24 Jan Earth-Friendly Ideas For A Gorgeous Green Wedding
Beloved by Casablanca, style BL333 Lexi: This shapely, sexy wedding dress showcases Chantilly lace with sparkling sequins. Sensuous cutouts and illusion lace flow into a gorgeous, extended 85” train. This V-neck fit-and-flare delivers the “Wow!” factor you are looking for. Beaded and Embroidered Lace Appliques add an extra dimension. Available colors: Ivory/Nude/Silver (shown above), Ivory/Ivory/Silver or White/White/Silver. Available in multiple sizes.
NYB&G Columbia Celebrates Green Weddings
Careful planning and creative brainstorming can help us re-think the traditional ceremonial staples that go hand-in-hand with weddings. Your day of celebration does not have to be a day full of waste. Repurposing everything from furniture to jewelry and lighting to decor is a fun and environmentally aware way to create a meaningful occasion. New York Bride & Groom can help you reduce your carbon footprint as well. With thousands of square feet of hand-selected designs, you’re sure to find your dress in our salon. That means less driving. If you bring the groom along to simultaneously shop for his tuxedo in our dedicated men’s department, you’re doing even more to help the environment. We make it easy to get a green start on your big day. Check out these other great Earth-saving ideas:
The Stationary
Millions of trees are toppled every year to make paper products, and the process of producing these items pollutes the environment. Now more and more couples are trying to help by making eco-conscious invite choices. We do recommend old school snail mail for the wedding invitations, but for save-the-dates, paperless is becoming more and more common. You can also reduce the inserts in your invitations by directing people to your wedding website for any extra details. For your invitation, keep an eye out for stationers who offer recycled paper products and vegetable-based inks, like The Windmill Paper Boutique (they even source printing from windmill-powered printers!). Some paper products are even plantable—yes, plantable! Paper from companies like Botanical Paper Works are embedded with seeds, so guests can plant them in their backyards and the paper turns into flowers, plants or herbs instead of ending up in a landfill. Or you can opt for sustainable resources, like cotton items from Crane & Co. or bamboo options by Smock.
For an eco-friendly wedding, look for plantable favors like potted saplings, herbs or succulents. If a lot of your guests are traveling, keep in mind that they probably won’t want to pack a pot of soil into their suitcase, so consider biodegradable seed packets if you’re committed to the plant route. Or, go edible. Look to local businesses like coffee houses for a bag of their signature beans, candy shops for chocolate bars (easy on the paper wrapping) or jams in reusable glass jars from an orchard. Another idea? Send your guests home with your wedding flowers—have an attendant ready to arrange your florals into individual bouquets for friends and family to enjoy for a few more days in their homes. Continue reading, courtesy of The Knot
From Ballgowns To Jumpsuits & All In Between
Whether you prefer a more fashion-forward approach to your bridal attire, or are madly in love with a traditional silhouette, our vast selection will provide numerous contenders for “the one.” Enjoy the flexibility of shopping when it’s convenient for you with our “no appointment needed” policy. We also have the perfect bridal accessories to finish your look from head to toe. Read more creative ways couples are going green at their weddings and receptions below:
Vintage Jewelry
You can also switch up your approach to finding a ring by going vintage. Instead of hitting up your nearest jeweler, consider reusing or recycling a ring. Propose with a family heirloom, like Prince Harry did with Meghan Markle’s engagement ring, or shop at an estate jewelry store for one-of-a-kind pieces. You can even melt down gold and refine it — yes, that’s a real thing, and it’s sustainable — or set an existing diamond into a new band.
Pick an Eco-Friendly Venue
The easiest way to have an environmentally friendly wedding and shrink your celebration’s carbon footprint? Choose a ceremony and reception site that takes sustainability seriously. One great resource to start your venue hunt: the Green Building Information Gateway. You can search for hotels and event spaces with LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certifications and Energy Star ratings. With so many beautiful venues going green, you won’t have to sacrifice on style in order to be sustainable.
Go Alfresco
You can also opt for an outdoor space. This is a great way to be one with nature on your wedding day: a lush forest, rolling hills, or a picturesque vineyard are all stunning spots to say “I do.” Booking a wedding at a national park helps provide funding for its conservation, and many beach fees include proceeds for cleanup efforts. You’ll save on your energy usage by cutting down on the amount of lighting you’ll need — thank you, sunshine. Even better? All the natural light will result in beautiful photographs! Continue reading, courtesy of Brides
Val Stefani, style Nova D8221: This shimmering mermaid wedding dress captivates every curve. Rose Net and Starry-Shimmer Net deliver the wedding glow of your dreams. Enchanted re-embroidered lace appliques capture the light with strategically placed rhinestones, glass beads and pearls. Available colors: Ivory/Taupe/Rose (shown above), Ivory/Ivory/Ivory and White/White/White. Available sizes: 0-28.
Our Favorite Green Wedding Ideas
Environmentally friendly wedding ideas that we love include DIY decor with recycled goods, live plants, home-grown bouquets, serving locally grown foods, and arranging a plastic-free reception. Having the ceremony and reception at one location is another great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Discover more fun ways to go green at your wedding below:
Make your place cards or centerpieces work as wedding favors. Here, barrel and prickly-pear cacti planted in small concrete pots serve as both escort cards and tokens of thanks.
Set the mood for a romantic evening—and cut down on electricity—by lighting your reception tables with candles.
Let your arrangements live beyond the wedding day by donating them to a nursing home, hospital, or shelter through organizations like Petals With Purpose, Floranthropy, and Random Acts of Flowers. Another company, Rebloom, will resell your florals and give the proceeds to the charity of your choice. Continue reading, courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings
Bring Us Your Green Wedding Ideas
We love hearing about new wedding trends and trendsetting ideas. If you have your own tips for throwing a green wedding, be sure to share them with us when you stop in to shop for your dream wedding dress. We’d love to pass them along to other couples so we can all make a difference. We look forward to serving you soon at New York Bride & Groom, Columbia’s premier wedding salon.