6 months ago
WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- The green we tend to think about when it comes to weddings is money. We spend a ton of it on the Big Day. Try $20,000, the average spent on a wedding in the U.S., according to weddingreport.com.
More and more brides are deciding when they open their wallets, they also want to open some minds about the importance of protecting the environment. As more brides are planning "green" weddings, bridal shops, florists, and caterers alike are keeping up with the trend.
One local bride, Luce Tomlin-Brenner, is committed to making her wedding environmentally-friendly since she and her fiancé share a lot of the same ideologies and ethical practices. They plan to use locally-sourced food and fair-trade flowers, and Luce plans on wearing her mother's wedding gown instead of spending money on a brand new one. The couple even plans on using recycled paper for their wedding invitations.
Luce says, "This is a great opportunity to not only showcase what's important to us during this celebration of our partnership and our love, but it's also a really great stage, so to speak, to discuss these issues that are important to us."
Main Event Caterers in Arlington, Virginia, is a green certified business, which has seen an increase of about 25 to 30% in green weddings over the last two years. They work with the seasons in order to source as much local food and as many wines as possible. For floral arrangements, Park Florist in Takoma Park, Maryland, is "green" since its power is generated 100% by wind and the shop uses local flowers as much as possible. Park Florist also uses VeriFlora products, a brand that supports sustainably grown cut flowers and potted plants, as well as promoting fair trade practices.
It can take a lot of green to plan a green wedding. Fair-trade flowers and locally-sourced food can cost twice as much as traditional alternatives, but you can save money on your wedding budget in other ways. A smaller guest list means a smaller carbon-footprint, since fewer people have to travel for the celebration. A vintage wedding dress can cost a lot less too, around $100, compared with $1,000 or more for a brand new gown. Green-minded brides can find vintage wedding dresses at the locally-owned PollySue's in Takoma Park.
Written by Jessica Doyle
9NEWS NOW & wusa9.com
