. I also love the idea of making your own bouquets. you could also have guest take hom the table center pieces- vases and all with the promise they'll reuse the vase... And I love the idea of giving seeds, flower bulbs, or tree saplings as party favors as a symbol of your growing love... heres a site listing several ways to do this;
http://www.greatgreenwedding.com/favors.php
7. I know your ring is already bought- but maybe Rod would like his ring to come from a company like http://www.greenkarat.com/
i love thier precious stone ring where you send them stones from memorable moments and they take slices and put them in a ring for you... just imagine collecting stones from your long mountain bikerides...
8. Donate left over food to a local food bank or homeless shelter...
9. ask for donations to your favorite charities instead of gifts
10. have attire for the wedding be reusable or even reused...
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