Invitations/Save-The-Dates Page 2

Tableware/Glassware Decorations

Something Borrowed…Something Green A Sustainable Wedding Guide

This event-planning guide provides ideas and inspiration for zero-waste, low-waste, sustainable, green, eco-friendly, etc. events, specifically weddings. Love is natural. Why not make your wedding encompass that idea of natural love and plan an environmentally friendly wedding? This guide will help you with some easy to implement ideas all the way up to some more dedicated ideas to implement in your wedding to make it less impactful to the environment.

Wedding and Bridesmaids Dresses

Page 3

Venue Pages 3-4

Page 5

Food and Beverages Page 6

Page 6

2

How to use this guide…

This guide provides many examples and tips on how to create a more sustainable wedding. This guide is broken up into different sections

based on a classic wedding structure. This is your day, so take whatever ideas you feel best align with your wedding dreams and put them to use!

A. Compostable Invitations/Save-the-Dates Try using compostable invitations/save-the-date cards. There are many different kinds of cards that can be disposed of other than through the trash. Some cards have seeds in them that can be planted and will be a constant reminder to your guests about your special day. A few unique invitation/save-the-date providers are: Botanical Paperworks, Bloomin, and ForeverFiances.

B. Website Invitations and Save/the/Dates

There are lots of simple and stylish website templates that you can use to create a webpage with your wedding announcement, save-the-date, as well as a custom wedding invitation page. Just provide the link to your guests and they can always revisit the page. RSVPs can be done on the webpage too! Not only does this method create zero waste, but also you can include photos and videos that align with your theme. This is also a great method to use with low-budget weddings. A few easy to use website hosts/builders are: Wix, WordPress and Weebly.

C. Recycle Print Invitations and Save-the-Dates

A

C

Invitations/Save-the-Dates

If you choose to print invitations and save-the-dates, encourage your guests to recycle the cards when they are done. Or incentivize your guests to bring the invitations and save-the-dates to the wedding where you can then recycle them. Make sure to create the invitations out of material that is recyclable. Avoid neon paper and bright colors as well as texturized paper and embellishments such as glitter.

B

A

3

A. Pre-Owned/Repurposed Dress There are many dresses out there

that have been worn one time and then donated, or are sitting in a box in the back of a closet. Consider purchasing a pre-owned wedding or bridesmaid dress. You can customize it to fit the theme of your wedding. Plus this is a cost-effective way to still look amazing on your special day. A few places to purchase pre-owned dresses are online at: Tradesy, OnceWed, Etsy, Nearly Newlyweds and Preowned Wedding Dresses.

A. Mile High Station Location: Denver

Guest Accommodation: 100-1,200

Setting: Elegant to casual

What’s so special? “This historic structure that once employed hundreds of ironworkers has been completely restored in a ‘Denveresque’ theme and offers you a landmark venue for your event.” Check them out: http://milehighstation.com/

A

B D

Wedding and Bridesmaids Dresses

B. Same Color Bridesmaid Dresses Instead of choosing one style of

dress for all of your bridesmaids to wear, choose a common color or theme for your bridesmaids to match. Each woman will have the opportunity to purchase a dress that fits them well and can be worn again, thus creating multiple-uses for the dress. For example, have all of the bridesmaids wear a dress the color of coral. The dresses can be different styles, but the color must be the same. Or have all of the women wearing matching shoes with a dress of their choice!

Venue When choosing a location, keep in mind distance. Try holding a ceremony and reception near the location that most of your guests live. This will cut down on travel impacts and cost (both financially and environmentally). Also consider how much energy (lighting, air conditioning, heat, etc.) that your venue will require in order to run. Finally, think about whether your ceremony and reception can be at the same location or close together. This will once again reduce costs both for your guests and the environment.

Here are some popular wedding venues located throughout Colorado.

B. Spruce Mountain Ranch

Location: Larkspur

Guest Accommodation: Max 250

Setting: Spacious, modern, flexible

What’s so special? “We appreciate the thought and preparation that goes into planning a wedding and we want you to have a beautiful, seamless, and worry-free experience that you'll remember forever.” Check them out: http://www.sprucemountainguestranch.com/wedding/

A

4

A B C

D E F

C. Hudson Gardens Location: Littleton

Guest Accommodation: Max 150

Setting: Indoors or outdoors

What’s so special? “Whether your event is formal or casual, the Garden Canopy is surrounded by a soft palette of colorful annuals, providing unmatched beauty and views of the Front Range.” Check them out: http://hudsongardens.org/

D. Evergreen Lake House Location: Evergreen

Guest Accommodation: Max 200

Setting: Elegant and natural

What’s so special? “Tucked into the mountainside near West Vail….”the views and surrounding 50 acres of park and open space make this a truly unique venue for very special events.” Check them out: http://www.evergreenrecreation.com

E. Donovan Pavil ion Location: Vail

Guest Accommodation: Max 250

Setting: Comfortable, flexible

What’s so special? “Evergreen Lake House is the crown jewel of the mountain community. Overlooking Evergreen Lake with majestic views, it has the elegant log cabin charm of a mountain getaway.” Check them out: http://www.donovanpavilion.com/facility-overviewEvents.htm

5

B. Thrift Shopping

Tableware and Glassware

When it comes to tableware and glassware, utilize all reusable materials like compostable silverware or glass cups to drink out of. Check out some examples of unique, sustainable tableware and glassware.

A. Mason Jars Purchase mason jars in bulk to accommodate each of your guests. Buying in bulk lowers the cost, and reduces the amount of packaging. This jar will be your guests for the night to fill as many times as they want. Have the jar double as a wedding favor for your guests to take home! A A

Who said tableware and glassware has to match? Visit local thrift shops to purchase plates, glasses, utensils, etc. for your special day. Mismatch table and glassware has an effortless and rustic appeal to its style. Just seek out matching colors or materials to use. B B

C. Napkins To prevent waste, consider using cloth napkins at your reception and rehearsal dinners. Hundreds of colored cloth napkins are available to match any theme. Compostable napkins are also an option if the cloth does not fit your style. Just be sure to let your guests know the napkins are compostable!

C C

D. Large Beverage Jugs Instead of providing individually packaged beverages to your guests, set up large water coolers or fill them up with other drinks like lemonade or sangria. This prevents individual packaged beverages from ending up as waste. This also helps to lower the amount of beverage poured down the drain.

“Now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story no one on earth has ever

read, which goes on forever; in which every chapter is better than the one before.”

C.S. Lewis

D D

6

Tips for food: A A

“I see skies of blue and clouds of white, bright blessed days, and dark sacred nights, and I

think to myself, what a wonderful world.”

Louis Armstrong

Locally Grown Foods

Food and Beverages

1. Smaller port ions. This helps to prevent food waste.

2 . Mult iple Courses. Multiple smaller courses can help guests to become fuller while waiting for courses. This can help prevent food waste.

3 . Compost. Compost leftover food or give it to your family and friends to take home.

Try purchasing locally grown food for your rehearsal and wedding dinners. Not only will this support the local economy and local families/farmers, but it will often times reduce the cost both financially and environmentally. Check with your local food providers to find farmers or stores that carry locally grown food!

Decorations A. Table Settings Try using reusable and recyclable materials when setting your table. Runners, tablecloths, centerpieces, etc. all can be reused or recycled, not thrown in the trash.

B. Signage C. Flowers From classy to rustic, reusable signs can be a great way to direct guests and add personal style flair to your wedding. Try using chalkboard signs or reusable wooden signs.

Utilize flowers as a main decoration. Locally grown flowers can be a great way to bring some color to your wedding and to boost the local economy. Have your guests take flowers home as a wedding favor!

7

Works Cited

"Create YourStunning Website.It's Free." Free Website Builder. N.p., n.d. Web. Apr. 2015. <http://www.wix.com/>.

"Designer Wedding Dresses For Less." Used Wedding Dresses, Buy & Sell Used Designer Wedding Gowns. N.p., n.d.

Web. Apr. 2015. <https://www.preownedweddingdresses.com/>.

"Etsy - Your Place to Buy and Sell All Things Handmade, Vintage, and Supplies." Etsy. N.p., n.d. Web. Apr. 2015.

<http://www.etsy.com/>.

"Foreverfiances.com." Green Wedding Invitations, Plantable Wedding Invitations, Eco-Friendly Wedding Invitations,

Seeded Paper Cards, Seal and Send Invitations. N.p., n.d. Web. Apr. 2015. <http://www.foreverfiances.com/>.

"The Hudson Gardens and Event Center Located Near Denver, Colorado, in the City of Littleton." The Hudson Gardens

and Event Center Located Near Denver, Colorado, in the City of Littleton. N.p., n.d. Web. Apr. 2015.

<http://hudsongardens.org/>.

"Mile High Station." Mile High Station. N.p., n.d. Web. Apr. 2015. <http://milehighstation.com/>.

"Nearly Newlywed - Buy And Sell Your Wedding Dress." Nearly Newlywed - Buy And Sell Your Wedding Dress. N.p.,

n.d. Web. Apr. 2015. <http://www.nearlynewlywed.com/>.

"Once Wed - Designer Weddings for Less." OnceWed.com. N.p., n.d. Web. Apr. 2015. <http://www.oncewed.com/>.

"Our ROOTS." Seed Paper, Plantable Wedding Invitations and Green Promotions. N.p., n.d. Web. Apr. 2015.

<http://www.botanicalpaperworks.com/>.

"Preschool Adventure Camp." Evergreen Park & Recreation District. N.p., n.d. Web. Apr. 2015.

<http://www.evergreenrecreation.com/>.

"Spruce Mountain Weddings | The Wedding Of Your Dreams." Spruce Mountain Weddings | The Wedding Of Your

Dreams. N.p., n.d. Web. Apr. 2015. <http://www.sprucemountainguestranch.com/wedding/>.

"Tradesy." Sell Clothes Online, Buy & Sell Wedding Dresses. N.p., n.d. Web. Apr. 2015. <https://www.tradesy.com/>.

"Tucked into the Mountains of Vail Is a Gathering Place unlike Any Other." DONOVAN PAVILION Home. N.p., n.d.

Web. Apr. 2015. <http://www.donovanpavilion.com/>.

"Weebly Is the Easiest Way to Create a Website, Store or Blog." Weebly.com. N.p., n.d. Web. Apr. 2015.

<http://www.weebly.com/>.

"WordPress.com: Create a Free Website or Blog." WordPress.com. N.p., n.d. Web. Apr. 2015.

<http://www.wordpress.com/>.