Today, many brides consider the environment while they plan their wedding ceremonies and receptions. Avoiding waste , ordering planet-friendly supplies, and conserving energy at a grand celebration can be tricky, but it’s not impossible. In fact, planning a “green” wedding can be a wonderful experiment that most guests will really appreciate. There are plenty of ways to ensure that your wedding is as environmentally-conscious as it can be; here are some excellent tips to help you get started:
Choose A Local, Sustainable Menu
Supporting local farmers and local businesses can be an excellent starting point when planning a planet-friendly wedding. After all, so much fuel, energy and packaging is wasted when food products are imported. Choosing local, sustainable ingredients is a perfect way to support your community and protect the environment. Look for fresh produce in season, and choose a menu that celebrates the hard work of local farmers.
Buying food products grown in your locality can be a great way of making sure that everything served at your wedding is as fresh as it can possibly be. While certain types of food, such as wild-farmed salmon, organic beef and chicken, and organic fruits and veggies can cost more, they are free of harmful pesticides, hormones, and other nasty additives. Your guests will taste the difference, and you will support environmentally-conscious local businesses. Make sure your friends and family know that you’ve chosen a fresh, local menu – they’ll love the idea!
Use Recycled Paper For Save-The-Date Notes, Invitations, Place Cards, and Menus
There are plenty of excellent ways to use recycled paper and cardboard to create gorgeous wedding invitations, place cards, and menus. If you’re outsourcing these items from a local designer or printer, be sure to request the materials you want – any reputable printer or artist will be more than happy to comply with your wishes.
To create lovely decorations, invitations, place cards and menus from recycled paper – get creative! Use appliques, ribbon, stencils and rubber stamps to give your work a chic, homespun vibe. A hot glue gun can be a great way to add embellishments to planet-friendly recycled wedding favors and invitations. You might also want to look for envelopes made from recycled materials…
Keep Things Simple And Old-Fashioned
A low-fi, old-school approach to wedding entertainment can give your reception a lot of charm. Instead of a noisy rock band or cheesy, loud wedding singers, consider a folk-rock musician who only needs a single mike, a couple of amps, and an acoustic guitar. Even a string quartet can provide amazingly beautiful music during a wedding ceremony, and they won’t need much “juice” to do it. You may also want to conserve power by planning a simple, outdoor ceremony that takes advantage of bright sunlight. Candlelight can be a romantic, planet-friendly option for your wedding reception. Votives and natural beeswax candles can be fragrant, flattering, and lovely to behold.
Plan A Natural Bridal Look That Reinforces Your “Green” Theme
Looking pretty, natural and fresh-faced will complement your wedding’s healthy, planet-friendly feel. Look for a bridal dress that is simple and not too sexy. If you love funkier, edgier style, express yourself with an unusual gown, such as the cool bridal dress style shown above. Be yourself by choosing a white wedding dress that really reflects your personal taste and sensibilities.
A pretty laurel of flowers in your hair will be lovely choice – this style has been worn by brides since the Middle Ages. Keep your hairstyle soft and natural – avoid hairspray and a lacquered, fussy look. To highlight your bridal gown and hair, do natural makeup that focuses on soft, neutral earth tones – pinky-brown lip glosses, such as MAC Lust, will add just enough color and shine. Glowing cheeks can be achieved with a simple swipe of peachy blush, such as the popular Nars Orgasm. Foundation should be used sparingly, and it should be designed to create a soft, dewy effect. Almay’s lightweight, sheer bases are a great choice for this kind of look.
Your bridal rings should be carefully chosen to reflect your overall style – in general, the type of woman who wants a “green” wedding won’t need a lot of bling. Subtle Feri jewelry and a small bouquet of wildflowers can be more than enough to set off your natural beauty as you walk down the aisle in your wedding dress.
