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Green Weddings
These days everyone wants to be green and eco-friendly. Yet weddings are a classic example of conspicuous consumption, most of which use huge amounts of resources and generate a massive carbon footprint. Is it possible to have a wedding that retains the traditional ceremony of the big day yet does less harm to the planet?Many people think so and the green wedding is growing in popularity with some companies dedicated to organising and providing for them.
What Is A Green Wedding?
A green wedding is simply a wedding designed to use environmentally friendly products and services whenever possible. It doesn't necessarily mean the bride dressing in a hemp dress and feeding the guests lentil stew - although it could if that's what you want.
Going green for a wedding can be as simple as buying invitations, menus and stationery made from recycled or sustainable sources. Flowers and food can be chosen to
be local and in season, rather than having been flown in from halfway across the world. You might also want to check the production standards of any food - is it
organically grown, does it meet your personal standards on animal welfare? If you are buying foreign produce, does it conform to international standards such as
Fair Trade?
Don't forget about the choice of venue itself. Will the reception be easily accessible by public transport, or will all the guests have to drive out there? If the latter, perhaps you might lay on fuel efficient shuttle buses. If some guests are flying in from a long distance, perhaps they could be persuaded to contribute to a carbon offsetting scheme.
Once you start thinking green you'll realise that almost every aspect of the traditional Western wedding can be made more environmentally friendly. But don't stress too much about it - arranging a wedding is complicated enough as it is. Just do what you reasonably can, every little helps.
