Going Green: Eco Friendly Wedding Ideas (Reizen)

*****
by Caitlin Lazier on Nov 26, 2010

So, you don’t have much cash but you still want a ‘green’ wedding? Helping the environment can
actually help slim down your budget – killing two birds with one stone! Start seeing more green
(cash and trees) by using the ideas below when planning your ceremony. Celebrate your love while
showing the environment (and your community) some love.

1. Surprisingly flowers can leave a huge carbon footprint but they
are essential at any wedding. Instead of importing yellow roses from Colombia, which are heavy
on pesticides and flown to your door, try buying local organic flowers. If you are a gardening gal, why not grow your own flowers? They could be used as
centerpieces and the price can’t be beat.
2. Since you’ve decided to go green a great dress option is to buy used. All the heaps of chiffon, silk and lace used to create new dresses have a huge impact on the environment, not to mention on your pocketbook. Even though you may have to pay for alterations or buy a nice broach to spruce up the dress, buying a
recycled dress will save you mountains of money while protecting your favorite mountain view.
3. Invitations, save the dates, thank you notes, programs – all that paper adds up fast! You could
shop around for organic paper good and used soy based ink for printing but that can get
expensive. Why not try using the wonders of the Internet like www.evite.com to create online
invites. You could also create a wedding website that has all the info your guests may be looking
for in one place. Caution: Make sure you give grandma a tutorial.
4. This last tip is focused on helping the community. If you have leftover food and flowers don’t
leave them to rot – donate them! A local food bank or homeless shelter would be more than
happy to accept the donation and you score some good karma points. As for the flowers, you can
brighten someone’s day by giving the lilies and hyacinth to a nursing home or hospital. You’re in
love and you can share the love too.