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Eco-friendly Wedding Ideas

gail simmons from top chef was a green bride
(Photo by Getty Images)
June is the wedding month, and my family is taking it to heart! My brother, sister and cousin are all planning weddings, so lately every family get-together has turned into an advanced bridal idea exchange.

A lot has changed since I got married seven years ago. People are much more open to the idea of eco-friendly options, like email save the dates and using recycled paper (or the kind with wildflower seeds that you can plant) for invitations.

Over at Yum Sugar, Gail Simmons from Top Chef shared her favorite eco-friendly wedding tips, like skipping all of the extra envelopes in the invitation, giving out eco-friendly reusable shopping bags as favors, and sending the floral centerpieces home with guests.

The Smart 2 Be Green newsletter recently offered up more green wedding tips, like:
  • use organic fruit or beeswax candles for center pieces,
  • stick with digital-only photography,
  • go on a green honeymoon.
They also had links to some awesome sites like Great Green Weddings. They have some fascinating articles and ideas, like getting rings made from recycled metal or sending uneaten wedding banquet food to a local shelter.

I was especially moved to read about Brides Against Breast Cancer -- you can donate your (gently used) gown. The organization resells the gown and donates the proceeds to help women with breast cancer. And, of course, your bridesmaids should donate their gowns to Donate My Dress, which helps girls who couldn't otherwise afford it get a special dress for a special occasion.

If you're practicing reduce, reuse, and recycle in your everyday life, there are lots of resources to make your wedding equally eco-friendly. And if you are a recent green convert, planning wedding is a great way to learn about sustainable practices that you can continue to use long after you've finished picking the bird seed (we don't use rice anymore, it's bad for the birds) out of your veil.

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