Guide to a Growing Trend: The Green or Ecological Wedding

Does it seem like the phrases "ecology" and "wedding" could hardly have less in common?

With the average wedding costing well over 15 thousand today, one would think so. And yet, the "green" or ecologically-friendly wedding is gaining momentum across the nation.

Lower impact and a smaller environmental footprint doesn't mean austere. The green wedding can be hauntingly romantic, with its outdoor setting, its focus on living plants, and its more casual gown (often made of hemp) that brings to mind fairies from ages past.

Even the ecology bride herself forms a contrast with more conventional weddings. Even on her big day, her fresh face couldn't be farther from the heavily made-up cover girls of bridal magazines.

When it comes to more functional aspects, the green wedding has three main goals:

  • Do no harm,

  • Patronize earth-friendly vendors, and

  • Reuse/recycle.

1) Do No Harm

The green bride tries to avoid products or activities that could compromise the environment. For this reason, butterfly releases are rare (vendors aren't always careful to ship butterflies only to appropriate, native environments). Similarly, she steers clear of beeswax candles, styrofoam or soft plastics at the reception, and subtitutes reuseable glass and porcelain. (Brides are often surprised to discover the caterer may not charge much more for this service.)

Many green bridal couples are vegetarian or vegan. In metropolitan or college-town communities, this provides a great excuse to serve dazzling ethnic foods at a reasonable cost.

Many environmentalists respect hemp because unlike cotton, it can be grown without pesticides and returns most of its nutrients to the soil. When the green bride buys a new gown for her ceremony, she often looks to fabrics made of hemp. Surprisingly flexible, hemp can go upmarket ("hemp satin") or relaxed (cottony separates that can be worn after the wedding).

2) Patronize Earth-Friendly Vendors

Flower petals in paper cones are environmentally friendlier than bubble solution in plastic containers, and require minimal clean-up. The trick is finding petal suppliers that don't use pesticides. These growers are more popular in the U.K. than the U.S.

Green brides might also distribute harm-free favors, such as sachets made of pesticide-free herbs, live flowers, tree seedlings, or small packets of organic tea. In fact, some brides register at charitable organizations instead of department stores, and contribute to environmentally-active organizations instead of handing out favors.

3) Reuse, Recycle

Even the most traditional wedding brings opportunities for reuse/recycling. For example, leftovers from the reception can be delivered to food banks, and flowers dropped off at hospitals or rest homes. The green bride often takes this a step further and chooses recycled paper for invitations and Save-the-Date cards, for example. She might also re-use a wedding gown (her mother's ideally, or failing that, one from a thrift or vintage store). Otherwise, she might opt for a new gown that isn't too formal so she can wear it after the ceremony. Separates are perfect -- a lovely lace top goes great with her favorite pair of jeans!

Just as at the grocery store, eco-friendly doesn't necessarily mean cheaper. Ecology brides are sometimes surprised to discover their weddings cost 10K, 20K and up, just like those of their more traditional sisters.

Still, when she looks back on a wedding that opted for more "nature," less formality, and less conspicuous consumption, the green bride might find it was time well spent ? and maybe even hope that a guest or two was inspired to follow in her footsteps.

About The Author

Blake Kritzberg is the proprietor of: http://www.favorideas.com. Visit the site for easy, elegant, unusual, and affordable wedding favor ideas, wedding favor FAQ, and free wedding screensaver.

Learn more about "green weddings" now at:
http://www.favorideas.com

weekly home cleaning Morton Grove ..
In The News:

Kodiak Driver autonomous truck achieves perfect 98 safety score, matching top human fleets in groundbreaking AI evaluation by Nauto's VERA system.
New 401k catch-up contribution rules in 2026 will change taxes for high earners over 50. Learn how scammers exploit these changes and protect your retirement savings.
Kurt Knutsson's guide covers social media privacy protection through location settings, account privacy controls and two-factor authentication to prevent scams and data breaches.
Revolutionary retinal implant restores central vision in 80% of patients with advanced macular degeneration, offering hope where treatments once only slowed blindness.
Learn how to use passkeys on Windows and Mac computers without cameras or fingerprint readers. Discover secure authentication methods that replace passwords.
Tesla's FSD v14.1.2 update reintroduces Mad Max mode, enabling higher speeds and more frequent lane changes than the standard Hurry profile setting.
A phishing email scam targeting American Express customers shows how cybercriminals use fake urgent messages to steal personal and financial information.
Facebook's new Meta AI feature analyzes your camera roll photos to create polished collages automatically, but requires cloud processing and raises privacy concerns.
A New Jersey teenager filed a major lawsuit against AI/Robotics Venture Strategy 3 Ltd. over ClothOff, an AI tool that created fake nude images from her social media photos.
Microsoft reports Storm-2657 cybercriminals sent phishing emails to 6,000 addresses at 25 universities to steal payroll credentials and redirect funds.
Astronomers have discovered asteroid 2025 SC79, a skyscraper-sized space rock orbiting the sun in just 128 days. the second-fastest known.
The Fox News AI Newsletter delivers the latest developments form the world of artificial intelligence, including the technology's challenges and opportunities.
A cyberattack on SimonMed Imaging exposed personal information of 1.2 million patients, including medical records, financial details and identity papers.
Spotify's managed accounts for kids under 13 now available in at least seven countries, allowing parents to filter and block explicit content and songs.
Friendly text conversations about BBQs and social events can lead to WEEX gold trading scams that target older adults with fake investment opportunities.
California company Skyeports creates self-healing glass spheres from Moon regolith that generate solar power and support plant growth for sustainable lunar living.
Cleafy researchers discover fake VPN streaming app Mobdro Pro that installs Klopatra banking Trojan, giving attackers full control over Android devices.
Police departments across the U.S. and Canada are adopting virtual reality training to better prepare officers for high-pressure, real-world situations.
House Bill 469 would prevent AI systems from owning property, serving as executives, or gaining legal personhood in Ohio under Representative Thaddeus Claggett's proposal.
Public voter records expose retirees' personal details to election scammers who create targeted cons using names, addresses, and voting history data.
Instead of fearing what comes next with artificial intelligence, think outside the box. Here are high-earning AI jobs that don't require a computer science degree.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says polite words like "please" and "thank you" cost millions annually, while direct prompts may improve ChatGPT accuracy by several points.
Chattee Chat and GiMe Chat exposed intimate conversations and photos, revealing users spent up to $18,000 on AI companions before the breach.
New Instagram parental controls allow families to manage teen screen time and content limits through the Family Center with stricter safety settings.
Third-party security breach at Discord exposes sensitive user information including government IDs, highlighting cybersecurity risks from external service providers.

The Charm of Homemade Wedding Favors

Homemade wedding favors come from a centuries old tradition of... Read More

Ten Beliefs That Can Contribute to an Unhappy Marriage

Have you ever wondered why your marriage isn't happier? If... Read More

How To Pick The Perfect Wedding Dress

Perhaps the biggest worry of a bride-to-be, is picking out... Read More

A Wedding Theme Can Rescue Your Wedding from Being Another Ho-Hum-Boring Disaster

Are you a Bride-to-Be? Wonderful! Congratulations! But what's that enormous... Read More

Wedding Rings

Your wedding rings were meant to last a lifetime. They... Read More

How To Survive Your Honeymoon

Once you've mortgaged the rest of your life for the... Read More

Wedding Reception Perfection: Tips and Suggestions

Over the past years I have performed at many, many... Read More

Marriage Advice: Ten Danger Signals to Watch for in Your Marriage

Healthy marriages require time, attention, energy, and vigilance. It's not... Read More

Secrets to Controlling Your Man

Ben* has been happily married for 19 years. He recently... Read More

Prenuptial Agreements

"Til death do us part" is still the language used... Read More

Weddings - Wedding Plan - Wedding Planner Tools - Ten Essential Tips

Getting Married? Congratulations! You just set the date for the... Read More

Meaningful Wedding Gift Ideas

A wedding is one of the most special days planned... Read More

10 Secrets to a Successful Stress-Free Wedding

Your wedding is supposed to be the most important day... Read More

A Promise Ring- More Than Just a Pre-Engagement Ring

When one thinks of a promise ring it is common... Read More

Wedding Flowers: How It Emulates Your Personality

Your wedding day, what is presumed to be the happiest... Read More

Maui Honeymoon Resorts

Each of the dozens of Maui honeymoon resorts can be... Read More

Trust in Marriage

Trust is the basis of all human relationships. Trust can... Read More

To Choose a Wedding Planner or Not to Choose a Wedding Planner

When I was the owner of a major wedding facility,... Read More

Wedding Flowers and Arrangements?Best Advice from the Experts

Now that you are planning your wedding, you've got to... Read More

Todays Wedding Is Brought To You In Association With ...

With the cost of today's weddings spiraling to astronomical levels,... Read More

Searching For An Affordable Mother Of The Bride Dress

It is absolutely possible to find a beautiful and affordable... Read More

Loose Moissanite Stones, A Great Way to Buy Your Moissanite Jewelry

Moissanite is fast becoming the new diamonds. The newest jewelry... Read More

What Has Worked For Us (Brief Reflections On Enjoying 36 Years Of Marriage)

WHAT HAS WORKED FOR USBrief Reflections On Enjoying 36 Years... Read More

Six Ways to Decorate Your Wedding Arch

Sometimes a wedding arch is a no-brainer way to spruce... Read More

How to Make Your Wedding Vows Something You?ll Remember Forever

If you're going the increasingly popular route of personalizing your... Read More

move out cleaning service Glenview ..