Greening Your Wedding

A "green" way of life isn't just for the trendy anymore. As a society, we are shifting towards a reusable, more sustainable way of life. The sale of energy use-reducing products, such as halogen light bulbs and energy-star appliances, are up. Companies such as Clorox are releasing environmentally-friendly and organic cleaning products, to help keep chemicals out of our homes and away from our children. Families are growing their own vegetables in backyard gardens, composting their own waste, and finding ways to give back.

A slower trend towards green has been in the ever-burgeoning wedding industry. A "reasonable" wedding was once thought to cost approximately $20,000. So-called "lavish" weddings usually average at least $40,000-$50,000, and recent shows such as 'Platinum Weddings' and 'Rich Bride, Poor Bride,' on the WE Network, depict weddings that easily add up to $250,000.

However, in the current economy it has become harder for the soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs. to justify that kind of expense. Couples are now trying not to spend an amount on their wedding the size of a down payment on a house, and they have begun cutting costs. Thrift and green are in, lavish is out.

There are many ways to both cut costs and have an environmentally-friendly wedding. My favorite idea comes from a close friend. For centerpieces, they are using potted orchids. The plants are relatively inexpensive, $10, compared with the often $100-$200 people spend on centerpieces. They are delicate, pretty, and best of all, they will continue to grow and blossom at the home of a wedding guest, creating no waste.

Another idea is to use recycled paper for invitations, and either print or stamp them yourself. Younger couples have begun to use Evite (www.evite.com), and forget the printed, stamped invitation altogether. I'm not sure what Miss Manners would say, but it certainly saves money, trees, and stamps.

Both backyard and beach weddings are gaining in popularity, though no longer just because they are seasonal. Brides and grooms feel that there is less waste in using the outdoors than in renting a hall, and there is certainly less cost. The added bonus to these venues is the beautiful portraits that nature provides.

Buffet-style food service during your reception saves dishes, which saves water. Not using fancy tablecloths and chair covers not only saves money, but saves water as well. You can easily offset the carbon footprint of your day by purchasing wine from a local vineyard, or beer from a nearby brewery. The less items travel, the better it is for our quality of air. Use seasonal flowers, and you will most likely not only spend less, because they won't have to be imported, but you'll be saving the carbon footprint there, as well.

Traditional favors are starting to go by the wayside. In lieu of a picture frame or coaster, a common favor in the green trend is to give a piece of the wedding cake to the guests to take home, so that no food is wasted. Another popular eco-friendly favor is for the wedding couple to make a donation in their guests' honor. Rather than print out a separate slip for everyone to let them know, they also make an announcement and save the paper.

Do you have guests coming in from far away? For every guest that has to travel by plane, have a tree planted in their honor. Encourage guests who stay at a hotel to reuse their towels during their stay. More importantly, try to get them booked into a hotel near the venue. If it's not in walking distance, arrange for a van to transport them all together, thus saving the emissions of multiple separate cars. One very creative couple, recently married in Philadelphia, had the out-of-town guests transported by horse and buggy, thus using no gas at all.

Small touches here and there can green your wedding. It might not be as lavish as what you see on television, but it will be smarter, more cost-effective, and far more environmentally-friendly. It's a wonderful idea to start out your married life by trying to give back. Best of luck in your wedding planning endeavors!