Talking About Green

Weddings have become a big business, enticing brides to buy more, spend more, and do more.  For many brides, wedding planning can be a costly and stressful experience, especially if you are trying to have a green wedding. If you’re trying to plan a beautiful wedding without a big impact on the environment, there are many creative and cost effective ways to do it.

Recycle

Repurposing old items to become something beautiful at your wedding is both green and charming. An aged book as a table number or seating display created on old farmhouse shutters can add elegant vintage charm to your wedding day. Companies make big money selling brides everything from custom table numbers to professional wedding programs. Make your wedding your own by creating some of these details yourself, and reduce your impact by using repurposed materials.

Buy Local

Your wedding flowers may be the last thing on your mind when it comes to a green wedding, but in many cases the flowers are imported from exotic locations turning something natural into a very un-environmentally friendly addition to your wedding. Try to choose flowers that are in season in the area you live to guarantee beautiful, fresh flowers that are locally grown. Talk to your florist about local options and ask her how to integrate them into your big day.

The Dress

Every bride dreams of the perfect dress, but often that dress is expensive and inorganic. How can you go green with your wedding dress and still wear something you love? Buy a used dress from another bride. You can find previously worn (and sometimes never worn) dresses online being sold by other brides. These options are not only cheaper, but also eco-friendly.  If you can’t find your dream dress that way, consider looking into designers who make their dresses using organic materials and eco-friendly processes.

Wedding Favors

We’ve all been to weddings only to receive a monogrammed gift that we will probably never use and end up throwing away. From playing cards to soaps, the wedding industry has it all. If you want to go green and give your guests something they will really enjoy, try for something eco-friendly. Using flowerpots as table centerpieces and encouraging guests to take one home is a great, inexpensive way to decorate and give a favor in an eco-friendly way.

The Registry

If you and your fiancé already live together or don’t need any more blenders, you can ask guests to donate to the environmental charity of your choice. There are many registry websites that give you the option of donating your wedding gifts for the greater good rather than asking for more stuff. The world wildlife fund has set up an option like this for newly engaged couples.

Remember that going green doesn’t necessarily mean more expensive. In fact, often it can mean less expensive as long as you don’t get caught up in all of the wedding marketing efforts. If you are interested in having an eco-friendly wedding, do your research and talk to other brides on a wedding forum to find out what they did for their green wedding.