Have a Green Wedding

As September is upon us, and October is rapidly approaching, fall brides may be inclined to notice the dwindling evening twilight and cooler Fahrenheit just weeks around the corner. While the most eco-friendly weddings are those that take advantage of the natural ambiance and energy an outdoors ceremony can provide, not all brides have the luxury of planning an open-air affair and must instead plan for an indoor occasion. With the resources available to eco-conscious couples today, a gorgeous, guilt-free ceremony is attainable with a little research and a little local planning.

~Try to find a LEED Certified locale in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area to hold your ceremony and/or reception. LEED stands for "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" and means the space is sustainable and conserves water, energy, and electricity using solar power, insulation panels, and other state-of-the-art technology. If possible, try to keep your wedding and reception on the same property or in close proximity to each other, thereby minimizing toxic emissions into the environment. Dallas LEED Certified wedding and reception venues include…

Dallas Convention Center http://www.dallasconventioncenter.com/

Dallas Museum of Art http://www.dm-art.org/index.htm

First Baptist Church Sanctuary http://www.firstdallas.org/

Hyatt Regency Dallas at Reunion http://dallasregency.hyatt.com/

Philip Johnson Interfaith Peace Chapel http://www.cathedralofhope.com/

~For earth friendly decorum, think locally grown, organic flowers and soy based or beeswax based candles. Purchasing locally supports Dallas farmers and merchants while their products promise to be fresh and free of artificial preservatives. Using soy and beeswax candles as your main source of lighting creates a romantic ambiance while minimizing the use of artificial lighting. These candles are biodegradable, non-toxic, made of renewable resources and don’t create pollution during production.

*The Dallas Farmers Market is boss when it comes to green production and fresh flowers.Find out what is in season and if your local florist can work with these carbon free lovelies.http://www.dallasfarmersmarket.org/

*Bohemian Angel is a Dallas florist that boasts arrangement ideas as fresh as their products. Be sure to request locally grown, in season centerpieces and bouquets. http://www.bohemianangel-dallas.com/

*Lane Florist, voted best in North Texas, creates gorgeous pieces and carries soy based candles as well for your special day. http://www.laneflorist.com/

~For earth friendly menus, also think local. Choose a catering company that boasts a commitment to organic, locally grown products that are in season and not imported. Look to the following DFW companies for fresh ideas regarding ‘green’ foods worthy of your perfect reception…

*Catering & Events at http://www.tastecateringandevents.com/ (214) 533-8770- “Your Food is Your Medicine and the Medicine is Your Food. Our selection of organically grown vegetables, products, and alternative meal preparations allow for a healthier way of dining without compromising taste. Many of our recipes are low fat and nonfat. Please enjoy!”

*Sublime Bakery http://www.sublimebakery.com/ (817) 570-9630 “Sublime specializes in artistic custom cakes and all-natural bakery items. Using only the finest natural and organic ingredients insures your goodies are as pure and healthy as possible.”

~For ‘save the dates’, invitations, programs, menus, place cards, etc. use tree free or organic papers purchased from a local distributor. Have seeds embedded in the paper so that guests can plant the invitations and enjoy the flowers that grow from them.

*At Plant a Memory “All the flowers and trees of tomorrow are in the seeds of today.”
http://www.plantamemory.com/

~In lieu of the usual toaster and blender wedding presents choose handmade, vintage, organic, or eco-friendly presents to display in you home.

*Green Living http://www.green-living.com/ 214-821-8444 “Green Living is a retail store based in Dallas, Texas that offers Earth-friendly products for everyday use and unique "green" products that we're excited to introduce.”

~~~I hope that all of these tips and suggestions help towards the planning of your unique green celebration! Try to remember that the most important source of energy at your wedding is you, so relax and reserve your essence for the 'I Do's' and let As you wish... manage the stress, strategy, and strain that tends to drain a glowing bride~~~ Shari