Will yours be an ‘Eco Chic’ Wedding?

In today’s modern world more and more people are becoming aware of their effect on the environment (and the size of their ‘Carbon Footprint’) and want to understand how they can help ‘offset this’ in everyday life.   Weddings are no exception and as one of the biggest social gatherings many couples will host, looking at ways to help the environment through careful planning and on the wedding day itself are becoming popular.

If you choose to plan a green wedding your family may question your desire to suddenly become an eco warrior! Simply explain that you are trying to do your bit to save the earth for future generations; this should help put your ideas in perspective for them!

As ‘eco fever’ takes hold in the UK we have put together some expert tips on how to plan an ethically ‘green’ wedding, and even if you don’t want to go the whole way and plan a totally eco friendly day, there are ideas here that can be incorporated into any wedding; after all, any contribution, however small will help.

Location and Transport

First of all find a location that supports eco friendly causes, The National Trust and similar properties are good places to investigate. Check on the catering facilities at the venue and see if they serve locally produced food or can source organic or fair-trade foods for your reception. By supporting local traders this can also cut back on emissions through transportation. Enquire about their recycling policy at the venue, see what happens to all those wine and champagne bottles after they are finished! Hold your ceremony and reception at the same venue avoiding unnecessary travelling or opt for one form of transport to transfer your guests around e.g. coach. For a ‘quirky green touch’ the newlyweds could travel on a ‘bicycle made for two’ after the ceremony!

Stationery

Find a stationery company that uses 100 percent recycled paper or fair-trade paper; select something simple and ensure the envelopes are made from recycled paper as well. As a complete alternative announce your wedding and invite guests to your big-day using your own wedding web site, then you only need print out invites and information cards for guests who don't have access to the internet.

The Dress

Vintage style is very ‘a la mode’, so why not recycle a dress that has been worn previously by your mother or maybe even grandmother. If you have any locally then visit vintage shops and antique fairs and see what you can find! If only new will do then look for dresses in natural fibres that have not been subjected to harsh chemicals which are harmful to the environment, or select a simple dress that once worn for your wedding can be altered or accessorised so you can wear it again. Don’t buy new jewellery unless you really need to, ask around family and friends especially older relatives who are likely to have some beautiful family heirlooms that you could wear and could also double up as your ‘something old’ or ‘something borrowed’!

Green Wedding Lists

Consider placing your wedding list wholly or partly with either environmentally friendly or charity giving sites, Check out www.ourgreenweddinglist.com, www.wrapit.co.uk or www.thealternativeweddinglist.co.uk for lots of ideas. For a complete alternative ask guests to dedicate trees to you both in the MarryMeWood (www.carbonneutral.com/weddings).

Flowers, Decoration & Favours

Select flowers that are in season or even better find a florist that can use seasonal wildflowers (helping to cut out emissions generated through shipping flowers from overseas). As an alternative opt for an artificial bouquet made from silk flowers; a very realistic and long term reminder of your special day. Use fair-trade green apples as place settings for each guest with individual name tags attached to a brown paper recycled tag (stylish and very green!). Why not give little packets of seeds as favours to your guests so they can plant them at home, giving something back to the earth. If using candles opt for ones made from beeswax of soybean. Ensure any fresh flowers are given away after the reception to guests, or arrange to donate them to a local hospital or hospice.

How will you Look?

Your wedding photography and videography will capture your day in every detail, so even if you are a natural beauty who doesn’t normally wear much make-up, we would highly recommend enhancing your look for the day. Choose a hairdresser and make up artist who uses natural and organic ingredients and avoids any animal testing. If you are going to do your make up yourself again select products that use no harmful ingredients. Search for a photographer who uses digital technology and who will publish your photos onto a website and a CD for you.

Cake & Wine

Support the growing UK wine trade or select organic wines for your reception. When choosing your cake select a supplier who will work with organic ingredients including free range eggs.

Eco Confetti

Look at throwing environmentally friendly confetti or dry your own rose petals and give these out in cones made from recycled paper to guests prior to your wedding ceremony. Alternatively, give guests tiny bottles of bubbles to blow (and make sure the pots get recycled!)

Eco Honeymoon

The longer the honeymoon flight the larger the amount of CO2 emissions. Think about honeymooning a bit closer to home, the UK is a beautiful country with plenty of lovely hotels where you might wander for a romantic morning walk and then return to a first class lunch and pamper yourselves to your hearts content in a hotel spa in the afternoon.


A Final Thought.....

As a final thought to inspire you, why not impress your wedding party ‘eco style’; let them know that you have offset the emissions created through travelling to your big day by working out their total collective mileage for the return journey and then calculating the CO2 emissions (www.carbonneutral.com). Then offset this by donating money to plant new trees in a wood in the UK or overseas. This is not a tree-hugging exercise (unless you want it to be after all it is your wedding!) however, trees are very good at breathing in CO2 and breathing out purest oxygen.

Gracefully Yours Wedding Planners assist with all styles of weddings including eco-chic and offer a range of services that ultimately aim to enhance the day, saving couples time, money and stress.
Tel 01908 508925
www.gracefully-yours.co.uk