Wedding Solutions’ Top Ideas to Go Green With Your Wedding

Wedding Solutions’ Top Ideas to Go Green with Your Wedding

 

The eco-chic wedding has grown in popularity over the past few years. Couples are looking to protect the environment by choosing organic and recyclable options, as well as offsetting the impact guests’ travel will have on the earth.

Whereas weddings often mean “the more extravagant the better,” having a green wedding can make a statement to your guests about the importance of protecting the earth from wear and tear.

The easiest way to keep emissions and effects on the environment low is to have a small wedding – 20 guests instead of 200. Obviously, this isn’t always possible. The goal is to have a beautiful wedding that is as least wasteful as it can be.

Many facilities are now catering to eco-chic weddings. However, be aware that a green wedding can cost up to 20 percent more than a traditional wedding.  For instance, having an organic menu can raise costs by 10 percent. But if the environment is your main priority, there are plenty of great ways to plan a beautiful green wedding and keep the environmental impact low.

Here are Wedding Solution’s favorite tips for a green wedding:

 

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Going Green With Your Wedding Reception

Almost every engaged couple wants their wedding day to be truly unique and special. They want it to reflect who they are and what they care about. With that being said, going green with your wedding is often a great way to make your day not only unique but meaningful. It gives you the opportunity to show your friends and family that living a sustainable and healthy life can be a great thing. Listed below are a few ideas that can help you plan for a green wedding. The Invitations- Things to look for when shopping for invitations.
Consider using recycled paper or paper substitutes such as cotton, hemp, bamboo, or banana stalks.
Opt out of using papers that are metallic and/or plastic-coated, these characteristics make them very hard to recycle.
Opt out of using the traditional double envelope and consider using a postcard.
Consider ditching the traditional paper method completely and use virtual invitations online or through email. There are also great wedding websites available for this as well.

Bridal Attire – Things to consider when shopping for your bridal attire
You may want to consider wearing a secondhand gown. You can have the gown altered and fitted just as if it were your own.
Consider using all-natural make-up.
Opt for using vegetable dyes on your shoes if needed, or consider going barefoot if it’s a beach wedding.
After your wedding re-donate your dress for another bride.
You may also want to choose a gown that you could wear again to another event.
Choose clothes that are made from hemp, bamboo, and organic cotton or silk– (men’s clothing also comes in organic cotton or wool).

Wedding Accessories – Things to consider when shopping for wedding accessories
Choose a vintage wedding band.
Melt down old pieces of jewelry to create a new one.
Buy a conflict-free diamond wedding band, not sure ask your jeweler.
Borrow headpieces, necklaces, and other jewelry from friends and relatives.
Consider one of kind wooden bands.

Ceremony & Reception – Things to consider when planning the reception and ceremony
Choose a location that is centrally located so it’s convenient for guests and travel times are minimized.
Consider having an outdoor wedding that infuses the green feel into the event.
Make sure your venue recycles at the end of the night.
Have your ceremony and reception at the same venue to avoid wasteful travel and decorating.
Choose a venue that is a LEED-certified space, this stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. You can search for these types of businesses at www.usgbc.org.
Use L.E.D. lighting as opposed to the normal incandescent and halogen bulbs to reduse electrical consumption.
Rent glassware, dishware, and linens instead of disposable dishes.
Consider using organic wine and beer selections.
Don’t bother using petroleum based candles; opt for beeswax candles or soy-based candles.
Donate any extra food you may have to a local homeless shelter.

Wedding Gifts – Things to consider when planning for wedding gifts.
Create a registry where your guests can donate to a charity rather than buying gifts.
Consider requesting that related guests give a combined card rather than several individual ones. This will eliminate wasted paper.
Create a custom wish-list of eco-friendly items.

Honeymoon – Things to consider when planning your honey moon
Try to travel close and avoid wasted fuels to get there.
The train is often the most green, consider this are your transportation.
Consider staying at a green resort.
Forget resorts completely and consider going camping.
Travel around on bikes while on the honeymoon.

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A Great Green Wedding

A great green wedding

Dressed in white can have a green twist There are a number of ways to make your perfect day as environmentally friendly as possible. Here are some important ideas to consider for a great wedding:

Invitations - everyone knows that the right paper stock is one of the most important decisions you can make when it comes to pre wedding day planning. But instead of going for a heavy card stock with environmentally damaging gloss or matte, consider if you need to have paper invitations at all!

Many wedding websites have sprung up to allow couples to plan their day and give guests all the information they need in paper saving electronic format. Couples can upload photos, tell their special story and direct guests to their registry on line. Many also have an RSVP feature so you can manage your list with a few clicks of the mouse. You and your mother can argue over background colours and menu patterns to your hearts ‘content!

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