Say “I Do” to Green

By Melinda Toussaint


When it comes to planning your future most people are planning trips, working to land a promotion, and trying to have a family; while others are incorporating living green into their plans. Some people are even considering green lifestyles within their relationships and now is the time to do that. With this years’ wedding season coming up – an industry that rakes in $125 billion/year in the U.S. alone- more and more people are finding ways to make “their special day” green!

Invitations, etc: When planning your wedding the first thing you must do is “set the date”. With this comes an endless amount of paper being used. Between save the date cards, invitations, wedding announcements, menus, programs, place cards and not to mention all the thank you cards, countless pieces of paper are thrown away. To eliminate paper waste you have two options:
1) use recycled paper for all of the above and recycle what you can afterwards – go to www.invitesite.com to use tree-free paper or www.earthlyaffair.com for 100% post consumer paper and FSC Certified Cotton Paper and
2) send out Ecards/ Evites. Visit www.weddingwindow.com to test out a wedding webpage for you to create that will provide your guests will all the necessary information and you can even download a keepsake CD afterwards.

The Dress: With the date set the next important step, as any bride knows, is to pick out the dress. I hear brides saying all the time, “once you find the dress its all down hill from there.” (Meaning everything else is a piece of cake to decide on) For the most part though, a wedding gown can be the biggest expense in your wedding budget, that’s why you should make it the greenest! Check out sites like www.getconscious.com for hemp/organic gowns or www.perfectbridal.com for gowns that range from only $500-$1500 as well as items for the rest of the wedding party.

Flowers: Now that the gown is picked out, flowers seem to come next. Most couples’s mistake is that they choose flowers based on color or their dream, instead of the flowers that are in season. Thus, couples spend money on shipping flowers internationally for the big day which is the opposite of green. Consider ordering organic flowers from www.organicbouquets.com or buying them locally to cut down on transportation costs. Then reuse the flowers throughout the night. Take the flowers used at the ceremony and dress up your reception with them, and finally take leftover bouquets to a local hospital or senior citizen home to brighten someone else’s life.

Centerpieces: Speaking of the reception, there are many ways you can keep the table centerpieces spectacular but also make them green.
1) Choose recycled glass vases and glassware
2) use small bushes or plants that guests can take home to plant in their yard
3) use fruit for a touch of color that can be donated afterwards to a local shelter. Check out sites like www.vivaterra.com which feature beautiful candlescapes out of old fruit scraps as well as other eco-chic décor items.

Favors: You may also decide to keep the wedding favors green too. A great way to share something with each guest and stay green is to speak with the National Arbor Day Foundation (www.arborday.org) who help you give trees as a wedding favor. They will deliver the trees and the guests can take them home to plant in their yards. Looking back on it years later they will remember that tree is a gift from you and it will remind them of your wedding day. Or you can simply go to I Do Foundation Favors for Charity (www.idofoundation.org) and make a donation to the charity of your choice on behalf of all of your guests. Now your big day has become a day of giving love and giving back!

Extras: The above ideas are only just the start of planning a green wedding. Some other places to try:
- Green jewelry – www.taraluna.com
- Custom/recycled gold wedding rings- www.greenkarat.com
- Recycled glasses made from car windshields- www.uncommongoods.com
- Eco-friendly gift wrap bags (suggest to your guests)- www.luckycrow.com
- Organic champagne & eco-friendly gift baskets- www.ecoexpress.com
- Organic wedding night fashions- www.faeriesdance.com

No matter how you choose to keep your wedding dream green, remember one rule of thumb… purchase items that can be recycled or reused on the “big day” or afterwards. You will not only save money but you will help save the environment and that is something to feel wonderful about on your honeymoon.