|
Why
Choose a Green Wedding
Guide to a Growing Trend: The "Green" or Ecological
Wedding
By Blake Kritzberg
Does
it seem like the phrases "ecology" and "wedding"
could hardly have less in common?
With
the average wedding costing well over 15 thousand today, one would
think so. And yet, the "green" or ecologically-friendly
wedding is gaining momentum across the nation.
Lower
impact and a smaller environmental footprint doesn't mean austere.
The green wedding can be hauntingly romantic, with its outdoor
setting, its focus on living plants, and its more casual gown
(often made of hemp) that brings to mind fairies from ages past.
Even
the ecology bride herself forms a contrast with more conventional
weddings. Even on her big day, her fresh face couldn't be farther
from the heavily made-up cover girls of bridal magazines.
When
it comes to more functional aspects, the green wedding has three
main goals:
Do
no harm,
Patronize
earth-friendly vendors, and
Reuse/recycle.
1)
Do No Harm
The
green bride tries to avoid products or activities that could compromise
the environment. For this reason, butterfly releases are rare
(vendors aren't always careful to ship butterflies only to appropriate,
native environments). Similarly, she steers clear of beeswax candles,
Styrofoam or soft plastics at the reception, and substitute's
reusable glass and porcelain. (Brides are often surprised to discover
the caterer may not charge much more for this service.)
Many
green bridal couples are vegetarian or vegan. In metropolitan
or college-town communities, this provides a great excuse to serve
dazzling ethnic foods at a reasonable cost.
Many
environmentalists respect hemp because unlike cotton, it can be
grown without pesticides and return most of its nutrients to the
soil. When the green bride buys a new gown for her ceremony, she
often looks to fabrics made of hemp. Surprisingly flexible, hemp
can go up market ("hemp satin") or relaxed (cottony
separates that can be worn after the wedding).
2)
Patronize Earth-Friendly Vendors
Flower
petals in paper cones are environmentally friendlier than bubble
solution in plastic containers, and require minimal clean-up.
The trick is finding petal suppliers that don't use pesticides.
These growers are more popular in the U.K. than the U.S.
Green
brides might also distribute harm-free favors, such as sachets
made of pesticide-free herbs, live flowers, tree seedlings, or
small packets of organic tea. In fact, some brides register at
charitable organizations instead of department stores, and contribute
to environmentally-active organizations instead of handing out
favors.
3)
Reuse, Recycle
Even
the most traditional wedding brings opportunities for reuse/recycling.
For example, leftovers from the reception can be delivered to
food banks, and flowers dropped off at hospitals or rest homes.
The green bride often takes this a step further and chooses recycled
paper for invitations and Save-the-Date cards, for example. She
might also re-use a wedding gown (her mother's ideally, or failing
that, one from a thrift or vintage store). Otherwise, she might
opt for a new gown that isn't too formal so she can wear it after
the ceremony. Separates are perfect -- a lovely lace top goes
great with her favorite pair of jeans!
Just
as at the grocery store, eco-friendly doesn't necessarily mean
cheaper. Ecology brides are sometimes surprised to discover their
weddings cost 10K, 20K and up, just like those of their more traditional
sisters.
Still,
when she looks back on a wedding that opted for more "nature,"
less formality, and less conspicuous consumption, the green bride
might find it was time well spent - and maybe even hope that a
guest or two was inspired to follow in her footsteps.
About
The Author
Blake
Kritzberg is the proprietor of: http://www.favorideas.com.
Visit the site for easy, elegant, unusual, and affordable wedding
favor ideas, wedding favor FAQ, and free wedding screensaver.
Learn
more about "green weddings" now at:
http://www.favorideas.com/wedding-favor-green-ecological.htm
Article
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
|
My
Shopping Cart
