Think of the Positive

Green Weddings are getting more and more popular. Which is great!!!

Unfortunately, that means that “scraper” sites (blog-type sites that steal content from other sites, or just make stuff up with lots of key words to generate ad revenue) with supposed eco information, are getting more and more prevalent.

This advice, for example:

When considering place cards, think outside of the box and use a recycled or recyclable material instead of paper.

Is totally lame.

Paper is both recyclable and can be made from 100% post consumer recycled fiber.

Besides, paper has only been made out of trees for about 125 years. Paper can be made out of 500 other cellulose fibers.

The rest of the post was full of inane sentences with links to non-green websites.

Just makes me crazy!

The positive take on all this muddiness — is that most environmentally conscious couples are way too bright and way too savvy.

(From Co-op America’s “25 Ways to Green the World”)

At its heart, a green economy is a community of people meeting each others’ needs — and there are many creative ways to connect and prosper without using money.

Okay, so how does this concept work for weddings. What can we trade or barter, and can our friends give time or talent, in lieu of a physical gift? What can we, as a couple, give or barter?

Couples that we’ve worked with, have practiced this from the beginning of our business.

One bride actually made and sent invitations to her “invitation assembly party”! If you have a friend who is a graphic designer or web designer, he or she can help you design your invites, or make you a wedding website.

Organize a get together to make edible favors? I think food made with love is one of the best presents, especially in a world full of meaningless chotchkies.

For hardcore greenies, you can organize a tree planting bridal shower. Follow with a hike, home spa treatments? Professional massage? Bring cameras, and, at the end of it all, put together a special album. Every once in a while, you can all get together and see how high your trees have grown.

Taking inspiration from Co-op America’s Quarterly Feature, we’re going to apply 25 Ways to Green the World, to Green Weddings and Events. Since weddings are a time for joy, exuberance and being great hosts, we will favor generosity (of spirit AND objects) over, ummm, hyper minimalism.