The general rule of thumb is that more money something costs, the more impact on green business you have by directing those dollars to eco-friendly companies. The three largest wedding expenses are food (~$10,000), jewelry (~$6,000), and attire (~$2,300), so any changes you can make to decrease your impact in these areas goes a long way. For example, if every couple spent 10% of their catering budget on organic ingredients, it would add $2.5 billion to the organic movement a year. There are often simple substitutions available (like vintage diamonds for rings) that not only benefit green businesses and the environment, but can save you money too.
Posted on February 9, 2009
by Allie

A lot of time, effort, and money can go into planning the perfect wedding day. What if all those resources went toward planning the perfect green wedding day? We’ve talked a lot about voting green with your dollars. Planning your wedding is a great way to “vote” green.
The Green Bride Guide by Kate L. Harrison is a wonderful resource for anyone planning a wedding, or anyone who just enjoys dreaming about their wedding day.
Well organized and easy to read, The Green Bride Guide is full of suggestions for every wedding budget. Even though I’m radpidly heading toward my five year wedding anniversary, I still enjoyed reading this book and marveled at how creative Kate is. There’s a lot of practical advice for hiring caterers, scanning shops for vintage clothes and decorations, and making guests comfortable at your wedding while keeping your impact low.
I’m giving away my copy of The Green Bride Guide!
To enter, sign in with a valid e-mail address and leave a comment below. Comments that appear to be spam will not be counted. The giveaway closes on Monday, February 16th, and I’ll post the winner as soon as I draw a name. And stay tuned. I’ll give you a chance at another entry later this week. Good Luck!
Posted on May 9, 2008
by Allie

Giving favors to your guests and receiving gifts from them are common wedding practices. Remember that it’s your wedding and you should do what is important to you. Don’t feel like you have to give out favors or register for gifts, but if you do, make a little extra effort to go green. Read more…
Posted on May 8, 2008
by Allie

“So, what does your dress look like?” is one of the first questions people ask when they find out you’re getting married. Your wedding dress may be white, but it can still be green. Read more…
Posted on May 7, 2008
by Allie

Flowers are a huge part of many wedding celebrations. Make sure the flowers you chose are eco-friendly ones.
Read more…
Posted on May 6, 2008
by Allie

Whether you’re planning a simple brunch or a twelve course meal, the menu is another great way to green your wedding. Read more…
Posted on May 5, 2008
by Allie

This week, I’m going to be talking about planning an eco-friendly wedding. If you’re not getting married, don’t worry, there will be lots of other info up, and many of these tips will also work well for a family reunion or party.
We’ll talk about:
- Invitations
- Food
- Flowers
- The Dress
- Favors & Registry
Also, if you’re just starting to think about getting married, you may be interested in previous posts on eco-friendly engagements here and here.
Read more…