Tips for a Green Bridal Shower

The latest trend in wedding showers is to go green. As with green weddings, green bridal showers are a way for brides to be to lessen their personal impact or carbon footprint on the environment. All of the details having to do with the planning of a bridal shower party nowadays can be green and organic.

Many hotels and restaurants are trying to run their businesses in a green manner. You can ask for there to be only cloth linens, china plates, and glass or crystal drink ware. State that you do not want them to use paper goods. For the menu, the caterer may be able to use fair trade chocolate, coffee and tea for the dessert.

If you are looking at having the shower at a hotel's restaurant, The Green Hotel Association is a good place to look. According to the group's website, the association's goal is to support "environmentally-friendly properties, whose managers are eager to institute programs that save water, save energy and reduce solid waste--while saving money--to help PROTECT OUR ONE AND ONLY EARTH!"

Other ideas for shower venues are more unique than the traditional shower at a restaurant. Many showers now take place at green spas, pottery painting stores and botanical gardens. Another unique way to celebrate is to take the guests to a play or musical and have lunch before the show.

If the theme is a green shower/wedding, the invitations must also be green. Consider a no paper party. The bridesmaids can send Evite invitations or set up a website for the guests to obtain the party details. However, many guests still like to receive an old-fashioned invitation in the mail. A good alternative is to order small, simple invitations printed on recycled paper.

Of course, the evites or paper invitations should advise that the gifts should not be wrapped. Green bridal showers have no wrapping paper, which has a huge impact on the environment. A card is needed to let the bride know who gave her the gift. As a guest, you can buy cards printed on recycled paper or just attach a tag to the gift letting her know that you are the giver.

If games are part of the agenda, be sure to use recycled paper to keep score and give eco-friendly gifts as prizes. Some green ideas for prizes and party favors are: fair trade or organic chocolate bars, travel-sized all natural or organic hand lotion or lip balm, wildflower seed packets or a small donation in each guest's name made to the bride's favorite charity.

Green bridal showers and weddings are our future. This type of affair will have a lasting effect on the earth and the bride and groom can spend less and feel more responsible about how they celebrated their marriage.