Going Green: A Sustainable Wedding Celebration

OPL — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 12:00:55 +0000

A Sustainable Wedding Full of Love for the Planet

An environmentally conscientious couple envisions a sustainable wedding with a bohemian fairy garden theme that’s kind to the planet.

How did this multi-talented bride and groom do it? Taylor and Nick grew up learning and caring about the environment. Their care and love for our planet stemmed from experiences with their families, their educations, and activities such as scouting, horse care, and stable management. They gained knowledge and expertise working as whitewater rafting guides, ski/snowboard patrollers, protecting and managing natural resources through the conservation core, and providing community medical care. They both understand the importance of conservation, preservation, and sustainability in our waterways and land.

Planning a dream wedding that was kind to the planet was a priority.

Together, Nick and Taylor created a plan utilizing sustainable resources that could be recycled, reused, repurposed, and composted. They recruited family and friends to help make their dream wedding come true.

From the flowers to the furnishings and food, every aspect of the wedding was planned to be sustainable and beautiful.

Nick and Taylor began their planning approximately a year and a half in advance. Taylor’s mother and stepfather tilled and planted a perennial wildflower pollinating garden at the ceremony location. This garden, located in scenic central Pennsylvania, was planted with Coreopsis, Cosmos, Brown-Eyed Susans, Indian Blanket, Evening Primrose, Eastern Columbine, and Coneflower seeds. These native wildflowers provided pollen, nectar, and shelter for hundreds of Monarch butterflies, native bees, and insects.

For seating, the couple went to various estate and yard sales, collecting five used living room furniture sets and rugs for the reception. Additional accessories to complete the rooms were purchased, rented, or borrowed from family members and friends. After the celebration, Nick and Taylor sold the living room furniture pieces to those interested in purchasing them.

Taylor and Nick rented large tents to add shelter in inclement weather.

Rustic tables, chairs, narrow table runners, chandeliers, and other accessories were also rented from local sustainable vendors such as Rustic Event Rentals. The couple decided to save an assortment of clear, green, and brown bottles to use for candles, wildflowers, and ferns. These bottles were later recycled, reused, or repurposed for future events.

Any wildflowers, moss, pine firs, pinecones, and ferns used to adorn the ceremony or reception were all returned to the forest or wildflower garden after the ceremony.

The ceremony took place at dusk, when the summer sky was illuminated with hues of blue, pink, orange, yellow, and white.

The wildflowers and vibrant sky were the backdrops for the wedding photographs. As part of the ceremony, the couple planted an Eastern Hemlock Spruce tree, which is the state tree of Pennsylvania and an evergreen tree native to eastern North America.

The wedding food consisted of beautiful handmade charcuterie boards handcrafted by Proudfit-Made. Each platter featured fresh and dried fruit, vegetables, nuts, assorted cheeses, jams, and crackers. Family and friends contributed with warm hors d’oeuvres, cookies of all kinds, and a full bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The homemade red velvet cake, baked by Nick and decorated by an aunt, was beautifully decorated with fresh ferns. The groom also handcrafted the tiered cookie and cake stand, wooden plates, bar, and table decor. These items were later given to wedding guests who attended the celebration.

Bamboo plates, utensils, and napkins were all compostable.

Individual drinking glasses were provided, which guests could label for easy identification and keep after the celebration. Recycle bins were placed discretely throughout the reception, and nearly all the trash collected could be recycled.

Nick and Taylor went to great lengths to create a sustainable wedding celebration because they care about our planate. They are passionate about conservation, preservation, and sustainability, and have the planet’s future and its inhabitants in mind. One Planet Life congratulates this beautiful couple, Taylor and Nick, on a creative, well-thought-out, memorable, and sustainable wedding celebration!