With today’s climate change concerns in mind we are offering ideas to go green and help our precious Mother Earth here in Hawaii. You may not be able to incorporate all these suggestions into your Hawaiian wedding plan but any effort will help save our planet.
Below are a few ideas to incorporate sustainable practices to having your green wedding in Hawaii.
- Select a venue with natural décor to cut down on non-recyclable materials. Many of our favorite locations have great scenery of mountains and ocean as your backdrop.
- Use potted plants as centerpieces such as orchids, then donate them to an elderly home. We will give you ideas on how to use local flowers whenever possible.
- Ask the florist to use biodegradable materials in their arrangements such rafia, hemp, bamboo or cotton. There many sites that sell sustainable ribbon.
- Use the same floral arrangements from the ceremony at the reception or restaurant. Or you may choose to use bridesmaids’ bouquets as table décor.
- Send save-the-dates and invitations via email or post everything about your Hawaii destination wedding on a wedding website. There are many free and simple wedding websites that your guests can revisit as more information becomes available.
- If you need to use paper invitations keep an eye out for stationers who offer recycled paper products and vegetable-based inks. See The Windmill Paper Boutique or Botanical Paper Works.
- No need to make many hard copy photo prints just special images to adorn your home. Today wedding albums/galleries are viewed online which saves the environment and cost.
- Have the bridesmaid(s) wear a dress they already own or will wear again or buy used dresses if possible.
- Instead of purchasing faux jewels wear a simple Hawaiian wedding lei. You may want to check if you have or can get a special piece of heirloom jewelry from your mother or grandmother.
- We can also assist you with finding donation centers that will take any leftover food to a shelter and extra flowers to a nursing home!
Let’s make a point to incorporate sustainable practices in all that we do. The more we cut down on waste the better chance we have on keeping our environment beautiful and pristine for the next generation to enjoy!
Happy planning! Kalona~
