Spring is finally here and that means the wedding season will soon be upon us. As you make plans for your special day, take the opportunity to show friends and family how fun and beautiful a sustainable lifestyle can be. Here are a few tips to consider when planning your green wedding:
Rings
Weddings begin with the ring and a green wedding is no different. There are many alternatives you can choose when selecting the rings. Here are a few:
- Vintage rings: family heirlooms or antique rings. Old gold can even be recycled by melting it down and refashioned into rings.
- Avoid diamonds mined in war zones, so-called “blood diamonds”. They help fund conflicts and oppression all over the world.
Venue
The choice of wedding venue sets the tone for entire wedding. Some things you might want to consider:
- To minimize travel impact, choose a location that is convenient to the greatest number of guests.
- Hold the wedding ceremony and the reception at the same location.
- Select a local spot which supports the same green causes that you do, such as an art gallery, nonprofit space, organic restaurant, or green hotel.
Invitations
Your invitation is the first impression guests will get of your green wedding. Things you should consider:
- Recycled and/or handmade paper that is processed chlorine-free.
- Have them printed with vegetable-based or soy-based inks.
- Create a wedding blog to inform guests about the bachelor/bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinner and gift registry to reduce the use of paper.
- Let your guests know about green hotels and transportation options in the area, such as where they can rent a hybrid car.
Bachelor and bachelorette parties
Your bachelor and bachelorette parties can keep the green theme going:
- Stay local, it will allow you to spend more time with your friends and less time dealing with travel stress.
- Indulge in organic wine or beer tasting or an organic spa treatment.
- Do something low-impact and outdoorsy like a camping, surfing, sailing.
That takes us to your green wedding. Next post: suggestions on how to continue the green theme through the ceremony and beyond.
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