The following tip is from wedding planner Jayme Galanos, owner of Beyond Elegant Events. Jayme not only offers the expertise to guide you through every step of the planning process, but also the creativity and attention to detail that will make your event unforgettable.

“Everywhere you look there are people talking about going green, and while many of us are not ready to give up all our creature comforts, there are a few things that you can do to make your wedding a bit more eco-friendly.

1. The Invitations – Look for post-consumer or recycled paper…weddings generate a lot of paper, including save the dates, invitations, response cards, reception cards, envelopes, etc. There are many elegant recycled paper and tree-free invitation options out there such as recycled cotton invitations.

2. The Flowers – Although I am all about making a wedding beautiful, I do not think that has to mean mass amounts of cut flowers. Why not try to incorporate some potted plants into your wedding? This can be a budget saver while also saving on waste at the same time.

photo of potted hyacinth courtesy of Elegant Bride Magazine

If you just cannot bring yourself to use potted flowers and you still would like to be eco-conscious, then go ahead and donate your flowers to a nursing home after the wedding. This will be sure to brighten the day for many and also make you feel good, too!

3. The Favors – One great option is to forgo a favor completely and just make a donation to a charity. To let the guests know about this alternative favor, place a couple cards on each table telling about the donation and where it was made to.

Another excellent option for a more traditional favor is to give the gift of chocolate. How is chocolate eco-friendly? Endangered Species Chocolates is an amazing company dedicated to spreading awareness and to making an impact on the growing number of plant and animal species that are disappearing from the Earth. A full 10 percent of the company’s net profits are donated to help support species, habitat and humanity.”

For more information or to schedule a consultation with Jayme, visit www.beyondelegantevents.com or call 608-225-1093.