For starters, our blog is all about doing the best we can. It's no secret that weddings create a lot of waste, and gazillions of dollars are spent every year in the industry. It's a shame really, but still we (I) wanted to have a day to celebrate us just as much as any other couple. First, some of the ways our Wedding was not so green:
- My dress was made in China. Considering I could have purchased a worn dress, or bought something locally, this was one sacrifice for a green wedding I decided to make. And by the way, ordering your dress from your local dress shop does not count and a local purchase. All of those dresses are made overseas and shipped, which means your beautiful white dress is actually dripping in oil. I do think I will sell my dress though, and it cost me a fraction of a traditional dress which was a bonus.
- We did not offer a vegetarian meal. This would have been the ultimate expression of eco-cuisine for me, but we decided that we should give the people what they want, it actually isn't all about me.
- The carbon footprint for travel is almost unavoidable. No one is within walking distance to our home, so this is just one of those things that we accepted as an environment cost.
Now some of the things we did to turn our white wedding into a green one:
1. Paper - We kept paper to a minimum. We didn't have programs, or RSVP's. We used a family owned chalkboard for our program, created by my sisters-in-law that was totally awesome. RSVP's were all done online, saving paper, envelops and stamp$ (stamps add up when you are sending out invites, and thank you's for the wedding and showers). Our invitation was very simple. The direction card was made to fit in the wallet, and there was not much to it other than that. Our thank you cards are postcards, eliminating the need for an envelope.
2. Transportation - Our guests all had to drive to get to us on our special day, but because of limited parking availability, and lack of taxi's, we encouraged carpooling as much as possible. We also had our ceremony and reception in one place so guests did not have to drive from one to another. It's your day, do what you want, but I don't want to travel far between the church and the reception, my makeup starts to melt.
3. Recycling - We supplied all of our own alcohol, and whenever possible it was provided in cans instead of bottles. This meant a) no plastic cups and b) reduced shipping weight. Cans are lighter than bottles and infinitely recyclable!
4. Plastic - Speaking of glasses, we used mason jars as the water glass on the table, and it was your glass for the night. This was a real score since I had them given to me by my Granny. They also came in really handy last month when I was doing some end of summer canning. We did offer plastic cups for anyone who really wanted one, but they were all biodegradable (purchased from Staples). All of the paper plates/napkins etc... were also 100% biodegradable. Even the straws were made of paper.
5. Composting - We encouraged guests to compost by having bins specifically for this. The next day after cleaning up, we had very little garbage to go to the landfill. mostly just cupcake wrappers and a few other random items. All food scraps were also composted.
6. Catering - We went with a local caterer that supports local farmers. We asked our caterer to provide a large container for milk, cream and sugar, instead of individual disposable cream/sugar which was what they normally provide. They were very accommodating to our requests.
7. Decor & stuff - Honestly, there is nothing worse for the planet than "stuff". We tried to buy things only if we could use it again, or easily re-sell or donate. For example, we bought a dresser to use to sign our registry, but now it sits in our living room. We really tried to keep decor to a minimum. This was mainly a cost saving measure since all of that stuff can be rented, but we agreed early on that we did not need things like chair covers. We borrowed our centrepieces, which were bird houses, and the stands for table numbers from our sister-in-laws. My very talented father-in-law made our cupcake stand out of old barn board (awesome) and we have already lent it out for another wedding. We bought some things at garage sales, like our chandelier and drink easel (spending a whopping $2 combined). Someone needs to ask me to host a baby shower because my MOH and I made all of that bunting, and I want to re-use it for something (a tea theme would be required as well!).
8. Flowers - Flowers are not a bad thing. We just tried to keep flowers to a minimum. We spent maybe $250 on bouquets and such, and put the rest of the money into doing some gardening and having planters we could keep for the remainder of the summer.
9. Attire - The bridesmaids chose their own dresses with the intention that they will wear them again (and I truly hope they do), and so they did not match which was what I was going for! The groomsmen also chose their own outfits, with the same intention. This also kept the costs down for their attire, I don't think anyone spent more than $100. I think one of the best men actually wore something he already owned. Chris bought his suit, and has since worn it to 2 other weddings already, so that was money well spent.
10. Energy - We used all LED lights and solar lights for the tent and tree's. There was little power used that day since we got married in June, and had our reception in a tent, there was no need to heat or run A/C. Ok, well did get a little cold at night, so some heat would have been nice... that's when the guests started changing into jeans and sweaters which we absolutely loved! The wedding was also Bullfrog powered since we are already proud Bullfrog customers.
11. Favours - We made a donation to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, it was really important to us to do this. There was no favour, and I don't think anyone noticed or cared. For one, favours have a bad rap for being junky, and we didn't have time to make something homemade.
12. Ceremony - In case you weren't there, we planted a tree. My favourite part of the ceremony. Well we watered it during the ceremony, then planted it a few days later. We don't need a lot to remind us of our Wedding day, because that tree will last us a lifetime.
