Flowers & Décor for an Eco-Chic Wedding

Because this is our forte, we elaborate in this area….

Avoid inexpensive, mass market flowers because you do “get what you pay for” and then some. Low quality, and chemical laden; they should never be used on food, around pets, or composted.
- Use local or eco organic flowers wherever possible.  High quality dried and permanent flowers are a second option as they typically are kept for the sentiment or as gifts-they are also especially appropriate during the winter months.

Avoid plastic bouquet holders as they are rarely reused and non biodegradable.
- Choose hand/wild crafted bouquets in presentation style, shower cascading, or gathered in a tussie mussie holder.

Avoid floral tapes as much as possible.  Floral tape is no longer just “wax coated paper” as in the past but a mix of various chemical substances.  The once innovative and now number one, florists, tool leaves its mark in many a soil.
- No wedding is complete without corsage, wristlets, and boutonnieres where most tape is used.  Instead, choose miniature posey bouquets hand tied or in keepsake tussie mussie holders and lapel vases.  Later transferred to vases for bedside table; they will last for days or can be hung dry for a keepsake.

Avoid resin, plastic, and lucite containers and imported ceramics.  All forms of plastic take 1,000 years to break down in a landfill; they never biodegrade into the soil but only become a part of it.  The energy & fuel it requires to get anything imported to the US warrants too high cost to the environment to be worth it.
- Opt for decor arrangements made in vases and baskets-preferably North American made, or recycled/vintage containers.  Use assorted branches for large scale décor or where height is needed.  Green and flowering plants can be taken home or re-gifted where they will continue their lives.

Avoid wet and dry floral foams, the most used construction product of florists.   These are petroleum based; made with formaldehyde and resins, and as plastics never biodegrade.  We can only imagine the damage our industry has already done, since the foams 1950 era invention.  It sickens us.
- Utilize early florists design techniques which did not use foams but used vines, stones, twigs, and metal grids and armatures for vases and baskets.  Our favorite is a wheat grass basket with sprouting flowers.  The designs seem bountiful and natural compared to the stiff foam designs of today – a win-win solution.

Avoid poly ribbons and lace as they are a plastic and imported; definitely not a green product
- Use earth friendly hemp and raffia or good quality laces and ribbons of cotton, satin, silk, and organza; these will always be saved and/or reused because of their fineness.

Opt out of aisle runners unless absolutely necessary due to weather or outdoor gown protection, as they are no longer made of natural substances and a mix of fibrous plastics.
- Outlining the aisle with garlands or scattering fresh rose petals is a greener alternative.  If you must use them-try to reuse them creatively.

Avoid inexpensive, imported favors, packaged mementos and gifts; they are a waste of your dollars and just another addition to a drawer or garbage.  PVC (poly vinyl chloride, the base for nearly all plastic packaging, and gift bags-does not biodegrade.  Staying in the soil forever and a known carcinogen.
How many of these souvenirs do you yourself keep?  Not many we suspect.
-Leave guest with a quality memento.

There are 100’s of ideas-below are a few of our favorites.

• A donation to any worthy cause-animal-environmental-humanitarian.  Check Justgive.org
• A carbon offset purchase to compensate for the energy your wedding used Check nativeenergy.org
• Miniature potted trees or herbs
• Tree seedlings or seeds  Check National Arbor Foundation
• Cotton or cheesecloth potpourri sachets
• A single, elegant, fresh flower for everyone
• Recycled paper cones of dried lavender meaning luck in the Language of Flowers
• Organic chocolates or miniature fair trade coffees

If you cannot give it to me- consume it, recycle it, reuse it, don’t use it!

Part of green is using the imagination, doing some research, and being creative.  Many complain of a higher cost for green events; but the number one mantra of green is to “consume less” which equates to spending less or the same.  A respect and selflessness for the planet and its other rightful inhabitants is the pathway to green thinking.  Consider that every action has an effect on some part of the earth or animal species… somewhere. Invite less, eat less, decorate less, and travel less.   Try to purchase items that will have a second chance – kept or gifted.  Uninteresting, and cheaply made – just that – and rarely kept.  For an event that is remembered, use items of quality that will be saved and continually bring memories of your wedding.

Green wedding sites we love-near and far:

• Portovert – absolutely one of the best eco wedding sites on the web-worth the visit
• Blue Planet Weddings – another good site growing by the day.
• The Bridal Garden.  Offers pre-worn couture gowns benefiting the Sheltering Arm Children’s Services; we love pre-worn couture.
• Twisted Limb is hands down our favorite for all things paper.
• The Camera Renter offers rentals of digital table cameras-and web posting of wedding photos.  4 stars for replacing the single use cameras.
• New York Wedding Ring Workshop guides you in making your own wedding bands in 2 sessions of recycled gold and conflict free diamonds.    This is high on our sentimentality list!
• Just Give has 100’s of listed charities to register for- very convenient to browse and choose.
• World Wildlife Wedding Calculator offers you the option of offsetting your wedding into a wildlife contribution; one our favorite organizations.
• Arbor Day Foundation Offering tree seedlings in a multitude of species-for tree huggers like us.
• Alternative Baker  (Lemoncakes.com) LOCAL
• The Groovy Baker   A talented gal offering organic to gluten free – we love her LOCAL
• Lola’s Catering  Eco-minded and delicious  LOCAL
• Alternative Registry A great way to personalize and be interactive with your guests.
• Endangered Species Organic Chocolate Bars we love them so much we carry them.
• Mud Stencils – The best idea for an outdoor or anywhere event – we love it
• Oliver Kita Fine Chocolates- LOCAL fair trade – organic.

Check back often as Mom is always searching for other green humans.  If you are a green eco-minded business, and would like to be included on this page, email her at Lynn@goodolddaysflorist.com