Once you have your green venue, there are so many resources out there for helping with eco-friendly planning tips!
One of the best green wedding websites around is portovert.com
Flowers: We love this helpful article on using organic style flowers. California Organic Flowers even offers a {wedding/party pack} that ships to you and includes bunches of organic flowers that can be used to create both bouquets and centerpieces
You can find really beautiful recycled vases in a variety of colors & styles at Estilo Weddings
Food: To plan an organic wedding menu, check out this helpful article at TheKnot
To plan a green party, including some great menus, visit Epicurious.com
Favors: Planting a tree in lieu of favors is always a favorite. Consider giving guests wildflower seed packets or even these adorable herb seed packets from Lizard Press via Etsy that are attached to a very cute letterpress card. Guests can take these home and grow at home in the garden or even in a flower pot
We love these lovely twig pencils as well from Estilo Weddings
Decor: Be sure everything you purchase is used or can be re-used again & again! Consider eliminating things like paper napkins and renting all linen napkins.
Photo credits: Jose Villa
Paper goods: Do your best to find 100% recycled paper products! Many designers and printers are starting to offer recycled paper and soy/vegetable oil based ink
Photo credit: Milk Maid Press
For more eco-wedding planning tips & advice, check out Emily Anderson's book eco-chic weddings and Emily's great blog too.
and...
For those of you out there already doing good {green} things...here's your chance to let the world know & a chance to win your own copy of eco-chic weddings too!
Leave us a comment below {and your email where asked} letting us know your favorite green tip or eco-friendly product. We will draw one winner at random on Friday (4/25) morning. Only one entry per email address, please.
Besides asking for paper bags at the store, I recycle EVERYTHING...we've managed to decrease our trash by 50%! Love your blog - thanks for being green
Posted by: Gretchen | April 21, 2008 at 01:40 PM
Carrying a canvas bag shopping is a must...my state is trying to eliminate plastic bags by 2011 which I hope they can do!!
Posted by: rsweet | April 21, 2008 at 01:42 PM
I try to recycle whenever possible and ride my bike too when I can. Living in a city makes that a little easier to do.
Posted by: Molli | April 21, 2008 at 01:44 PM
One of my favorite & most simple way to be green is to unplug appliances after using. Even when appliances are off, they still suck up energy. To make things easier, plug your stuff into a surge protector & just unplug that before you leave your home for the day!
Posted by: mackey | April 21, 2008 at 02:36 PM
You can greenify your wedding, by just cutting back paper use. No RSVPs, pocketfolds, menu cards for me.
Posted by: sassyb2b | April 21, 2008 at 02:52 PM
My favorite green tip for a wedding is to find an organization that will collect unused food from the caterer after the reception and take it to a homeless shelter instead of throwing everything in the trash. Why waste a good meal?!
Posted by: Michelle | April 21, 2008 at 02:52 PM
One great eco-chic wedding tip I know: buy a second-hand dress. It's a consumer-savvy choice: you can bet the dress has probably been used only once. :)
Posted by: Rebecca | April 21, 2008 at 05:08 PM
Instead of using plastic plates for our wedding, I'm going to get china from garage sales and flea markets. This cuts down on waste and infuses Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. It also changes things up and makes eating stylish :)
Posted by: Brandi | April 21, 2008 at 06:34 PM
We're using shuttle buses to minimize the impact of everyone driving to and from our venue. It's also a fun way to get the party started!
Posted by: Kat | April 22, 2008 at 01:24 AM
My green wedding tip is to use candles instead of electricity. We are also using biodegradable confetti to toss at the ceremony. :)
Posted by: Casie | April 22, 2008 at 11:48 PM
A green wedding idea that I'd like to share is using dried flowers - like dried Jasmine - for confetti to toss after the ceremony. You can even make this yourself!
Posted by: Candice | February 02, 2009 at 03:27 PM