Tied in a Bow May 2015 | Page 113

Going Green This Wedding Season

By Krista Gilbert, Cirkel

With so many people going green, you can’t help but wonder what you can do on your wedding day to protect the beautiful world we live in. We have compiled a list to initiate small changes in your wedding plans to make big differences.

1.Think about venue.

Your choice of venue can reduce your carbon footprint. The easiest way to go green is to choose a location that is close to the majority of your guests to reduce transportation costs. You could also pick a venue that can be easily switched from a ceremony to reception or that is big enough to hold all of your wedding events. Both will result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

The last thing to think about is picking a venue with a scenic background so that you don’t have to purchase flowers or other décor. This will help save money while allowing you to focus on other things rather than flower shopping.

2.Donate leftover supplies.

Leftover food, décor, and flowers can be a big waste when it comes to weddings, and there are many ways you can donate these items after your big day. Random Acts of Flowers is a great example. Volunteers will take your leftover flowers and repurpose them to decorate healthcare facilities across the country. You can also donate your flowers to funeral and nursing homes. Think about donating leftover food to a food pantry, like Fish Hospitality Pantries.

What a great way to do your part.

3.Print less.

A great way to reduce the amount of paper you use and save trees is to have chalkboards as sources of information at the wedding. List your wedding party on one so your guests can identify everyone walking down the aisle, put your food and drink menu on a couple at your reception tables, and label your tables with fun-sized boards. Another way to reduce paper is to send out your save-the-dates and/or wedding invitations on recycled paper or through e-cards. You can find great, interactive e-cards through Greenvelope. More trees will be saved in this process and your guests will get the same effect.

4.Remember alternatives.

Think about serving your food on real dishware instead of disposable. Sure, it will be easier to clean up if you can stuff everything in a trashcan, but how eco-friendly is that? Using real dishes, you reduce your trash tremendously. Ask your caterer about renting the necessary items or purchase inexpensive dishes through Cirkel, a shopping and delivery service for IKEA® that can ship their products nationwide. The open bar can help with the trash reduction, as well. Buy a large keg so you don’t have to use individual bottles or purchase boxed wine to replace the equivalent of four bottles. Bota Box is a top-rated boxed wine that tastes just as good as the bottled. Your guests will never know the difference!

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