"Green" Wedding Tips

What is a green wedding? It's a wedding where the couple tries to decrease the impact of their event on the planet. There are many ways to do it without sacrificing style or elegance! And, going green can save you money. Every part of a wedding has eco-friendly options worth considering. Whether you incorporate one or two earth-friendly elements, or go completely organic, remember that every green choice makes a difference! Here are a few simple tips to help you have a green wedding.

• Inform family, friends and vendors. Let them know your plan for a green wedding so that they can participate too. They may know of contacts or special vendors that you were not aware of.
• Source locally. Almost anything can be found close to home. And, your purchase can help boost the local economy.
• Source green. Everything you buy or rent for your wedding will have an environmental and social impact. Keep this in mind when selecting fabrics and food for your big day.
• Pick your venue. Choosing a location that is as close to as many of your guests as possible will reduce your wedding's impact in a big way. Less driving in between the ceremony and reception will reduce emissions on the road.
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Goodwill can help! We offer glassware, tierd stands, candles, decorations, dresses, suits and handbags - anything you mind need for your green wedding can be found here. And, after your wedding you can donate items back, keeping them out of landfills!

Wedding Reception Tips

Home Decor Expert Merri always has great tips for decorating, organizing and throwing great parties! All of these things come into play when it comes to wedding planning, so naturally, we've asked Merri for her Top 5 Wedding Reception Tips! Here they are, exclusively for you.

Choose a theme. A theme will help you stay focused and organized. Plan your wedding around a particular style, look, color, location or an event. It will make all of your decisions easier.

Seat your guests in a creative way. Escort cards can do double duty (a great green option) by providing both their favor and seating location.

• Coordinate the escort cards with your theme: seed packets for a summer wedding, a personalized ornament for December; bookmarks from the literary couple or luggage tags for a destination wedding.
• Decorate a paper bag or use fabric to match your theme and then label in with the name and table number. Your guests can use that bag to bring home candy, chocolates or mints.
• Instead of the usual card stock, write names and table numbers on tags or printed scrapbook paper. Personalize with rubber stamps, little photos, sea shells or flowers.

Forget boring number cards and stands to identify tables. Make your own!

• Shop Goodwill for 5x7 picture frames. Spray paint them to match your color scheme. Choose a font and paper that goes with your "theme" and print out the numbers.
• Instead of numbers, use postcards from places you've been. Or, use something personal like favorite movies or song titles, street names or colors.
• Collect clear salad plates and use a glue stick to attach numbers or photos.

Make your own tiered cupcake stand. Cupcakes are the hottest dessert trend at weddings, so why not make your own display for them? Shop Goodwill for plates, cups, bowls and trays in graduated sizes. Depending on your theme, look for: cut or pressed glass, silver or brass, or wood.

Use a lot of candles. What's a romantic wedding without candlelight?

• Place a collection of glass candlesticks in every size and shape on a mirror for a romantic table centerpiece.
• Wine and champagne glasses are perfect candle holders.
• Wrap small juice glasses with coordinating ribbon or fabric and set at each place setting.