Something borrowed; something green.
With environmental consciousness penetrating every aspect of our lives, from grocery shopping to home construction, it’s no surprise that “green” is a growing trend in that most special part of our lives: the wedding day. If you take pains to recycle plastics, watch your gas mileage, and eat local foodstuff, why succumb to over-consumption in planning your wedding?

Arranging a green wedding means considering every aspect of the special day, from the venue to the party favor. Outdoor venues like arboretums and state parks are a good choice for eco-conscious brides. And picking a venue close to most guests saves energy required to travel. Young couples, used to using the internet for all communication, feel comfortable sending save-the-date notices and even invitations by email or by pointing guests to a special event website. Others send invites on recycled, natural paper and use small-reply envelopes.

On the gift registry, eco-conscious brides can direct guests to give philanthropic gifts to environmental organizations or other charities. Brides can take “something borrowed” to its conclusion and buy or borrow a second-hand wedding dress, or wear a dress that can be worn for more than just that occasion.

Jon Gangwer, owner of Wellspun Wedding Films, a leading Philadelphia wedding videos company, sees the green wedding trend first-hand: “we’ve seen more and more brides choose eco-friendly venues, create menus featuring local food, and using recycled paper or email invitations.” For photos and videos, the trend is to get most wedding images online, saving in mailing and printing. “Of course,” continues Gangwer, “this trend provides financial as well as environmental boost.”

Indeed, green weddings tend to be simpler, less costly affairs, with outdoor receptions, low-key decorations, and pared-down meals. And with over two million weddings every year in the United States, a more to eco-conscious planning could have worthwhile culminative effects.

S.Walter Packaging provides an array of product for weddings, including small, recycled paperboard gift boxes for favors, and gift wrap for reusable decoration. Events can be customized with printed (recycled paper) gift bags, a multi-use memento of that special day.