How To Plan A Gorgeous Green, Eco-Friendly Wedding

With climate change on the forefront of everyone’s mind keeping things eco-friendly may be a concern when preparing for your special day. Planning a big white wedding doesn’t mean you can’t add green into the day. Ecologically responsible additions to your wedding do not take away from the extravagance of your ceremony, but can heighten the intimacy and connection you feel to the day. There are many small things you can do to have the environmentally friendly wedding of your dreams.

Look For Locally Sourced Flowers Flowers are something we think of as being completely green (they are green after all!). If there’s not a specific bridal bouquet that you’ve been dreaming of, a trip to your florist to see what local flowers they carry is one simple way to keep things eco-friendly. Using flowers that are grown locally means that they are not transported far distances and not grown by artificial means.  As an additional plus, this helps to keep local florists and gardens in business!

Gift Guests With Centrepiece Favours Giving your guests something beautiful as a gift for attending your wedding is a tradition many couples put a lot of money into. One fun and eco-friendly way to incorporate the gift into your wedding is as a centrepiece or place card. A fun or funky place setting can be taken home and will carry the memory of your wedding with it. As a bonus, this means your centrepieces or place cards aren’t getting tossed out afterwards. These adorable succulents are a great place card and guests can take them home and plant them, keeping your day and love growing long after you've said "I do."

Use Recycled Paper Invitations One simple way to reduce waste on your big day is using recycled paper invitations. Recycled invitations are charming and can add a rustic feeling to the invite. By choosing recycled paper you are keeping things eco-friendly while still sending out that save-the-date. 

Choose Lab Diamonds There is no need to skip out on a beautiful engagement ring; diamonds are a girl's best friend after all! Lab diamonds are one way great way to avoid the dark and harmful side of the ring industry. Lab created diamonds can have the same cut and clarity as those from mining without the worry of where your ring is from. A store like Spence Diamonds carries only lab diamonds that are beautiful and better for the environment.

Serve A Buffet Dinner While the traditional plated dinner might be your preference, by allowing your guests to serve themselves you’re giving guests control over their meal and they are only taking the food that they want. This serving style reduces the amount of waste that is thrown away at the end of the night. Buffet style dinners ensure that your leftovers are untouched and can still be eaten. There are many charities and non-profit groups that will accept leftover food to assist with feeding the hungry and homeless, a great way to share your wedding bliss with those that need it.

Planning your perfect day doesn't mean that you can't keep the environment on your mind. One or two small changes to your wedding planning can make the entire thing an eco-friendly affair.