Today is Earth Day, and the sun is shining in Paris, so I feel like sharing ideas about how to turn a white wedding green.
Eco-awareness is becoming more and more “à la mode”. Today, nature-minded people are no longer called “tree-huggers” or “hippies”… they’re labeled Eco-Chic, a breed of nature-conscious citizens of the world, combining earth-friendly habits and modern style in their day to day lives. And they’re applying the principles of earth-friendly living to their weddings as well.
Are you green-apple green, army green or perhaps more of an emerald green?
A color varying in intensity, “green” in terms of wedding planning, can mean any of the following:
- Sending save-the-dates and/or invitations via the internet (email, facebook, wedding blog, youtube video)
- Catering by eco-friendly vendors
-
Locally-grown organic vegan dishes based on a seasonal menu and served to guests by candlelight (or sunlight)
- Locally-grown organic flowers for the ceremony (no pesticides or chemicals used)
- Rings made from recycled metals (or vintage, or family heirlooms)
- Reusable gowns and suits made of Hemp Satin or Organic Cotton (see examples below!)
- Planting trees with the family the weekend of the wedding
- Asking guests to make donations to your favorite charity as your wedding gift (foregoing the traditional gravy-dishes and sets of napkin rings)
Most couples mix and match the aspects that are the nearest to their heart to create their own shade of green for their wedding.
Even destination weddings can be created in jade. For example, getting married on the grounds of an amazing French vineyard can mean local wine (or champagne!) – an earth-friendly plus!
However, if you are thinking green for your destination wedding, think about offsetting the CO2 emissions from your guests’ travel by planting trees near your home, volunteering on an organic farm, or by donating money to associations who put together projects which “absorb, reduce or avoid an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases elsewhere.”
I found an interesting site to calculate CO2 gases emitted by our actions: ClimateCare. For instance, they estimate a trip from New York to Paris uses 1.62 tons of CO2 for 7249 miles traveled for which the offset cost is estimated around 14£ ($22) per person. Donating this amount per guest (or having guests donate this amount as their wedding gift) can support projects which bring “ecological” electricity, heat, farming and cooking technologies to villages in developing countries around the world.
Besides ClimateCare, I found other websites demonstrating that “eco-friendly” can really be chic.
(Note : I’ve not worked with these companies. I like the ideas presented on their websites, but have no experience with them, and therefore cannot truly recommend them.)
Check out Cred Jewelery for Ethical Fair Trade engagement rings and wedding bands or Brilliant Earth for Conflict-free jewelery.
Morgan Boszilkov has designed some rather lovely gowns, and creates them from Organic Cotton and Linen, Peace Silk and Hemp. Some of her gowns have detachable skirts, and can therefore be worn again.
With gowns like these, your friends will be Green with envy
Earth Day reminder: Keep in mind, taking care of the Earth is not just trendy… it’s necessary!
For fabulous weddings in France, contact Rendez-vous in Paris!
