‘Wedding’, one would obviously state that it is an extremely personal and private affair where the couple is ideally the centre of attraction. However there are sometimes when the décor and other embellishments overshadow the couple. So in order to get some more comments and add that extra uniqueness, we’d suggest you go for a Green Wedding.

Something like growing flowers, planting small hers and equivalent stuff and then giving them away as your wedding favors could be really great, you make yourself unique and also in this way you’ll help the environment.

You could do many things just by planning it in a green lovely way. Get your wedding cards, printed on recycled paper and also use vegetarian ink only for the printer. Next, you can just send out email invitations and track them if they’ll be attending. You could also opt for making your wedding gown from organic raw materials like gossamer silk, merged with hemp. These are 100% eco friendly fabrics and hence will show your commitment toward having a greener and better world.

You could also arrange for organic food as well as flowers when you decide to make your wedding go on the green way.

Sure, green weddings are all the rage, but the key is to make yours more than a trendy buzzword. It’s easy enough to find recycled wedding invitations and serve organic cuisine, but you’ll need to go the extra mile to make your wedding stand apart from the rest of the band wagon green weddings. Here are some tips to get you started:

Getting Started – Things To Consider:

Simplify – the overarching theme should be simplification. There are eco-friendly versions of most wedding products, but the best option is to forego the items altogether. Reuse wherever possible – and save not only resources, but cash too.

Weigh the expenses – that said, some items you just can’t live without, and usually the natural, organic, or green version is more expensive than the original. You’ll need to factor this into your wedding budget.

Patronize – many new companies have entered the growing green weddings market. Before booking your vendors, check out businesses that claim to provide green services and see if they really do.

Inform – one green turn deserves another. Let your guests know the steps you’ve taken to plan your green wedding, and show them that an elegant event doesn’t have to be harmful to the environment.

All In The Details – Ideas:

Stationery & Invitations

Recycle – use recycled paper or paper made from alternative fiber – such as hemp or bamboo. Check out these resources for an array of custom, recycled papers: Custompaper.com or JamPaper.com.

Splurge on calligraphy – calligraphy may cost more, but it saves inks, toners, solvents and chemicals involved in printing.

Condense – save trees by minimizing inserts and other paper products. Always print on front and back and try to fit it all on one sheet.

Go completely green – send all correspondence via email. The etiquette gods may swoon – but electronic mailings are the most earth friendly way to go.

The Location

Rent for a cause – find a venue that will benefit from your site rental fee – such as a museum, gallery or other cultural organization.

Go outside – a beach, the woods, gardens – they all make an ideal setting for a green wedding (just be sure to leave it as you found it).

Find a green venue – some venues are demonstrating a commitment to saving water and energy, reducing waste, and serving locally grown/organic menus. Check out these resources for green minded venues: Green Hotels Association or Green Seal

Decor Elements

Use candlelight – not only are candles energy efficient, they also create a soft romantic glow for an elegant reception.

Use bamboo – one of the most sustainable materials on earth, bamboo is an earth friendly décor option with an organic, modern feel. Use bamboo stalks for centerpieces or other décor elements.

Flowers

Think double duty – invite your ceremony arrangements to the reception! You can use them to decorate your cake or gift table – you’ll waste less and save money doing it.

Buy organic, locally grown blooms – organic flowers are grown in an environmentally friendly way, without pesticides. Getting locally grown ones will save the fuel burned from transporting the flowers. If you can’t find a local florist who can provide organic blooms, visit OrganicBouquet.com

Conserve cut flowers – using cut flowers just once is a waste. See if you can share yours with another wedding party taking place on the same day.

Skip cut flowers altogether – top your tables with potted arrangements for guests to take and plant in their yards after the wedding.

Attire

Go secondhand – a used gown reduces fuels used in creating a new one.

Get green fibers – natural fibers like silk and organic cotton are better for the environment than synthetic

Go couture – if your wallet can afford it, couture gowns are usually made from natural fabrics.

Donate – provide a green gown decision for another bride when you give or sell yours after the wedding.

The Menu

Think organic – ensure that you, your guests and the workers won’t be exposed to pesticides. Many caterers specialize in organic foods; however, almost any caterer can provide an organic menu if you ask them.

Think local – if you’re concerned about the cost involved in a completely organic menu, go local instead. Serving locally grown food eliminates fuel reliance and supports local farmers. Check out Localharvest.org or Localfoodworks.org to find farmers markets, farms and other sources of local food.

Reuse utensils – find a caterer who recycles materials and or uses linen and china instead of disposables.

Donate the leftovers – work with your caterer to send leftovers to a food shelter or other organization.

Related Post:Green Weddings Tips – 5 Ideas For the Eco-Chic Bride

What could make your big day even more special, beautiful and memorable? Showing that you’re stylish, eco-friendly and hip with these five tips for a fabulous green wedding.

1. Create inspired arrangements of cacti and succulents instead of using cut flowers.

Does the world really need another bridal bouquet of roses and peonies? We think not! Especially since eighty percent of cut flowers are imported all the way from South America, where they’re grown with harmful pesticides. Cacti and succulent arrangements are a unique, stylish, and eco-friendly alternative. If you’re DIY-inclined, you can create your own succulent centerpieces weeks before the wedding – they require minimal care and watering. And afterwards, you can replant them in your garden, where they’ll take root and grow alongside the marriage. Aw!

2. Serve delicious local, organic, sustainable foods.

Organic/sustainable food isn’t just good for the Earth – it actually tastes better too! Treat your guests to real foods that are healthy, pesticide-free and locally grown. Search online for a caterer who offers organic menu options. If you don’t find one in your area, get creative: We know one Massachusetts bride who convinced four different vendors from her local farmer’s market to cater her wedding with fresh salads and veggie dishes, locally raised roasted chicken, farm-fresh fruits and home-baked pies! Even if you don’t go totally organic, limit the number of meat items on your menu, and choose sustainably farmed, low-mercury fish and seafood.

3. Have a super-sweet hometown wedding.

The number one cause of gargantuan carbon footprints for weddings? Travel! Whether your guests arrive by car or by plane, the miles they rack up en route to your big day can add up quickly. A typical destination wedding causes 50 tons of carbon dioxide (eek!) to be emitted into the atmosphere. Choosing an event location near where most of your guests live will help cut down on their travel. And you can reduce your impact even further by buying carbon offsets to create a zero carbon wedding. Who says you need an exotic locale to make your dream day special? Create a stylish hometown wedding that incorporates unique elements from you or your fiancee’s childhood.

4. Choose a vintage engagement ring and post-consumer gold wedding bands.

There is already enough gold in the world to satisfy the demands of the jewelry industry for the next 50 years. Meanwhile, both gold and diamond mining (even of “conflict-free” diamonds) continue to poison the environment and global water supply with waste and toxins like cyanide and mercury. You can be part of the “elegant solution” by choosing a vintage engagement ring. Vintage and used engagement rings are often priced more reasonably than the new rings sold in retail stores, and come in a dazzling array of styles. And when it comes time to choose wedding bands, look for rings made from post-consumer white, yellow and rose gold.

5. Buy a gently used wedding dress, recycled bridesmaids dresses, or preowned bridal shoes.

The secondary market for wedding items is booming! Smart brides who don’t want to sacrifice style and luxury are finding gently used wedding dresses online for half their retail price. And wedding recycling doesn’t just save you money – it also reduces your wedding’s environmental impact. By buying gently used wedding items, you’ll avoid the consumption of natural resources and carbon emissions associated with the manufacture and transport of new items. And you can even sell your used wedding dress, bridesmaids dresses and accessories again after the wedding!

Related Post:
How to Plan a Green Wedding – Real Tips Beyond the Fad
How To Head For A Green Wedding?