Eco-Friendly Wedding Trends
It seems like no matter where you go, you hear something about
“going green” or being “eco-friendly.” This environmentally conscious
mindset is a growing part of society, and for good reason. The earth is
a limited resource, so we should do our part to take care of it. There
is no reason your wedding should have to contend with your
environmental conscience. With more and more industries leaning towards
sustainable practices, it’s easy to have an environmentally friendly
wedding.
From the beginning of your engagement until after the
thank you notes have been sent, almost every aspect of your wedding
planning can be eco-friendly. Over fifty jewelry retailers have signed
the Golden Rules agreement, promising to sell only gold from mines that
are actively supporting human rights, labor, and environmental
concerns. In addition, it is also possible to buy conflict-free
diamonds, bought only from areas not in conflict because of the gems.
Buying only “clean” gold and conflict-free diamonds ensures that you’re
only supporting environmentally sustainable practices.
When
choosing a venue, take into consideration that many “typical” places
use vast amounts of electricity. Think about getting married outside,
on a farm or in a botanical garden. If a traditional venue is a must,
look for one that uses recycled energy-efficient appliances and
biodegradable products. Having your ceremony and reception in one place
cuts back the fuel emissions caused by your guests having to drive from
one place to another.
When sending your invitations, use only
100% recycled paper or consider using paper that has wildflower seeds
mixed in. If you haven’t seen this, it looks just like normal paper,
but can be planted in a garden or flower bed. These green papers can
also be used for your save-the-dates and thank-you notes.
Flowers
are one thing that seems eco-friendly already, but in fact they aren’t!
Most flowers sold commercially are sprayed with harmful pesticides and
fertilizers that pollute the groundwater. Instead, consider leaving
blooms out altogether, or only use locally-grown, in-season flowers. If
you’re dying to have flowers as centerpieces, consider potted plants
that can be replanted later.
The food can easily be just as
green as you are. With a few calls to caterers, it’s not too hard to
find one that will serve only locally-grown organic dishes. Consider
having an entirely vegan meal, if this suits your tastes.
Your
decorations can be eco-friendly as well. The best policy is to only use
things that will be used again, so think about what would make good
favors to send with guests, or things that you could easily reuse in
your home. Consider using bamboo as much as possible, since this is an
extremely renewable resource.
These are just a few of the ways
in which your wedding can be greener, even if your wedding colors are
black and white. Your wedding day is special and should be memorable,
but try to make it memorable in the minds of you and your guests, not
in landfills.
Proudly Canadian
