Over the past thirteen years, we?ve seen amazing changes in the wedding industry and an exponential growth in options for couples who are interested in having earth-friendly weddings. The choices are beautiful but can seem overwhelming?and expensive! Keep in mind that the real reason behind having a green wedding is to benefit the environment for which we all share responsibility. It is as much about conserving as it is about choosing earth-friendly products. The good news is that your conscientiousness is sustainable not only for the Earth but your budget, too.
Here we submit one tip for each year we?ve been greening weddings to help you think ?reduce, reuse, and recycle? on your big day:
1. Plan ahead! Decide what your priorities (green and otherwise) are so that you know where you are/aren?t willing to spend extra money. Start looking early for creative ways to make things yourself and for the best deals and pricing. Being able to do things on your own and early will also cut back on the amount of stress when it comes closer to your big day.
2. Think about the weddings you?ve been to and what made them memorable to you, and focus on these items. There?s a chance that it was not something that was purchased that you most remembered. It could have been the unique way the toasts were given, how older family members stood up and gave the couple advice, the placement of family photos, a traditional dance done by the couple or family members, etc.
3. Have a smaller wedding. Instead of having a large celebration, think intimate. Invite 50 guests instead of 200. A smaller wedding costs less and uses fewer resources?and you?ll share more quality time with the people that you love.
4. Choose an outdoor venue that you love. This can be a meadow, state park, beach or even your best friend?s back yard or your mother?s patio: Beautiful, green, and significantly less costly. Have your ceremony and reception at the same location to cut back on transportation, time, and expense.
5. Celebrate in the off season. For example, in cold climates, wedding venues are less expensive in January and February. And, because people are hunkered down for the winter, they will look forward to and a relish a celebration during these months. They?ll also be less busy with other events and obligations.
6. Invite casual acquaintances to help out on the day of your wedding. These may be parents? friends, neighbors, people in different clubs you?re involved in; people who you regard as friends and want at the wedding but not necessarily as guests.
7. Create a menu of local, organic foods and delegate food preparation. Make a detailed list of what you would like to eat at your wedding and have it prepared by your acquaintances and neighbors who have offered to help.
8. Purchase a vintage dress and suit at a resale or antique store, and then add a little bit of your own flair to it by altering it or hemming. There may even be an awesome family heirloom lurking somewhere in a closet that you could alter for significantly less than purchasing or renting. Choose a simple, fun dress and suit that you can wear again and again.
9. Think smaller, leaner invitations. It?s your wedding! We believe strongly in sending a paper invitation to herald the big day and provide you and your guests with a lasting memento. In addition to choosing 100% recycled paper, there are other ways to go light. Use a reply postcard (no envelope)?you?ll save paper and money, both on the non-existent envelope and the postage. If you?re having a small wedding, you may choose to receive all of your RSVPS by e-mail or your wedding website. Forgo the inner invitation envelope and choose miniature sized invitations. A petite size can make a big impact because of its darling qualities and uniqueness. Create a website with details about your wedding?directions, hotels, other weekend events, to avoid having to print this information out for everyone. Print cards with this information only for older family and friends without Internet access.
10. Make your own invitations. Get creative. Many companies, including Twisted Limb Paperworks, offer DIY kits that include all the necessary components, templates and directions on how to assemble the invitations to make the do-it-yourself process easy. With a message on the back of your invitation, encourage your guests to recycle their invitations. This is something you can do regardless of whether or not you can afford to buy 100% PCW recycled invitations that are processed without chlorine. If you can, purchase handmade recycled or tree-free paper embedded with wildflower seeds to make your invitations so that guests can plant the invites and enjoy the flowers that grow from them.
11. Create your own centerpieces. Find locally grown flowers and wildflowers at farmer?s markets, dried twigs (twisted willow branches are pretty and useful), inexpensive votive candles, repurposed mason jars as vases, etc. Resale stores are usually good places to find unique treasures that can be reused for something timeless and interesting. Another option is to use potted plants as centerpieces. Small plants from a local garden center are significantly less expensive than hiring a florist. These can then be given as gifts or enjoyed in your home.
12. In lieu of favors, donate your time to your favorite non-profit organization in honor of your wedding day. This can be a day tutoring, assisting at a local food pantry or animal shelter.
13. Reduce material gift-giving. If you are already settled into a home and do not need kitchenware or furnishings, you may prefer to state on your invitations: "Please no gifts" or "Your presence is your gift to us.? You might recommend that guests donate to your favorite environmental or community group in honor of this special occasion. Search online for ?wedding gift registry donation? for several organizations that can help you do this.
Twisted Limb Paperworks (link to www.twistedlimbpaper.com) is a pioneer in the green wedding industry. They have been sustainably creating their handmade 100% recycled, seeded papers and invitations in Bloomington, Indiana since 1998.