Green with envy

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What an interesting weather weekend we had here in Charlotte, huh? The 70’s in January. That’s insane.

With such warm weather here, it got me thinking… what does this mean for other parts of our globe? You know, the places that NEED it to be cold this time of year in order for it’s furry residents to remain in existence?

Each and every year we leave about a 5.5 metric TON giant carbon footprint while the average wedding in the US produces 62 TONS of carbon emissions and 400-600 pounds of garbage, according to The Green Bride Guide. These carbon footprints are measured as the total set of greenhouse gas emissions by an organization, event, product, or person. While a certain about of greenhouse gases are necessary to keep our globe warm enough for us to survive on, too much, well, you guessed it, heats our January up to the 70’s. Believer or not folks, our ice caps are melting.

Being the tree-hugging pageant queen that I am, I’ve decided to take some steps to make my wedding a “green” wedding (it’s actually more of a navy though) and shrink it’s carbon footprint. Want to partake and make your wedding “green” too? (You better have said YES!) Here’s some simples ways to help keep your wedding’s carbon footprint to a minimum:

1. Ceremony and reception in the same locations shrinks your carbon footprint by not having guests travel in cars from one location to another.

2. Send a postcard for your save the date. Cheaper on postage AND doesn’t require an envelope.

3. Recycled papers for invitations are easy to obtain, inexpensive, can be printed on like any other paper, and save some serious tree-age.

4. Ask your caterer if they can do your event organically. It’s often very easy and keeps your food local.

5. Consider some vegetarian selections!

6. Skip the cake topper (and the plastic) and opt for organically grown flowers or other natural materials.

7. Give something back. Jeff and I will be making a donation to an animal rescue center on behalf of our guests. Pay it forward!

8. Register for ecofriendly products like Branch, Greenfeet, or VivaTerra.

9. Cut back on the trash. Take any left over food to a shelter and donate your flowers to a nursing home. Tons of centerpieces with nowhere to go? Sell them and make some cash back while they get reused at another wedding.

10. Skip the crazy over-excessive up lighting. Stick to simple lights and keep your electricity down.

11. You like beer? I like beer. Use a keg and fill glasses instead of using individual bottles.

Remember, as cliché as it sounds, we only have one planet and we’ve done a pretty good job of destroying it thus far. Do your part and keep your wedding footprint as small as possible!

Happy week!

World peace and skinny jeans,

Sheri xo

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