Mon, May 21 2012

Here Comes The Bride, All Dressed In... Hemp?

Friday, 24 July 2009 Posted in Green - Eco Tips
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How Today's Eco-Conscious Couples are Turning Their White Weddings Green

For a growing number of couples preparing to walk down the aisle, commitment is taking on a deeper meaning. Many couples are embracing the growing trend to reduce their wedding's impact on the environment. To assist them in reducing their special day's carbon footprint is, you guessed it, the green wedding planner. Corina Beczner graduated with an MBA in sustainability and went on to found her wedding-planning firm, Vibrant Events, in San Francisco. She has a passion for waste reduction and helps couples plan eco-friendly weddings. Here are some of her green wedding tips:

The Rings

Vintage rings (family heirlooms or antiques) or rings made out of recycled metal are the green way to go. Also, starting with the engagement ring, avoid buying "blood diamonds." These are diamonds that are mined in war zones and help fund conflicts. Go to Amnesty International's Buyer's Guide to help you through the process of finding what's known as a conflict-free diamond.

The Invitations

Use high recycled-content paper, 100% recycled cotton paper, tree-free paper such as paper made out of bamboo or plantable paper that contains seeds that can be put in soil, watered and grown. Work with a local green printer who will use less toxic printing methods such as printing with soy-based inks. Corina says green printing is a growing business and, these days, not hard to find especially if you live in a metropolitan area. If you're really willing to break with tradition and be alternative, you can even go paperless with E-vites.

The Setting
A beautiful outdoor setting helps to reduce one's decorating needs and is good for your wallet and the environment! Choose a location that's in close proximity to most of your guests to minimize travel and/or buy carbon offsets through organizations such as www.liveneutral.org. Another company, Native Energy, even has a special link that helps couples figure out how much they should buy to offset the environmental impact of their wedding and honeymoon. If you want a hotel wedding, look for one that is Green Seal certified.
The Food & Cake
It's not just people who fly. So much of our food is imported and flown thousands of miles from other locations. All the air travel has a huge impact on the environment. Source local and seasonal food instead. If the venue you have chosen uses its own caterers, ask if they will prepare local, organic food and inquire about organic wine and beer. There are also many organic caterers and organic restaurants that will cater. Similarly, organic bakeries are becoming more common if you want to go for the organic wedding cake. Use real place settings (dishes, glasses and napkins), not disposables, and consider that buffets are much more wasteful than plated or family-style dinners.
The Decor
Opt for local and seasonal flowers and look for flowers or talk to your florist about using flowers that have the VeraFlora certification (certified as sustainably grown). There are also alternatives to using flowers or at least so many of them. Florists can make beautiful arrangements with local branches, greens and berries. As far as candles go, choose soy-based or beeswax candles, not candles made with paraffin (which has been identified as a carcinogen).


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Great article!! Let's not forget the dress. There are many eco bridal designers who are making stunning gowns from eco friendly fabrics like hempsilk. Canada's pioneer in eco couture bridal is Adele Wechsler http://adelewechsler.com/index2.html. When you blend hemp with other fibers it can really be quite luxurious and is not at all like a burlap sack!

Singer, songwriter and eco activist Tara MacLean (http://taramaclean.com/) is about to have her green wedding in Tofino, and she will be wearing an Adele Wechsler gown. Her wedding party will also be in eco courtesy of another eco bridal designer in Canada, Margaret MacLeod. http://margaretmacleod.com/

Weddings have such a huge environmental impact! Brides who care should know that there are many options available and even Green Wedding planners out there like this one: http://www.itspersonal.ca/
as well as events like the Eco Wedding Show! http://ecoweddingshow.com/ happening again this fall in Toronto.

Kelly Drennan , July 24, 2009 | url

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