Photo courtesy of Matt Mason Photography
These
days, more and more people are "Going Green", from things as simple
as recycling, all the way to buying fuel efficient cars. So why not make your
wedding eco-friendly too? There are a variety of wedding aspects that can be
made eco-friendly, from the venue to the rings. The first, and most simple
aspect that can be made green is the venue. Instead of getting married indoors,
which requires loads of electricity, get married outdoors! Outdoor venues have
natural lighting which reduces the amount of electricity needed to light your
venue. An added bonus to getting married outside is its natural beauty; not
only will it save energy, but it will also save money for flowers and other
decorations. However, if having an outdoor wedding worries you, another
alternative is to get married at an indoor location that has a lot of natural
light, this will also cut back on electricity.
Photo courtesy of Ideal Impressions Photography
On that
note of natural beauty, lets talk flowers, aren't they all eco-friendly? The
answer is "no". Some flowers are harvested with pesticides which make
them no longer "green friendly." Also, if your flowers are being
shipped from a long distance, their carbon footprint is even bigger because of
the exhaust of the vehicle transporting them. One way to avoid environmentally
dangerous flowers for your wedding is to grow your own or to buy locally grown
flowers. If you have the resources to grow the flowers for your wedding in your
own backyard, this is a great alternative, because you control how they are
grown. (P.S. Growing your own wedding flowers saves money too!) There are also
other options for wedding decorations, such as fruit centerpieces, silk
flowers, herbs or simply anything but flowers.
If you decide to stick with flowers, remember to either bring them home with
you or send them off with family and friends at the end of the night, rather
than simply throwing them all away.
Photo courtesy of Ideal Impressions Photography
The next
step in making your wedding eco-friendly is the invitations. There are two
options for this as well, e-invites or simply using recycled paper. E-invites
are invitations sent online. This cuts back paper use all together, however
this may propose issues with guests who may not have internet access. In this
case, use recycled paper for wedding invitations, save the dates, thank yous
and every other paper aspect of the wedding. Let's not forget about the oh so
important aspect of food. By finding a caterer who uses locally grown foods,
you are making your food eco-friendly as well. Locally grown foods have less
preservatives because they require less to be added in order to remain fresh
during transportation. A shorter delivery distance also saves gas and avoids
harmful car exhaust, which everyone knows is eco-friendly. Also, opt out of
buffet style meals; with buffets, more food goes to waste. With pre-plated
meals, the chef can make proper portions, which ultimately will save
food. The four wedding pieces listed above are only a few ways to make your
wedding eco-friendly. The dress and the rings can also be "green", by
going vintage! Check back with us tomorrow with "Vintage is In", to
hear more about making your rings and dress eco-friendly.
Photo courtesy of Matt Mason Photography
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