You certainly don’t have to have a green wedding. It’s your day so you can and should have the wedding you want, even if it’s not so eco-friendly. However, there are many excellent reasons why you should aim for a greener wedding. Following are the top ten…
1. Your wedding is a lifelong choice:
Think about it; break-ups aside, a wedding really does last forever. You’ve got the wedding rings which do make a serious lifelong statement about your green (or not so green) ethics. People will see that ring on your finger for a very long time, so why not invest in an eco-friendly ring choice?
You’ve got the memories along with saved treasures, such as the invites and dress, which hopefully will be amazing no matter what sort of wedding you throw, but wouldn’t it be awesome to look back on your big event and know that you made the best possible choices for the earth? When you choose a green wedding or a conventional wedding you are making a statement that lasts a long, long time, and once you choose you can’t go back and re-do it.
2. Green weddings can save you money and cut stress:
Green weddings done wrong can cost way more than traditional weddings. However, a green wedding done perfectly should cost considerably less than other weddings. Consumer Affairs notes that the average wedding racks up $25,000 of debt for newlyweds and that 80% of couples say, “money” is their prime source of stress from the wedding.
Why go there? Green weddings done right mean you buy less, focus more on real meaning vs. bling and get to lower costs and stress all at the same time.
3. You should be in charge!:
It’s easy to get sucked into a wedding planner’s ideas of the perfect wedding and along the way you’ll lose your individuality and end up spending more money. Because green weddings are a newer sort of event, green weddings take much more thinking on your part. You’ll need to make decisions and do some research, but what you gain is a sense of involvement and responsibility for your own plans. Planning a green wedding means you’re far less likely to get caught up in another person’s ideas and stay focused on your own ideals instead. End result – the wedding you want, not the wedding someone else thinks you should have.
4. Green weddings afford you the possibility making a difference for the earth:
Weddings overall are such huge events that they allow for real, significant opportunities to either one, make the world a little better or two, make it a whole lot worse. Resources such as materials, energy, water and more can be splurged on or conserved. Pollution can be reduced (or increased). Your choices add up as beneficial for the planet as a whole or you can make choices that use too many resources and create a negative impact. Which sort of wedding would you like to remember?
5. Green businesses only grow when people support them:
Green businesses are growing, but oh so slowly. The only reason eco-friendly companies stick around is because people frequent them. The only reason costs will ever go down for green products and services is if consumers demand more green products and services. The choices you make for your wedding support green businesses and green consumer economy for the long-term.
6. Support organics:
Organic food and products are better for your health and better for the planet’s health. Best of all when you choose organic you stick it directly to companies who don’t care that they produce harmful, toxic products. Additionally, when considering the menu, organic food is fresher and tastes better, so you’ll have a wedding menu to remember when you go organic.
7. Educate all your friends and family at once:
Your wedding is one of the few times all your best friends and family will be together, in the same place, at the same time. This is a huge chance to teach everyone a thing or two about green living. Sure you can talk to your family about making smart green choices at any time of the year, but imagine the impact an entire green event will have.
8. Green is beautiful and unique:
Green weddings by nature just seem so much prettier than typical weddings. The dresses, the flowers, the creativity behind cool eco-friendly wedding decor – it’s all so lovely. Pictures speak better than words though – check out these amazing green weddings to see just how gorgeous green really is.
- A Summer Wedding
- Fina + Nathan’s Eco-Chic Wedding
- Nick + Nicole
- Kate & David
- Real Green Wedding
- Garden Wedding
9. Green weddings are creative and fun:
Along with being beautiful, green weddings allow you to be creative. There are plenty of green wedding DIY projects out there that can add a splash of special to your event. The benefits of creativity are way underrated and a green wedding can push you back toward those benefits. Plus you’ll have fun and end up with an unforgettable event.
10. Start a healthy life together:
If for no other reason, green weddings rock because they’re healthy. Organic food, lower stress, less pollution and all the other perks mentioned above are not only green, but ultimately more healthy for you, your soon-to-be spouse, your future kiddos and the earth. There’s no better way to say you love someone than with a heaping dose of healthy living – green weddings offer you this and more.
Why are you planning a green wedding?
