Walking the Green Aisle

With my sister nuptials less than 3 months away, this guest post is dedicated to her.

Walking the Green Aisle

Anyone who knows me knows that I love movies!  Comedy, romance, drama, action thrillers—I can’t seem to get enough!  That is, except for scary movies.  One movie that stands out for me is The Green Mile.  It’s a touching film from the late 1990’s about a prison guard working on death row.  An intriguing tale of colliding lives, difficult people, a humble giant of a man and the power to believe the impossible is a story that is surprisingly different and unexpectedly enjoyable.  It’s called the green mile because death-row prisoners walked their last mile down a green corridor. 

Ironic isn’t it? 

Green is typically the color of life, and here it’s representing the pathway to the exact opposite.  The official color of all this is earth-friendly and renewable, we all need to “walk the green mile” every day of our lives.  Walking towards a pathway of life, we can preserve Mother Nature, extend resources and hopefully leave a better place for our children’s children.  It’s a decision that should affect every area of our lives—including our wedding!

My Wedding Day Wish

Oftentimes, making a big difference starts with a small step.  Planning an eco-friendly wedding might seem like a minute move to make when compared to the colossal task—but hey, you have to start somewhere!  When you think about how much time, money, gas and resources that goes into planning and executing a wedding, you’ll soon discover that there are plenty of ways to make a difference in the environment with this one event.  With that in mind, here are a few ways that you can walk the green “aisle” at your eco-friendly wedding.

·         Local resources

One of the best things you can do to save on the fuel and transportation costs of getting product to you is to buy local.  Giving your wedding a uniquely home-grown feel, you can purchase the items that your area is known for, such as a particular produce, flower, etc.  Because it’s produced locally, supply should be in abundance without the extra costs of trucking it in from the other side of the world.

·         Food donations

No matter how well you plan, there is always going to be leftover food.  Rather than throwing it away, donate it to a local homeless shelter or nursing home.  You know what they say, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!”

·         Paperless presents

People don’t realize it, but just think about how much paper and waste is created just by trying to make a present look pretty.  Say “No!” to gift wrap and ask people to either not wrap their gifts or place them in reusable packaging, like gift bags or tulle. 

·         Eco-friendly favors

Let’s face it.  Sometimes party favors miss the mark when it comes to protecting the environment or practical usefulness.  So, there’s a huge opportunity to make a difference here with eco-friendly wedding favors.  Plantable thank you cards made of seeded paper and birdseeds are a wonderful way to thank guests and plant a flower for the future.   Even a reusable shopping bag is kind to your guests—and the environment!

Guest Post by: Karen Sullen