A Bride's Guide to Green Wedding Basics: Part Two

By Tracy DiNunzio of Recycled Bride

Wedding vendors are just like the rest of us -- they come in all shades of eco, from light green to dark. A light green vendor incorporates elements of sustainability into their business, whether it's a caterer who sources local ingredients when possible, or a florist incorporating succulents into their bouquets. A dark green business has sustainable values at its core, like an all vegan/organic caterer.

By Official Green Caterer, Windows Catering Company

Vegan Desserts by Sweet E's Bake Shop

Green Wedding Basics: Sustainable Vendor Q & A

Here's a quick checklist of questions to find out how green a vendor is:

• Do they use sustainable materials/ingredients?

• Is their office or workspace energy efficient, does it utilize recycled materials, or is it otherwise eco-conscious?
  

• Are their company vehicles energy efficient?

• Do they donate a portion of earnings to charity or give back to the local community?

• Have they invested in making changes to their business to make it more sustainable?

Just by asking these questions, you're letting local vendors know that there's a demand for more Earth-friendly services in your area, which encourages them to go green. If your vendor can say yes to any one of these questions, they're conscious of their impact on the world. If they answer yes to three or more, they're firmly "in the green." And if they do all five, they deserve a big green star, a pat on the back, or maybe even a hug...and your business!

Sustainable Florals by Elegance & Simplicity

Green Wedding Basics: Learn The Lingo

When you ask all these questions, you may get some confusing answers. Don't be overwhelmed by all of the eco-lingo! You only need to know a few basic definitions, and you should be able to understand the green cred of any product or business with the following five terms:

Sustainable

Generally refers to anything that can be continued without long-term effect on the environment or people. For example, an organic farm is sustainable because it doesn't deplete the land of vital nutrients, is humane for workers, and protects the environment from pesticides.

Eco-Friendly/Green

These terms are interchangeable, and refer to anything that is not harmful to the environment.

Fair Trade

Fair Trade Certified products meet an international set of standards that protect the environment and laborers. Many FTC products come from developing countries without labor laws, so the certification helps you identify products made by humanely treated workers.

Local

This one's pretty self-explanatory! Local products help to support your community and local economy, and they cut down on the carbon emissions that come from transportation.

Organic

This term applies mostly to food and agriculture, and means that it's free of synthetics like pesticides, antibiotics, and genetically modified organisms.

Tell us about your favorite 'green' wedding vendors in the comments below! Next up in Part Three: Find out how to choose planet-friendly products!

Green Wedding Expert: Tracy DiNunzio of Recycled Bride

Before becoming a wedding recycling superhero, Tracy worked as an artist and writer, and spent many years traveling the world in search of adventure and great chocolate ice cream. When Tracy met Robert, she finally decided to settle down, and so they celebrated with an extravagant wedding that left them up to their ears in once-worn dresses and ties, spare decorations, and heart-stopping credit card bills. Tracy knew that there had to be a better way for women to plan beautiful weddings without the waste—and so Recycled Bride was born. Her blog naturally followed, giving Tracy and the Recycled Bride community a place to sound off and share ideas for creating a smarter, greener lifestyle, on their wedding day and every day.