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Five Ideas for Hosting an Eco Chic Wedding

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Featured Life Events Uncategorized Weddings

Automobile carbon emissions are one of the biggest problems of pollution so if you have 100 guests driving 30 miles to commute from the ceremony location to the reception, the guests for your wedding alone will drive 3,000 extra miles. Multiply by the estimated 2.1 million US weddings a year and you’ve got 6.3 Billion extra miles driven. Divide that by the 12,000 miles driven by the average American per year and the guest commute would equal a whole year’s worth of driving for 525,000 Americans!

If you’re interested in hosting an eco-friendly wedding, simply start by hosting the ceremony and reception in the same venue. If you are taking your vows in a religious venue, find a reception venue within a mile or two of the ceremony – or better yet, one you can all walk to.Green weddings are a huge trend so here are five ideas for hosting a more eco-chic wedding:

1. Go Local

If your venue allows you to bring your own alcohol, bring locally brewed Beers and locally grown Wines. This cuts out the shipping emissions and with support your local businesses. Don’t be afraid to haggle with these businesses either. They will get exposure to 50-500 guests by being featured at the wedding so use that to your advantage when negotiate prices.

2. Go Natural

Many flowers in floral arrangements are shipped all the way from South America, Asia, and Europe, so the pollution impact from the shipping is high. In addition, you have no way of knowing what kind of environmentally harmful chemicals they use. Instead, use flowers that are in season and grown naturally in your area. For example, if you live in the South, pick Magnolia flowers from local trees and float the blossoms in vases on tables for centerpieces. Wild flowers from a friend’s garden can also add a very unique, personal, and beautifully natural touch to your wedding. If you want a more structured look, do an internet search for “organic florist” in your region.

3. Favors, Favors

Favors are a nice touch to any wedding, but the truth is, they usually just get shoved in a closet or worse, added to the already overflowing landfills. As an alternative, if you were planning on spending $5 per favor on 200 guests, spend $1 each for tiny live pine trees they can plant and donate the other $800 you were planning to spend in a donation to a local or national forest, a save the animals foundation, or whatever other charity you and your fiancé believe in.

4. Send E-vites

This tip may be shockingly unconventional, but sending electronic invitations will save a great deal of paper. As a bonus, this one will also keep more money in your pocket. If you have relatives or friends who don’t use e-mail, make your own simple invitations to send to those few people. Also create an online wedding website where you can feature your wedding style as well as maps to venues, menus, photos, etc. This will be a perfect electronic touch to your eco-friendly big day. On your wedding website you can also feature a section on all of the ways you are making your wedding green so guests will know why they didn’t get a paper invitation in the mail.

5. Attire

Your gown sets the stage for the whole day. But since you’re only wearing it once, it’s okay to wear one that’s vintage or already worn. If the money you’ll save doesn’t sell you on this idea, maybe this one will: try a charity like “Brides Against Breast Cancer” where sample gowns and donated previously worn gowns are auctioned and all proceeds go to Breast Cancer research. Recycling dresses is a great eco-friendly choice.

Remember: Even if you can only do one or two of these green options, every little bit helps! With approximately 2.1 million weddings a year in the United States, if every bride can make a few eco-chic changes collectively, the impact will be huge.

Posted by Sarah on Apr 19, 2009 print article e-mail to a friend

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http://www.frugalandie.blogspot.com Andie

awesome tips, thanks for the ideas, I’m already married, but I’ll pass them on to my friends!
Hillel Cohn

I think these ideas are excellent. A couple has to fdeel comfortable enough to think out of the proverbial “box” and these suggestions are quite helpful. Another thing that couples might consider is to minimize the amount of wasted food that is so prevalent at receptions – especially when there are buffets. It is hard to have a good estimate of how much food will be required. If there is left-over food think about having it tramnsported to a local agency that feeds the homeless. If there are lots of desserts left over have somneone take a package to the local police department where it can be dessert for the cops in their community room and will be greatly appreciated.
The last thing I would suggest: Have your weding cake be different than the traditional. How about having cakes in the shape of gift boxes and decorated to look like wedding gifts, complete with bows and ribbons. I knew a couple who did this and their marriage has been terrific (and well-organized) from the beginning.
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Hi, interesting post. I have been thinking about this issue,so thanks for sharing. I will definitely be coming back to your blog.

: Sarah, Featured, Life Events, Uncategorized, Weddings