Wedding trends come and go — some, regrettably; others, none too soon.

The new trend of throwing a “green” wedding is likely to stick indefinitely.

By being conscious and creative, you can have a positive impact on the environment and save money in the process.

Engagement ring

If you're going green, why not start at the very beginning? Check www.responsiblejewellery.com for a list of retailers who offer diamonds that have been mined, sold and bought fairly.

Dress

Buying the dress might be one of the best parts of the engagement process, but all that tulle adds up to a lot of time and energy for just one wearing. Options include looking for a vintage or gently used dress; finding a dress made of all-natural materials, such as cotton, silk or linen; or having the dress custom-made.

“The best part of having a custom dress is that you get to have whatever you want, no one else will have your dress and there aren't any alteration costs,” said Karen Tangeman, a Papillion seamstress with 32 years' experience making custom wedding attire.

When the wedding is over, the gifts unpacked and the dress cleaned, consider donating your dress. An organization, such as Brides Against Breast Cancer at www.BridesAgainstBreastCancer.org, can get the dress back into circulation, rather than gathering dust in a box under the bed.

Invitations

You may love your invitations and want to keep the extras for years, but the reality is, most of your guests will toss theirs after your big day. Instead of wasting all that paper, print your invites on paper from BotanicalPaperWorks.com. The paper is made from cotton, not trees, and has North American wildflower seeds in it. Guests can plant your invitation and watch flowers grow from it. Save-the-dates and ceremony programs also can be made of the eco-friendly paper.

Evites, which are invitations that allow guests to respond online, are another paper-saving option.

Reception hall

Choosing the reception hall can be one of the toughest tasks in the planning process. An eco-friendly choice is to hold the wedding outdoors. Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha's botanical center, offers outdoor beauty with an indoor backup option. For more information, visit www.OmahaBotanicalGardens.org, or call 402-346-4002. Other outdoor locations include parks. A list of Nebraska state parks can be found at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission site: www.ngpc.state.ne.us/parks.

Catering

For a greener approach to the food your guests will dine on, buy locally grown food. Depending on the season, a farmers market can help you out.

The Omaha Farmers Market, 11th and Jackson Streets, runs every Saturday, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. from the first week in May to the second week in October.

Vendors at the market sell flowers, produce, meat and baked goods. Omahafarmersmarket.org offers calendars of the vendors coming each week and the months certain seasonal foods are available.

“The farmers market could be your one-stop wedding shop,” said Heidi Walz, project manager for the Omaha Farmers Market.

“There are so many benefits; you're helping the economy, the environment and you're getting a fresher, higher quality local product.”

Walz added that the farmers market is also a good place to find local chefs, who frequent the market's vendors.

The Village Pointe Farmers Market also runs during the growing season, every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Every product sold at this market is locally grown or made within a 150-mile radius in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota. For more information, see www.voterealfood.com.

Flowers

Farmers markets can also help with your bouquets and centerpieces. Try your hand at creating your own flowers, using only stems from local farmers. Not only will you support local farmers, you'll learn a lot about flower design and if you recruit the help of friends and family, have a great time.

Silk flowers are another option, which also allows you to keep your bouquet for years to come. Craft stores usually offer an online coupon if you enter your email address. Buying silk flowers at 50 percent off is not only environmentally friendly, it's wallet-friendly as well.

Centerpieces

You can create your own centerpieces as well as bouquets, which can be fun and eco-friendly. Or, get creative and think about non-flower centerpieces, such as candles, lanterns, wood, berries, greenery or herbs.

If your heart is set on floral centerpieces, try using potted plants, which can be sent home with guests.

At the very least, consider sending your altar arrangements, bouquets and centerpieces to a nursing home or hospital, to brighten someone else's day.

Favors

Even the simplest favors, such as tulle circles filled with candy can be hurtful to the environment. Tulle is a synthetic material, which take energy to create. For a greener approach, offer a donation to an environmental agency of your choice and let your guests know. Or, send them home with birdseed or wildflower seed packets to use in their yard.

Another option is to send your guests home with a tree seedling, which can be ordered from Arborday.org. The seedlings come in protective tubes, which include customizable labels.

Honeymoon

Don't let your environmentally friendly attitude fade away after the bubbly. You can continue to be green on your honeymoon by booking at a hotel which offers volunteer opportunities.

Hotels such as the Mandarin Oriental in Miami, which offers the warm, tropical getaway you want, also offers a two-night “voluntourism” package, where you can do service projects in the Everglades.

For more information or other locations and projects, visit Voluntourism.org.

Whitney Eiden in a freelance writer living in Omaha.

« Wedding Essentials

Share