Organic Weddings

Do you lead a "green" life on a daily basis? Does the idea of throwing away hundreds of dollars worth of flowers  for a single event lasting only a few hours make you wonder about the state of the world? Does the thought of your guests eating beluga caviar  make your stomach turn? Well, there is no reason why you can't have an organic wedding  -- devoid of endangered species, foods infused with pesticides and steroids, or possibly environmentally harmful practices. An organic wedding can encompass the many values to which you aim to stay true to in everyday life so that you can celebrate your special day and still be earth-friendly and resourceful at the same time. And, it's more than just eating organic,  it's creating a green ambiance for you and your guests. This guide shows how there are several parts of a wedding that you can tweak to have a more eco-friendly wedding bash, from the flowers  to the wedding gown.  Both the ceremony and the reception can be as elegant and as glamorous as you wish while upholding your strict values as a vegetarian, vegan, or simply ecologically-conscious individual.

Invitations and Stationery

Instead of wasting papers on 50 to 200 invitations  made with costly ecru paper that has been bleached with harsh chemicals and will most likely end up in the trash anyway, consider something with a personal touch. There are great cards that will not only look formal and elegant, but be thoughtful and unique. "Love Grows"  cards are made with recycled, easily-biodegradable material with upward mobility -- literally! Upon receiving the invite, your guests can plant the card and it will grow into a beautiful display of flowers. What a long-lasting, unique idea that gives twice as much as an ordinary card!

Should you opt for the standard card type, pick something made with recycled paper  or with fibers other than trees; many fancier lines of stationary are made with linen,  bamboo,  or cotton fiber  paper.

The Location

There are various places where you can choose to wed, including a house of worship. However, you might also want to consider an organic garden, botanical garden,  natural preserve, or a public park. Beaches and lake fronts are also possible venues. Using an area of great natural beauty also reduces the amount you need to decorate; why would you bring more flowers to a botanical garden? 

The trick is finding a location that puts you in tune with nature, but that does not put nature at risk to be damaged by swarms of people. It is recommended to choose a venue that is somewhat developed so that it can support a large crowd of people. Otherwise, choose a pristine, untouched piece of land where you can have the ceremony and invite only your closest family and friends. Then later on you can have a big reception elsewhere.

As for the reception, check out Choosing a Wedding Location to get an idea of what your options are. You might also be interested in finding a Green Hotel in which to host your wedding. Wherever you plan to have your celebration, just make sure to have plenty of trash cans available so that you can sort recyclables.

If you plan to have an outdoor ceremony or reception, please read the guide to  Planning an Outdoor Wedding to learn about the advantages and pitfalls that go along with it.

Attire and Accessories

Organic fibers  and natural fibers  are the best choice for a green bride. While silk does require the sacrifice of hundreds of innocent silkworm caterpillars, it is a natural fiber and will eventually break down. Synthetic fibers like polyester, however, will stick around far longer than your wedding album. Very earth-friendly brides can opt for hemp  or organic cotton,  which can be used to create everything from shoes  to table linens.  However, since this is such a special occasion, just any old fabric simply won't do. How about trying a dress made from fancier organic fabrics, such as organza  or chiffon?  The same goes for bridesmaids dresses  and mother of the brides dresses.  

Green Karat is a Web site that you might want to check out. Instead of buying a diamond ring, they offer "ecologically and socially responsible" jewelry. What this means is that they promote using recycled gold and other precious metals so as to reduce ecologically exploitative and polluting gold mining practices. Green Karat does not sell diamonds either for several reasons. For one, the mining process is damaging to our planet. Secondly, there are many lab-created diamonds  and synthetics already available for jewelry use which are as high a quality as those diamonds  found in nature. And finally, the mining of diamonds is not sustainable and it exploits the workers. They have many beautiful options for wedding and committment ceremony bands. You can learn more about sustainable jewelry options in the guide to Jewelry with a Conscience.

Flowers and Décor

There is nothing worse than having to watch hundreds of flowers wilt and go to waste. It's not just the money, but the fact that these flowers are being cut for nothing more than a four-hour show. Nonetheless, what could look as beautiful as fresh flowers adorning the pews in the church and the three-tiered wedding cake? There are several other options that won't make for a wasteful wedding. Here are some of the options that you might want to consider:

• Potted plants  and flowers  -- They can be all different sizes; luscious ferns at an outdoor ceremony on the beach and teeny tiny pots of bursting blooms on tables for the reception. When the wedding is over, take the plants home to decorate your new house, or give them out as party favors. You can also consider renting flowers or plants.

• Candles  -- Beautiful arrangements of organic candles  are the perfect decoration centerpiece for evening weddings, even the most formal of events. It all depends how you display them. Formal weddings deserve tall, silver candelabras,  while something more casual might warrant modest, try soy tea light candles.  A traditional wedding though, would look perfect with votives  in pretty wicker  or wooden  candle holders. 
• Balloons  -- Nix the balloons, since they tend to cause more trouble than they're worth.

Food and Drink

First off, let's discuss what you'll use to eat your food -- such as plates,  cups,  glasses,  and silverware.  Renting these items is always the first choice, however, some folks having weddings at home or weddings outdoors in an informal setting, will opt for disposable cutlery and eatery. It's best to choose recyclable paper plates,  recyclable cups,  and perhaps even corn based utensils which are perfectly biodegradable. A popular brand is Seventh Generation. 

As for the food, go organic.  You may also choose to have a wide assortment of vegetarian  and vegan  options available. The important thing is to choose foods that are sustainable and locally-grown. In other words, it's best to cross the caviar  off your wish list and any species that are overfished, such as bluefin tuna, monkfish, Atlantic cod, or Chilean sea bass. See this Seafood Watch Guide from the Monterey Bay Aquarium for more information on which fish are best and which are best left alone.

Other Green Odds and Ends

• Transportation: How will you get to the wedding? Can you rent a hybrid car or use a green limo service? Can you provide transportation for guests to cut down on car emissions?
• Wedding Favors: Do you really want to give your guests a trinket theat they are likely to throw away? Consider giving out organic chocolates  or other organic snacks,  potted plants,  seed packets,  or other earth-friendly gifts instead to reduce the amount of trash you produce.
• Beauty Tips: Consider using organic cosmetics  on the day of your wedding instead. There are many excellent brands to choose from. Please see the guide to Organic Health and Beauty Products for more information. You can also include some of these products in the hospitality basket  at your wedding site.
• Registry: Rather than opting for all-new stuff, register with the Alternative Gift Registry for things like hand-made blankets, a set of recipes or cleaning tips.

External Links

• Organic Weddings -- Everything the organic bride and groom could want to host an organic wedding.
• Green Karat -- Ecologically responsible jewelry.
• The Green Corner -- Advice on traditional wedding alternatives.
• About.com -- How to have an eco-friendly wedding.
• Gaiam -- Tips for hosting an eco-chic wedding.
• Tree Hugger -- Not all about weddings, but all about being green. This is an article devoted to wedding gowns made of sustainable materials.
• Hippy Shopper -- Eco-confetti and a whole lot more.
• Ethical Weddings -- A guide to planning an ethical wedding.
• Portovert -- a new magazine entirely about green weddings.

International Resources

For this resource in your home country, please see:
FR: Mariage Vert