Green Ideas
I promised to inspire you… hopefully you can find an idea here that you can use. Going green for your wedding could be as simple as sourcing locally. Sometimes this can be difficult, just remember that its not about being eco-perfect – every small change is going to make a difference.
Invitations - this goes a little against etiquette, but, you could deliver your invitations by hand to as many guests as possible. Not only will it cut down on emissions, it will save you on postage costs as well. Engage a supplier that uses recycled or tree-free paper. They may even use eco-friendly embellishments – we do!
Dress - got the perfect dress in mind? Consider something unique - there are a number of businesses out there that can supply organic cotton, hemp or hemp/silk blends of fabric for your dress. Alternatively, buy a vintage or pre-loved dress and have it altered to the latest trends. Someone in your family may have a dress that can be altered. Visit Eco Girl - they have a beautiful range of organic bridesmaids dresses and lingerie.
Veil - need something old? Borrow your mother or grandmother’s dress or veil and have that altered to your own style. Or forgo the traditional veil and use a fascinator or flowers.
Venue - book a church or venue that is close to home… maybe you and your bridal party could walk there! You could choose a venue that will benefit from your celebration – such as a museum or art gallery. Ask them how your fee for using their facility will be utilised.
Reception - in that same spirit, choose a reception venue that is close to where your ceremony will take place to save guests travelling. Or, use the reception venue’s garden to take your vows in. Perhaps you could find a venue that is carbon neutral. Check out Red Scooter.
Menu – choose a vegetarian menu. But if you’re worried about Uncle Joe complaining there is no ‘real food’, provide a vegetarian alternative on the menu. Ask your caterer to source local organic produce. Not only will this ensure your menu is fresh, it will also boost small business economy in the area and will help them be recognised by the community. It will also save a lot on emissions from having those truffles imported!
Beverage - even your wine and other alcoholic beverages can be organic and locally produced.
Beauty - choose a make-up artist who uses natural products. Start a skin care regime free from chemicals. TIP - for all make-up, natural or otherwise, start using new products a couple of months before the wedding to ensure the make-up won’t retaliate with your skin. Also, book in a trial make-up session several weeks before the event. You can even use natural hair products. There are some hairdressers who offer a more natural approach - see 6degreesark.
Radiance – write yourself a plan to promote health, fitness and happiness. Drink plenty of water, sleep well and choose your foods wisely. If you are becoming stressed from the wedding planning, consider hiring a wedding coordinator. This can not only save you a lot of stress, but also a lot of time. Being stressed on your wedding day will not help you glow! Remember to embark slowly on any new exercise plan. Your plan is also important to continue after your wedding.
Rings - your wedding jewellery is a personal reflection of your style and your beliefs. It is also the symbolic reference to your commitment to one another. Gold and diamond mining issues are being brought to the forefront again. Try to find a reputable jeweller who can certify the origins of your bling, ensuring they are ethically traded and conflict free. Another avenue is a family heirloom or vintage ring that can be remodelled to suit. There are many jewellers around that stock antique jewellery.
Tableware – the decorative centrepieces for your tables can also be eco-friendly. Try using gorgeous locally grown fruits or native plants as centrepieces. You could use decorative bowls made out of recycled glass. You could even use potted flowers, plants or even small trees or standards that can be taken back to your home and used after the wedding. These potted plants would make wonderful gifts for family or friends who gave extra support on the day.
Romance - candlelight is romantic, beautiful and energy saving. Beeswax candles make beautiful focal points for tables and they have a wonderfully sweet aroma. Make sure the candles you use are not blended with paraffin; you need to ensure they are 100% beeswax (some companies leave this information to the fine print, so beware imitations). Coming soon to A Green Event - see our products page for information on beeswax candles and the benefits of using them.
Gifts - set up a gift registry with a supplier of eco-friendly household goods. If you’ve been independent for a while and don’t really need anything material or if you don’t fancy a collection of two toasters and three woks (like I received!), consider setting up a donation fund for a charity for your guests to put money into. There are some incredible sites for charities on the internet. A number of brides today set up a Wishing Well – somewhere guests can give money to the couple to put towards something the couple needs, such as the Honeymoon.
Carbon Neutral - some couples go completely carbon neutral. You can calculate the total carbon footprint of your event and then purchase carbon credits through a variety of suppliers. If that might be out of your budget, perhaps make a donation to a tree planting organisation to help offset some emissions, see Tress For Life.
Cake - ask your cake maker to use organic produce in your cake. Or look for a baker that specialises in using local organic ingredients.
Photography – consider digital photography. This is a great way to save on nasty chemicals, as you only need to print the photos you like. Emailing photos is also a great way to share your day with friends or others that couldn’t make it to your celebration, see Skopestudios. There are also a few photographers around that are now using less chemicals in their production.
Honeymoon – we know that the honeymoon in some people’s lives is the one opportunity for overseas travel. We all dream of exotic destinations and romantic island getaways. Well consider flying with an airline that will allow you to offset carbon credits. Or have the trip calculated by a carbon credit company and then offset it through them. Look around for hotels and resorts that use local produce on their menus or have other eco-friendly promotions. There are also some beautiful spa resorts or rainforest getaways.
Flowers – okay, the flowers are a BIG part of your day. You want them to look beautiful and eye-catching. In some respects, the floral displays are what define your style of wedding. It’s understandable that you might not want to give up your bouquet, but perhaps the bridesmaids could wear corsages on their wrists, carry fans, or delicate silk purses. If you are having a garden wedding, perhaps they could carry parasols. Take into consideration the time of year and what is in season locally when choosing your flowers. Contact your florist and ask them if they could include herbs or berries in your arrangements. You could also ask them about pesticide free, organic flowers. Another idea is to look into silk flowers, the best thing is that they will last forever and can be used for anniversaries and other special occasions.
Favours – it is a tradition to leave each guest a small gift at their table. If you love tradition, then this is just another opportunity to put a unique spin on your wedding. Here is a quick list of greener ideas; handmade organic chocolates, small packs of fair traded ground coffee, handmade soaps, soy or beeswax candles, bags of flower seeds or seedlings. If you want to forgo tradition but still give back to the environment, you could purchase carbon credits for the wedding and display certificates on the tables – maybe leaving each guest a personalised note (on tree-free paper which we will be happy to supply of course!) giving an explanation.
Transport – where your wedding is taking place can play a role in determining mode of transport. If the venue is close by, you could walk (an excuse to show off your gorgeous dress!). But there are many other forms of transport, tandem bikes, rickshaws, horse-drawn carriages or hybrid cars. You could ask your guests to car pool or arrange a bus for them (particularly good if you have your heart set on a winery or bush setting that is far from home).
If you have any other ideas, please email us for inclusion on our site.