Nice day for a green wedding
I just got married, and one of the fi rst things people asked me beforehand was whether my nuptial celebration was going to be green. Well, yes, in many ways it was because I try (try!) to be as green as I can with everything I do.
But the only completely green wedding is no wedding at all.
A shindig that involves food and booze and travel and stuff means serious carbon emissions. And given the $20,000-plus the average couple spends on their wedding, this fete has a much bigger footprint than your typical dinner party. Still, there are ways to make the footprint smaller.
Remember that less is more (more green, that is): Instead of assembling 400 of your not-so-closest friends, plan an intimate affair.
Forgo fluff: No one will remember the pretty little things you gave as favors or the color of the ribbon on your programs.
Skip all that. Use what you would have spent to offset your guests’ travel through an organization such as carbonfund.org.
Choose wisely: With each and every decision, think green. Use recycled paper (as little as possible) for your invitations. Serve organic (and local) food and wine. Pick an environmentally responsible venue, such as the State Room in Boston, Belle Mer in Newport, R.I. (longwoodevents.com), or the Crane Estate in Ipswich (craneestate.org). Don’t make your wedding parties buy new duds; figure out what they can wear that’s already in their closet. (Little black dresses for the ladies, dark suits for the guys?) Instead of hothouse-grown, fertilizer-laden flowers shipped from across the world, look for local, seasonal blooms.
Rethink the registry: Only choose items you need, preferably eco-friendly ones, and ask that once your requests are fulfi lled, guests donate to environmental causes in your name.
Next week: tips for being a greener wedding guest.
Christie Matheson is the author of "Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style."; Send questions to globegreenside@ yahoo.com. 