Ask Eartha Steward: Green weddings

It may be a bit late in the season to talk about this subject and I know that the Mr. Stewards of the world and local mountain men alike will be rolling their eyes for sure, but I feel the strong need to write about something that booms and blooms when the flowers do — weddings!

Wedding season is here and as out-of-town folk and locals plan wedding ceremonies and receptions in and around Summit County, we need to acknowledge where all the party favors, leftover cake, and loads of cut flowers are probably going to end up — in our landfill!

So how do you make a wedding green? Well I’m here to tell you that it is quite possible to bring an eco-style to your wedding that will turn heads, make a great impression, and take care of our earth. Listen carefully ladies, I am about to reveal my personal “green” wedding secrets.

Along with creating “lovy dovy” feelings, weddings (like any large event) generate large amounts of food waste, paper waste and travel waste. As friends and family flock to the High Country, vehicles and planes are busy polluting and eating gas. This part of the wedding is usually unavoidable. I don’t know about you but my friends and family live all over the United States (and beyond) and I wasn’t about to not invite them because of it.

So, instead, I purchased carbon credits to offset my guest’s travel. It was quite easy.

You can visit www.ecobusinesslinks.com and use their Carbon Emissions Offset Directory’s “Price Study of Offsetting” to compare carbon offset programs and find one that fits your needs.

Another idea for reducing your wedding’s carbon footprint is to have your ceremony and reception at the same site to reduce transportation between venues. You can also have your guests carpool to the location of the wedding or rent a shuttle to escort everyone in one or two trips. Treat your bridesmaids and groomsmen to a luxury ride powered by biodiesel. Contact local sustainable business Green Limousine (www.greenlimousinecolorado.com) for reservations.

Unfortunately, wedding decorations are often destined for the garbage. There are many reusable options that may even double as take-home gifts for your guests. For an outdoor wedding, I used antique rusted watering cans, tea pots, and milk tins for centerpieces. It was fun to go to local antique and vintage stores looking for funky tin ware.

I also reused terra cotta pots from local thrift stores and friends. Instead of cut flowers, I planted live succulents and arranged dried wheat, barley, and lavender sheaves on the tables. For my bridesmaids, I used small bouquets of native flowers intertwined with sunflowers from my garden. Simple is beautiful.

In addition, you can decorate tables and the reception area with a personal touch. I took heart shaped rocks that Mr. Steward collected for me over the years and spread them around all the tables. I also strung hemp string throughout the reception site and clipped old photos, love notes, and poems for everyone to see. None of these decorations cost anything and they were special keepsakes that I took home with me after the wedding.

Do you really need favors for your guests? I’m sure they will be happy with food and a bottomless wine glass or beer mug. If you do decide to purchase wedding favors, try donating to a charity in the name of your guests or make handmade gifts like beeswax candles. You can also make 100 percent recycled and biodegradable place cards filled with wildflower seeds for your guest’s enjoyment.

Food waste and paper waste can be avoided by simply recycling and composting. A zero-waste wedding is achievable if you plan ahead. The best solution for reducing waste is to rent plates, glasses, and flatware that can be washed and reused. You can also wow your guests with biodegradable plates and cutlery made out of potato or sugarcane. Just remember to compost them afterward.

These are some small steps towards a green wedding. There are hundreds of suggestions and ideas floating around that are sure to meet your expectations for your dream wedding. And of course, remember to relax, have fun, and enjoy the moment.

Eartha Steward is written by Carly Wier and Jennifer Kirkpatrick, consultants on all things eco and chic at the High Country Conservation Center, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to waste reduction and resource conservation in our mountain community. Eartha believes that you can walk gently on our planet, even if you’re wearing stylie shoes.
Submit questions to Eartha at eartha@highcountryconservation.org with Ask Eartha as the subject or to High Country Conservation Center, P.O. Box 4506, Frisco, CO 80443.