Top Tips for a Green Wedding

A wedding can be a costly event – not just for the bank balance, but also for the planet. Do your bit and ‘think green’ for your big day. Our top tips make it easy....

Plan ahead. You will need at least 10 months if you are planning it yourself. Have a look at websites such as www.ethicalweddings.com or www.greenunion.co.uk. The Green Guide For Weddings book by Jen Marsden is also a helpful source of information and ideas.

Travel - depending on where your wedding is, you/your guests taking a flight can be unavoidable. However, where possible try to arrange train travel, or arrange car pooling for guests coming from the same area. If your venue is easily accessible, your guests could walk there. You could too!

Flowers - chose flowers that are in season, non-forced and local. Wild flowers are a popular choice at the moment. How about incorporating vegetables into your centrepieces for originality?

Food - try to find a local caterer, that uses locally sourced produce and Fairtrade food and drinks.

Cake - How about asking someone who is close to you to make it? (Make sure they can bake!) You can use fair trade sugar and dried fruits in the recipe.

Favours - As the perfect green wedding gift, give native seedlings as wedding favours. That way the guests can go home and plant a tree for the environment and remember your special day as they watch it grow!

Gift list - only ask for gifts you really need. Or alternatively what about asking guests to donate to a charity. Friends of the Earth http://www.foe.org/ focus on clean energy and solutions to global warming, protecting people from toxic and new, potentially harmful technologies, and promoting smarter, low-pollution transportation alternatives.

Dress - have your dress made locally, with material manufactured in this country. Or can you wear your Mother’s or Grandmother’s dress? You can amend it if it looks a bit dated!

Stationery - invites etc can be printed on recycled paper, and ask your stationer about printing using vegetable inks. Or how about e-invites?

Finally - enjoy your day knowing that you have helped the environment!

Lucy

Inspired? For help with coordinating your wedding, contact Premier Wedding Planners Scotland for a free consultation.