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Making your wedding greener

When gearing up for the big day, start by taking location into consideration. Having an outdoor wedding saves on energy consumption and also provides a picturesque backdrop to any ceremony and reception. Rent a tent and party outside at a park, in your backyard, or at an old mansion.

     

If an inside event is preferred, why not consider having the ceremony and reception at the same location? This saves on travel, cutting down on gas emissions, and also saves on energy usage by only utilizing one venue instead of many. Try to find a hotel that runs on a green business model. Greenhotels.com is a great place to start looking for eco-friendly places and includes locations in Maryland, such as the Inn and Conference Center at UMUC.

 

If the ceremony is at a separate location from the reception, try renting eco-friendly transportation, such as a hybrid or low-emissions vehicle or even a horse and carriage (depending on distance, of course).

  

When selecting decor for both the ceremony and reception, opt for all-natural and organic products since the processes used to make and grow these things are safer and better for the environment. Use soy or beeswax candles during the ceremony and in the centerpieces at the reception and throw biodegradable confetti when leaving the church. Instead of purchasing disposable cameras, ask guests to upload their digital photos to a shared online photo group, such as Snapfish or Shutterfly . Give out favors that will help the Earth and/or are useable by the guests - organic chocolates, seed packets, potted flowers, naturals soaps - or forget the favors all together and make a charitable donation instead.

  

Pick foods and flowers that are locally grown. This cuts down on travel and these growers tend to use no pesticides. Plus you will also be supporting the local economy, which does not hurt these days. Take floral arrangements to the reception and use them as decor there as well, or talk with another bride whose ceremony may be before or after yours and see if they would be interested in sharing arrangements. This would mean having to agree completely with someone else but would save both brides some money while getting some extra mileage out of the arrangements.  When done using the floral arrangements, consider giving them to a funeral home or a retirement home. To help another good cause, make arrangements to donate any leftover food to a food bank once the reception is over. You'll be giving something healthy to those who need it and also not wasting good food.

 

Do some more good and register with the I Do Foundation. The I Do Foundation donates a monetary percent of the gifts purchased to the charity of your choice. Another registry option is to create an eco-friendly registry - companies that specialize in eco-friendly household items. (For some examples, visit Brides.com's registry list)

 

What a better way to bring your green wedding together then going green with the invitations. Find invitations made of recycled, tree-free, or handmade papers. These are not only environmentally friendly, but they offer a unique presentation and an inside peek at what guests can expect on the big day.

 

Simple little steps can help save the planet even if saving the world is not on your daily schedule. Check out The Green Bride Guide for more tips and ideas to make your wedding green.