Saying I Do, Nature-Friendly Style

Tips on reducing waste on your big day

Beautiful bouquets, a sumptuous dinner, an unforgettable celebration with family and friends: weddings are a wonderful occasion to make nature-nurturing choices. But while you might be worried that having an eco-friendly wedding will mean having to skimp on your big day, it's possible to still have the wedding of your dreams while embracing green values.
Before you send those invitations out, consider setting up a website for you and your partner, where you can send out digital invitations and where guests can respond online. This cuts down on paper use and also makes keeping track of guests a lot easier for the bride and groom-to-be.
Going digital is also a great bet for your wedding photos, as a digital camera lets you develop keep the snapshots you really cherish, which can help save you from wedding budget overload. You can ask guests to be photographers for the day and then choose your favourite poses.
There are even eco-friendly wedding cake companies that sell organic, vegetarian, wheat- and dairy-free varieties. Creating a menu that features local food that’s in season is another great option, and organic wine can also be served. Talk to your caterer or wedding planner about your wishes to come up with a menu that’s a perfect fit.
If you want a bouquet that’ll really wow them, check around for florists that use organic fair trade flowers. Prices depend on flower varieties and the size of the bouquet or centerpiece.
A quick search on the net will provide you with companies that specialize in tasty, alternative centrepieces, which range in price from about $50 to $200. You can find a daisy bouquet made up of pineapple and grapes while a dipped fruit centerpiece features bananas and strawberries; you can even ask that local fruit be used to further reduce your wedding’s impact on the earth.
While white (a symbol of wealth and purity) is a tradition when it comes to the bride’s dress, it can be disconcerting to know that it takes a lot of harmful chemicals to whiten silk. Silk is also made of poly-rayon, a pulp based material, which is bad for the air and requires a lot of energy to produce. Check out vintage stores for unique, gently-worn pieces. Dresses can range in price from $200 to $1200, and include simple gowns to more elaborately beaded numbers. You can even find gowns that date back to the 19th century, perfect for a formal wedding.
Or, consider wearing your mom or grandmother’s wedding dress, a lovely tradition that’s eco-friendly too. If you’d still prefer to have your own dress, look for options in hemp silk, organic silk or wool. And give your wedding party a break too – look for gowns and suits they can wear again, or ask them to wear their own favourite outfit. Not only will they be more comfortable, they’ll be thankful you helped save them some cash too.
While diamond rings bring a sparkle to your eyes, they can be linked to unfair trade practices of the ecologically-hazardous mining industry. Make sure your wedding bands are conflict free, environmentally-certified rings. Brilliant Earth is a San Francisco-based company that uses diamonds from Canadian mines while Touch Wood Rings features one-of-a-kind bands crafted by B.C. artist David Flinch.
Searching for the perfect venue to dance the night away? Choose a place that’s close to both home and your guests, suggests Michael Bloch, editor of Green Living Tips, an online eco magazine. “When selecting a venue, also consider where your guests will be travelling from. Try to find a middle point if possible. The less your guests have to travel, the cheaper for them and the less oil consumed,” Bloch states in his article on weddings. Also, select a venue that’s within walking distance from the location of your ceremony; you could also cycle or hire a horse-drawn carriage. To ease your guests’ carbon footprints, consider providing transportation.
And take the opportunity to make your wedding a lifelong commitment to green living. Instead of a china set that will inevitably be tucked away and forgotten, ask guests to make a donation in your and your spouse’s name to your favourite charity.
Your honeymoon can also be eco-friendly: choose a spot that you can travel to by either train or sea, instead of air. Consider picturesque Canadian hot spots like the Ottawa Valley, northern Ontario or the eastern provinces.

Publication Date: 2007-09-23
Story Location: http://www.tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=7701