If you’re the type of girl who likes to save the world one tree at a time, you’re probably very interested in how you can plan a wedding that’s both beautiful and mindful of the environment. As the need for earth-friendly nuptials increases on a yearly basis, more and more vendors are making sure that they offer a diverse selection of elegant options that take Mother Earth into consideration. Before you start getting too excited, note that saving the world isn’t always the cost-effective route. In fact, the price of biodegradable party favors and invitations can be almost twice the price of the more wasteful counterpart.
If you have your heart set on healing the world as you say your wedding vows but don’t have a large budget to work with, there are ways in which you can cut costs and still afford the earth-friendly products you want. The wedding guest list is a great place to start; each invited guest easily accounts for $100 apiece. Imagine - taking off 50 or so guests could reduce your costs by $5,000! This will not only cut down on the amount of emissions expended in order to get to your wedding, but you’ll have more money to work with and less waste overall.
After trimming the guest list to an appropriate size, next comes finding the ideal eco-friendly reception and ceremony venue. It only makes sense to schedule the event for early morning or afternoon so that you can use as little as electricity as possible. If you must have a night-time affair, opt for soy candles rather than wax, which you can use to generate a romantic ambience. You can also help reduce paper waste by printing the invitations and wedding programs on recycled paper. There are many shops which can print on paper that contains wildflower seeds which can then be replanted in the ground. Another tree-saving option is sending out wedding emails. These will help you save at least a dozen trees, not to mention they don’t cost you a thing! You can notify all of your guests at the click of a button and receive responses immediately.
If you’re adamant about keeping the wedding eco-friendly right down to the shoes, a great idea is to recycle your mother’s wedding gown or buy one in a vintage dress shop. There are dresses out there made from natural fibers which would suit a classic occasion, but finding one could be a tedious and frustrating undertaking. If the only thing you can manage to find is plain in style, consider taking it to a seamstress for some aesthetic alteration.
Most importantly, make sure that all of the flowers you purchase for the wedding are grown locally and in organic gardens. Your best bet is to choose flowers which are in season in your local area. This will save on airplane emissions from having florals transported to you across country. Instead of having vase centerpieces, opt for potted plants that you can keep well after the wedding has passed.