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I’ve been reading up on different ways I can make my business more eco-friendly and came across many wonderful ideas for creating a more environmentally friendly wedding.  You don’t have to live and breathe environment to have a greener wedding, and you’ll often find that being green is less expensive.  That’s something we can all appreciate.

Invitations

Use recycled paper or alternatives like bamboo or hemp for invitations.  Instead of  inserts consider creating a blog or website and include the URL on the invitations.  Your guests can go there to rsvp, get directions, find lodging, etc.  If you’ve never set up a site or blog, companies such as Blogger provide easy and free tools to create one.

Studio Olivine is an eco-friendly company in Portland, Oregon that creates hand made wedding invitations. www.studio-olivine.com

Catering

Find a caterer who specializes in local and organic food or ask the venue’s preferred caterers and bakers if they can do your event organically.  Eating local food reduces the amount of oil needed to transport it to different locations, reduces pollution and supports local economy.  Organic food is not only healthier, but it also reduces the amount of pesticides that are put into the environment, which are harmful to the people that eat them, the workers that harvest the crop, and wildlife that live in the area.

Ravishing Radish is a great example of this practice in Seattle. www.ravishingradish.com

Flowers

Buy local whenever possible and always opt for organic flowers.  Seasonal and uncut flowers for bouquets and centerpieces can be replanted and used again. Potted or dried arrangements can also double as favors.

Floressence Design is one example of a florist who can customize a plan for your wedding. www.floressencedesign.com

Clothing

Buy a once-used wedding dress or go vintage.  You can also choose bridesmaid dresses that can be worn again.  If you prefer buying something new there’s natural materials such as organic silk or hemp.

Here’s an example of where to find recycled dresses. www.preownedweddingdresses.com

Jewelry

Eco-friendly wedding rings can show commitment to sustainability, protection of the environment, fair trade and conservation of the earth’s resources.  People are getting killed all over the diamond trade in war-torn African nations. Without getting into too much depth about the moral issues, watch Blood Diamond and you’ll get a glimpse of why it’s important to buy your rings responsibly.  Cultured diamonds and gemstones are the most ecologically friendly gems, since they are not mined out of the earth, but grown in a lab.  They are also significantly less expensive, which has definite appeal.  My favorite option is going vintage, whether it was handed down to you or bought from an antique shop.  A family heirloom is always special and you can have it reworked into something that is more your style.

These jewelers offer custom designs and will reuse your old jewelry to create something new. www.greenkarat.com or www.brilliantearth.com
One of my personal favorite antique Jewelers is Alana located inside Northgate Mall. www.alanajewelry.com

Venue

Have your ceremony and reception at the same location.  The less guests have to travel, the cheaper for them and the less oil consumed. During the warmer months consider having an outdoor wedding which will reduce the amount of energy needed.  If you hold the event indoors, try to find a venue with more natural light.

Transportation

Organize a car pool or hire vans to transport everyone to and from the venue.  This saves fuel and ensures the safe return home for any guests who partake in a little too much celebratory toasting.  If you’re having photos done off site of your venue, renting a bus is a fantastic way to transport family and bridal party to different locations.  This way you can ensure everyone will be there on time and have yourselves a fun, stress-free adventure.

If you have any suggestions or ideas please share by leaving a comment below.