Finding Local Vendors

Question:
Hi Kate,
I am having trouble finding environmentally friendly vendors in my area for apparel, invitations, favors, etc. It seems green weddings are a pretty big deal on the west coast, and in larger cities, but if I were to ship those things here, the energy used in their arrival would pretty much defeat the purpose. Are you aware of anyone who can help me within fifty or so miles of XXXX, Ohio? I feel kind of stuck here... Thanks for your time.

Answer:
You bring up a problem that a lot of couples and wedding planners face. While it is harder to find green vendors and products outside major metropolitan areas it is not impossible. Here is what I recommend:

1. Flowers - You can often find organic farms and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) projects that grow organic or pesticide-free flowers in your region at Local Harvest. The next best option is buy certified organic blooms from a company listed on the Veriflora website. Although they will have to be shipped to you, which requires additional fuel as you note, there is an argument to be made that organic flowers shipped from California do less environmental damage than flowers that are conventionally grown locally (a process that requires petroleum based fertilizers and toxic pesticides and herbicides = all inputs that have to be transported to the farm and pollute the local environment).

2. Food - Local Harvest is a good way to find local organic ingredients if you plan to cook or bake yourself. You can find a list of green restaurants by state on The Green Restaurant Association Website. For green hotels and other venues try the Green Hotel Association website.

3. Clothing + Invitations. These items are a bit trickier. I have begun to list green clothing designers and wedding invitation companies in the interactive look book. You can always buy natural fabric (organic cotton, hemp, tencel) from a local fabric store and ask a local designer to create something. You can also find wonderful used dresses at thrift stores, consignment shops and online (see eBay for example). For invitations you can recycle paper you have laying around your house, make your own paper or go virtual.

4. Favors - Favors are a great place to include local delicacies. Maple syrup from a local farm, hot sauces, handmade soaps - almost anything can be tuned into a favor if presented properly. Work with local artisans and farms in your area to come up with something unique. If you are worried about shipping - but want to use something from out-of-state - consider choosing something light weight that also reduces green house gases (see the seed or tree favors page for examples).

5. More ideas - I would also recommend looking at what eco-conscious vendors are listed in your area in the Co-op America's Green Pages. Portovert's wedding guide can also be helpful (although they do not have anything for Ohio yet). It is also worth Googling terms like "green weddings Ohio" - which led me to the article Great Ideas for a Green Wedding Ohio that lists some additional green businesses.

Hope this helps!

Is there a green way to physically arrange your ceremony?

Question: It is my opinion that because green ceremonies are about the earth and nature that a green ceremony should be really inclusive and have people all around you like a play in the round. What do you think? ~ Amy in CA

Answer: I do not think there is any "right" way to lay out your ceremony, and the best set up will depend on how many people you have and the venue. Most ceremonies are set up in classic play or stage formation and in some religions the aisle marks the center of two codified sides (the bride’s side and the groom’s side). If you are having a green church or synagog wedding, a ceremony in the round may not be feasible, and if you are having an outdoor wedding, it may not be desirable.

If you have any control, it is nice to face your guests (or at least to stand facing each other with your profiles in view) during the ceremony so your guests don’t spend the whole time looking at your tushies and the face of your officiant. Your guests are there to see you—so don’t hide the ball! If you want to have a ceremony in the round, see if you can have different parts of the ceremony take place facing different directions, so everyone feels included.

No matter which formation you choose, make sure to discuss the ceremony set up with your musicians ahead of time so they can make sure your guests will be able to hear them no matter where they are located.

I would also recommend greening your ceremony in other way - both with eco-decor and by incorporating your environmental values into your vows and ceremony. To that end, I recommend getting a wedding vow book to get you started as well as a book of nature poems or quips (I have added links to a few popular ones below).

Eco-engagement Ring?

Question:

Hi Kate,

I saw the movie Blood Diamond and have decided I definitely do NOT want a traditional diamond now! My fiance and I were planning to buy a Canadian diamond ring, but now my friends are saying that there is no such thing as an eco-friendly diamond and no matter what metal you use you are harming the earth. Is this true? Thanks!

Answer:

First, thank you for taking the time to write me. Sometimes it is easy to get bogged down and give up when the best "green" choice feels like a moving target and it is great that you are asking the qestion. Let me tackle one issue at a time. First, Canadian diamonds are definitely better than African diamonds when it comes to human rights (as portrayed in the movie Blood Diamond as you mention).

If you are interested in learning more about the impact of the diamond trade in Africa, the journalist Greg Campbell recently published the book Blood Diamonds.


According to Amnesty International, the sale of blood diamonds has contributed to the death of 3.7 million people in Angola, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Canadian Diamonds are mined under strict environmental standards - but they are still mined. Greenkarat, a leading eco-jeweler claims that polar diamonds are not green and are not conflict free. Click here to read the article from their website. Therefore, the best option is to use antique/pre-owned diamonds (a form of recycling). Try the Antique Jewelry Exchange for example. You should also consider buying a man-made or manufactured diamond, a CZ Ring,
or a ring that features an alternative element - like a piece of sea glass.

As for the metal, I recommend looking at the website No Dirty Gold for more information about the impacts of mining. As with diamonds (or other gemstones) try to use recycled or reclaimed metal whenever possible. See if you can convince a jeweler to melt down something you have in the family or choose a company, like Greenkarat that uses recycled metals to craft all of their rings.

Eco-Resort Suggestion

Question: My soon-to-be husband and I really want to go to a resort for our honeymoon. I saw a documentary saying they were "bad" for the environment but am hoping you can suggest a place that will meet our needs to have an all-inclusive experience.

Answer: While there are several problems with traditional resorts (pollution, labor pratices, etc.) - the good news is that the number of resorts going green is growing every day. For example, Sandals Resorts recently became Green Globe certified. They offer all-inclusive beach vacations and wedding packages. (I plan to visit in May 2008 so I can report first hand about their green practices - check back to see what I find!).



I also recommend checking out the eco-resorts featured in Fodor’s Green Travel: The World's Best Eco-Lodges & Earth-Friendly Hotels or some of the fabulous looking destinations featured in Code Green.


Finally, you can search the database of the International Ecotourism Society.