This article was originally published in Southern Seasons Magazine Spring 2013
Keep your nuptials as nice to the Earth as they are breathtaking – right here in Georgia or oceans away.
I was married more than 22 years ago in May, and in those two-plus decades I’ve watched a lot change. We’ve added nearly two billion to the global population – meaning more persons who depend on the natural systems that support our lives and our greatest moments. Now is the time to be better stewards of what has been passed down to us. What comes to mind is the Native American proverb: We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
From the air we breathe to the water we drink, the food we eat and the land we live upon, we owe it to our children to sustainably manage these systems and be mindful of the footprint we leave. There are so many more options today than there were just a few years ago. From choosing the rings, decor, venue, flowers and invitations, every choice can make a difference. With matrimony hitting its high season, here’s how you can help keep your wedding day as sustainable as it is beautiful and memorable.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
It’s difficult to find a local wedding venue that’s truly “green,” notes eco event planner April Trigg, of Atlanta-based Eventologie.
She suggests focusing on a venue you love that also incorporates the green practices most important to you. Insist that the venue or caterer you select recycle and compost, and remember that for every job affiliated with landfilling our waste, up to 10 jobs can be created to recycle those same items. Trigg suggests visiting antique markets for whimsical, vintage wedding decorations, but Atlanta also boasts dozens of earth-minded companies that produce decor from recycled materials. Mining virgin materials to manufacture new products expels significant energy and water, but choosing to support local industry decreases our dependence on these resources, while helping to boost our economy, too.
TRAVEL LIGHT
When planning a destination wedding or your honeymoon, seek hotels and resorts that are eco-fabulous. Greenglobe.travel is a superb site cataloging nearly 400 diverse and exotic resorts, cruise ships and attractions that are Green Globe-certified – or deemed
sustainable based on 40 rigorous criteria. A smart and mindful eco-friendly choice could be as simple as opting not to have your
sheets and towels washed daily. In addition to conserving water, you’ll be preventing non-biodegradable detergents from entering into delicate watersheds.
Also consider a honeymoon that will immerse you two in nature. Take hikes or kayak trips; learn about the local biodiversity and wildlife. Even volunteer for public service projects abroad. This will build memories for a lifetime and instill a powerful sense
of this awesome world we’re trying to preserve. And if you’re concerned about the increased carbon footprint you’ll incur by flying, calculate it with a tool offered at terrapass.com, then use a resource such as carbonfund.org to offset the expenditures with purchased carbon credits. Buy enough for each passenger (about $10-$75) or purchase credits to offset your annual carbon footprint as a couple ($480).
EAT, DRINK AND BE GREEN
When procuring food for the occasion, prioritize local, sustainable and seasonal produce. Something as seemingly inconsequential as the amount of fossil fuels and the associated air pollution it takes to bring a tomato 2,500 miles cross-country from California matters in the scheme of things. The good news is more caterers are sourcing local more than ever before. Be sure to encourage yours to look to local farms first. And while many smaller local farms operate in a way that is healthy for both the environment and food consumers, these same farms may not have the money or means to apply for organic certification.
Seek facilities that treat their animals humanely, use clean feed sources, and forgo hormones, steroids and antibiotics. If you prefer the peace of mind that comes with a USDA certified organic seal, I recommend Bluffton’s White Oak Pastures, which is the largest certified-organic farm in Georgia. Owner Will Harris’ cattle are all grass-fed, and untreated with harmful hormones and antibiotics. Plus, this facility boasts the largest solar barn in the Southeast. My favorite chicken hands down is certified-humane, hormone-free, high-quality chicken made available through North Georgia’s Springer Mountain Farms.
Sourcing proteins and produce from farms such as these may prove pricier than going for bulk or economy, but it’s certain to result in tastier and healthier meals for your guests. Think of it as quality over quantity – a thoughtful move that does wonders to support the local economy, too.
Nationally acclaimed Affairs to Remember is probably the greenest catering and events company in the industry and a true leader in Atlanta. It became Atlanta’s first “Zero Waste Zone” caterer in 2009, thanks to a revolutionary sustainability plan that includes composting all food residuals, recycling everything possible (diverting 148,000 pounds of waste from landfills
annually), eliminating polystyrene from its operations and donating leftover grease to be converted to biodiesel. By doing good while doing well, this catering company in Atlanta has set a high bar and an important model for other companies to follow.
FASHION. FORWARD
If you’re like me, you’ve spent years collecting bridesmaid dresses from the special days you’ve spent with loved ones. After the
ceremony, consider donating them to a respected consignment shop, such as Buckhead’s own BChic or Le Dress Boutique. Additionally, Enchanted Closet is a commendable local nonprofit that donates once-worn gowns to underprivileged girls for proms and other formal occasions.
For engagement rings and wedding bands, choose from jewelry companies featured in the Sustainable Luxury Working Group. You may be surprised to learn that in the gold standards for the wedding category, Cartier and Tiffany & Co., are dedicated to social, environmental and wildlife responsibility. Knowing that the ring on your beloved’s finger was sustainably crafted, and that your jeweler has mined its gems and precious metals responsibly while keeping heavy metals like mercury from entering waterways, can give a bride and groom a welcome peace of mind on their special day.
THE RIGHT INVITES
When sourcing paper invitations and announcements, it’s essential to choose paper stock that is made using recycled content. For our 20th wedding anniversary celebration we worked with Paces Papers on our eco gorgeous invites. For something different and special, check out the invitations by Cumming, Georgia’s Earthly Affair, which are embedded with real seeds that you will plant in your garden. And though we don’t often consider it, the art of calligraphy is very green – the inks used are fume-free and the art requires no printing. If you insist on print, do some quick searches for non-toxic stationers using soy- or vegetable-based inks. Or, send digital invitations via Paperless Post. The choices are exquisite, and many top designers – from Crane & Co. to Kate Spade New York – have contributed designs.
FLOWERS & FLOURISH
Select seasonal flowers, local greenery or potted plants that can be placed in the yard at a later date. Florals don’t have to be
something you use once and throw away. Set small containers around your ceremony or reception site, but keep them plasticfree.
The main ingredient in many plastics (even the seemingly innocuous drinking straw) is petroleum – a resource we need to be conserving, not wasting. If you do choose cut florals, always pick from the seasonal bounty and choose sources that are pesticide-free. Consider the city’s only green-certified florist, Foxgloves & Ivy (foxglovesweddings.com) in Grant Park, which is known for showing as much love to Mother Nature as it does to the mother of the bride.
