How to plan a green wedding
A green wedding refers to a wedding celebration or ceremony which tries to use objects and themes which will not harm the environment. Every aspect of the ceremony is taken into account, even the small details to ensure an eco-friendly wedding ceremony.
Invitations
Invitations can be printed on unbleached, recycled paper. Another alternative would be to use hemp or cotton fabric to create the invitations. These do not require the cutting of trees as in the case of paper. An ink base made from soy is another good choice in creating an eco-friendly card.
What to Wear
When choosing wedding garments, you will still need to take environmental factors into consideration. Traditional wedding dresses are often made using polyester or acetate which harms the environment since they are byproducts of petroleum. Therefore, they involve static electricity, out-gassing and usage of a lot of energy. Instead good choices in terms of fabric include cottons, organic silk, hemp, as well as fabrics that have hemp variants. Both the groom’s outfit and bride’s dress can be made with these fabrics.
Choosing the Ring
The metal used in the ring can be silver instead of gold since gold mining practices are unethical in several countries. For example, certain countries use child labor in their mining efforts. Also, instead of having the ever-popular diamond, a different gemstone can be selected for the ring. In case a diamond is preferred the bride and groom need to ensure it is a certified diamond that does not violate environmental practices. Vintage rings are a good alternative as they are eco-friendly, and the stone has been hand cut versus modern rings which are cut with a laser
Planning the Menu
Food for the wedding ceremony needs to be made with fresh, organic produce. There should be no synthetic flavors or artificial sweeteners involved. Therefore, contacting a caterer who specializes in organic wedding meals is a good option. As far as refreshments are concerned, organic wines can be a suitable alternative. The coffee can be fair-trade variety and even recycled glassware can be used. Vegetables and other produce can be obtained from local farms. If the couple to be married live in a rural community, getting organic food might prove difficult, in which case locally-grown farm produce is best.
Flowers and Candles
Choose organic flowers. Flowers which are in season and still in the process of growing make beautiful arrangements. Decorating with potted plants is a good idea as guests can take them home to plant in their own garden or yard. It is not recommended to use flowers which have been cut and are being imported from Central America or South America. These have been grown under adverse conditions to the workers and have been known to harm the environment as well. The bouquets that are being presented to the bride and groom or used for decoration should be free from pesticides as well. As for candles, paraffin varieties are not recommended as they harm the environment. Instead, soy or beeswax candles are a better choice. However, if affordability is a constraint then fragrance-free candles can be selected.
The Wedding Cake
It is a good idea to do away with commercial oven varieties and instead bake one’s own cake. Using fair-trade ingredients also goes a long way in ensuring eco-friendliness. Another option is to contact an organic baker who specializes in creating environmentally-friendly wedding cakes. Choosing a cake free from dairy or gluten is also a good idea.
Wedding Venue
The place chosen for the wedding ceremony needs to be supportive of native suppliers. It should not be too far away as it can add up to transportation of supplies which emits more carbon dioxide into the environment. Choosing local and seasonal food supplies is a good criterion in selecting the destination of the wedding. Arranging for pooled transportation is another way to save on transport and fuel costs. One can travel to the wedding venue on horse or inside a carriage as that too can reduce fuel consumption. Choosing an outdoor location instead of inside a church will leverage more natural lighting instead of electricity.
Honeymoon Venue
Choosing an eco-friendly venue for the honeymoon can be difficult. Good choices would include eco-friendly resorts or spas. In case budget is a constraint then selecting a destination near to the home is a good alternative. This would also save on flying which adds to carbon pollution in the environment. Natural choices like camping trips are a good alternative.
Wedding Favors
Eco-friendly wedding favors like sprouting plants or flowers are a good option. Otherwise if the person intends on gifting fabric or a dress then cotton and hemp remain good choices in terms of materials. Making something on one’s own and gifting these can also work as nice personalized gifts. Items like green tea and other beverages along with home-grown, organic honey represent eco-friendly choices. Seed packets are also growing in popularity as wedding favor ideas as they enable people to grow fresh plants in their backyard. Homemade soaps or candles are another good idea as they use natural ingredients during the preparation which is again eco-friendly.
Throwing Rice
It was traditional for many years to throw rice after the wedding ceremony. But over the years this has grown out of favor due to the rice being harmful to birds. An alternative to ensure eco-friendliness is to throw birdseed. It is a good idea to check with the ceremony venue as many have strict policies.
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