subject: Principled Nuptials: Green Weddings [print this page] Principled Nuptials: Green Weddings
Integrating environmental and ethical principles into everyday life has become fairly easy. Well, perhaps not easy, but certainly possible. Low energy light bulbs, going vegetarian, recycling old printer cartridges, composting meal leftovers, skipping the car journey and cycling to work going green and living ethically in the modern world has never been easier.
Green weddings needn't be all about dancing naked as the sun sets and great aunt Maude finally gets that joke the best man made about the marquee pole. The premise of eco chic weddings is to source environmentally ethical venues, clothing, catering, decoration, entertainment and relevant waste disposal procedures. Depending on the principles of a bride and groom, their green wedding could be as simple as making sure all waste is properly recycled. At the other end of the spectrum is the eco-fanatical couple who go to great lengths to source ethical wedding jewellery, locally produced organic food, eco-aware function venues, organic/ethical wedding attire, and fair trade flowers and decorations. The key is to personalise individual elements.
The Venue
Venue hire can sometimes be a nightmare at the best of times, but don't lose faith that a green wedding could see venue hire costs (and travel miles!) skyrocketing. There are essentially four options have the marriage ceremony in a church and the reception at an eco-friendly venue, attend a registry office for a civil ceremony then head to the eco-friendly reception site, conduct both the ceremony and reception at green venue, or marry in the registry office before attending a personalised blessing or alternative ceremony at an eco-friendly venue or site.
It's worth doing a little research into what the local area has to offer, and decide early on which parts of the day are up for a little potential negotiation in terms of budget, location and style.
When it comes to the menu, be clear with a venue about the importance of ethically produced food. A good wedding venue should be willing to find a fitting local food source or approved eco-friendly caterer.
Ethical Wedding Apparel
Avoid synthetic fabrics. The ethical bride needs to be creative shop around local dressmakers for a bespoke creation, dig out a family heirloom to customise (don't be afraid of that word have a professional alter EVERYTHING!), scour thrift stores for vintage or head to local charity shops for a second-hand gown (don't forget to have a local dressmaker alter it and add a few unique embellishments!)
Grooms have it pretty simple rent the morning suit! For those looking for a little more individuality, consider renting an element of the wedding outfit and adding a little personal flourish in the form of 100% cotton, linen or wool components and accessories. Just remember an outfit must compliment the bride's!
The Details
As with living ethically, it's the little things that count! Fair trade flowers, recyclable invitations, and an environmentally sound wedding list the details make all the difference. It's worth remembering that not all guests are likely to be familiar with the idea of a green wedding, so try to avoid the day coming off as too "preachy" That said, leaving guests with a little to think about at the end of the day is a great legacy.
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