This post is brought to you by Reeds Jewelers and Ecoura–thanks for your support of the brands that make Southern Weddings possible!
There is so much to consider when choosing vendors and details for your wedding, and when you’re bogged down trying to compare availability and prices and proposals from all different people, it’s easy to forget to take smaller, but just as important, factors into account. Since the easier something is to do, the more likely we are to do it, we’ve teamed up with Reeds Jewelers and Ecoura to share some tips for throwing an environmentally-friendly wedding. Every effort helps keep the South one of the most beautiful places in the world, in our humble opinion :)
Keep food and flowers local and seasonal. Not only will this keep your costs down, it’s also much better for the environment since you’ll be using resources that don’t have to be driven or flown in. As an added bonus, local and seasonal options for both food and flowers tend to be much fresher, and we the ideas of love supporting nearby farms through your wedding!
Cut down on individual paper goods. We love gorgeous paper goods as much as the next bride, but save the dates, invitations, reply cards, reception cards, programs, menus, etc. add up quickly. In your invitation suite, choose the paper goods that are the most important to you and put the rest of the information on your wedding website. For bigger items on your wedding day, create a large display featuring your menu or ceremony program in lieu of giving each person an individual one. This is a great opportunity to get creative!
Recycle your decor. Along with recycling things like paper and glass bottles after your wedding, donate your flowers to a hospital or nursing home. We love this thoughtful gesture!
Choose an environmentally-friendly venue. When searching for a venue, ask about any “green” initiatives the venues have in place, or ask them what they could do to make your wedding more eco-friendly. In particular, keep an eye out for certified organic venues or places with LEED certifications.
Organize group transportation. Cut down on gas and emissions by fitting guests into as few vehicles as possible, such as coach buses or trolleys. They’ll appreciate your hospitality, and you’ll feel good knowing that both your guests and the environment are being cared for.
Work with people and companies that give back. We’ve heard of vendors who donate a portion of their fees to charities, which is a wonderful incentive if you and your vendor share a passion for a great cause! There are also opportunities during wedding planning to work with companies that do amazing things–we love Ecoura’s green initiative: for every engagement that happens with an Ecoura ring, they plant a tree in the couple’s honor! Ecoura rings are eco-friendly and made with renewed gold, making them a perfect fit for environmentally conscious couples.
Reeds Jewelers and Ecoura are currently hosting a summer giveaway for an Ecoura engagement ring! To enter, simply fill our their entry form, follow them each on Pinterest (find Reeds Jewelers here and Ecoura here), and pin your favorite eco-friendly wedding advice using inspiration from their Eco-Friendly Weddings board. The contest ends on August 15, and we hope this post got your wheels turning with ideas!
Do you have any eco-friendly wedding tips to add? We’d love to hear!
Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post. And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads. We love hearing your kind thoughts!