Eco-friendly weddings are becoming increasingly popular. More engaged couples want the benefits of an environmentally-friendly wedding including a clear conscience and in many cases a lower price point.
In short, there are many reasons to consider an eco-friendly wedding — if you’re not sure how to make your wedding day one to remember and environmentally friendly, don’t worry! Here are a few tips to get you started with your eco-friendly wedding planning!
Go Second Hand Whenever Possible
One of the best ways to make your special day eco-friendly is to make a deliberate choice to not add your wedding materials to the Earth’s ever-growing waste. By utilizing second-hand materials, you can make your wedding a memorable day while helping the environment.
A common second-hand wedding material? Your dress! Ask your family about whether they would be willing to let you wear their old wedding dress for your wedding — start with your parents and grandparents.
You may find a gorgeous vintage dress that you can tailor to your liking, without having a high price tag. Additionally, you will have a special bond to the family member that allowed you to wear their dress, they will likely love seeing their dress back in action! Other items to shop for something secondhand include bridesmaid’s dresses, groom and groomsmen clothing, and wedding decor.
Choose an Eco-Friendly Diamond Ring
Ring shopping doesn’t have to mean that you’re picking out a stone that was harvested unethically or by causing harm to the environment. Lab-grown diamonds make it easy and eco-friendly for you to choose a stone that suits you.
These diamonds are grown, as the name suggests, in a lab. By mimicking the environmental factors that cause diamonds to grow and subjecting compounds to extreme heat and pressure, scientists are able to create diamonds that are chemically identical to traditionally sourced diamonds.
Not only will you have a diamond that even most experts wouldn’t be able to differentiate from a mined diamond, but you’ll also have a clear conscience. Diamond mining can have a negative impact on the environment and its people. Some unethical diamond mining practices directly fund military action against governments. With a diamond grown in a lab, there aren’t any conflicts and no chance that your purchase may be funding any harmful military practices.
Finally, lab-grown diamonds are great for your budget. A mined diamond might cost significantly more than a lab-grown diamond, even though the two are virtually identical. If you want the most bang for your buck and an eco-friendly option — lab-grown diamonds are the way to go.
“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”
The old adage is true, even for weddings! Unfortunately, there are some aspects of your wedding that will make it difficult to source in an eco-friendly way. However, that’s no reason to give up on your dream of making your wedding as environmentally-friendly, as possible.
After the vows are exchanged, you and your betrothed have said “I do,” and your guests have had an amazing night, there’s still much to do. Recycle any cardboard boxes that your gifts have come in. Have a plan for any uneaten food. If you are using an outdoor venue, be sure to not leave anything behind.
If you want to make a big impact, ask your guests to donate to this charity, which uses donations to fund tree planting across the world! If you don’t want to choose a specific charity to donate to, you can simply ask that your guests make a charitable contribution to an organization fighting for Earth’s health in lieu of gifts.
Overall, it may take a bit more effort on your part, but planning an eco-friendly wedding will make both you and the planet happy!
[This post is provided by Great Heights]