Be modest. The more extravagant the affair, the larger your impact on the environment. Keep your guest list small.
Start with the basics: a daytime wedding requires less electricity; use recycled paper for your stationery (if you’re not too attached to tradition you could even send invites via email); display the menu on a blackboard rather than printing on paper.
Transport is a big carbon culprit. Ask your guests to share lifts to the wedding. If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, forgo the fancy bridal car and rent a tandem bicycle instead.
Minimise waste. Hire rather than buy an expensive gown if you don’t think you’ll ever wear it again. If another couple is getting married at the same venue on the same day, arrange to share flowers, and serve your wedding cake as dessert.
Pot plants on tables can double as centerpieces and party favors. Attach a name tag to each and you have place settings too.
Put organic food and sustainable seafood on the menu. Many caterers can accommodate this.
Use the CO2 calculator on www.trees.co.za to work out how many trees you need to plant to offset the effect of our wedding and then ask guests to donate to an organization like SEED or Food & Trees for Africa instead of buying gifts.
Use the venue’s infrastructure as much as possible. This way less energy is used transporting things like portable things like toilets, bars and kitchens.
The more you do yourself the better. Not only will personal touches be visible to your guests, but you can make sure materials and methods are ethical.
Honeymoon locally. Apart from cutting out the carbon emissions from transcontinental travel, South Africa’s offerings are diverse and wallet-friendly and you’ll be supporting the local economy too.
By WEDDING ALBUM 2007
Posted in Rentals Village