Eco-Chic Weddings The hottest trend for 2008 are Eco-friendly or "Green Weddings". They are for the environmentally conscious couple who want to plan their wedding to minimize waste of both energy and materials. The concept is make decisions that will have the least amount of impact on the environment and it’s natural resources. When considering a Green Wedding, the four words to remember are Recycle, Reuse, Reduce and Rent.
If you’re holding a traditional wedding, the thing to remember is that it’s the little things that make an impact. You may not want to borrow a friends wedding dress, but you can make sure you hire a caterer that will recycles. For the unconventional couple there are is an endless list of eco-friendly ideas for your event.
Nevada County with it’s abundance of organic farming, vineyards and beautiful natural settings is a wonderful choice for your Eco-chic Wedding. Outdoor natural environments are a good choice as they require little energy when lit by sunlight and they usually don’t require a lot of additional decor. Another area to consider when choosing a location is the amount of traveling your guests will have to do. Holding your wedding and reception at the same venue would be a great way to minimize travel.
For invitations you can choose tree-free, plantable or recycled paper. By consolidating information on invitations or by adding a web site address that your guests can visit for additional information like maps, lodging and pre-wedding activities, you reduce paper waste.
When choosing a caterer look for a company who buys locally and organic. Organic farming is one of the most powerful ways to reduce climate change. Eliminate chemical fertilizers and you reduce the fossil fuels needed for farming by 30% to 50%. Also plan your menu around fresh organic and locally grown food and wine.
Decor for your wedding could consist of organic flowers, live plants and borrowed or rented items. Tables, linen and service ware can all be rented locally and will help eliminate waste .Live plants or flower arrangements can be donated to local hospitals or rest homes for the elderly. If any additional lighting is needed then the use of beeswax or soy based candles that contain no petroleum and made from a renewable source should be used. Beeswax and soy based candles are also cleaner burning and longer lasting.
Wedding favors should be Eco-friendly and useful. You could give a small plant, seeds, reusable cloth tote bags or a small charitable donation made in each guests name.
As your wedding or event planner I can assist you with making your next event "earth friendly".