The eco-movement has trickled down from everyday living to special events. For example, the Fairmont chain of hotels has their own sheep, named Snow White, who provides her milk for their cheese products. They also have rooftop gardens and beehives. They are striving more and more to o ffer couples a wide range of eco-conscious options so their weddings can leave less of a carbon footprint.
“The more you talk about o ffering an eco-friendly wedding to couples, the more they become interested in making it a part of their experience,” says Barclay Isherwood, Director of Sales at The Brew Creek Centre. Last year they had two weddings where the couple wanted to try for a zero-waste event.
The facility has reduced its kitchen and dining room’s carbon footprint by 80 percent and they’re currently building an on-site geodesic greenhouse where they plan on growing all of their salad greens and vegetables. He says, “I’m trying to demonstrate the need, while reassuring couples that they don’t need to give anything up in the process.”
- Ask your venue if they use local products. Many venues already do this, but find out just how much they
turn to local products for your menu, bar service, flowers and favours (if the venue is providing all this). - Eliminate transportation: Hold the ceremony and reception in the same place so no one has to drive from one to the other.
- Forgo the individual bottles of water: Consider having a water station with pitchers of tap water
instead of bottled water at the bar. Save a pretty penny (and the environment).
According to alive.com, an online resource for natural health and wellness, green weddings are not only gentle on Mother Nature but also on your wedding budget. Take some price comparisons of traditional wedding costs versus green wedding prices:
| Traditional Costs |
Green Options |
| Cost of catered multi-course meal: $25 to $40 per person |
Buffet-style vegetarian meals purchased from a local deli: $5 to $20 per person. |
| Cost of new bridal gown: $975. | Second-hand bridal gown: $488. |
| Cost of traditional floral arrangements, with flowers flown from overseas: $805. |
Local, in-season flowers: $403 to $536. |
