Whether you choose to focus on your menu, transportation or attire as an outlet for expressing your partiality to all things green, there is an endless amount of ways to spice up traditional wedding planning with a touch of green flair.
Serving Up Green Cuisine
Let’s start with the basics: When choosing your earth-friendly fare, you can decide to make your menu all organic, locally-produced, vegetarian or vegan, or one that highlights natural foods. But what does all of this mean? Here's a quick run-down:Organic: Look for a caterer that serves up certified organic food. This means the chow will have an organic seal, signifying that at least 95 percent of the ingredients are organically produced. For non-packaged goods, caterers should lean on organic produce and ingredients.
Locally-produced: One of the best ways to support local farmers and the Earth is to choose locally grown produce and local products. This will cut back on emissions that are often produced when shipping food across the nation to your belly. Check out Local Harvest or Sustainable Table for farmers in your area, and find a caterer who uses them.
Vegetarian or vegan: Most caterers will adhere to your vegetarian (No meat, but sometimes eggs and cheese) or vegan (No animal products at all) dietary requirements. Conduct a quick Google search of "vegan caterers" or "vegetarian caterers" plus the area in which your wedding will be hosted and you will find countless options.
Natural: This means your caterer uses free-range meats, wild fish (instead of farm-raised), and organic cheeses and produce. All of the food will also be hormone-, antibiotic- and pesticide-free, a common factor in conventional meats and produce.
Keep in mind that you don't have to pick just one! Include all of these foodie elements to make your menu a green one to remember. And count buffets out -- they only lead to waste, waste and more waste.
Have Your Organic Cake and Eat It, Too!
Yep, that's right: Even your delectable desserts can be made by a baker who supports organic, vegetarian, natural and vegan ingredients. A few notable sweet-tooth gurus:Bleeding Heart Bakery: You’re heart will feel whole when you have a taste of one of these organic confections, like the cakes, homemade ice creams or decadent truffles.
Cakes by Sarah Magid: Miss Magid bakes custom organic cakes and sweets, including her signature Dark Chocolate Cake with espresso buttercream and dark chocolate ganache, or her goldees, her natural version of the Twinkie. Her shortbread cookies infused with organic tea are pretty good, too!
The Pastry Princess: The princess bakes cakes with certified organic ingredients that are locally produced whenever possible. Her majesty also features vegan options.
Just like a traditional baker, your green baker of choice will be able to concoct a confection that suits your yearning for something sweet on your big day. Truffles, mini cakes, cookies and tasty chocolates are not out of the question!
Decked Out in Green Wedding Decor
Of course, the obvious decoration choices for wedding decoration are organic flowers and potted greenery. But how about you also add a bit of panache that will make your wedding day stand out?Consider, for example, a down-home, orchard theme for a fall wedding. Incorporating fresh, organic apples in bowls, cider made with organic ingredients and sweet, organic pumpkin desserts will make your wedding feel fresh from the farm.
Spring weddings can lean on soy candles scented with fresh grass, vases filled with bright organic lemons and limes, and mini, plantable trees for guests to take home.
Both of these options allow room for your organic theme, but help make the design fit your own creative urges. Plus, guests will have fabulous fresh fruit and plants to take home and cherish forever!
Regardless of how you choose to style your green wedding, one thing is for sure: It should reflect the spirit of the couple the two of you have become. Guests will love your green-spirations and you'll be happy with a wedding that is unique to the two of you.
