April 22 hails the arrival of Earth Day, which celebrates the birth of the modern environmental movement and is a time to remind all of us of our impact on the environment and how we can strive to be better stewards for our planet. As spring and summer wedding season kick off, many couples will heed the lessons of Earth Day and incorporate a wealth of eco-friendly changes into their nuptials, and you can do the same during your special day! Here are a few ways to get started.
- Recycled Paper
With all of the stationery you’ll use to create invitations, Save the Date notices, place cards and more, make sure to use recycled paper throughout the process. This will significantly reduce your event’s carbon footprint and it may be a boost to your budget as well!
- Go Local
Whenever possible, make an effort to go local with the materials and vendors you will need to put your wedding together. For instance, purchase flowers that are in-season to ensure that yours aren’t trucked in from out-of-state for your gathering, as well as hiring local food vendors who use seasonal ingredients to limit your environmental impact.
- Utilize green vendors
Speaking of vendors, are they doing everything they can to be as sustainable as possible? Make sure to make your desire for eco-friendliness known before hiring these individuals so they can take the proper steps to reduce waste and conserve energy.
- Potted plants
All of those cut flowers and arrangements cost a pretty penny and could simply go to waste after your wedding day, so a great alternative is to use potted plants. These will still provide the dash of brilliant color you’re looking for while offering the ability to be re-used by you or your guests after the ceremony.
