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If you followed my own wedding, you’ll know I have a soft spot for sustainability. I’m just a sucker for preserving the land for the next generation. With a growing generation of kids who care about the Earth, it’s no secret that “green” is everywhere these days. Organic produce, composting, recycling, weddings. Yes… weddings.

What most people don’t realize is that it is relatively easy to add a few green elements to your wedding. Those mason jars in your grandma’s basement? Eco-friendly. Using glassware and ceramic plates? Eco-friendly. Selling your wedding gown after the big day? Eco-friendly. So, how can you really “green up” your wedding and save the Earth, too?

1. Choose Eco-Vendors

Use sites like the Green Bride Guide to find other vendors who have a green mission statement and share the same love of sustainability.Ask your caterers to source local foods by taking advantage of produce grown and meat raised in the region. And, insist they use foods that are in season. These small steps avoid unnecessary transportation costs.

Use a stationer who prints on recycled paper, and ask if it is possible to print using soy-based inks. Stationers like Bloomin’ print on plantable seed paper and used soy-based inks which are less harmful on the environment.

The Aspen Suite from Bloomin’

Make sure your florist uses flowers that are in season and easily found in your region. Just like your caterer going local, having your florist do the same will also prevent any unnecessary transportation costs.

2. Upcycle

Instead of buying new decor items, use pieces that you borrowed from friends and family, or purchased from garage sales, antique shops and Goodwill. This includes those masons from grandma and the milk glass from that antique shop.

3. Minimize Waste

Choose a venue that recycles. Better yet, choose a venue that composts. And, see if the caterer is willing to donate any leftover food to foodbanks.Opt for cupcakes instead of a tiered cake. Caterers often cut cake slices smaller than normal to ensure enough cake for everyone, but it usually just ends up in added waste. With cupcakes, guests are more prone to eat an entire cupcake. And, any leftovers you can easily send home with guests or enjoy with your new significant other the next day.

Photo via The Vintage Rental Co.

4. Dress Green

Have your groom purchase his suit so he can re-wear it. Or find a gown made with organic and sustainable materials like those from Adele Wechsler. And, when the big day is over, sell your gown to give it another chance to shine.

You can also borrow jewelry from friends and family members, rather than purchasing new bling. Or, wear your Mom’s veil. And pick out a pair of shoes you know you’ll absolutely love to re-wear after you walk down the aisle.

5. Offset Your Wedding with Carbon Credits.

Using CarbonFund or TerraPass you can offset the carbon emissions of your wedding to account for travel and production to put on your big day. Terrapass offers a wedding calculator to help you estimate the carbon footprint and let you know how many carbon credits are needed to offset your wedding.

I promise these tips are easier than they seem. And, you do not have to go all out on eco-friendly everything, Try incorporating at least one green element. After all, one is better than none.

xoxo
Brit

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Wow SUCH great tips! Thank you Brit! Now everyone, please give Brit a warm welcome! Are you planning on using any of these awesome tips that she shared with us?

Eco-Beautiful Weddings is a new green wedding e-zine that will feature eco-friendly weddings as well as provide inspiration for the green bride and groom!  The Eco-Beautiful Weddings Blog has launched before the first e-zine goes out, and I’m loving everything about it.  Everything on the blog is beautiful, and I can’t wait to see what else is in store for the e-zine!  The blog will also feature articles by The Broke-Ass Bride and her Fresh Hubby of LA…now to be known as The Green-Ass Bride and Groom!  Eco-Beautiful Weddings is even going to be hosting seminars for wedding professionals, which I’m super excited about!

Go check out the Eco-Beautiful Weddings Blog so you can see just how gorgeous it all is!  I know I can’t wait to learn more about how to make weddings green!