Green Weddings? I Do

It’s June, and you know what that means – weddings.

Who can resist all that being a June bride, or groom, has to offer? Gorgeous weather, beautiful backdrops, balmy evenings. With all of the glamor and romance, sometimes it’s easy to overlook the fact that weddings can be the most ecologically unfriendly events on the planet. Paper invitations, cut flowers, hordes of guests traveling by plane and car, thousand-dollar dresses worn once in a lifetime. Wasteful extravagance, right?

Well, yes and no. You don’t need to sacrifice style and luxury to be eco-friendly. One business that proves this time and time again is Colorado Green Weddings and Events. Daphne Webb, Colorado Green Weddings and Events’ green wedding planner says, “We use an ‘organic’ planning process. Clients tell us their visions, and we recreate their visions sustainably.

So how does one put on an eco-friendly wedding? The same rules for green living in general apply: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

“We never buy more than what’s needed,” says Webb. “Pre-planning and making conscious choices help
dictate this practice.”

For example, one major way Webb reduces waste, emissions and gas usage for that matter, is to encourage her clients to consider having their wedding and reception in one place. Of course this doesn’t help reduce emissions created by wedding guests who need to fly into the area; however, it does cut down on local transporting. If the bride and groom are serious about cutting emissions, they can encourage out-of-town guests to buy carbon offsets to remedy the situation.

Another way the bride and groom can reduce their carbon footprint is by way of wedding websites and invitations printed on recycled paper. Obviously the most ideal of these two scenarios is a wedding website, as no paper is used at all. Websites can also provide more information for guests, with RSVP links, detailed directions and interactive maps, carpooling information, event schedules and even stories about how the couple met. Many wedding websites even provide a guest book, through which guests can leave messages for the bride and groom.

When it comes to catered food at wedding receptions these days, the sky is the limit. Couples can choose anything from served plates, to buffet style dining, to candy stands and chocolate fountains. But one choice that couples wanting to be green should seriously consider: buying local. “We love to work with caterers who buy their food from local producers. We even encourage our clients to purchase local organic wines,” says Webb.

Now here’s the touchy part: the gown. Every bride dreams of a glorious white dress with yards of flowing fabric and oodles of intricate bead work. But who says you can’t find this same dreamy dress in a second-hand store? Or on eBay? Or maybe it’s as simple as visiting your mom’s
attic and taking a look at her wedding dress.

By choosing to wear a pre-worn gown, you’re saving energy and emissions created from both producing a brand new gown and transporting it to a vendor. The same goes for the groom. Instead of wasting a lot of cash and energy on a brand new suit, why not opt to rent one for the day? Encourage your groomsmen to do the same. Also, if your suit or dress needs to be cleaned, consider taking it to an environmentally-friendly dry cleaner who utilizes non-toxic cleaning solutions.

With all of these eco-friendly tips and ideas for throwing a green wedding, one might wonder what’s the most important thing to remember? “Green is synonymous with choice,” says Webb. “It’s important for the bride and groom to feel good about their decisions. If you can’t do everything at once, that’s totally fine. Picking and choosing how to be green is ok.” This is sound advice, especially considering all the stress and anxiety couples usually experience while planning a wedding. As much as we’d like to be, everyone can’t be a “green superhero.” Do what you can. Even the small steps make a huge difference.
~ Erin Behrenhausen