A bride with a hydrangea bouquet and vegan menu, hosting an event at an eco-retreat? People using their weddings as a political platform to further their own progressive agendas? Sounds like the New York Times got wind of my wedding!
… Oh wait, no they didn't. They just finally noticed the increasing number of couples who are planning green eco-weddings, which they feature in today's article, How Green Was My Wedding.
The article seems to ignore the "reduce, reuse, recycle" aspect of environmentalism, focusing on green products couples can buy instead of suggesting that couples take the truly radical step of just buying less.
It's a decent article, profiling couples who are creatively finding ways to minimize the ecological impact of their wedding days. I especially appreciate the couple who points out that they had to make some sacrifices so that they could stay within their budget, inviting less people so they could afford to feed their guests an organic meal.
That said, I definitely get concerned when I see wedding trend articles that lay yet another financial concern on engaged couples, yet another way in which brides can whip themselves into a frenzy. "I must have tea candles on every table — and they must be SOY CANDLES!" How about just skipping the candles? As my friend Esther pointed out, it's a little frustrating that the article seems to ignore the "reduce, reuse, recycle" aspect of environmentalism, focusing on green products couples can buy instead of suggesting that couples take the truly radical step of just buying less.
Going green can simply mean going more expensive, and it’s important to pick your priorities to avoid convincing yourself you simply MUST spend a small fortune. Then again, if you’re spending that small fortune supporting organic farmers and eco-conscious vendors, it’s probably money well-spent.
And regardless of how you go green, as one engaged woman in the article noted, using your wedding as an opportunity to make an political/environmental point is "a huge opportunity for people to make choices that can affect change. It’s one of the biggest contributions you can make as a young adult." In other words, if you're going to stress about your wedding, it's better to freak out over its ecological impact than, say, whether the tulle on the back of the chairs matches your shoes.
That said, I think we may have out-greened even the New Yorkers with our wedding — did they have composting toilets?! I think not!
PS: Here are a few offbeat eco-wedding links for ya.
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