Having a Green Wedding
Your Environmentally Consious Wedding
More and more, couples are trying to incorporate environmentally friendly elements into their wedding planning. These elements can run the gamut from using compostable dinnerware to giving living plants as wedding favors to sending out electronic invitations to simply encouraging carpooling among guests.
By incorporating "green" elements into your wedding, you will feel good as well as knowing that you are making a difference. Of course you can choose to make some green choices where practical without feeling that you are hurtful to the environment with your other choices. Your wedding is a once in a lifetime event and you have the right to small excesses.
For example, say you want to send real, tangible, save-the-date cards or invitations. You can still request that your guests respond electronically by email or on your personal wedding web-site, if they can. The guest will still have the printed material as a keepsake along with printed directions to your wedding location - not everyone has onboard GPS!. Plus you can not assume that everyone on your guest list has access to a computer.
Another thing that sounds good but may not be practical is the use of compostable disposables for your reception dinner. Using compostable disposables and putting food scraps in compostable waste containers have drawbacks. The method is only as good as your educating your guests and your caterer to use them properly and you or your venue's diligence in proper disposal of them. While more expensive, remember that cloth linens and real dishes are washable.
Potted plants, flower seeds or tree seedlings not only make a great "green" wedding favor but also a larger version can make a great centerpiece. You can make a point of using organic fertilizer, natural clay pots, etc and save money or floral costs as well. Living plants are also symbolic of the bride and groom's future growth as a couple. A few suggestions are offered at My Wedding Favors (see right)
If you like these ideas for a green wedding, you should read our article on Conserving Energy at Your Wedding.