That is so amazing when couple decide to start out their life together as a couple who are acting responsible for the future. Here are some tips to help you in your green wedding planning.
CAKE
- Ask your baker to substitute organic ingredients like sugar, flour, butter, eggs, and to use locally grown organic berries.
FAVORS
- Use herbs or seeds to give to guests to replant the earth
- Check Green Wedding Favors for unique and thoughtful gifts for guests inspired by nature.
- Potting Shed Creations - present your guests with these special favors that will create lovely living memories.
WEDDING RINGS
NOTE! According to the website, No Dirty Gold, Gold mining is one of the dirtiest businesses in the world. The production of one simple gold ring results in 20 tons of mine waste.
Check these websites for eco friendly ideas for your wedding rings:
● Apollo Rings is a man made alternative to diamonds.
● Chicago Joinery – eco conscious wooden jewelry, beautiful, unique, handcrafted rings.
● Cred Jewellery – fair trade gold wedding rings and diamond engagement rings that are from certified community mines. They also do a lot of custom work.
● Engagement Ring Settings – victorias diamonds.
● Green Karat – ecologically responsible jewelry, large assortment of recycled gold wedding rings.
● Sumiche Jewelry Co. – the only company in the USA using Certified Green Gold and Platinum. Their diamonds are certified Conflict Free.
● Touch Wood Rings – many options of wood rings – a great symbol of your commitment to the environment and to the concept of simple living.
● Cocoloco – rings made from coconut are unique, lightweight and strong.
FLOWERS
- Choosing a florist where organically grown, in-season, local flowers are used can be a much better earth friendly choice. This will remove the need for long-distance transportation.
- Ask your florist to use local and seasonal flowers, berries and fruits (more availability means better pricing, plus buying local saves on fuel emissions).
- Reuse your flowers that day by transforming ceremony flowers into table decorations at the reception-similarly, ceremony decorations can be used to dress up the dance floor. After the party, donate them to a local hospital or senior citizen center or send them home with your guests.
- Use rental vases instead of buying new. Florists usually have a big variety of the vases to rent – it will help you to save money and it is good for an environment.
- Ask your florist not to use floral and Styro foam.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
- Ask your caterer to use local and seasonal fruits and vegetables (more availability means better pricing, plus saves on fuel emissions)
- Ask your caterer to recycle cans, bottles, paper plates.
GOWNS
- Pass your gown down to your children as an heirloom, priceless!
- Buy an organic silk gown
HAIR & MAKE UP
- Ammonia-free and herbal based hair color
- Do not use hair spray
- Use mineral makeup lines like Jane Iredale and Dr. Hauschka
INVITATIONS
- Print your invitations, programs, etc., on recycled paper
- Use soy ink (a greener choice made from renewable soy beans)
- Have a web site or blog setup to save on printing, and make copies of this for guests which choose to not have web site access
LIGHTING
- Hang solar lanterns (available at hardware stores) — these charge in the sun all day, and cast a soft glow at night. You don’t need an electric outlet, and save on energy!
- Light soy candles.
RECYCLING
- Ask caterers to recycle cans, bottles, and aluminum foil.
- Insist on a no-Styrofoam policy.
ECO FRIENDLY CLEANING & LAUNDRY
- Use petroleum-based free solvents -it is environmentally safe, won’t fade colors, whites stays white, and softens as it cleans.
- Eco friendly cleaning tips http://www.ecofriendlycleaning.org/
- Find Eco friendly cleaning service in your area http://www.greatgreenlist.com
Feel free to leave a comments or your own experience of planning your green wedding.
Have a Day Far Beyond the Ordinary!
Yours,
Olga Goddard
Stay in touch!