Attn Couples: Have You Considered an Eco-Friendly Wedding?

Planning an eco-friendly green wedding is easier than you think.

 

 

Everyone wants their wedding to be memorable. But what does that actually mean? While that depends on the couple, we sometimes equate “memorable” with “big,” which often translates into “carbon intensive.”

 

That’s why it’s important to talk about eco-friendly weddings, because having a 'green', low-environmental impact wedding is easier than you think!

 

More couples than every are saying that they want to avoid leaving a large carbon footprint. With climate change on everyone’s mind, and climate justice becoming a national focus, couples are looking for ways to celebrate their love without screwing over the polar bears in Antarctica. (We’re going to plug Netflix’s new show Our Planet here, go watch it!)

 

 

 

Sustainable wedding items

 

A big trend on Etsy is sustainable wedding items. In the past four months, there were 107,000 searches for environmentally safe products on Etsy, including items such as reusable straws, biodegradable confetti, and vintage decor. 

 

A fun and easy way to reduce the amount of manufactured material used at your event is to write the menu on chalkboards, instead of printing individual paper menus for each guest. It’s really that simple. Now take that idea and run with it, and see where else you can reduce your paper use! (Think save the date cards, invitations, party favors, gift wrapping... what are some green alternatives?)

 

According to Etsy’s trend expert, Dayna Isom Johnson, “It’s all about making smart decisions during wedding planning and opting for a green approach that will not only save the couple money, but also make them feel a little better about their impact on the planet.”

 

 

 

your wedding is happening somewhere down here...

 

 

 

Choose an eco-conscious caterer

 

Choosing a caterer that specializes in locally grown and seasonal food is another way for couples to plan a more eco-friendly ceremony. Make sure they use reusable dishes, glassware, and utensils, too.

 

Bethany Pickard of Modern Kicks Event Planning said that “It’s really an opportunity to have incredibly fresh and seasonal ingredients while also lowering the environmental impact overall.”

 

Good food that makes you feel good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Off-set your carbon footprint

 

American Marriage Ministries is committed to working towards a cleaner, safer planet, which is why we're partnered with Carbonfund.org to become a certified carbon neutral organization.

 

This means that the carbon emissions associated with your online ordination, and all carbon emissions associated with running our organization, have been offset by reforestation projects, energy efficiency projects, and investments in renewable energy!

 

If you’re interested in making your wedding 'carbon neutral', Carbonfund.org offers carbon offsets for individuals, too, and events like weddings. If you are inviting less than 250 guests, you can purchase a full carbon offset for only $75.00. Folks will appreciate the sentiment, and they'll feel much better about their flight or drive to the event.

 

 

 

If you’ve officanted an eco-friendly wedding or have tips on how to plan one, we want to hear them. Email them to [email protected] for us to share in our newsletter and on social media.

 

 

Updated April 22, 2021

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You might also like: 

 

• AMM is Carbon Neutral and Proud
   
• ELOPE: An illustrated guide to an eco-friendly & empowered alternative wedding (PART 1)
   
• Plan a Wedding Ceremony in a National or State Park During COVID-19, in 5 Steps
   

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