25 Tips for a Greener or Eco-Friendly Wedding

Your wedding or event planner can assist you in making your day special, yet gentle to the environment.

Consider using some of these tips:

1. Simplify. Your wedding will be memorable and enjoyable for everyone
2. Have a Daytime wedding, reducing the need for lighting, thereby savingelectricity.
3. If lighting is necessary, use soy candles. Hang canning jars with candles and reuse the jars later.
4. Have wedding & reception at the same location to save on gasoline usage.
5. Encourage guests to carpool, or use public transportation, where available. Discourage use of Stretch limos, use horse drawn carriages or Hybrid vehicles where available.
6. Use re-cycled paper for invitations, programs & favors.
7. To save paper, encourage electronic responses (email) or telephone RSVP’s.
8. Send electronic Save The Date messages when possible. Use the telephone.
9. To assist guests to stay cool in hot weather, provide hand held fans.
10. Provide umbrellas for sun protection on sunny days, or put up cloth tents.
11. Wear vintage clothing, or clothing made from nature friendly fabrics such as Hemp or Bamboo.
12. Purchase antique wedding sets, or recycle jewelry into new pieces.
13. Toss wild birdseed rather than rice or confetti after the ceremony.
14. Use flower seed embedded paper for a favor. May be left whole or cut into shapes.
15. Give trees, or easy to grow plants as a favor
16. Use environmentally friendly dinnerware and utensils. Products made from corn & wheat are available for disposable utensils, or use washable products.
17. Use home grown flowers or live plants.
18. Use recycled containers for flower arrangements, or use items from nature, such as pinecones for decorating.
19. Don’t use Mylar confetti, it is difficult to remove. If you must use confetti, use paper confetti.
20. Use items from natures, such as leaves, or rocks for place cards. Write guests’ names on the item, or in the case of a pinecone, add a tiny tag with guest’s name.
21. Use fabric linens, and if possible, line dry the laundry. Use colors that don’t require Bleaching.
22. Recycle all recyclables after the wedding reception
23. Serve organic and locally grown food.
24. Compost leftover food from plates.
25. Use safe cleaning products, and leave the wedding & reception site in better condition that it was found. Leave no trash behind.