Standing on Ceremony - On greening your wedding

Dear Umbra,

How about some practical thoughts on "green" weddings? My daughter is planning an outdoor July wedding in Wisconsin -- any tips? The reception is going to be outdoors at our home.

Tomm G.
Waukesha, Wis.

Hi Tomm,

This week's theme is 10-foot-pole topics! Or love! They're one and the same!

Environmental issues to consider for weddings are going to be quite similar to the everyday issues: transportation, food, non-transit energy use, consumer waste. Green weddings are a potentially awkward proposition because elaborate three-day affairs have become the cultural norm. Obviously in consideration of the environment less is more, but in the modern wedding context it might be difficult for the family to feel happy or comfortable just having a simple event, which we might call the "reduce" wedding.

The wedding industry is large, and the "green products" industry is sizable, and they have an area of overlap. The trouble with a lot of "green" consumer stuff is that it is simply substitutive. Vendors exist who can sell you all the things you would like for a regular old giant wedding, only with a green pedigree: organic flowers, organic party favors, hemp gowns, registries with ecologically minded companies. My feeling is that this is somewhat better than the traditional route, and if you want to go ahead with that kind of idea, please punch "green wedding" into your search engine. You might also read my earlier columns about rings, registries, and flying all your guests to Hawaii. My big heretical notion is: the smaller wedding (see last column for heretical notion about smaller family). Either that's possible given family politics, or it is not. Consider it thoroughly. A small guest list will mean fewer resources used in every category.

Less transportation will be the big goal, but it can be achieved in a variety of ways. Since this is likely the largest impact of your backyard shindig, let's list some emissions-reducing transport schemes. For others who haven't yet chosen their location, consider one to which guests will travel the least total miles. Try to do everything possible to reduce individual car trips from airports and hotels -- provide buses, shuttles, provide incentives to use the buses and shuttles (snacks? keeping event location secret? guilt?), have the wedding at a hotel where everyone stays, have ceremony and reception in the same location. Consider purchasing green tags to make up for unavoidable carbon emissions.

In choosing the food, look for organically grown and/or locally sourced products, as you should when possible in your daily life. Find a caterer who will work with you to use the products. Here's an unpopular but environmentally sound idea: have a vegetarian menu. Hey, speaking of unpopular ideas, how about a composting toilet at the reception? Quelle scandale! But seriously, folks, what other categories do we have? Outdoors in summer is a great choice, because you won't need to heat or air-condition the space. Any paper goods such as invitations can be printed on recycled-content paper. Any festive garments can be purchased secondhand or reused -- the tradition of using a mother's gown fits in nicely with environmental ethics. There's a whole brides-against-breast-cancer gown resale project too.

Never having planned a wedding, I'm sure I'm missing some vital piece of the event, but reduce -- go smaller and use less stuff -- seems to be the key. If you've been reading Grist, you already know the major considerations for daily life with an environmental bent. Think carefully about each step of the planning, keeping your knowledge in mind, and I don't think you can go too wrong. Besides transportation, almost everything about a wedding would happen anyway, right? People at home would eat and sleep and crumple napkins anyway. So follow your common sense, and hopefully being ecologically minded won't add to the stress of planning a big event. And congratulations.

Soothingly,
Umbra

By Umbra Fisk - 28 Mar 2007 - http://www.grist.org/

Altar-native Energy - How to green your wedding

No one wants to scrimp on matters of the heart. And not a lot of lovebirds want to pass up the chance to throw a meaning-laden bash with friends, family, and bubbly that ends in a sex-crazed vacation. Who could say no to that?

But when it comes to weddings, there are greener ways to get hitched. Today, earth-friendlier versions of conventional weddings are blooming everywhere -- from "Days of Our Lives" to the pages of Modern Bride. Thanks to an increasingly robust eco-marketplace that offers everything from organic champagne to biodegradable confetti, walking down the aisle without leaving a huge carbon footprint is a piece of connubial cake. And ideas abound for alternative (i.e., non-extravaganza) ceremonies too.

All it takes is some simple planning and a bit of pruning for the guest list (do you really need to fly in your fourth cousins from Slobovia?). After that, just feel the love -- the kind that extends to your betrothed and to the ground we all walk on.

Here are a few ideas to get you started -- and we welcome those of you who have walked the eco-aisle to share your story in the comments section below.

Level One: The Baby Step

Be a skipper. As in, skip the rice tossing. It's potentially bad for birds and wildlife, and it's definitely messy. If you must provide something for guests to toss, opt for something like birdseed -- unless the event is in a wilderness area where feeding critters isn't allowed. Try skipping a few other things, too, like party favors and place cards. The industry will tell you these things are a must, but any guest who's left an event laden down with them will tell you they're a bust. If you can't bear to skip them, consider giving garden seeds as favors and writing your guests' names on stones. Don't worry, Martha would approve.

Level Two: The Next Steps

Dress reversal. Green wedding garb, like the best love affairs, shouldn't leave a trail of toxic residue behind. Buy new or nearly-new gowns at places like Encore Bridal or your local secondhand store; check out the green wedding site Portovert; or shop at Anna Cohen, a Vera Wang of the green world. And guys: keep renting those tuxes! If you could really use new threads, buy organic cotton dress shirts or hemp suits that you can wear again.

Do the local-motive. Yes, Fiji is pretty this time of year, but making your guests jet there to see you wed is guaranteed to produce a world of CO2 hurt. So get married in a central spot near the majority of your guests. And when you're buying the wedding goodies, snag them locally, to reduce the carbon costs of driving and shipping. If you can't find the shops you need, browse Co-op America's green pages to find local-organic flowers, décor, food, and drink -- including fine champagne and wine.

Bling it on. Diamonds, as we know, are a churl's best friend. Metal mining -- another nightmare -- is a No. 1 polluter in the United States, according to No Dirty Gold; a single band of gold produces 20 tons of deadly mine waste. So ring in the new: buy from the growing class of conflict-free gems, including eco-friendly diamonds and gold made with fair labor practices. Recycled jewelry glitters just as nicely.

Guide yer gifters. This is where your noblesse can really oblige. Ask people to forgo that third toaster they were about to give you and instead request gifts from a green registry like VivaTerra. Even better, encourage guests to buy carbon offsets, contribute toward an experience (skydiving lessons, here you come!), or donate to any number of cool charities via nonprofits like the I Do Foundation, which also accepts donated wedding dresses when the day's done.

Level Three: The Big Step

Say 'I Don't.' Traditional weddings doth not automatically a happy marriage make; being in love is what counts. So why not escape the headaches and pressures of party planning -- while saving major amounts of money and stress on you and the earth -- and just elope? Say your vows at city hall, vault neatly over the months of work and piles of bills, and stick the perfect landing. It's an option that bucks tradition, to be sure -- but it's just as likely to lead to a happy ending.

29 Apr 2008 - http://www.grist.org/

Green Party Tips

10 ways to make your next party stylish, fun, and green.

Do as many of these tips as you can. Then reward yourself with a fresh mani and pedi for your party. Hey, even three or four of these ideas will help future generations of Nesties.

1. Evites are a must

Skip the pretty paper cards and save a tree or two. We know you love wowing your friends with your invitation creations, but you'll amaze them enough when they arrive, we promise! Plus, the Evite has a great way for you to still be clever with your post. We love uploading funny pictures and choosing pretty designs that even the pickiest guest will love. And be sure to get creative with the reply categories.

2. Use the stuff you've got

You know those dishes, glasses, and place settings you put on your registry but still haven't taken out of the cabinet? Now is the time to break them out. You'll have to do a little extra cleanup at the end of the night, but isn't reversing global warming worth an extra few minutes?

3. Personalize cups

If you insist on using disposable glassware, buy the kind made from recycled or sustainable materials (look for stuff manufactured from corn resin or sugar-cane stalk, or items labeled "biodegradable" or "100 percent recycled content"). And prevent the cup-mistaken-identity syndrome (you know, when someone takes a cup and places it next to an identical one, and then both people have to get new cups) by taking a Sharpie and marking each cup with a personalized monogram.

4. Light it up

Cut down on electricity and create a romantic (and, let's face it, flattering) glow by placing lit candles everywhere. Use soy or beeswax candles, which, unlike petroleum-based paraffin candles, won't emit toxic, sooty fumes.

5. Be thrifty

When looking for hosting odds and ends that will add a finishing touch to your decor -- like salad servers and place mats -- check out flea markets and thrift shops. As long as you wash them in incredibly hot water, you are actually getting something amazingly unique and doing your part to create less trash. After all, if you didn't buy it, it might have been thrown out.

6. Go local

Skip the produce aisle at your regular grocery store, and visit a local organic farm or market to grab your greens. Or if your supermarket chain carries a local organic vendor line, all the better. You'll not only get pesticide- and hormone-free products, but buying local items means they've had to travel only a short distance (versus thousands of miles) to get to your house. And if you haven't guessed it already, that means they used up less fuel.

7. Fill 'er up

Treat your friends to organic wines and spirits, and you'll be getting them drunk without the gunk of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Another reason you're hearing and seeing so much "buy organic" propaganda is that it supports farmers who make the extra effort to not pollute the soil, which helps Big Momma Earth.

8. Give away your decor

Decorate your pad with small organic plants -- they'll help clear the air of carbon dioxide, of course, and pump in more oxygen. Then give them away as favors. Encourage guests to plant them, and you'll be spreading that earth-lovin' love!

9. Recycle

This might be the "duh" tip of the day, but if you don't do it already, you must. Check absolutely everything you're about to throw away to see if you can use it again (even if it's to send home extra food with a guest). And if you can't use it, make sure glass, paper, and plastic products get thrown out in the recycle bin. This will preserve natural resources, cut down on junk heading to landfills, and reduce the amount of energy used and pollution emitted in the manufacturing of new products.

10. Clean up green

We've said it before and we'll say it again: Organic stuff equals good for the planet. So use spray cleaner and dishwashing liquid that won't add bad chemicals to the water supply, air, and soil. We like Method (methodhome.com) because its products smell yummy. And if you must use paper towels (reusable cloths are ideal), get recycled products from Seventh Generation (seventhgeneration.com) or Planet (planetinc.com). And for whatever waste you have (hopefully, it's not too much), use biodegradable trash bags, like the ones from BioBag (biogroupusa.com).

-- Christie Matheson
http://ideas.thenest.com/

Zero Waste Event Planning Tips

Making your wedding, meeting, or party into a zero-waste event can be a clear display of your stewardship for the environment as well as an educational experience for attendees. Done successfully, there are benefits for the environment including waste management (nothing goes to the landfill) and energy savings. However pulling it off is not as easy at it might seem. There are three questions to ask yourself when planning your zero-waste event.

First, can you use durable goods such as ceramics, silverware, glasses, and cloth tablecloths and napkins? If so, use them! This is often an option when events are held in churches or halls that have their own durables. Yes, there is some extra work since they need to be washed, but there will be much less trash to dispose or which will save you some money.

When durables aren't an option and you'd like to use compostable food service items, can you avoid contamination of compostables and/or recyclables? For example, can you instruct your attendees either verbally or through signage to separate out compostables, recyclables and any remaining trash? If not, you will likely end up with contaminated compostables and/or recyclables. Most people are not accustomed to this level of separating out their waste (yet!). Recycling has been around for a long time but even now at any given airport you'll find recyclables in the trash receptacles, so people are bound to make mistakes. These factors help avoid contamination:

• Only use compostables for the event.
• Instruct event attendees as a group as to how to dispose of their waste.
• Have someone present by receptacles to instruct attendees.
• Post very clear signage on waste receptacles.

Last, if you think you can avoid contamination of your compostables, do you have a place to compost your compostalbes? Check with your municipal waste facility to ask about drop-off composting options or commercial composting facilities in your area. You can also look for local composters at findacomposter.com. If there is a local commercial or municipal composting facility, be sure to ask which compostables they will accept. Many do not accept bioplastics.

Composting at home might be an option, but certified compostables are meant to be composted in commercial or municipal composting facilities where high temperatures and humidity are achieved. Most home composts do not achieve such conditions. Compostables made from paper and bagasse (residual from sugar cane) or other non-plastic compostables will likely break down more successfully in the home setting than compostable plastics, although information on home composting of bioplastics is lacking. Also consider the amount of compostables you will generate. If you have a family reunion for 50 people and a 3x3x3 foot bin, you will likely end up with an overflowing bin for a while.

Compostables require composting to fully break down and complete the biological cycle, but unfortunately not everyone has access to a commercial or municipal composting facility. Compostables can be used in areas where there are no composting facilities or home/farm composting options, but the benefits of using them are much less (if any). Bioplastics in landfills may last as long as traditional plastics, and landfilling them breaks the biological cycle that sustains us.

Author Description: Lynn Zanardi Blevins, MD, MPH is the founder of http://compostablegoods.com, a company offering compostable and biodegradable items and dedicated to the promotion of cradle to cradle product design. Dr. Blevins is a medical epidemiologist, an environmentalist, and an enthusiastic home composter.

http://ezinearticles.com/

7 Tips for Planning Your Green Wedding

At $20,000, the average wedding in the United States is not cheap, to say the least. It's rare to have that kind of spending power. So put your love and your wallet to work for the environment with these great green wedding ideas.

Before accepting or making a proposal, make sure you are starting the marriage off on the right foot with an eco-friendly ring. Conflict-free diamonds are a must. Try Polar Bear Diamonds, which follow strict labor and environmental guidelines. Another great option is Green Karat, which makes unique styles from recycled metals and responsibly mined diamonds. Any wedding needs something old, and something new -- which category will your ring fit into? A timeless vintage ring can be chic and trendy, not to mention environmentally responsible.

It's all about the dress. Make a statement in vintage, organic or sustainable materials. But don't stop with the bride's gown. Now, we know every bride tells her bridesmaids their dresses can be worn again; but it's important to truly choose wedding party dresses that can be worn again and cherished forever (not tossed out the day after). One rule of thumb: Fuchsia is not green.

Does lacy paper inscribed with checkboxes for prime rib or salmon, and its own little return envelope, really signify modern love? Paperless e-vites might be the most eco-friendly way to go, but if you want something more traditional, try recycled paper and ask for an online RSVP. Skip the printed directions and other info often stuffed into the envelope, and make your guests' first stop a Website with all the details.

A large part of your wedding dollar is spent on the location. If possible, choose a venue nearby most of your guests to cut down on their drive or fly times. If you have a botanical garden or park you support locally, why not ask if you might use the venue for your reception? If booking a hotel, consider a fuel-efficient shuttle to ferry guests to and from the ceremony and reception. Who wants a parking lot full of cars in their wedding photos anyway?

Local is the name of the game here. Check out wineries and breweries in your area. If there are none (or your guests' palates are too refined for anything but Chateauneuf du Pape) choose an organic or biodynamic wine alternative. For your meal, talk to the farmers at your local market to see what will be fresh at the time of your wedding, and see if you can order ahead. If you are working with a caterer, discuss local seasonal foods that you'd love to see on the menu. Chocolate strawberries for a spring bride? Yum.

How often can you shamelessly tell people exactly what gifts you want? Why not ask for some more meaningful items than the shiniest fondue pot in the store? (If you need help, check out our eco-chic wedding gift list.) Or register with a charitable registry like the IDoFoundation, which donates a percentage of the money spent on your gifts to a charity of your choice. Of course, the most eco-friendly way (although not as much fun) is to ask for no gifts at all... so if you don't need 'em, let your guests know.

To have and to hold... to pollute and to poison? Many traditional wedding flowers are doused with pesticides and shipped from halfway around the world. If you don't want to start your marriage with that kind of carbon footprint, try organic flowers or find out what flowers grow locally. Instead of traditional centerpieces, try potted plants that can double as gifts to your guests. (For some beautiful options, check out our organic flower ideas.)

A marriage is about love and a commitment to a shared future. The choices you make at your wedding can frame a lifetime: Live well by doing good. Your commitment will be everlasting. Shouldn't your wedding be sustainable, too?

Here's wishing you continued love for each other and the environment long after you say "I do."
Find tips on taking a great green honeymoon, as well as other green wedding suggestions, here.

http://www.thedailygreen.com/