Ideas For An Eco Friendly Wedding

We at Moissy.com are big fans of eco-friendly weddings, which is probably not surprising given our gemstone’s sustainable status. However, we’ve found that some brides are afraid that making their big day more green will be way too difficult and time consuming. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of five easy ways to make your wedding more environmentally friendly.

Embrace the beauty of nature

A majestic mountain vista. A pristine white beach. A clearing in an ethereal forest. All of these locations are so naturally beautiful that they need very little additional décor and prep work to be photo-ready. Let nature be the backdrop for your ceremony and even your reception, if that’s feasible. You’ll spend less money on decorative items that you’ll likely throw away after only one use.

Hoping to save the environment AND your budget at the same time? Sounds like the perfect combination to us!

Go local!

Long-distance travel isn’t the best for carbon emissions.  Look for a venue that’s close by for the majority of your guests (and for you, of course!), and use local vendors whenever possible. If you can, hold your ceremony and your reception at the same place, so that guests don’t have to drive in different directions.

Keeping with the local theme, why not offer meal choices made with local ingredients? Not only will you be benefiting the environment, you’ll be giving your guests a taste of local cuisine!

Stay in season

Two of the major expenses in most wedding budgets are food and flowers. They can also be the biggest culprits when it comes to environmental unfriendliness! Flowers that are not native to your area or are out of season require extra light, heat, and energy to maintain their freshness. And foods, especially fruits and vegetables, that are not in season have to be shipped long distances and are usually covered in preservatives before they reach your table.

Keep it green by choosing a local, in season menu for your wedding and selecting in season blooms (Bridal Guide has a handy flower list for your reference). Alternatively, get creative! Brooches, buttons, and even ribbons can be used to create unique and beautiful bouquets.

Use recycled paper

Weddings tend to be very paper-heavy. First there are the save the dates, then the bridal shower invitations. Then the bachelorette party invites. Finally, you send out the wedding invitations. Oh, and after the wedding, there are the thank-yous!

And that’s not even counting the seating cards, table numbers, or ceremony programs. By going with recycled invitations and other recycled paper products, you’ll make sure all that paper doesn’t end up in landfill. Wedding Paper Divas has a large selection of recycled paper invites, as does Green Field Paper Company.

Choose sustainable gemstones and metals for your bridal jewelry

This is our favorite idea for making your wedding more green! Moissanite makes a fantastic choice for an engagement or wedding ring gemstone as it is grown in a lab, not mined from the earth using environmentally destructive processes. Plus, it’s incredibly beautiful!

Other environmentally friendly options include heirloom or vintage rings. Many jewelry designers who work with alternative gemstones like moissanite are also environmentally conscious when it comes to other materials they use. For example, many of them use recycled metals.

Choosing something that is eco-friendly and conflict free for your engagement and wedding rings will make you proud to wear them on your finger and will last for years to come.

Will you be going green on your wedding day? Share your wedding day decorating, gift giving, and personal jewelry ideas in the comments section at Moissy.com.