| Doing something very different is often far more | | | | suitable for a wedding dress. A dress to your |
| memorable than doing the "normal". Planning and | | | | taste could be made by a local seamstress for a |
| preparing for a low-impact wedding will bring such | | | | minimal amount of money. Or. you could bring a |
| pleasure and GRACE to your nuptial experience. | | | | heirloom dress, or, since we are very tropical you |
| Surprisingly, you will probably find you can also | | | | might want a very light long beautiful sundress. In |
| save an immense amount of money for example; | | | | Costa Rica there are stores called "Ropa |
| this is the amount of money some couple used | | | | Americana" and it is even possible to find a |
| for their wedding: | | | | suitable dress for several dollars. |
| $ 420 - Attire | | | | 5. Catering the wedding is always doable and |
| $ 170 - Ceremony location and cost of officiant | | | | should easily be 1/3 of the cost in the States. If |
| $ 225 - Reception site rental and linens | | | | you want to go totally green you could have a |
| $ 585 - Food and Drink for 100 people (we had a | | | | raw food wedding, or even vegetarian. There are |
| pancake and Mimosa brunch) | | | | local beers available and local wine makers. Having |
| $ 210 - Stationary (Paper, ink, envelopes and | | | | a keg of beer, wine and water would avoid |
| stamps) | | | | bottles and plastic waste. Also, by using re-useable |
| $ 25 - Flowers and Decorations | | | | glasses, plates and dinner ware you will be doing |
| $ 5 - Music (We had a friend play his Cello for the | | | | your part in preventing unnecessary waste. |
| wedding) | | | | 6. While it is traditional to give a small gift to the |
| $2300 - Photographer | | | | guests, you could provide a small plant or a flower |
| $ 300 - Wedding rings | | | | depending if they lived here or were visiting. Or, |
| $ 150 - Gifts for our attendants and other helpful | | | | giving a small gift from the local economy would |
| individuals | | | | aid aa local merchant. |
| $ 125 - Wedding Favors - Etched wine glasses | | | | 7. Photography can be hired by a local |
| _______ | | | | photographer. Because so much cost and paper |
| $4515 Total cost of wedding | | | | are involved in traditional methods of wedding |
| With the average cost of a US wedding running | | | | photography, your family and friends could all be |
| at around $20,000 it seems obvious that | | | | asked to bring their cameras and take pictures. |
| weddings have a huge footprint, both ecological | | | | Create a website for all to upload to and then |
| and economical. Going green doesn't? | | | | everyone could download and have copies of the |
| What about having a very small, immediate family | | | | pictures they wanted. And for sure. |
| wedding, a larger reception (but still small) and a | | | | 8. You may want to find an Eco-Logde type of |
| green voluntary honeymoon (separate article)? | | | | hotel, small, elegant and green. |
| Wow! Let's see how that can be done and still | | | | 9. Plan a daytime wedding in natural light. Find a |
| have an incredibly memorable experience. | | | | hotel with an outdoor Rancho, perfect for the |
| OK, you want to be married in Costa Rica on the | | | | small outdoor, green wedding. The Rancho is a |
| South coast. Everything is already naturally | | | | multi-purpose space that is open but covered in |
| GREEN. How can you have a wedding that barely | | | | case of rain or blazing sun. (With a daytime |
| impacts the environment. Find a hotel equipped to | | | | wedding, you will be saving electricity. |
| handle your very special green wedding. | | | | Another option would be to ask a good friend to |
| | | | be the photographer and take all the pictures. |
| 1. You can totally eliminate stationary by using the | | | | Again, download to a single website to view and |
| Internet, Facebook or if you must use paper, use | | | | distribute. |
| recycled "green" paper with natural dye inks. If | | | | A wedding like this, kept small and green and |
| you use the Internet or Facebook maybe you | | | | very conscience could be done for very little |
| might want to make the background green. Also, | | | | money...only the hotel rooms, facility rental, food |
| be sure to indicate that you are hosting a green | | | | and beverage, minimal costs for dress, flowers |
| wedding in small print some place on the page. | | | | and drink. The best part is you would remember |
| 2. Set up a website for RSVP's. | | | | how hard you and others worked to create |
| 3. Flowers should be readily available in any hotel | | | | minimal impact on the environment and you would |
| with lush gardens. At the most all could be | | | | be married feeling good about doing your part to |
| decorated lavishly with leaves and flowers and | | | | keep that small piece of the world in time and |
| bouquet for very little. Most should be free. | | | | space green. |
| 4. Material stores in Costa Rica sell material very | | | | |