In six months, I will say, “I do.” As excited as I am, planning a wedding can be overwhelming at times. One word comes to mind when I think about planning my wedding though, and that word is “simple.”  I’ve come to learn the value of simplicity because not only does it decrease stress and save money, but by being simple, you can be “green” at the same time.

Take your wedding planning back to the basics and think about the three Rs. There are always opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Reduce

Think about areas during a wedding and reception that could produce unnecessary waste. Two major areas that come to mind are food and decorations. I keep asking myself, “Do I really want this?” and “Do I really need that?” By asking these two questions, it can help simplify things. 

Reuse

This is an opportunity to cut down on one-time use, wedding-only items. A good place to start is centerpieces for tables at your reception. Think about what kind of atmosphere you want to create, and how to accomplish that without spending a lot of money on something you will only use once. A great idea is to use wine bottles as vases. See Rumpke’s Pinterest page! Be sure to recycle those bottles after the wedding.

Recycle

As a graphic designer, I put a lot of thought and time into my invitation, and not just about what it looks like. Make your invitations recycle-friendly with your paper choice. Research options to print on recycled paper, or paper made from alternative fiber. Paper with a matte finish (which is recyclable) can be just as classy as glossy, textured, or semi-transparent paper (which may not be recyclable). You can also print double-sided to minimize inserts.

Another area to consider recycling at your wedding is the reception. If you are serving beverages out of cans or bottles, make sure to offer a recycling option. It’s also a great idea to offer a composting option for food waste. Look into vendors that provide green services, they’re out there.

This is your big day, but why not give Mother Nature a say? There are a lot of beautiful, earth-friendly options available. Just remember to keep it simple!

About the author: Maria Ruebusch is a graphic designer for Rumpke.