Ways to Make Your Wedding Reception Green

An average wedding produces about 600 pounds of garbage and 21 tons of a carbon footprint. You think that is a lot of waste? Yes, it is! So, if you are an earth conscience couple, have a "green" or "eco-friendly" wedding and do your share to not contribute to the problem! And, even if you are not a Green Activist, it wouldn't hurt to add a couple of these practices to help our planet. If you don't know where to begin, here is a guide to help you get started!

What would be considered an eco-friendly location? Anywhere outside! Find sites such as: the country, farm, ocean, forest, desert, mountains, garden, park, or any location in nature. Why couldn't you have a green reception inside? When you have an inside reception, your event uses a lot of energy, such as water and electricity. If you are afraid that it is going to rain on your celebration, find facilities that use energy-efficient appliances and biodegradable products. Need help to find a green banquet room? Go to GreenHotels.com for eco-friendly indoor reception locations. Need other options? Have your reception in the afternoon and pick a room with a lot of windows. That way your event is using the natural light instead of electricity! Also, have you ceremony and reception in one location. Why? Because your guests won't waste fuel traveling to the next location!

Need eco-friendly wedding stationary ideas? Well, too many trees are cut down each year to make paper goods. So, find a product that is 100% recycled! TwistedLimbPaper.com is an excellent website where you can create your personalized wedding stationary. This website uses old colored office paper, grocery bags, recycled water, flowers, wildflower seeds, and fresh cut grass to create their paper. Speaking of flowers - - how about using stationary that could grow into a flower or a plant? BotanticalPaperWorks.com has an excellent selection of wedding stationary that can be planted, when all is said and done!

Why you shouldn't use fresh cut flowers at your green reception? Well, farmers use harsh chemicals, shipping out-of-season blooms uses lots of fuel, and the blossoms are disposed of after the event! Need centerpiece ideas? Use organic potted plants! Potted plants can be taken home, after the wedding, and planted in the garden. When searching for eco-friendly centerpieces, look for VeriFlora-certified plants. Go to www.veriflora.com to find your nearest retailer. Need to add some ambiance to your room? Add soy candles to your table décor! Soy candles are made from a renewable source, burn cleaner, and burn longer than regular candles. Now-a-days you can find soy candles in every size, shape, color, and scent!

How can you make your menu eco-friendly? Find a baker and caterer that use local organic ingredients. If products are bought locally, less fuel and electricity (from refrigeration) are used, and less trash is generated. Also, use seasonal fruits and vegetables. Again, out-of-season produce has to be shipped! If you really want a green menu, offer a vegan menu. A vegan diet doesn't consist of animal products. Worried that this menu won't make your guests happy? You would be surprised what chefs can create to make everyone happy! However, an organic vegan menu might get pricy. So, keep that in mind when you sit down to create your wedding budget! Need beverage ideas? Serve an organic wine! Find a local vineyard where you might purchase your wine. Can you serve cocktails at your green reception? Yes! Go to organiccocktail.com for organic cocktail recipes. Are you offering coffee with the cake? Have your caterer use "fair trade" coffee! Fair trade is when the Rainforest Alliance certifies and gives the farmers an economic incentive to use environmental farming practices. If you are worried that you will have food waste at your reception, work with your caterer to send your leftovers to a food rescue group! To find your local food rescue groups go to www.SecondHarvest.org.

Need favor ideas? Find edible or favors that can be planted. Most favors, at an event, end up being thrown out. Find glass jars fill them with honey or jam or find a local farmer who sells such an item. Or, give out seeds or plants to your guests. Don't want to give anything out? Donate to a charity in your guests' names. Have someone announce this donation, instead of printing it on paper. Want to offset the event's carbon footprint? Plant a tree, in your guests' names!

We create a lot of waste, when we celebrate. Want our planet to survive for many generations? Follow these simple ideas! Because these practices will not only create a beautiful wedding - - it will help save our planet!

Sources:
Tia Albright, "Green Weddings: Your Eco-Friendly Wedding Guide," www.theknot.com
The Knot, "Green Weddings: 6 Eco-Friendly Wedding Reception Ideas," www.theknot.com
The Knot, Green Weddings: Create an Earth-Friendly Menu," www.theknot.com
"Low Carbon Wedding," www.bbc.co.uk