| We've all heard about "going green". Everyone is | | | | flowers. First, you could use silk or dried flowers. |
| starting to use recyclable bags for shopping, | | | | If you don't like this idea look for a florist that |
| people are taking the bus or riding bikes to work | | | | uses locally grown flowers. You can also go to |
| to save on gas, there are now environmentally | | | | your local farmer's market to buy local flowers |
| friendly cleaners, and more. And now people are | | | | and then make your own bouquets. Reuse the |
| starting to have green weddings. | | | | ceremony flowers at the reception. And then |
| You may wonder how you can have a green | | | | after the reception donate flowers to a local |
| wedding. Here are some ideas! | | | | hospital. This will be sure to cheer up the patients! |
| Invitations | | | | Wedding Rings |
| You can skip paper altogether and go electronic. | | | | Check out Ebay or your local antique stores for |
| There are several sites out there where you can | | | | vintage wedding rings instead of buying brand |
| do this. You can also create a PDF and send that | | | | new. Or you can look for rings made from fair |
| electronically or even do a video to send to your | | | | trade or recycled gold. |
| guests. With these last two just be aware that | | | | Wedding Dresses |
| some guests may not have the appropriate | | | | The easiest way to go green with the wedding |
| software to open the invitations. | | | | dress is to purchase a previously worn dress. |
| Worried guests won't take your electronic | | | | There are many auction sites online and often |
| invitation seriously? Don't worry, you still have | | | | you can find listings in your local newspaper. Or |
| options! Almost all invitation designers have some | | | | you can rent a dress (just like the groom can |
| sort of recycled paper. And if you are doing the | | | | rent his tux). If you'd prefer a new dress look for |
| invitations yourself, your local stationery store is | | | | earth friendly fabrics like cotton, hemp, or linen. |
| sure to have recycled paper also. You can even | | | | Photographer |
| find tree free paper. And check this out...seed | | | | Skip the disposable cameras at all of the tables. |
| embedded paper. This can be planted! | | | | This may seem like a fun idea but many of the |
| Bridal Registry | | | | pictures do not come out and they go to waste. |
| Register for your gifts online. And be sure to | | | | Instead stick to a professional photographer that |
| register for eco-friendly items. Better yet, don't | | | | does only digital photography. Look for a |
| register for gifts. Ask guests to donate to a | | | | photographer that will provide all the proofs |
| charity in your name. For example you could ask | | | | digitally rather than paper proofs. And ask for the |
| them to donate to Make A Wish. | | | | images on a disk. And if you'd like an album find a |
| Favors | | | | photographer that offers one printed on recycled |
| One way of staying eco-friendly is to buy your | | | | paper. |
| favors locally rather than having some cheap | | | | Reception Food |
| "trinkets" shipped halfway around the world. You | | | | If possible select organic and locally grown food. |
| can also use small trees or seeds that the guests | | | | Ask your caterer to shop at the local farmer's |
| can then plant. Bonus - this will help fight global | | | | market. And do not over cater. So much food |
| warming! Or why not give a donation to your | | | | tends to get wasted at wedding receptions. |
| favorite charity in the guest's names? Not only is | | | | Calculate the food needs carefully. If there are |
| this eco-friendly, but it will help someone in need. | | | | any leftovers ask the caterer to package and |
| Centerpieces | | | | freeze the leftovers. If the caterer cannot do this |
| You could use a twig basket and fill it with fruit in | | | | due to safety and hygiene issues, ask them to |
| your wedding colors. The guests can then take | | | | compost as much of the food as possible. |
| the fruit home and eat it. Or how about a plant | | | | As you can see there are many ways to have a |
| like a mum for a Fall wedding? You can then give | | | | green wedding. Some other quick ideas are to |
| it away to a guest to take home and plant. If | | | | hold the ceremony and reception at the same |
| you're looking for something with glass you can | | | | place to save on gas and ask guests to carpool. |
| find a vase or bowl made out of recycled glass. | | | | For more ideas do a search on the internet for |
| Flowers | | | | green or eco-friendly weddings. The internet has a |
| There are many options to stay green with your | | | | wealth of information! |