1. The Ambience
Set the tone of your green wedding by choosing an eco-friendly location. If an outdoor wedding is up your alley, choose a location that will showcase the beauty in the environment and in you. If you prefer an indoor location, check out the local museums or art galleries that will donate your deposit to a good cause.
2. Choose Eco-Friendly Rings
You may have an heirloom ring made for a relative and more often than not people love to breath this sentiment into their wedding and continue to pass it on through generations. It is a great way to remember the generations of people long gone and to bring them to this special occasion of a lifetime. It is also a spiritual sentiment that embraces the cycle of life. Keepsakes create cherished living memoires. Or stones may be reset and rings remodelled. More and more jewellers are using recycled gold and fair-labour gemstones. Be sure to use local jewellers where possible to cut down on emissions. Buying local supports the community. A lot more wedding planners are mindful of the importance of environmental conservation matters.
3. Re-Use a Wedding Dress
Traditionally many brides have chosen to revamp a wedding dress handed down through generations or even from an overseas relative. Feng Shui fashion is also becoming a popular choice for brides. Some brides like to go to charities such as Brides Against Breast Cancer for their dresses that may donate to a sentimental cause.
4. Photography: Go Digital
Even though most photographers are using digital cameras, it’s a must for a green wedding. Digital photos don’t use the harsh chemicals, wasted paper, and rolls of film that film photography does. Another plus is you get to choose exactly what prints you want printed. Ask your photographer if they allow you to keep the digital images after the wedding is complete to save a digital album of your special day.
5. Use Recycled Paper
Using recycled paper is an easy way to create green invitations or programs. Ask your vendors if they can print on recycled paper or recycle the leftover scraps. For an alternative to cut back on paper, create a wedding website where your guests can print off directions, reply, and find out hotel information.
6. Home Grown Flowers
For your flowers, choose a local organic florist to arrange your centrepieces and bouquets. I love The Flower Dispensary. Lyndal is a true artisan when it comes to arranging flowers and bouquets. For a summer wedding you may use farmer’s market finds to create bouquet and table arrangements, or use potted plants which can be given away to your attendants at the end of your special day. The Qii house rainforest environment may be the perfect solution from which to craft your special native bush bouquet.
7. Choose an Organic Menu
Ask your caterers if they can provide vegetarian and organic entrees. Also consider what you are dining on. If your location doesn’t provide dishes, consider renting them to avoid disposable plates. Qii house has a selection of caterers that provide glassware and china. Some Qii house catering preferences include, RK catering group, Sun Hyland of New Earth catering and Fabulous catering.
8. Favours
Instead of favours, let your guests know that you have donated a specified amount per guest toward your favourite environmental organisation. Check out www.idofoundation.org, where you can register to raise money for your favourite organisation.
9. Local Vendors
Choosing area vendors is a great way to keep the transportation emissions low and support your local economy. If you are interested in using a green wedding planner, check your local listings. I love Ivory Tribe artistry and their beautifully romantic sentiment.
10. A Green Honeymoon
When planning your honeymoon, keep in mind the practice of ecotourism, which is defined by The International Ecotourism Society as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.” Check out their web site for ideas and sources to plan an eco-friendly honeymoon.