This post was published in cooperation with Paperless Post.
Looking for eco-friendly wedding ideas that are wallet friendly too? Check out these eco-friendly and affordable wedding tips for your invitations and other areas of your wedding.
INVITATIONS AND OTHER PAPER PRODUCTS
• Like the idea of menu cards? Do only 2 or 3 per table instead of one for each person (your guests won’t miss having their own).
• Reduce the amount of paper used in your invitations by omitting the inner envelopes and using RSVP postcards instead of the traditional card and envelope.
• Or you can completely reduce the amount of paper for your invitations by going paperless.
Our friends at PAPERLESS POST help you create online and paper stationery that reflects your individual style. You can choose, and customize, from hundreds of styles/designs for your wedding invitations, including gorgeous styles by world famous designers such as Kate Spade New York, Oscar de la Renta, Jonathan Adler, Kelly Wearstler, and Vera Wang.
Benefits of Using Online Invitations
• It’s totally eco-friendly. No paper or inks at all.
• Easy for guests to RSVP. With a click of a button they can respond with their accepts or regrets. There’s even a button to remind them to RSVP later.
• It’s a breeze to include additional information for your guests’ convenience (ex. parking info, hotel info).
• Directions from their doorstep to your venue are at your guest’s fingertips with the click of a button.
• You can add a comment wall for guests to leave a personalized message.
• Are you giving your guests menu options (Beef or Chicken)? Add additional RSVP question for your guests to answer. Also great for song requests.
• Need to make a change to the time or place? Updating is easy.
• Easily track who has responded. Need to check in with those who haven’t RSVP’d? There’s a button for that too.
• There’s more than just Wedding invitations. Holiday cards, Birthday, Thinking of You, Graduation announcements, and personalized stationery are just some of what they offer.
• It’s affordable.
Choose a card design. Add your text. Change the font style and color. Add a motif or logo. Want to add your own motif, logo, or photo? It’s easily done, and just takes a few seconds.
Your invitation/card is saved and put into a draft folder until you’re ready to send. Then when you’re ready to send, you can either send it immediately or schedule it for a future date.
It really is that simple.
Disadvantages
Ok, gotta be real. There are a few disadvantages to using online wedding invitations.
• Lost E-Mail
Occasionally an online invitation will get lost in cyberspace, and not reach it’s recipient. (But hey, things can get lost with the regular mail too). If someone says they haven’t received your paperless invitation, make sure you’ve got the right email address, or that your guest hasn’t changed their email address.
• Not All Guests Have Email
These days, most people have email, (and if they’re like me, they check it several times throughout the day). However, some of your guests, usually older folks, like grandparents or great aunts/uncles may not.
• No Keepsake
Some couples, and their parents like to save the invitation for a lovely keepsake. You can print out the online invitation, but doing a ‘print screen’ is not the same as an invitation that’s actually been printed.
The good thing here is that Paperless Post offers all of their designs in paper form as well.
Other Ways to Go Green for Your Wedding
DECOR
We can all agree that candles provide a romantic ambience.
Photo credit: ekkarat / 123RF Stock Photo
But did you ever notice soot on the edges of the glass of the candleholder, or going into the air when a candle is blown out? For your wedding why not use soy or honeycomb candles? They’re much cleaner than regular wax candles, and like other candles, come in any size or color you’d want.
After a wedding reception when the room is being cleaned up, it is kind of sad watching those beautiful floral centerpieces being thrown away.
Photo credit: annete / 123RF Stock Photo
Instead of using cut flowers, group potted flowers on tables as centerpieces. Then at the end of the evening, your guests can take them home. The potted flowers enjoy a new life (either appreciated in your guests’ homes, or replanted in their yard). Plus, this serves double-duty so you don’t have to get separate favors.
FAVORS
If you prefer offering favors for your guests, go with an edible treat.
In reality, your guests often can’t use or don’t want the cute favors that are non-edible, and will either end up throwing the favor away, or leaving it at the reception. But if it’s something for them to nibble on – they’ll be snacking on them during your reception, and maybe even looking for more!
FOOD & BEVERAGES
More and more caterers are thinking green
– using ingredients that are organic, and locally grown.
Why not include some green, eco-friendly wedding ideas? They’re just as easy, and often either cost the same or less than non-green options.
Let us know what you think. Are/would you consider including some eco-friendly wedding ideas to your wedding?
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
Looking for unique ideas for your wedding? Weddings From The Heart can help. Contact me today at jean@weddingsfromtheheart.net or 937-581-3647!