Green Wedding | Doing your Part or Doing It All

In Flourish’s opinion there are three different levels of dedication when choosing a green theme for your event. 

1) Some easy ways to include environmentally friendly aspects to your event are through the bombonieres or favours.

2) Choosing green decor; fabrics that are made from natural fibres or are biodegradable. Plants and flowers that are organic and un-dyed or even grown from your home garden.

3) Everything is green in some form.

1 | Simple ways to be GREEN

Plants:

Bombonieres or favours are an easy and great way to add a little green to your event. They can be inexpensive and a great D.I.Y. project.  Plants are great to give to guests because you know that they will be used and grown. In the case where the guests do not use or even throw out the gift, it is of course, completely biodegradable and safe for the environment. If you wish to give your guests potted plants, consider added a recipe that uses the herb or vegetable, or try finding a plant that has a unique meaning or story behind it. 

Another great idea is to find old photos of aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents ect, and put the image in a frame or jar to be given as a gift to each guest. Or even use them to represent each table; a token in the memory of many great loves. 

Recycled or Reused:

                Gifting items that are being reused is another great idea to be green when it comes to your bombonieres. Used but loved items show your guests how items can be repurposed. Frames are a great idea; they can be found very inexpensively and are easy to restyle. Frames come in any style or look that one may desire; they would also suit a vintage theme quite nicely.

          Going to retail locations such as flea markets, Goodwill, and Value Village are great for finding vases, and dinnerware. Give your guests handkerchiefs, vases, tea cups, coffee cups, or romantic novels that tell romantic and steamy stories.  For the men- try beer mugs, shot glasses or old decanters and tumblers.

        The guest book is a unique opportunity to be green and creative. Photos are simple and green, but consider having people write their names on an antique mirror, in a book full of poems about love or even on stones which can then be placed in a garden, or candle hurricane. 

Inexpensive and Nice:

                If you are on a tight budget why not make your guests some simple but very nice scent bags. Fill a fabric or burlap bag with some lavender, sage, potpourri, or even a scented wood chips like cedar. Something like this can be placed in clothing drawers, shoes, or in luggage and sport bags to give fabrics a pleasant scent.

2 | Decor is Everything (Most Things have a Green Quality)

Centre Pieces & Decor:

                Plants! Plants again, grow your own plants and put them in fantastic flower pots or other recycled objects such as tin cans, wagons, barrels, old tubs, or mason jars. These plants are inexpensive and are a cheaper and greener option for decorating your event.

 

 Candles are inexpensive and beautiful. These days candles come in a variety of forms, they come natural through the use of bees wax, or with paraffin- which hold scents and colour really well. Either way, candles are a great way to save on energy and certainly can help with bug issues for events being held outdoors, (especially in the evening.)The ambiance that a candle makes is romantic, intimate, and joyful; creating the perfect backdrop for a wedding, anniversary or Christmas party. (Just make sure that you have your candles enclosed in a hurricane or votive holder to prevent fires, and always have a fire extinguisher around.)

A slightly more expensive option but still fabulous, is purchasing organic material such as burlap, or linen to drape on walls for backdrops, as well as over tables, chairs, or even as a runner for a bride to walk down. The material can be repurposed after the event or sold, so that the money can be made back or put to more use afterwards.

Dress:

        The dress is made from reused fabric, or even retired wedding dresses.  Adding a vintage feel would be so easy with a custom dress made from repuposed fabrics or dresses that belonged to family members. A very memorable and personal touch that meets the "something borrowed" and "something old" criteria.
         Complete the dress with some reused jewelery from family members. Remember to be creative!

3 | All or Nothing (Ultimate Green!!!)

Fabric and Fibres:

The wedding dress is made from organic material; made from silk, linen, or cotton that was un-dyed and untreated. All of the formalwear must be organic, while plastic is prohibited unless there are no other options.

Seating and Eating:

Chairs, tables, dishware were recycled and reused many time over, or are borrowed. Plastic chairs can be replaced with wood that is untreated or just blankets which are perfect for an outdoor beach wedding.

Food:

Vegan or Vegetarian catering companies can provide great options for all of your guests’ interests or food specifications. If you are planning a small wedding a great idea would be to grow your own food and have it prepared into great family recipes that mean something to the bride or groom. Having home grown and harvested foods combined with family recipes would make any meal sentimental, fun, and even more romantic!  

Plants and Flowers:

        As mentioned before growing plants in your own garden is as green as most can get; unless there is an organic florist in your area and price range. If flowers are not your thing, then consider using vegetables. A great new trend is the inclusion of fruit and vegetable into your centre pieces. Artichokes, certain types of leafy greens, or citrusy fruits are of the most common and profound.