Recycle, reduce and reuse. There are many ways you can add style to your wedding and stay true to your beliefs. Here are some ideas and suggestions and if you want more ideas check out Emily Anderson’s Eco-Chic Weddings!
Wedding Rings:
An engagement and wedding ring reflects and signifies your love and commitment to one another. Diamonds, “conflict diamonds” are the most sought after mineral and it is surrounded by controversy.
- Therefore, when you are purchasing a diamond ring you should request for a ‘certification of origin’. This certification will provide you with the background information on your diamond.
- Another idea would be to purchase a used, vintage or antique ring. Celebrity and actress, Jennifer Love Hewitt, from Ghost Whisperer received a beautiful antique engagement ring from fiancé, Ross McCall. The ring is a heirloom and has been in the family for centuries.
Venue:
When you are choosing a venue consider something that is a reflection of you and your partner. Choose something that would require diminutive decoration.
Find a venue that utilizes natural resources and helps to improve the environment. Consider a non-profit museum, or various other cultural centers. If you are looking into having an outdoor wedding, a vineyard would be a great option.
These are some the questions you should consider asking:
- What are their recycling policies and do they compost leftover food?
- Can you host the ceremony and the reception at this location?
- Where do they purchase their food, and do they support local and regional farmers?
Invitations:
Your wedding invitation sets the theme, the mood and personifies your style. But it does not necessarily have to be on paper!
- Send out evites, that can be customized to your taste, by a web designer. People can reply electronically and this cuts cost and saves trees.
- If you still want to mail out invites, choose handmade papers. There are many artisans that can create beautiful invitations through this way.
- Or use recycled papers for your invitations, response cards and thank you cards. Encourage recycling on your cards, by adding a note stating “please recycle”
Twisted Limb Paper makes wonderful handmade 100% recycled invitations:
Joy by Mel Lim is an exquisite artist with wonderful designs which she implements on eco-conscious paper products. For more of her work visit http://joybymellim.com
Go for something local and take a look into papayabreadcrumb a toronto based invitation company that also uses handmade paper.
Wedding Attire:
You can look beautiful, classy, and stylish while being environmentally friendly. There are a lot of alternatives out there when you are choosing your wedding attire. For example,
- There is organic cotton, which is grown without the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators, or defoliants.
- Another option is to wear your mothers wedding dress, which you can have altered to your style!
Flowers and Décor:
Here are some great ideas from Rachel Ray!
Centerpieces, backdrops, linens, are a just a few of the many things that you can employ to set the theme,and mood. However, depending on the location, you can limit the use of these items.
- Go for flowers that are in season, organically grown, and can also serve as a dual-purpose, used at the ceremony and reception.
- Stay away from balloons, they are harmful for animals!
Wedding Favors:
There are many ways to thank you guests for joining you on your special day. Often guests throw away the favors, and it is difficult to find something that can please everyone.
- You do not HAVE to do favors; you can simply make a donation to a charity close to heart.
- Guests can also be given something edible. They can be given a jar of homemade or organic jam, or homemade cookies or mini cupcakes.
Menu:
The menu is an important element of the wedding and the guests will always remember it. There are many ways to make the meal both delicious and environmentally friendly.
- When it comes to choosing a caterer, choose one that works with organic foods.
- Consider buying organic wine at wholesale, in which you will pay a corkage fee, but you will save some money!
- Utilize platter, utensils, glasses and napkins that can be used more than once. Avoid plastics!
Browsing through the internet you will come across numerous vendors that solely focus on providing their couples environmentally friendly options.
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