Eco-Friendly Weddings: Green Living & Loving
April 22 is a day reserved to celebrate and show our appreciation for Mother Earth. GreenBrideGuide.com tells us that of the 2.5 million weddings that will take place this year, each event will produce 400 to 600 pounds of garbage and an average of 62 tons of carbon dioxide.
Here are a few simple tips to make your wedding uniquely earth conscious, as well as unforgettable. You may just make your friends go green with envy!
Whether you’re focusing on your wedding ceremony or reception, the venue you choose is a major factor. While large indoor banquet halls are the most widely used locations, they are not exactly the most eco-friendly. High powered lighting, heating or air conditioning, and water usage all contribute to a mass amount of energy usage. Instead, consider an outdoor wedding.
LED lightingis a simple way to personalize your décor. This type of lighting can drastically decrease the amount of energy used without decreasing the ambience that a lighting scheme can bring. In fact, LED “intelligent” lighting can be programmed in millions of ways. From color to intensity, LED lighting can be used for any event to create a dim romantic candle-lit look or bright vibrant colors to compliment the colors of your flowers, linens, etc. A well-placed up-lighting fixture can splash a gorgeous column of light against any wall, flower arrangement, or building fixture; it provides a stunning way to transform any space to match your décor. By exchanging typical bulbs for the more efficient LED variety, you can keep your lighting dreams intact, as well as the environment.
Invite efficiency, not excess: Invitations are a necessary evil to your big day. While email may seem like a good green option, the older guests on your list may not be dialed in. Instead, opt for recycled paper. Check out sites like Minted or Earthy Invitations for some affordable options. You can always design your own, but keep your information and required RSVP sweet, yet succinct. While pretty to look at, the paper-inside-an-envelope-inside-a- card-tied- to-an-index-card invite is just a wee bit unnecessary. Use design rather then paper accessories to keep your invites inspiring.
Your wedding will bring the day you will wear the most important dress you will ever put on…once. The photos, the ceremony – the dress needs to be unforgettable. What you shouldn’t forget is that even a used dress can be made new. Don’t neglect resale shops or vintage dress. The price you save on the dress can be put towards alterations and accessories to customize the dress to your style. Oftentimes, “eco-friendly” is synonymous with “expensive” and “over-priced”. But watching out for the environment doesn’t mean you have to watch out for the green in your wallet too.
Major event factors like location, lighting, invites, dress choice and more are key to any wedding. Don’t just toss your ideas in the trash because they aren’t so eco-friendly – recycle them instead. Instead, consider how you can make your wedding a little more earth-positive by talking over some “green options” with your local vendors.
Check out our LED lighting options or call us today at 773-253-4986 to see how our team can enhance the look of your eco-friendly nuptials!