The Eco-Conscious Wedding

Making your wedding eco-friendly, in one way or many, is quickly becoming part of how couples are thinking about their celebrations. It’s a paradigm shift, both in what we consume and in the way we consume it … and there are tons of opportunities for these ideas to be incorporated into all aspects of your life, including your wedding plans. You can make an impact on the future by simply keeping in mind the three R’s — Reduce, Re-use, and Recycle — and implementing them when it comes to the elements you bring together to create your perfect day.

Here are some great ideas for integrating eco-friendly practices into your wedding:

• Use tree-free paper, such as Milkweed or other 100% post-consumer recycled material, for all of your paper needs, including planning journals, save-the-dates, invitations, programs, place cards, gift tags, thank-you cards, and photo albums.
• Wear your mother’s wedding gown, or purchase a pre-loved gown from a vintage shop.
• When picking out your rings, consider purchasing ethical jewelry, made without mercury or cyanide, of materials mined in a place where fair labor practices are observed.
• Select a location where you can hold both the wedding ceremony and reception, which will cut emissions by eliminating extra travel.
• Present your wedding party gifts in reusable cloth gift bags.
• Offer a choice of a vegetarian meal with locally grown, organic produce, and serve organic Champagne, wine, and coffee.

 

There are many “green wedding” resources available online with dozens of suggestions for reducing waste and other impacts on the environment. By taking even a few of these small steps, you and your new spouse can start your lives together already saving the world!
~AW