Green Weddings
“Your wedding isn’t about how much money you spend or how big it is—it’s about how you envision your beliefs and your values,” says Emily Anderson, author of Eco-Chic Weddings. More and more brides who value the health of our planet are choosing to express themselves by making sustainable wedding choices—seeking out local and organic food, dresses made with organic fabrics, flowers that are seasonal, and more. And with 2.5 million weddings in the U.S. each year, if each bride made just one green choice, it would make a big difference. In the following pages you’ll find lots of ideas for a greener wedding. Pick what works for you—and feel good about it!
Green Attire
One way to reduce your wedding’s burden on the planet is by avoiding unnecessary one-time purchases. Rather than specifying a particular bridesmaid dress, “give them a color palette and let them pick a dress they’ll want to wear again or one they already have,” suggests Kate Harrison, author of The Green Bride Guide. If you, the bride, want a couture gown, Harrison recommends looking for samples or a previously worn dress (check out preownedweddingdresses.com). Another option is buying a vintage dress and having a talented seamstress personalize it. And if you buy new, there are lots of amazing designers working with sustainable fabrics like hemp and organic cotton. After the wedding, think about donating your dress rather than preserving it in a closet or cold storage. While that may seem a shocking idea to some, says Harrison, “If you didn’t wear your mother’s dress, why would your daughter want to wear yours?”
Green Flowers
“Flowers are the most pesticide-laden crop that comes into the country,” says Harrison. Instead of imported blooms, substitute local, seasonal flowers whenever possible. Most weddings are in the spring and summer, meaning there are likely to be tons of seasonal blooms you can use that are grown within a few miles of your wedding venue. Talk to your florist about what you can get locally, and be flexible—conditions may require some last-minute substitutions. And be aware that if you go with organic flowers, there may be some spots and other imperfections—that’s natural. On the other hand, they do tend to last longer. Anderson also suggests looking at flower alternatives, such as paper and fabric flowers (etsy.com is a great source for these), or building centerpieces around reusable or recycled components instead—think evergreen topiaries or other live plants, river stones, or fruit in vintage containers, for example.
Green Decor
Did you know that the average American wedding produces 800 pounds of garbage? Anderson encourage brides to think about “the repurposeful wedding,” seeing how many things from your wedding can be used again. If you’re buying fabric for tables or other decor, think about colors and patterns you can use in your home later, refashioned as curtains or pillowcases, for example. “Reduce, reuse, recycle,” says Harrison, who used an oriental carpet from her mother’s house as an aisle runner at her wedding. Used items like votive holders are available for pennies on the dollar on eBay. Rentals are also, of course, a form of recycling—the big issue is ensuring that the rental provider cleans linens and other items in a sustainable way after the event.
Green Cuisine
More and more wedding caterers are using fresh, local ingredients in the food they prepare. And it’s not just a question of reducing environmental impact, but of maximizing flavor. Local food simply tastes fresher and looks nicer than items that have made a long journey to the kitchen and the table. When it comes to selecting a caterer and a menu, ask about relationships with local farmers and the sourcing of ingredients. As with your florist, give your caterer some leeway to make adjustments—precise harvest times can be hard to predict. Think not only about what you’re serving, but also about how much you’re serving. Having too much is wasteful—and expensive. Anderson recommends going heavy on less-costly appetizers and serving a lighter dinner. And your main course doesn’t have to include beef—free-range chicken is a great alternative—or even any meat at all. “If a vegetarian dinner is delicious, no one will even notice anything is missing,” says Anderson. Also consider what you’re serving food on—there are more options than ever in plates, cups, and cutlery made of renewable and biodegradable materials. And don’t forget one of the most significant choices you can make: skipping the bottled water and opting for pitchers instead.
Green Cakes
Sustainable choices at your dessert table can have an outsize impact, says Anderson. In addition to the environmental considerations, the way that items like sugar, chocolate, and coffee are produced can have far-reaching consequences for cultures and economies around the world. Talk with your caterer about serving Fair Trade coffee, a responsible move that really makes a statement. Look for a baker who specializes in organic or “green” wedding cakes—many local markets have at least a few. If you can’t find one in your area, talk with cake makers you like to see if they can use Fair Trade chocolate and organic sugar, eggs, and flour in your cake, suggests Harrison—these are simple substitutions that shouldn’t cost much more. And remember that for beauty and flavor, few things can compare with fresh fruit and berries in season—use them abundantly!
Some Tips for a Greener Wedding
In this day and age, there is really no need to bulk up an invitation with lots of information you could just as easily convey online. Save the paper and include directions, hotel information, and the like on your wedding website instead, where it’s more accessible. For the invitation itself, recycled paper, cotton, and soy ink are all options that have an environmental impact.
Location, location, location. Choosing a venue that’s convenient for a majority of your guests is one of the biggest ways you can reduce your wedding’s overall carbon footprint.
If there’s no way to get around long-distance travel, consider setting up a carpooling section on your wedding website to help coordinate rides. You might also want to purchase carbon offsets from providers like Brighter Planet or Native Energy, which help to support the development of sustainable energy projects.
Having the ceremony and reception in the same place also helps reduce emissions, cutting the total car trips for guests and vendors. If that’s not an option, renting an electric bus to shuttle people between sites reduces hassles for your guests as well as polluting fumes.
Informing your guests about the green elements of your wedding is a great way to raise awareness of the issues, says Harrison. Whether it’s a little note in your wedding program or a recycled paper symbol on your invitations, there are lots of opportunities to show that a wedding can be eco-friendly and elegant at the same time.
Think beyond the wedding, too. Instead of, or in addition to, a traditional gift registry, you could set up an “experience” registry—where guests can contribute to a honeymoon travel fund, for example—or a charity registry. Check out idofoundation.org for some ideas to get you started.
Featured Professionals: Floral Artistry, Tara Lynn, Painted Tulip, Barn at Lang Farm, Stowe Mountain Lodge
