Comments on: Green eco-weddings in the NY Times http://offbeatbride.com/2007/02/green-eco-weddings-in-the-ny-times Taffeta-Free Alternatives for Independent Brides Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:55:09 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Remember the REDUCE part of the equation? at BluePlanetWedding.com’s Green and Ethical Wedding Blog http://offbeatbride.com/2007/02/green-eco-weddings-in-the-ny-times/comment-page-1#comment-6780 Remember the REDUCE part of the equation? at BluePlanetWedding.com’s Green and Ethical Wedding Blog Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:54:30 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/2007/02/green-eco-weddings-in-the-ny-times#comment-6780 [...] at the excellent Offbeat Bride blog: “…I definitely get concerned when I see wedding trend articles that lay yet another [...] [...] at the excellent Offbeat Bride blog: "…I definitely get concerned when I see wedding trend articles that lay yet another [...]

]]> By: Steph http://offbeatbride.com/2007/02/green-eco-weddings-in-the-ny-times/comment-page-1#comment-6631 Steph Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:17:23 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/2007/02/green-eco-weddings-in-the-ny-times#comment-6631 as one engaged woman in the article noted, using your wedding as an opportunity to make an political/environmental point is “a huge opportunity for people to make choices that can affect change. It’s one of the biggest contributions you can make as a young adult.” And what about us not-so-young adults? Thanks, engaged woman. as one engaged woman in the article noted, using your wedding as an opportunity to make an political/environmental point is “a huge opportunity for people to make choices that can affect change. It’s one of the biggest contributions you can make as a young adult.”

And what about us not-so-young adults? Thanks, engaged woman.

]]> By: akasha http://offbeatbride.com/2007/02/green-eco-weddings-in-the-ny-times/comment-page-1#comment-6629 akasha Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:20:12 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/2007/02/green-eco-weddings-in-the-ny-times#comment-6629 i was just musing on this subject a few nights ago, wondering if in some ways it's just as useful to plan a low-budget wedding as it is to spend thousands on eco-friendly products. glad to see i'm not totally off-base! i was just musing on this subject a few nights ago, wondering if in some ways it's just as useful to plan a low-budget wedding as it is to spend thousands on eco-friendly products. glad to see i'm not totally off-base!

]]> By: Krista http://offbeatbride.com/2007/02/green-eco-weddings-in-the-ny-times/comment-page-1#comment-6625 Krista Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:49:52 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/2007/02/green-eco-weddings-in-the-ny-times#comment-6625 Lizvi, My fiance and I decided a while ago to request no commercially bought gifts in the section of our wedding website where you would normally list your registrations. Since the tradition of the wedding gift started to help you get set up in your new life together, we thought it was silly to have people buy us stuff that we don't need. We are going to have a money tree at the reception (a family/community tradition where I grew up) and split the money between wedding expenses and charity. We will also list preferred charities in case guests want to donate directly. This was decided independently of "green weddings" and was a response to people asking us where we are going to register. While I am not sure if this is tacky or not, part of being an offbeat bride is making your own traditions, I think :) Also, a lot of our more "green" decisions so far comes from trying to save money and reduce consumption than anything else. :) I see these huge "eco" weddings and events that are anything but. Lizvi,
My fiance and I decided a while ago to request no commercially bought gifts in the section of our wedding website where you would normally list your registrations. Since the tradition of the wedding gift started to help you get set up in your new life together, we thought it was silly to have people buy us stuff that we don't need. We are going to have a money tree at the reception (a family/community tradition where I grew up) and split the money between wedding expenses and charity. We will also list preferred charities in case guests want to donate directly. This was decided independently of "green weddings" and was a response to people asking us where we are going to register. While I am not sure if this is tacky or not, part of being an offbeat bride is making your own traditions, I think :)

Also, a lot of our more "green" decisions so far comes from trying to save money and reduce consumption than anything else. :) I see these huge "eco" weddings and events that are anything but.

]]> By: Offbeat Bride | Rethinking green weddings http://offbeatbride.com/2007/02/green-eco-weddings-in-the-ny-times/comment-page-1#comment-6621 Offbeat Bride | Rethinking green weddings Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:02:52 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/2007/02/green-eco-weddings-in-the-ny-times#comment-6621 [...] Emphazing the “REDUCE” part of the reduce, reuse, recycle equation [...] [...] Emphazing the "REDUCE" part of the reduce, reuse, recycle equation [...]

]]> By: Lizvi http://offbeatbride.com/2007/02/green-eco-weddings-in-the-ny-times/comment-page-1#comment-429 Lizvi Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:20:14 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/2007/02/green-eco-weddings-in-the-ny-times#comment-429 I really disliked the article. As you mentioned, they really left out the idea of using less. Using plastic silverware even if it is biodegradable doesn't seem more environmentally friendly to me than using silverware. Having a destination wedding for many guests is never very environmentally friendly. I guess it isn't that exciting to point out that just doing less, scaling down, no favors instead of "environmentally friendly" favors is more green. Also we are planning a low budget wedding. They mentioned that you can go with an organic caterer for 20% more. 20% more than what? We are having Mexican food. I have a feeling that an organic provider would cost 150% more than we are spending. Someone told me about sustainable weddings early in the planning process, but I couldn't figure out how to work that in. We are having potted plants instead of cut flowers on the tables. It is at a park, close to most of the guests (and we have to come in from overseas). I am not sure what we could do to make any significant environmental effect. My personal pet peeve in the article--they are asking for donations to charity as wedding gifts. I think it is very tacky to request gifts at all. Plus the idea of wedding gifts is to help the new couple establish their new life together, not to give them "the day of their lives" or "their hearts' desire." Better not to say anything, and then if you feel strongly about not accepting gifts, return whatever you receive and make a donation to charity yourselves, instead of preaching to well meaning guests. I really disliked the article. As you mentioned, they really left out the idea of using less. Using plastic silverware even if it is biodegradable doesn't seem more environmentally friendly to me than using silverware. Having a destination wedding for many guests is never very environmentally friendly. I guess it isn't that exciting to point out that just doing less, scaling down, no favors instead of "environmentally friendly" favors is more green. Also we are planning a low budget wedding. They mentioned that you can go with an organic caterer for 20% more. 20% more than what? We are having Mexican food. I have a feeling that an organic provider would cost 150% more than we are spending. Someone told me about sustainable weddings early in the planning process, but I couldn't figure out how to work that in. We are having potted plants instead of cut flowers on the tables. It is at a park, close to most of the guests (and we have to come in from overseas). I am not sure what we could do to make any significant environmental effect.
My personal pet peeve in the article–they are asking for donations to charity as wedding gifts. I think it is very tacky to request gifts at all. Plus the idea of wedding gifts is to help the new couple establish their new life together, not to give them "the day of their lives" or "their hearts' desire." Better not to say anything, and then if you feel strongly about not accepting gifts, return whatever you receive and make a donation to charity yourselves, instead of preaching to well meaning guests.

]]> By: Esther http://offbeatbride.com/2007/02/green-eco-weddings-in-the-ny-times/comment-page-1#comment-426 Esther Mon, 12 Feb 2007 22:19:47 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/2007/02/green-eco-weddings-in-the-ny-times#comment-426 I like how they hold up as an example one couple who's having a *barbecue* (ummm, not the most emissions-friendly thing ever!) at an organic farm then a reception at a golf course. GOLF COURSE? Those are the most unenvironmentally friendly places ever! Yeah, organic food is nice and all, but it's one of those things that's equally self serving (because hey, you're not pumping carcinogenic crap in your body) as it is selflessly 'environmental.' I like how they hold up as an example one couple who's having a *barbecue* (ummm, not the most emissions-friendly thing ever!) at an organic farm then a reception at a golf course. GOLF COURSE? Those are the most unenvironmentally friendly places ever! Yeah, organic food is nice and all, but it's one of those things that's equally self serving (because hey, you're not pumping carcinogenic crap in your body) as it is selflessly 'environmental.'

]]>