Everyone enjoys breakfast for dinner on occasion. So why not dessert for brunch? A morning-after sweets soiree is the perfect way to say goodbye to departing guests AND reduce your event’s eco impact, as desserts make up the bulk of post-nuptial food waste. Just pack up leftovers from the night before (supplemented with new additions, if necessary) and set them out buffet-style for guests to munch on as they reminisce about the fun they had the night before (and gossip about anyone who might have enjoyed himself a little too much on the dance floor). more >> 

If you could eat three pieces of cake for the calorie count of one, or take three trips to an exotic destination for the carbon footprint of a single flight, wouldn’t you do it? So why pay to print your return address on each envelope in your wedding paper trio (save the dates, invitations and thank you notes) when you can buy an eco-friendly, custom-made rubber stamp—made with 80-100% recycled materials and packaging—for about $12.more >> 

Registering for wedding swag can feel a bit like making the ultimate holiday wish list—the options are endless, price is someone else’s concern and the arrival of all those shiny packages brings out the gift-happy kid inside any bride or groom. Then comes the hard part: finding space for everything (not to mention reconciling the carbon footprint created by the manufacture and shipping of all that stuff). Apartment-dwellers quickly run out of room and end up stashing gifts at a parent's house or in a rented storage unit. And making space to display every candlestick, frame and vase, lest the well-intentioned gifter drop in unannounced, can overwhelm homeowners.more >> 

Go Green
To give or not to give. That is the question when it comes to wedding favors. On one hand, you want to leave your guests with a momento to mark the occasion (and show your appreciation). On the other, favors can be expensive and wasteful. more >> 

Hosting your ceremony and/or reception outdoors or under a tent is a great way to save energy and cut costs. It also creates a convivial, natural vibe among partygoers. But, unless you’re holding your event in the morning or afternoon on a sunny, cloudless day, you’re going to need at least some light. Chandeliers and tin can lights—two party rental staples—require electricity to power. Even string lights are going to need an outlet (unless they’re solar, that is, which most aren’t).more >> 

You don’t have to inherit a generations-old antique ring to incorporate an heirloom into your ceremony. Ask family and friends to donate any unwanted, beat-up gold jewelry (seriously!); then take the cast-offs to a specialty jeweler or reputable online retailer who will recycle the old gold into new rings. You might even have enough gold credit leftover to cover the cost of production—a huge savings when you consider new wedding rings can cost thousands of dollars (ka-ching!). Experts say there’s enough gold currently above ground to supply the jewelry industry for the next 50 years. Translation: Gold mining and extraction, which exposes workers to toxins like cyanide and mercury and wreaks havoc on the environment, isn’t necessary.more >> 

Go Green
Not only is floral foam is a by-product of petroleum—a resource we’re trying to depend on less as oil reserves dwindle—it also off-gasses formaldehyde, a known carcinogen found in everything from embalming fluid to nail polish. Worse, the toxic sponges can’t be recycled, so the workers who make and package them are endlessly exposed to deadly chemicals for a one-time use and your florist has to purchase a new product for each arrangement—a cost she’ll pass on to you. Skip the foam and use sand, or found objects like stones, shells or nuts, to anchor flowers—or arrange blooms in tight, classic clusters. more >> 

Go Green
Landfills are the single largest source of man-made methane, one of the leading causes of global warming. Divert waste from landfills by creating centerpieces that double as party fare. Tiered trays of appetizers, exotic breads, locally sourced seafood or miniature pies are more than delicious snacks; they’re also eye-candy and make great conversation starters to get guests mingling. Plan a make-the-centerpieces date and invite your wedding party or a few family members over to help cook. Then, print the recipes on recycled paper or old postcards to give guests as wedding favors. more >> 

From buying in bulk to re-using petals for a fairy tale send-off, here are 10 of our favorite ways to save on flowers (Hint: they’re all eco-friendly, too!).

Go Native Trade expensive, imported flowers for native plants. You can find beautiful options, like lily of the valley, larkspur and hydrangea, in your own backyard (literally!) and avoid the more than $2000 most people spend on store-bought flowers. Even if you hire a professional to arrange your picked flowers, you’ll still save around $50 per bouquet.
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