Nice Day for a Green Wedding

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something… green?

Only a few years ago, attempting to craft an environmentally-friendly wedding celebration was quite a chore, if not an outright impossibility. However, much has changed as the responsibility for “going green” has shifted away from the progressive fringes of society and into the mainstream.

When it comes to having an eco-friendly wedding day, the most important thing to remember is that little things can go a long way. By incorporating any number of these five suggestions for having a great, green wedding, you’ll be doing your part to sustain the earth while having an incredible wedding celebration.

1: Cut Down: Paper Usage, Not Trees.

Eliminating paper waste is one of the easiest ways to make your wedding more eco-friendly, but it doesn’t mean having to do away with paper products altogether. If you are working with a paper product designer to handle your save the dates and invitations, chances are they can source all kinds of beautiful, recycled papers for your printing needs. If you are sending out response cards, consider having guests RSVP online through your wedding website or via email to save a stamp and an envelope.

Finally, if you are having an informal meal or picnic as part of your reception, take a look at using compostable plates, cups, and cutlery. Made from a variety of materials including stylish bamboo, sugarcane, corn, and plant starches, these disposable pieces will decrease your wedding’s waste with just a marginal increase in cost.

2: Bloom Responsibly.

Many couples don’t think about where their beautiful wedding day flowers come from, but the truth is that many larger florists import their product from developing nations where harmful pesticide usage is the norm and where laborers toil in poor conditions for low pay. An easy way to avoid contributing to this cycle is to work with a floral designer who utilizes locally grown flowers harvested in season. In addition to cutting down on your flowers’ carbon footprint by cutting down on the distance your flowers travel, you’ll be supporting local business owners who grow their product responsibly.

Moreover, make sure your wedding flowers live more than one life. If you are incorporating floral arrangements into your ceremony city, repurpose them during your reception in your centerpieces or around the dance floor. Place one of your bridesmaids, groomsmen, or family members in charge of ensuring that your flowers will either be taken home by guests or donated to a local organization (hospitals and senior care facilities are great choices) after the wedding.

3: Do the Planet a Favor.

Since you’re going to give all of your guests a little something to remember your special day by, you might as well make your wedding favors eco-friendly. There are so many great options on this front that it’s hard to pick my favorites, but here are a few suggestions.

Everyone loves a good piece of chocolate, so why not consider giving away a bar of the all-natural, organic, ethically traded stuff from Endangered Species Chocolate, whose wrappers raise awareness about animal welfare and a portion of whose profits go to assist struggling species.

Another great idea is to give your guests personalized seed packets of the flowers or herbs of your choosing. Not only will they be receiving a gift which they can nurture and watch blossom, but they will be reminded of the happiness of your wedding day with every glance. The price is right, too, with each packet ringing up at just $1.60. If you’re looking for something even more substantial, The National Arbor Day Foundation sells small trees specifically for eco-friendly brides.

One final favor idea: give your guests customized, reusable bags they can take with them and use in lieu of plastic or paper bags while shopping. You can get as creative as you want with the design of these canvas totes, even making a personalized statement for each individual recipient.

4: Picture This.

When selecting a photography company for your wedding, make sure they operate in an environmentally-friendly manner. With the impressive quality of high-end digital cameras, there is no need for your photographer to shoot on film, which involves the usage of harmful chemicals during the development process and creates unnecessary waste.

Beyond that, there are other things you should ask a potential photographer about their green practices. At Nina Barry Photography, for instance, our studios are powered by renewable wind energy, all of our battery sources are rechargeable, and we drive hybrid vehicles to our assignments to reduce our carbon footprint. We also do all of our proofing online on our green-hosted servers, which means no paper is wasted in the process. Inquire as to what your potential vendors are doing to reduce their environmental impact.

5: The Center of Attention.

It’s easy to craft table centerpieces with eco-smarts. You can enliven your tablescapes with something as simple as a smattering of fresh, organic fruit (which has the added benefit of providing a surreptitious nibble for your more impatient guests). If you are considering including candles on your tables, take a look at using soy candles. They burn more cleanly and produce less soot than paraffin ones, they support farmers who produce the soy, and believe it or not, they are frequently more inexpensive than their traditional counterparts.

Whether you are placing flowers, candles, or both at the heart of your centerpieces, you can use recycled glass vessels as their containers. When my wife and I got married, we used sundry glass bottles we “rescued” from thrift stores as our vases, which created a charming provincial look while being kind to the planet. Other great options include reusing mason jars, which have a classic, country feel, as candle vessels, or even reusing bottles of your favorite beer or wine to convey a little bit of your personality.

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