Lifestyles

Creating an Eco-friendly Wedding

Posted: 11/12/2010

Many couples are taking steps to ensure their wedding is environmentally friendly.

(NAPSI) - Interest in the environment is at an all-time high, and many engaged couples are fusing their passion for the environment with their weddings by choosing eco-chic nuptials and Earth-conscious registries. Here are tips for couples that want to start their married life on a celebratory and sustainable note:

Environmentally friendly wedding ideas

• Use responsibly sourced paper. Many wedding invitation designers and printers offer better- for-the-planet papers made from 100-percent post-consumer recycled content or from wood sources certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

• Keep the environment in mind when creating a menu or choosing a caterer and opt for seasonal, locally sourced and organic edibles. Use reusable or compostable foodservice items to lessen the reception’s impact on the planet.

• Importing flowers can rack up your celebration’s carbon footprint. Challenge your florist to think locally and seasonally.

• Send wedding party members home with ecological gifts. Offer bridesmaids USDA-certified organic skin care products from brands such as Dr. Bronner’s. A watch is a traditional groomsmen gift, so opt for a planet-friendly version such as a solar-powered fitness watch.

Saying “I do” to an eco-friendly registry

• Wedding registries should be both practical and highly personalized. From household staples like bedroom linens and towels to decorative accessories, there’s no shortage of eco-friendly items to choose from.

• When compiling sustainable choices for your registry, focus on one room at a time. Culinary gear is a crucial part of any registry. It’s a good idea to focus on basics such as Preserve cutting boards made from 100-percent post-consumer recycled plastic and bamboo spoons and kitchen accessories.

• Next stop: the bedroom. Keep the romance factor high and your environmental impact low by registering for items that comfort both you and the planet. Consider Target Home organic cotton fiber sheet sets. Cotton grown organically reduces the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers. Accessorize with Smith & Hawken Poured Candles made from soy wax, which produce less soot than paraffin candles.

• Add energy-efficient appliances to your list. Appliances account for 17 percent of the average household’s energy consumption, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Remember, not all energy-efficient appliances are big-ticket ones. Create a registry with affordable ENERGY STAR−approved small appliances such as Black & Decker’s Cyclonic Dustbuster.

• Don’t forget the yard. Consider registering for a solar-powered fountain to decorate a patio or an outdoor compost bin that will generate nutrient-rich soil for a garden and divert compostable waste from landfills.

• Create and manage your registry online or via your mobile device. You’ll save paper and time by managing your registry list on the go. Visit Target.com/ClubWedd for more information on a paperless registry.

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