Weddings go green

When you envision your wedding, are you barefoot in the grass? Is it all about Valentine’s Day and the language of hearts? Perhaps your altar is a stand of pines, your bouquet a handpicked assortment of wild daisies — and can’t you just see your little flower girls sprinkling birdseed along the pebbly path that leads to your waiting groom? If so, you’re definitely a bride on the wild side. But even if your wedding fantasy is a more polished affair, you can still go easy on Mama Earth by incorporating eco-savvy elegance into your celebration. Greener nuptials are better for the planet, and they are also unquestionably in vogue, so there are endless options for the environmentally conscious bride. These days, you can dress up the big day with something old, something new, something recycled and even something that grew. I have seven practical suggestions for a lavish yet low-impact wedding. No compromises here — I guarantee that you can have your cake and “green” it, too! 1. Eat, Drink and Be Local Look to local marketplaces for everything possible, from the food to the frill. Even if you have to source businesses in other corners of your state, you’re still cutting the carbon costs of shipping from across the nation. If there’s a good bakery in town, ask them to create your cake. A local microbrewery could supply your favorite organic ale. Consider farmers markets for fresh, in-season produce or a local dairy for handcrafted cheese. A great online resource for finding local food producers is Localharvest.org. 2. Earth-Friendly Flowers Most flowers sold in the United States are imported from other countries where they’re grown using unregulated pesticides and under poor labor conditions. For fresher flowers grown organically in the United States, look to Localharvest.org. Another option is organic bouquets (californiaorganicflowers.com), which are certified as organic. 3. Rent and Reuse When it comes to items like furnishings, linens and tableware, consider borrowing or renting from a party supplier rather than buying new stuff that you won’t need in the long run. 4. Green Garb Renting is also worth considering when it comes to the dresses and tuxedos, but a quick search on Google will unearth a host of fabulous Web sites for buying green garb, such as Getconscious.com, Olivialuca.com, Rawganique.com and Threadheadcreations.com. 5. Inspired Invitations Traditional invitations use up a lot of paper and printing chemicals, so we are now turning toward recycled and unbleached note cards, soy and vegetable-based inks and even e-vites (e-mail invitations) that skip the stationary altogether. Whichever style of invitation you choose, request that guests RSVP by e-mail to save paper used in response cards and envelopes. You can cut waste further by preparing maps, schedules, registry information, guest books and more on Web sites like Wedshare.com and Ewedding.com. 6. Planes, Trains and Carbon Offsets Consider providing carpooling options or shuttle buses to ferry guests from a central location to the wedding site. This will cut down on individual auto emissions and will also help ensure guests’ safety if alcohol is served at the event. Many couples now opt to offset the carbon footprint of wedding transportation by purchasing green power from their local energy provider. Learn more at eere.energy.gov. 7. The Do-Right Registry Give careful consideration to the gifts you’d like to receive — organic linens, cast-iron cookware, low-VOC house paint — and create registries with retailers where your guests can shop with confidence. Of course, less is more when it comes to sustainability, so you might want to give up the gift idea altogether and create an online donation registry for a worthy cause. Justgive.org offers a unique wedding registry through which guests can make charitable donations to a couple’s favorite cause in lieu of traditional gifts. Finally, if you need help with planning, don’t panic! You don’t have to “green it” alone. Greeneleganceweddings.com, Greenweddings.net, Vibrantevents.net and even the World Wildlife Fund (worldwildlife.org/weddings) can help you plan a wedding with less waste. PULL OUT BOX: Wedding Favors — Edibles and gifts of green are among the most eco-friendly favors you can give guests on your big day, especially since not much is left in the way of leftover packaging. — Fresh herbs such as lavender and marjoram, and flowers such as roses and elderflowers have long-standing associations with marriage. Tender Seed Co. has mini plantable seed favors and lavender organza favor bags. — Ink-stamp flowerpots or organic seed packets; dress them up with ribbon or twine that will complement your wedding colors. — Support your community by going for organic treats that define your area. Locals will appreciate them, and guests from far away will appreciate the opportunity to try something new. How about Vermont maple syrup or candies, Pacific Northwest smoked salmon, saltwater taffy in beach areas, jars of organic and locally harvested honey, Louisiana Cajun spice rub or Kansas City barbecue sauce? — The National Arbor Day Foundation makes it easy for eco-friendly brides to give trees for their favors. The trees are delivered in an easy recyclable plastic tube with your choice of customized label. Your recipients can plant their trees right away, store them in a refrigerator or grow them indoors for months. Caption: Potting Shed Creations of Idaho is a company housed in a former elementary school in a small Idaho town. They have an entire line of gift-able trees-to-be at www.pottingshedcreations.com, 1-800-505-7496.