LivGREEN Wedding

Planning a Green Wedding: It can be easier, and faster, than you think!

by Janice Whittemore

I’ll admit it up front: I’ve never been a professional wedding planner, although I DID plan three weddings at a Monster Truck Show, but that’s another story. So, when Mark (LivGreen Guy) asked me to consult the planning of a green wedding, I said YES!

It started in early August when Mark’s friends Jay and Rachel told him they were getting married, but they had no real plan on when or how. Mark had an October date reserved at Harriet Island for another event, and offered it to them instead. The wedding was ON in 60 days–let the planning beginning!

Planning a wedding in 60 days isn’t the ideal, but it IS the real world, where most of us live. Many people do have (and need) more time to plan a wedding, but our bride-to-be is a can-do person, and we just knew she was up to the task!

Rachel purchased her wedding gown on e-bay; a great way to recycle! Jay’s tuxedo was rented (another excellent way to reuse). We reduced waste in the gift-giving process, too–seriously, who needs another toaster or serving plate? Jay and Rachel have been saving for a pellet/corn stove for their home, and guests were asked to contribute cash to help them pay for it. A double green score: the couple didn’t have to spend time/energy/effort returning gifts they didn’t want or need, and they’re helping the environment by using an alternative, renewable heat source for their home! The invitations were locally-printed postcards which Rachel designed, and the RSVPs were all done online.

We tried to keep things simple by applying the three “R’s” of green living: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The “three R’s” concept took hold with Rachel’s friends, too. One had purchased twenty-six inexpensive sheets to perfectly cover the 13 round guest tables. After the wedding, three people were going to make new curtains from the sheets. Extra points for reducing waste (no paper table cloths to throw away), plus bonus points for reusing and recycling these materials–we were on a roll now!

The gift box was donated by Rachel’s friend Tina, who changed the ribbon to match Rachel’s wedding colors. Tina also bought flowers at the local farmer’s market for the bride’s bouquet, it was lovely and super-fresh.

Rachel did an amazing job pulling everything together. She hired the DJ, reserved a block of rooms, and set up a shuttle service from the hotel to Harriet Island (very green!). And Rachel chose Golden’s Deli, an eco-friendly caterer that uses local food sources and reduces wasted where possible. We did go with biodegradable cups rather than glasses, because each glass cost $2 and cups were much more budget friendly. This is the real world, after all.

In the end, you could say Rachel and Jay started their life together in a way that honors our planet and those of us who live on it. And that would be very “green.” Or you could just say that Rachel and Jay had a beautiful, personal and very cool wedding. And that would be “green for the REAL world.”

Janice is the LivGreen Media Wedding and Event Planning Consultant. Contact her at janice@livgreenwedding.com.