Planning a Green Wedding

David's Bridal conducted an Internet survey in 2009 and the result was that almost half of the 500 women surveyed that had become recently engaged or married had thought of the eco friendly aspect  of their wedding plans. The increase will continue and even without the exact figures being available the green wedding is catching on as shown by the presence of green honeymoon destinations, limo drivers, wedding planners, photographers, florists and caterers. Sunshine Coast weddings can go green too!

Every year there are approximately 2.5 million weddings. The small amount that can be considered as going 'green' is confirmed by the waste that is gathered up from only one wedding. Most green weddings will make an effort to reduce the amount of throwaways and use resource conserving materials.

Why Would You have a green Wedding?

A traditional wedding in the U.S. will normally use almost 200 tons of CO2 and the simplest of weddings can still use about 110 tons.

The green wedding is said to be an indication of the future lifestyle of the couple. This is true of the friends and family as well. Those who are guests and those who are a part of the wedding party seem to notice the important aspects of going green. The best way to pass along the idea of going green at home is the indirect way of showing others how to go green by example. The chatting at the wedding will be about the benefits to the environment.

Green weddings can be planned to cut expenses. The way to start is to use a ring that has been passed down through the family as the engagement ring. They can be purchased at estate sales or bargain stores. The wedding rings can be from the same place. The cost will be extremely less than the new rings and they are just as beautiful.

How do you go about planning a green wedding?

Stylish and intelligent couples who want to take care of their planet will send the food left from the wedding to either an abused women or children's shelter or to feed the homeless. The planting of trees as a celebration of the occasion, their honored guests and new relatives is becoming more commonplace. Instead of gifts charity donations can be requested to be given to the guests favorite charity.

The use of flowers from the local gardens and the fields of wildflowers can supply the wedding decorations and the bride's and other members of the wedding party's flowers.

Green weddings mean clean weddings. The wedding should leave no mess just as the camping trip should be left clean. The wedding area and reception should be left as if you never had been there and this idea should be used all through the wedding from the beginning to the end including the honeymoon.

Eliminate paper. There are sites online, for example weddingwindow.com, evite.com and theknot.com that have invitations that are created and sent online.

Gifts chosen by eco friendly brides and grooms

* Can be a donation in honour of the wedding.
* Are not as lavish an affair as others.
* Do not use as much energy.
* Do not use "blood diamonds".
* Have a reduction in the carbon footprint left after the wedding.

As a whole, respect for the environment can be shown by having a green wedding and a green honeymoon, and can save money when compared to the national average wedding costs.

Are you planning a green wedding?  Check out Sunshine Coast weddings at the events centre @ maroochy.