GOING GREEN

Five Ways to Make Your Wedding More Eco-Friendly

When it comes to your big day, there isn’t any reason for you not to pull out all the stops. That’s right, you should be able to throw the type of wedding reception and ceremony that you’ve always dreamed of without hurting the environment. Better yet, you should be able to incorporate your values into every aspect of your wedding. From Sustainable diamonds to eco-friendly invitations, the time and effort you put into planning your special event will shine through in every detail of your party planning.

More and more, eco-friendly options are replacing those that are traditional and less earth-friendly. Aware of the global impact that one special event can have on the planet, concerned couples are changing how they do things in today’s fresh, modern, “green” ceremonies and receptions. Instead of using disposable dinnerware and fresh flowers, they opt for china and plants. Instead of buying their dresses or tuxedos brand new, they opt to rent them.

If you’re looking for suggestions as to how to make your wedding more eco-friendly, here are five to get you started:

Choose a lab diamond versus a natural diamond for your ring. Synthetic diamonds are eco-friendly and conflict-free. They look every bit as beautiful as mined diamonds and can be placed in a variety of settings. You can even opt to purchase an antique setting from a jeweler and have them placed in it. This helps you continue with your “green” theme.

Use locally grown, in season flowers. Reduce the distance your beloved sunflowers and roses travel by locating a florist who grows his or her own. If you’re having difficulty finding such a merchant, travel to your local Farmer’s Market and look around. Even if you’re not getting married in the near future, you can always acquire the contact information of a person that can help out at a later date.

Invest in a Calligrapher. Locate someone who specializes in Calligraphy and then have them work their magic on as many pieces as you can afford. Envelopes, escort cards, menus, table names and numbers, and most importantly, invitations, can be calligraphed.

Serve up drinks using organic ingredients. Forgo traditional liquors and opt for organic beers, wines, and spirits. A simple web search will give you access to thousands of different types of recipes. Try out a few before your big day and decide which one tastes the best.

Donate your leftovers. Take the food to a soup kitchen and the flowers to a nursing or retirement home. Spread joy to others and eliminate the need to find a place to keep these items while you’re away on your honeymoon.

You can have your dream wedding and still hold true to your values. If you can’t bear the idea of wearing a conflict diamond on your finger or allow perfectly good food to go to waste, you’ll want to see what you can do to make your big day “green”.

About the Author

C. Struble is the head writer for Herstone.com.  Herstone.com is your source for conflict-free, eco-friendly, lab created diamonds.  From beautiful engagement settings to stunning diamond earrings, our wide selection of fine jewelry and quality craftsmanship makes us a leader in the industry.  To see what we have to offer, visit http://www.herstone.com.

Israel in the Garden 2008 green video invitation

BL Plantable Wildflower Seed Paper White $2.25 This is wonderful paper and grows wildflower seeds. Use white and accent with your other colors, other ribbons and other embellishments. Paper is biodegradable and recycles into soil after planting. Use in any classroom, scrapbook project, card making or make your own invitations or favors!…

GR Plantable Wildflower Paper Moss Specks $24.95 Plantable Sheets of 8 1/2 x 11 Paper that GROWS WILDFLOWERS! Sturdy paper with pretty bits in the paper. Easy to cut for your home or school use! To plant: Cover lightly with soil and keep moist during germination and then water regularly and enjoy your blooms! You can grow this paper! Grow-A-Note® Seed Paper Sheets Using only 100% post consumer content, we add earth pigments and our custom wildf…

BL Printable Plantable Paper Sheet $2.50 Printable Plantable Paper, 8 1/2 x 11 sheets, sold by the sheet. Great for making your own invitations, business cards, party favors, greeting cards and more! Grows wildflowers. Great for scrapbookers! May need 7 lead time for this paper, this sells quickly!…

Set of 20 Baby Bumblebee Shower Invitations Customization is easy! After placing your order, you will be contacted via email for your party details and invitation information. An electronic proof will be delivered to your email address within 24 hours for your approval prior to printing….

CR Gibson Untamed Leopard Photo Clutch $12.50 Metal clasp Black interior Acid-free, photo safe Measures 7 w x 5 h…

Iota by C.R. Gibson Hillary Tech Case in Sophia Pattern (ITEC-8961) $10.28 ###############################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################…

C.R. Gibson Spiral Journal, XOXO (GM93-8667) $7.39 There are so many design choices in CR Gibson’s Spiral Journals that you’re sure to find the perfect one to give – or get for yourself. Inside of the journals are decorated to coordinate with the cover. Spiral binding lets the journal lay flat for ease in writing on the 160 lightly ruled pages. CR Gibson is dedicated to enduring excellence in all our products, and for more than 135 years families …