Are you planning a green wedding, or looking to incorporate a few green ideas on your big day? There are many ways you can do this according to Amanda Montgomery from Toronto’s Grassroots Environmental Products, a store dedicated exclusively to selling environmentally friendly products. Montgomery is a bride-to-be and her wedding is going to be an eco-friendly affair from the ceremony to the last dance. It was an obvious choice for Montgomery as she and her fiancé are staunch advocates of the environment. Read on to find out how they are making their celebration the most eco-friendly affair possible.
1. The Dress
“I couldn’t find many dresses that were both eco-friendly and pretty,” Montgomery says. “So to get a gown that I love, I’ve purchased some organic cotton and am having it custom-designed.”
Some of her tips for getting the eco-friendly dress of your dreams:
• Browse for other organic fabrics like silk and linen. Check out Pickering International (pickhemp.com), an eco-fabric supplier of hemp, organic cotton and soybean and bamboo fibres.
• Put the term reuse, reduce and recycle into action by looking at second-hand wedding dresses. Or fulfill that “something old” component of your wedding by wearing your mother’s wedding gown.
Did you know?
Conventionally grown cotton crops in the United States are dusted with over 20-million pounds of chemicals each year. Those chemicals contaminate soil and ground water and pose long-term health problems for farmers and the general public.
*Source: homansportswear.com
2. The Flowers
“We’re using organic flowers for all of our bouquets and centrepieces,” Montgomery reports. “We’re getting the bouquets from a local producer, but all other flowers will be harvested from my mother’s summer garden.” Some tips for eco-friendly flowers:
• When it comes to choosing flowers, go for flowers that are both organic and in season. If you’re not sure whether the flowers you’re using are organic or not, ask your florist.
• Consider saving some of the world’s flower crops by using something other than flowers for your centrepieces. Candles, antique lanterns and fish bowls are just a few interesting ideas. Get creative!
Did you know?
The average cut flower sold in America is sprayed dozens of times with chemical fungicides, chemical pesticides, growth hormones, growth regulators and chemical fertilizers.
*Source: californiaorganicflowers.com
3. The Invitations
“We wanted to be mindful of the paper that we used for our invitations,” Montgomery explains. “So to save time and paper, we created an email account where guests can RSVP via email.”
More ways you can save the planet:
• Follow Montgomery’s plan and send out all your save-the-dates, invitations, and thank-you cards via email. You can still send out pretty designs with the help of digital designers.
• Choose places that use eco-friendly papers and envelopes.
• Be a do-it-yourself bride and create your own invites using handmade papers.
Did you know?
The average American uses almost 700 pounds of paper every year. Much of that paper has been processed with chlorine bleach, making it non-recyclable and, even worse, totally toxic for the environment.
* Source: Eco-Chic Weddings by Emily Elizabeth Anderson (Heatherleigh Press, 2007).
4. The Catering
“For our menu, my fiancé and I decided to hire a catering company that specialized in vegetarian dishes,” Montgomery shares. Some other cool ideas for your food:
•Plan your reception meal according to food that is in season.
• Weddings generally have enormous amounts of leftovers. Instead of throwing all that food away, have takeout boxes readily available for guests. Or, ensure that the food is donated to a shelter.
• Don’t forget the sweets! Try serving organic cake, coffee and tea, they’re better for the environment and taste just as delicious.
Did you know?
An average dinner travels 3,885 kilometres (1,500 miles), using energy and packaging that will ultimately go into landfills. If you buy your food from local farmers, not only will you reduce energy consumption and potential packaging waste, but your dollars will also stay within your community and strengthen the local economy.
* Source: Eco-Chic Weddings
5. The Venue
“We wanted an outdoor wedding so we chose to have our reception on a farm,” Montgomery says. “Since the location is a bit north of the city, my fiancé and I decided to purchase carbon offsets (the process by which certain companies are paid to offset carbon dioxide emissions by planting trees which will sequester the carbon as those trees grow into forests) for our guests.”
• Whether your venue is near or far, encourage your friends and family to carpool in order to eliminate pollution.
• Find venues that are already gorgeous, that way you don’t have to spend more money on decorations. Gardens, vineyards and historical buildings make for great and unique places to host your ceremony and reception.
• Find out if the venue you’ve chosen supports green ideas in any way, whether it’s through their menu or their decorations.
Did you know?
Your vehicle will pollute less if you drive at moderate speeds, avoid sudden starts and stops, don’t top up the fuel tank, refuel after dark and avoid driving on hot days.
* Source: vivacommute.com
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Posted by Karah on August 5, 2010 at 1:43 p.m.
We're hosting an eco-friendly wedding at our home, so we can make the most of the natural beauty of our garden and not have to move people between venues.
Our invitations were made of plantable paper and put in re-used flower containers. We used a wedding site for the RSVP's.
My wedding dress is from a friend's bridal consignment boutique, which worked out well for the theme and the budget!
We're hoping to get flowers left over from weddings held just before ours, and give them a second chance in the spotlight. Otherwise, we're using flowers from our own garden, as well as locally-grown, seasonal flowers.
We've also asked guests to wrap our gifts in eco-friendly materials, such as fabric, re-usable bags, newspaper or not wrapped at all. At our shower, some of the gifts were cleverly wrapped in tea towels or shammies.
We're using bamboo plates, Aspenware utensils and compostable cups. Everything can then be put directly in the green bin, rather than need to be washed or thrown in land-fill.
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