Wedding Bells
Dec 5th, 2009 by April
Planning a wedding is hard enough, but trying to do so on a budget in an environmentally friendly way complicates things even further. Still, as I plan my wedding, I cannot help but think of all of the potential waste and resolve to avoid as much as I can. Some brides- and grooms-to-be are doing this through:
- E-mail invitations rather than paper ones. They can actually be designed quite beautifully as PDFs, and it is much easier for most people to RSVP through email than to mail back a card.
- Daytime weddings rather than night ones. Getting married in the daytime means plenty of natural light that will make you look more gorgeous in your wedding photos anyway. Extra points if you get married outdoors in a park, for example!
- Green wedding favors instead of traditional ones. This means that you can give your guests seeds, or plant a tree in their name - any number of options.
- Organic, eco-conscious attire, decorations, food… you name it.
There are actually plenty of resources for this on the web, in case anyone is interested:
I would also encourage couples to work with local, eco-friendly companies whenever possible. The Green Bride Guide’s free directory is the largest database of vetted green wedding professionals in North America. Support the local economy and go green!
Hi April,
Paper has only been made out of trees for 125 years. Before that, it was made out of old clothes. Organic cotton and hemp. For like, 2000 years. (for hemp - cotton about 300 years). The Gutenberg and King James bibles were printed on hempen rag paper. I know, I used to catalogue rare books.
Only 3-5% of the paper in the US has recycled content. Only 2 mills in the US make a handsome, 100% PCW paper. One mill almost went bankrupt last year. Most of the fiber Americans recycle curbside, gets shipped to China and India.
There was a fabulous company that grew organic colored cotton in the 1990’s — and paper was made from the trim. They went bankrupt.
A paper invite vs an email is a false choice. Does that mean that if you use a “paper” invite, you are an environmental sinner?
There are amazing companies who have been in the trenches for years, trying to convert papermaking BACK to sustainable practices and change the market. There are amazingly gorgeous papers made from postharvest waste, old clothes and 100% PCW recycled paper. This is a win/win instead of a false choice. Grandma and Aunt and Uncle are thrilled by a totally gorgeous invite — and amazed when they learn it is green. Bratty trendy cousin is miffed that you sent something so stylish and green. Plus, people will be eager and overjoyed to witness your wedding that is so beautiful and so green.
We’ve worked with about 30,000 couples over the past 15 years creating green and DIY weddings.
Best to you in your planning
Helen Driscoll
Invitesite.com
Finding authentic green wedding favors isn’t always easy. Couples can shop with eco-confidence at http://green-wedding.net. Plus, check out the blog for weekly green wedding inspiration. Thanks for sharing!