Tips & Techniques: Going Green

"Going green" is quickly becoming a big part of modern-day weddings. If you're a bride who is passionate about the environment, it may be important for you to throw a great wedding that's also sustainable and earth-friendly. Although this route may sound great, it can sometimes be a bit tougher than you might anticipate to make your ceremony and reception truly low-impact. Gone are the days of recycled paper; today's earth-conscious mindset is much more about product life-cycles and carbon footprints.

If it all seems a bit overwhelming, don't fret! Here a few dos and don'ts to guide you on your path to a great green event.

DON'T buy products based solely on an "environmentally friendly" label. Unlike many claims (like "low fat"), these are not yet regulated and don't have to be proven before being placed on a product. And many companies are cashing in on the fad, hoping to lure in new customers or get old ones to pay a premium for so-called "green" merchandise.
DO your homework. If you're serious about buying only good-to-the-environment products for your wedding, you need to know the companies that make them as well as the process they go through, before and after the "finished" product. This may lead you to change your plans or even cancel some parts. But in order to truly make a difference with your wedding, you must be willing to spend the time and effort and to sacrifice or change your ideal plan. A simple Google search can give you a few good starting points; from there, look carefully at the company (do they really care about environmental issues or are they just another manufacturer? Your best bet for true green is to go with companies that actually try to reduce their impact as well as yours). Then, look at the process each product goes through in order to be created -- is it costly in terms of energy? Is it shipped across multiple countries, burning up oil in the process? Does it use relatively scarce resources? Does it stay forever in landfills or leach out dangerous chemicals? Your reaction to these possibilities, as well as the level of cost to the environment, can help you determine how to proceed.

DON'T go overboard and obsess over every detail. Concentrate on a few areas in which you can make a larger impact, rather than making yourself crazy trying to do everything. If you can do it all, more power to you. But most brides will not be able to, so don't stress about it too much.
DO try to reduce any excess in your wedding. Having a dinner? Make it plated, rather than buffet; you'll waste less food. Creating a very informal event? Think about reducing the amount of paper you use by inviting people in a nontraditional way (a saver for etiquette: maybe you could send your grandmother a real, paper invitation. She'll appreciate it, and you can be nontraditional for guests your age and still save a lot of paper). Worried about the effect of shipping fresh flowers? Reduce your flower consumption by creating non-floral centerpieces and opting to carry only a few local, in-season blooms. In the long run, many of these options will save you a considerable amount of money and reduce your impact on the environment -- a double bonus!

DON'T force your guests to "convert" to your worldview just to participate in (or watch) your wedding. Yes, you want to save the world; good for you. But you can't expect everyone to share your set of beliefs, and in the end you'll only create resentment. To many, it's even questionable to donate to a charity in lieu of favors for that reason. Of course, wanting to make such a donation is up to you and your DF, and letting your guests know is also your decision. Just think about your reasons for doing anything, and make sure your guests are comfortable rather than squirming in their seats.
DO try to smoothly weave in the environmentally-friendly aspects of your wedding with the more traditional stuff. Perhaps the best "green" victory you could have is your guests not having a clue, just enjoying your awesome party! If they ask, of course tell them the truth... they'll probably be impressed you managed to pull off something so fun while being highly conscious of the environmental impact. A hint or two about its importance could work well for you (a pledge in your vows to each other, for example, or asking your guests to walk or carpool is a way to send a not-too-harsh message about something that's meaningful to you).

DON'T expect the impossible. If you really want a huge blowout reception, you pretty much have to expect that it will have a larger effect than a small, informal one. If you expect a lot of out-of-town guests, you have to accept that larger carbon footprint that comes from cross-country airplane or car trips. This process is really a give-and-take one, and you can't really have your cake and eat it too.
DO focus on what is possible. It's definitely doable to have a "green" wedding; it just takes some effort on your part to ensure that it's as low-impact as you hope for. Concentrate on the things you can do, what will make the most difference, and what you can compromise on to ensure the best outcome.