Choosing to commit to an eco-concious wedding is a direct expression of your desire to protect our precious planet. The ability to incorporate that passion into all facets of a wedding is a matter of good planning and foresight. Before you are deterred by the thought of extra work, keep in mind that even a few small changes or additions to your plans can help your wedding become more environmentally friendly.
Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that you are planning a wedding with an eco-friendly theme. Planning such an in depth event is not something that should be kept secret. It should be announced with the invitations or save the date cards, letting the guests know the goal from the start.
Grandiose schemes are always a joy, however if they will require extra planning on the part of the guests, information should be provided as soon as possible. Be sure to allow them enough time to prepare for the luscious treat of a wedding that they will be attending.
Using recycled paper for all wedding stationery is a fitting first step to take and it presents an ideal way to pass along all the little details. Gone are the days when recycled paper always looked discolored and unimpressive. Finding recycled paper in all varieties of colors, finishes and textures is now a simple delight.
It is easy to be green and elegant in the same moment.
There are many different ways to inform your guests of your plans, however the key is to do so as politely as possible. If you include a note with your invitations that you want only environmentally friendly gifts and a list of expectations for your guests, the reception is likely to be rather chilly. When it comes to encouraging your guests in a certain route, the key is subtlety. Include instead a link to your wedding website. They are widely available and can often be created simply and at no charge.
It is expected that gift information and wedding registries will be found on such websites. Here is where you can politely mention if there are any particular requests regarding gifts. Guests often find it helpful if a list of preferred gifts is available to them.
If you would rather not have a registry or be given gifts, you might wish to suggest that your guests make a donation to an organization that protects or restores the environment. Or perhaps you would rather that guests purchase and protect an area of threatened tropical rainforest on your behalf. There are many options, however it helps to choose one that is close to your heart, and will have more meaning to you.
There will inevitably be some people who do not look at the website or ignore the suggestions, but this is something that must be accepted and taken in stride. Most people prefer a safe bet and will stick to the ideas you offer them.
You may wish to include, on your website, a list of ways that your guests can support your goal. List eco-friendly wedding favors option that guests can choose from, but will not feel obligated to carry out. Suggestions to carpool on the way to the wedding, or offset the carbon emissions from their flight, would be suitable here.
An added bonus to the wedding website is that it will enable you to save on the amount of paper that you use and all updates can be sent via e-mail.