With many of our natural resources dwindling and concerns about the ozone, it is imperative that everyone consider the impact our daily actions, as well as our big celebrations, have on the environment. Some might think that changing a single event, like a wedding, won’t truly make a difference. But when you consider that every ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, the energy equivalent of 380 gallons of oil, and keeps almost 60 pounds of pollutants out of the atmosphere, the difference is clear. Planning a green wedding is not just for the “tree-hugging environmentalist.” It is an opportunity for every couple to impact their corner of our world, which seems to get smaller by the day. Here are some tips to help plan your eco-friendly wedding.

Have A Paperless Reception Reduce printing costs and post-wedding debris by forgoing the paper cards, printed menus and any other printed material at the reception. Painting or stamping guests’ names on stones or shells would be an ingenious accent to a beach wedding. Or tie a ribbon to the stem of a flower with the guest’s name and table number on it. Take it up a notch with white-glove service and have your hosts and hostesses seat the guests per your instructions. That way, you only need to print one seating chart.

Consider Paper-Free Invitations Although having a paperless reception is an option, a paperless wedding might not be. If the thought of emailing your invites isn’t what you’ve hoped for, at least reduce the amount of paper used by eliminating multiple inserts, allowing guests to email their RSVP instead of mailing it back, and condensing extra information (i.e. reception information, bridal registry, hotel accommodations, etc.) to one page. Always consider the type of paper used. In addition to using 100% recycled, post-consumer paper, there are many other tree-free paper options, such as cotton rag, hemp, bagasse, kenaf, and mulberry that can make lovely invitations.

Gift Trees and Plants Perfect for outdoor or garden weddings, you can keep the garden theme growing with flower seed favors and potted-plant centerpieces! The symbolism is perfect! Just as they nurture the earth and care for the plant, you will nurture your marriage that will grow in love. Special guests can take the wedding centerpieces home, and everyone else can carry the seed packs and plantable favors home to plant as a lasting remembrance of your special day.

Go Green With Transportation It may sound strange, but a stretch limo is a classy way to save fuel. You’re all going to the same place, so why take separate vehicles and burn all those fossil fuels when you can double, even or triple-up in something like a stretch limo? Another idea is to rent hybrid cars for out of town guests or have your ceremony and reception in the same place so that guests won’t have to travel between them.

Go Digital Be sure that the photographers you select use digital equipment. It keeps them from wasting tons of rolls of (toxic) film and reduces the impact that the chemicals used to develop the pictures would have on the environment. Besides that, with digital cameras, you can easily email your memories to friends and family, or get creative and upload them to an instant photo guest book!

About the Author
This article was brought to you by Karen Sullen of My Wedding Favors, a wedding favor store located online at http://www.myweddingfavors.com, specializing in unique wedding favors, wedding shower favors, bridesmaids’ gifts, groomsmen gifts and wedding accessories to help celebrate your special day.