As most of you already know, there is a revolution happening in the wedding industry, and it is colored green. Green weddings may be called a trend, but unlike other trends, this one is here to stay.
The wedding industry in North America is enormous. In 2007 alone, the total cost of weddings was estimated at $62.8 billion in the US, and $4 billion in Canada respectively. If you include some of the indirect costs like air travel, etc., those numbers start to balloon even more.
As a commercial enterprise, weddings are by nature geared toward extravagance. Not a bad thing of course, but with extravagance comes a great deal of CO2 or carbon dioxide gas generation, the main contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
Green weddings are not necessarily more expensive than traditional weddings, however they can require more work. Commercially speaking, green weddings are really in their infancy, and much of the infrastructure surrounding them has yet to be firmly established. In other words, you either do much of the legwork yourself or you hire a green wedding coordinator.
Let's assume for this article's sake, you have not hired a planner and are wading through the environmental mire for the first time.
Here are some easy ideas to get you going in the right direction;
Reduce
If you are a typical bride and groom, you want to pull out all the stops for the big day, so getting by with less is not what you had in mind! The current economy may have already forced your hand, however if you are to get married at all, it will be a scaled down affair. It needs to be said that the little touches will be the most remembered.
Alternative Venues
Getting married in an unconventional setting like the beach or at the entranceway to your favorite hiking trail is a great idea. It is a perfect opportunity to draw attention to the beauty of the great outdoors and strengthen your environmental commitment.
The logistics of an outdoor wedding without the basics can be a nightmare, so plan carefully. Also, remember to look into permitting from your local municipality.
You may look for an alternative venue like a local winery if some are within easy reach, or how about a local organic farm? What a superb way to introduce your guests to an authentic eating experience.
Of course, having your wedding and reception at the same venue will save time and money while reducing the carbon footprint of your wedding. Being able to move outside while the space is being made over from ceremony to soiree is a great help, and your caterer will thank you too.
Invitations
Just about everyone is online these days so why not send an e-vite to your upcoming nuptials? With the simple click of a mouse your invitations are sent. No expensive embossing, envelope addressing and stamp licking required. In addition, include links in your e-vite to other sites like bus and train schedules to expand on the green theme.
If you are not a diehard traditionalist, e-vites are the way to go. Visit sites such as Wedding Tracker, Wedding Window and EWedding, - they've got the information you need.
The Menu: Look in your Own Backyard
According to Mark Bittman in his book Food Matters, methane gas from the raising of livestock globally contributes roughly one-fifth of all greenhouse gas emissions. Now, a strictly vegan wedding meal may not be what you had in mind, but what about reducing the meat portion of your meal? Instead, ask your caterer to source locally raised, grain-fed and hormone free beef.
A vegetarian pasta dish ticks so many of the right boxes for feeding a diverse group of people. A lasagna made with local, organic squash is hearty, delicious and most importantly, no one will miss the meat.
Organic Wine
Organic wine has not had much of a reputation until recently. Lack of regulation meant that just about anyone could use the term without substantiating the claim. That has all changed now that The Canadian Food Inspection Agency now uses a recognized certification board to provide national certification. BC has a growing list of top quality, certified organic wineries of which Summerhill Pyramid Winery and Lotusland Winery are but two. If you want to learn more about BC wine, The British Columbia Wine Institute has a comprehensive website where you can uncover the basics of viticulture, plan a wine tour itinerary, or find your closest VQA store.
Flowers
If you had the time or inclination, you could harvest your own wild flowers. While ambitious, it is a tad impractical, so the next best option is to source locally grown, fairly traded, organic or Veriflora flowers. Veriflora is a sustainability certification program for flowers that are grown in an environmentally and socially responsible manner and meet the highest standards for freshness and quality. One such exemplary supplier in the Lower Mainland is Amoda Flowers. Amoda Flowers is committed to sustainability.
Bridal Registry
It is a smart thing to set up a bridal registry, but why not have one that is a little less conventional? Set up your registry at an outdoor store like Mountain Equipment Cooperative if you are the outdoor type. Better still, how about asking guests to contribute to a worthwhile cause? You can create a charity registry at the I Do Foundation.
Other interesting options are gifts in kind. Consider creating a list of duties that guests can volunteer for. You may know a graphic designer who might agree to design your e-vite and there are always friends that will help decorate your venue.
Keep it Casual
Keeping it casual works well for weddings where green is the theme. If you are married to the idea of a traditional wedding with all the trimmings, then going green can be prohibitively expensive. Renting as much of what already exists in the world is your best course of action.
The Honeymoon
According to a Wedding Bells Magazine survey, a typical honeymoon lasts 8.8 nights; 67 percent plan to spend their honeymoon outside of the country, and 56 percent plan to stay at an all-inclusive resort, spending $3,735 on average. This involves flying and that means more emissions. What to do?
Carbon Offsetting
With carbon offsetting you are essentially trading off one activity that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions with a financial contribution to an activity or cause that saves emissions.
You may look at offsetting the CO2 generated by the air travel of guests attending your wedding by buying credits in a green technology. Visit a site like Carbon Fund where you can use a handy calculator to tally up your entire carbon footprint for the wedding. You can then buy credits in anything from renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects.
These are just a few suggestions to shrink your wedding footprint down to a more delicate size.
