Photo: Helen Byrd
Your wedding is one of the most special days of your life, but it's also one of the most wasteful. In honor of Earth day, we rounded up three simple ways to host a green-minded wedding. We're not saying to skip the party, flowers, gorgeous invites, or delicious meals — we're talking about seemingly small changes that make a major impact. Try one (or all!) of these changes to do some good on your wedding day!
Pick an Eco-Friendly Venue:
The easiest way to shrink your wedding day carbon footprint? Choose a ceremony and reception site that takes sustainability seriously. One great resource to start your venue hunt: the Green Building Information Gateway. You can search for hotels and event spaces with LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certifications and Energy Star ratings. And with so many beautiful venues going green, you won't have to sacrifice on style in order to be sustainable.
See More: An Eco Friendly, DIY Wedding in Northern California
Don't Waste; Donate: Ask your bridesmaids or planner to bring your wedding flowers to a hospital or senior center post party, so others can enjoy their beauty, too. We suggest calling ahead to make sure the venue accepts flowers — if they don't, asks guests to take them home at the end of the night. (Your colorful décor becomes a fresh favor!) Don't want to saddle your family members with additional post-wedding tasks? Local nonprofit organizations, like Seattle's Floranthropy, will do the work for you. As a bonus, donations are tax deductible, meaning you'll save on what you spend. Also, if you're hosting a buffet dinner, speak to your caterer about saving leftovers. If regulations permit, you can donate excess meals to a food bank or shelter.
Do Edible Favors: Tasty gifts are one of the most popular favors — and for good reason! Traveling guests will always appreciate a midnight snack and often prefer something sweet over a frame with your wedding date. Another option? More and more couples opt to nix gifts entirely and give to charity in their guests' names. Announce the good deed on your menu cards or with a single elegant sign by the escort-card station.