An eco friendly or green wedding doesn’t mean the bride wears a hessian sack and everyone eats tofu! In fact, Renai Page has spent the last year researching her options (with her wedding planned for late 2009) to choose products and businesses that will have the least impact on the environment and has some tips for all brides-to-be.
“I’m eco conscious and try to read product labels, reduce energy use and recycle whenever I can so when it came to planning my wedding, environmentally sensitive choices were always going to be part of the process,” Renai says.
“I thought ‘how can I be a princess and not damage the environment’? I want to feel special and have a good time. For me, it comes down to thinking about what’s important, really important to you.”
“I’ve chosen a cocktail function with organic food versus a sit down meal. I’m also not using decorations because I’m getting married in an outdoor cathedral that I didn’t think needed much decoration. Also, it was important to me that the ceremony and the reception be in the same place to reduce the need for transport.”
“I’ve invited 120 people and haven’t had to minimise numbers or do without things to have a green wedding. A green wedding is beautiful and glamourous and there doesn’t have to be a compromise.”
“Some items are exactly the same, for example you can have candles but buy soy or beeswax candles that don’t include petro-chemicals. Or learn about different flowers and choose ones with the least environmental impact,” Renai suggests.
Question how many pesticides and freight is involved in getting those tulips or long-stemmed roses into your hands. Plus think about the lifecycle of what you buy for the wedding. Will I throw it out after one short use or can it find another home, another purpose?
“I think three simple things anyone can do are:
- Ask your caterer or venue if they do organic food. Maybe they can source local produce to reduce air miles.
- Print invitations on recycled or seeded paper. This is paper that contains seeds of native plants and they can then be planted to grow. Look at hand delivering as many of the invitations as possible and use electronic services to send out date cards etc.
- Have your honeymoon at a local destination. In Australia we have beaches, deserts, rainforests or mountains and a great eco-tourism system. There's no need to fly overseas for a wonderful honeymoon."
Renai’s passion for organising and researching environmentally sensitive wedding products and services has led to her creating a national website at www.ecofriendlyweddings.com.au
The site allows brides (or grooms!) to search via their state for providers of services such as organic catering, ethical gifts or carbon offsets.
As this Brisbane bride is proving, green celebrations don’t have to be stingy or lacking in beauty. Instead, it is possible to have a ‘big green wedding’ by choosing what’s most important to you and positive for the planet at the same time.
Interested in 'green' issues? Read Michele Smith's blog 'It's easy being green'.
I'm all for the Eco wedding gown, as long as i don't look like a paper bag! I did once see a dress made from paper! What happens when you start to sweat?