- Invitations
- Out of town guests
- Transportation
- Ceremony
- Flowers
- Food
- Reception venue
- Wedding party fashions
- Keepsakes for guests
- Wedding website
Ask your stationer about green options including using tree-free, recycled and recyclable paper and vegetable oil based inks.
Calculate the mileage your guests will travel and donate to a clean energy or reforestation project that balances out the environmental impact of your travel.
Have the ceremony and the reception at the same location, eliminating the need for a large group of people to travel from one place to another. If the ceremony must be in a different spot, hire a bus to bring everyone to the reception together.
Consider having your celebration outdoors. The more beautiful the natural environment, the less you'll need to spend on decorations!
Try to use flowers that have been organically, locally grown.
Hire a caterer who specializes in locally grown ingredients. Also ask about regional, organic wines and locally brewed beer.
Ask your reception manager about their green policies. Many venues are up to date on reducing and recycling programs.
Try to choose styles that everyone agrees they'll want to wear again and again. Consider donating your bridal gown to a clothing charity.
Give every guest a tree seedling or a packet of wild flower seeds.
Share your enthusiasm for having a green wedding with family and friends. You'll be encouraging them to go green themselves. Every little bit of knowledge about how to help the environment helps everyone be more active about making a difference.
Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, but visit Get Married for the best wedding planning ideas including real wedding videos, blogs for brides, wedding invitation gallery, wedding dress photos and so much more. Visit Get Married online at http://www.getmarried.com or tune in and watch on Lifetime at 7:30 EST Monday through Friday with your host Colin Cowie and co-host DeAnna Pappas.
