Don't laugh! :Þ
I know it is January but weddings are on the brain for a lot of couples out there planning their nuptials for the next year or so. And, it's freakishly cold outside so I am needing to focus on something green and pretty to get me through....which led me to writing a post on eco friendly wedding ideas! :D
Also, my dear sweet cousin (hi Sonja!) is getting married next year and we were chatting on the phone this weekend about different ideas. Of course me being crunchy granola girl, I quickly got on the topic of an eco friendly wedding and all the super cool things you can do that are also super earth friendly!
So without further ado, here is my little list to help you have an eco friendly wedding!
Eco Friendly Wedding Flowers:
One of the simplest and often most inexpensive ways of going "green" with your flowers is to buy flowers that are grown locally and/or organic - better yet grow them yourself! Locally grown flowers and especially flowers that are native to your area require less fossil fuels to be consumed during transportation which is easier on the earth and also translates to savings for you! Why are organic flowers better? Well, organically grown flowers are earth friendly for the simple fact that no toxic pesticides or herbicides are used while they are growing - that can be said for anything grown organically.
For centerpieces or floral decorations instead of using cut flowers, use potted plants, potted flowers or miniature potted trees. You can create a table centerpiece with multiple potted flowers for example and then at the end of the night they can also be used as a wedding favour.
Don't know where to start looking? Ask your florist about organic flowers and/or locally grown flowers - they should be able to help you out. If in the rare chance they can't, simply searching Google for "eco friendly wedding flowers + your city" should bring up what you need!
Eco Friendly Wedding Favours:
What to do about those wedding favours? So often we have been to weddings only to see wedding favours left at the end of the night, or worse, taken and then not used at all. We were at our cousin's wedding in September and I LOVED the idea of edible treats as wedding favours. There were rice crispy treats all wrapped up, cookies, bars - you name it they were on the table and they were a huge hit! I loved that idea. Eco friendly and affordable! Plus at the end of the night who doesn't want to nibble on something sweet?
Other great ideas are flower seeds in a cute little mini sized paper bag. Fold down the top, glue a large sized dried flower that is also flat (think Gerber daisy etc etc) to the fold and then print your own pretty labels with your names and the date. Easy, eco friendly and again, affordable! :D
You can also use this cute idea to the right! A cute little potted cactus with a little sign that says "love" on one side and your names and date on the other side.
There is also those cute little mini terra cotta pots. Fill the pots with seeds and a bit of soil, wrap in a lightweight organic cotton fabric and tie a ribbon around the top to close it up.
The Venue(s):
Renting out a church, a synagogue or other indoor space creates the need for mass amounts of electricity. Consider talking to your officiant about having the ceremony outdoors.
Outdoor weddings are beautiful (think of all the 'free' decorations you get just from the surrounding nature!) as well as eco friendly in that they won't use up the mass amounts of electricity like an indoor service and reception will. It is often less expensive to find a beautiful outdoor space and rent some of those big white party tents and decorate yourself than it is to rent an entire indoor reception space.
Skip The Confetti!
Feed the birds! Don't throw paper confetti! The tradition of throwing rice at the happy couple after the ceremony and/or reception has been around for a long, long time - think back to Egyptian or Roman times! Throwing rice or confetti is meant to offer the new bride and groom a lifetime of abundance, prosperity and fertility.
You have probably heard that throwing rice hurts the sweet little birds that swoop down afterwards and gobble it all up. This is not true. Not at all.
Skip the confetti for the simple fact that it is a massive waste of paper. If you want to throw "good luck" to the newlyweds opt for locally harvested birdseed instead. Rice is fine, but it is often imported and we are trying to keep our carbon footprint low, right? :o)
If you don't believe me on the rice not hurting our feathered friends, click over to our friends at
Urban Legends, they explain it all in great detail!
We can't forget the rings now can we? ;o)
All that glitters isn't gold it seems.
Do you know where your gold comes from? Do you know how it is mined and how that mining impacts the environment? No?
"A gift of gold often symbolizes love, commitment, romance, and friendship. Yet, gold mining is one of the most destructive activities in the world, and has been linked to grievous environmental, social justice, and human rights violations."
You really must go there and read. It's a fabulous website that really lays out the not so sparkling side of the gold mining industry.
Then there are the diamonds. We can't forget the diamonds - a mainstay of the engagement and wedding tradition in our culture.
Again, I ask, "Do you know where your diamonds come from?"
Most diamonds on the market are also often referred to as
"Blood Diamonds". They are referred to this way not only because of the torturous slave labour practices that are often employed while mining for those diamonds, but also because the sale and profit from those diamonds goes to fund horrific civil wars in many African countries.
(You can read more about blood diamonds here at the United Nations website.)
I know, I know, we are talking about your amazing wedding coming up and this topic on dirty gold and blood diamonds is totally a downer. But it doesn't have to be. Use this information to arm yourself.
Be informed. All decisions you make have an impact one way or another, especially your purchasing decisions. Vote with your dollar. Choose ethically mined diamonds and gold (or platinum, silver etc whatever it is you choose) if that is what you want for your jewellery. Again, this is where Google is your friend. If you Google "green gold" or "where to buy ethical diamonds" or "ethical wedding rings" you will be pointed in the right direction!
Are you planning a wedding? Have you found other eco friendly ideas that I haven't listed? Feel free to share!
With love and light ♥,
