June 19th, 2008

Planning a Green Wedding or Family Reunion

Posted by Jessica Jensen

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It’s wedding season — and also family reunion season– so we thought we’d share some insights on how to make your Big Event a Big Green Success! 

Location

To limit the carbon footprint of your event, you’ll want to have it as close to the majority of attendees as possible. It may well be very romantic to have your wedding in Southern Mexico, but just think of all of your guests flying there and the resultant carbon emissions!  Keeping it close to home will really lower the footprint (and the cost!).

And have the event out-of-doors if at all possible.  Fresh air and sunshine always make an event more fun. Maybe you can find a wonderful park or a community garden and contribute to the non-profit that runs it? 

Green Event Planners

If the whole process seems a bit over-whelming, there are now many green event planners available to take the eco-worries off your mind. In the San Francisco Bay Area, ZahZoom Weddings & Parties will help you make your dream green event a reality. Angelique Events in Los Angeles will plan a spectacular, sustainable event for you. Lyndsey Hamilton Events plans eco-friendly weddings and events in New York and New England.

Invitations

Do you really need to use paper invitations? They are expensive for you, likely to get lost or tossed by your guests, and cause more trees to die in vain for the production of paper!  A pretty email works just great, or you can use Evite and make up a snazzy invitation, and track RSVPs online.  Here’s an eco-snap to that!

Food and Beverage Choices

As with location, local is best. Try to either buy local, organic foods from farmers near you, or work with a caterer who can handle this process for you. Here’s an article with wonderful green catering resources all across the United States.  Or you can refer to Local Harvest’s list of organic restaurants, or our very own organic restaurant directory here at Low Impact Living.  Check ‘em out!

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle the Mess

Try to eliminate disposable plates and cutlery from your plans. Either rent the real stuff (ceramics, metal) that can be washed and used again, or get recycled and/or compostable plates and dishes.

And make sure to have plenty of recycling bins for beer bottles, soda cans, etc.  One bin never seems to be enough!

Rings

If it’s a wedding you’re planning, consider using a family ring, or purchasing a vintage piece.  Remember in the world of green, reusing something old is always more eco-friendly than buying something new. Maybe your family has some old gold jewelry that are not being used anymore? You can have them melted down and turned into a new treasure. And the variety and quality of vintage jewelry is mind-boggling. 

If new is your thing, check out the ring selection from Brilliant Earth, which makes jewelry from sustainably sourced gold and gems.  There are several other eco-minded jewelers that have caught our fancy. Give them a look!

Dresses

If you need a wedding dress, may we suggest you use a pre-loved, vintage dress? It’s the most sustainable way to go and you will save a LOT of money.  Learn more about sources of vintage fashion here.

But if a new dress is what you fancy, definitely go with an eco-friendly designer. We love the work of Morgan Boszilkov and the Natural Bridal Collection, which is a new line of eco-friendly designer wedding gowns. All of her designs are hand-crafted in the U.S. and 5% of profits are donated to environmental causes. Her designs are elegant, beautiful, luxurious and Green!

Gifts or Favors

We personally think favors are unnecessary and will get tossed like most paper invitations, but if you want to do favors, how about seed packets?  It’s a great way to spread a love of nature.  Or how about making a donation on everyone’s behalf to a wonderful environmental non-profit like The Nature Conservancy or the Natural Resources Defense Council? Now that’s a great way to spend some money and have an impact!

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