inspiration
to a Green Wedding
Say
“I DO”
by Tracy DiNunzio
Shifts toward sustainability in the wedding industry are now allow- ing brides and grooms to achieve the wedding day of their dreams in budget-friendly ways. Couples are using the big occasion as an opportunity to nurture their personal and financial well-being, protect the environment and support their communities. We may all be inspired by their example in choosing these top sustainable alternatives to standard wedding practices.
There’s No Place Like Home ~ From
venues to menus, couples are making efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and cut their budgets by keeping cel- ebrations “all in the neighborhood.” Backyard weddings are helping guests cut back on travel, and caterers are responding to clients’ demands for more locally produced food. Wedding favors and decorations now come from local artisans and shops.
Floral Options ~ Conventional cut flowers are expensive, plus, they’re grown with pesticides and have a
huge carbon footprint, so couples are instead decorating with living suc- culents and paper flowers. Many will eschew the floral look altogether by using soy candles, fruit and found objects for table centerpieces and bouquets.
Wedding Planning Goes Digital ~
From blogs to Facebook, wedding planning has become an online com- munity affair. “More and more, brides are turning to wedding forums to look for fresh wedding ideas and the latest wedding trends, as well as resources,”
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
More than 2 million weddings take place each year in the United States.
Bright Bridal Shoes ~ Bridal shoes
in bright and bold hues like fuchsia, emerald green and electric blue are in. Colored shoes are a stylish surprise under a white wedding gown and, unlike white and dyed pastel satin ver- sions, can be worn again and again.
Something Old, Something New ~
The hottest sustainable trend for 2010 weddings is incorporating recycled elements like gently used bride and bridesmaids dresses, pre-owned wed- ding decorations and vintage bridal jewelry. Brides now joining the wed- ding resale revolution are using sites like
RecycledBride.com and discov- ering how easy it is to save money and be a little greener by buying and selling their wedding items.
Tracy DiNunzio is founder and CEO of Recycled Media, Inc., which operates the eco-resale websites RecycledBride. com and
RecycledTyke.com.
June 2010
33
says Christine Dyer, founder of Brid-
alTweet.com. Brides are connecting with each other for advice, support and are even trading recommenda- tions for vendors and other service providers on community-based social networks like
BrideShare.net.
The Times Are A-Changing ~ Roman-
tics are scheduling their nuptials on weeknights, Sundays, and even early mornings in 2010. It’s less expensive to book a venue or caterer on these days at these times, and as telecom- muting becomes increasingly popular, workers have more flexible schedules. Sunrise ceremonies can be bookended by chic mid-week dinner receptions and brunch parties.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48