Go Stylishly Green With an Eco-Friendly Wedding

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Going green doesn’t have to mean trekking off to the boondocks and having a completely rustic wedding. An eco-friendly wedding can still be stylish. Make yours definitely so, with these four original ideas that employ materials that are recyclable and/or taken from Mother Nature herself—and then reconstituted as unique and surprising wedding elements.

The goal is an artful blend of originality and style, as earth-friendly ideas take the stage to celebrate your special day…from the aisle to the reception table!

Elements That Put the Chic Factor Into a Green Wedding

#1 Bridal Bouquet – Believe it or not, you can make this chic wedding bouquet—as we did—from a discarded aluminum soda can! Bring in a hint of glitter with glass beads at the center of the flower, and add softening touches through a pale yellow ribbon and natural leaf strips. In keeping with the recycling aspect, you can opt to use an old lace hair bow or silk scarf in place of the ribbon.

#2 Wedding Wreath – This potpourri keepsake wreath is a homey melange of herbs, leaves, dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, seed pods, and twigs. This would look—and smell—lovely displayed as part of the welcome sign for your wedding. You can hang it on the door of the venue leading to the ceremony, position it on the mantle of a fireplace, or prop it up on a patio bench at your at-home reception. Hint: You can also use pinecones, woodland nuts, red pepperberries, gourds, or mini pumpkins to decorate your wreath. Great for a fall wedding!

#3 Eco-Friendly Favors – When it comes to giving out favors to guests, the ideas run the gamut from birdseed to soy candles to picture frames made of natural shells. Our example shows napkin rings made from dried cornhusks, decorated with pistachio nut shells and anise stars. As pretty packaging that’s also reusable, we presented the rings in simple organza bags with lovely green ribbons and matching leaf-shaped tags.

Or as an offshoot of the seed table numbers above, your party favors could be little packets of seeds that guests can then plant in their garden after the party.

#4 Table Number – You’re sure to have guests oohing over this clever table accent—especially if you make it yourself! Its a table number decorated with a variety of beans, bird seed, and grains in a lovely combination of earth colors. Display these on the tables simply laid amidst some leaves or stand them up against the table centerpieces. Hint: Other materials that can embellish your table numbers: a combination of pumpkin seeds, shells from nuts, and red pepperberries.

We’re sure you have your own ideas for inventive wedding accents made from recyclable or natural materials. Do share them with us!