Joelle and Ethan set up an alternative gift registry for their wedding.  Here they share how they told their guests:

The registry gave us a place to talk about how much we'd welcome nonmaterial gifts. We wrote:

"Please find below a registry for some of the gifts we'd most welcome. You'll see that some of these gifts won't come in boxes. It would be a gift to us if you:

* gave a donation to one of the organizations below or

* offset the climate impact of your travel to Waltham or

* helped us with a few household items (used or new) that we need or

* did something creative we haven't thought of yet or

* any combination of the above!

But needless to say, this is a celebration of love, not stuff. The greatest gift is your presence in our lives and at the main event on August 17; the rest is commentary!"

The Alternative Gift Registry also let us tell stories about each suggested gift, which was fun. For example:

"On his way to becoming a math teacher, Ethan taught in a wonderful summer program, the Breakthrough Collaborative (aka "Summerbridge"), which matches college students considering a career in education with middle school students from at-risk backgrounds in two dozen cities. First, click "Give Gift" at right. Then, donate here."

Image: Kuperberg Weddings

From Shawn in San Diego:

With a little bit of effort and research the wedding of your dreams is possible on a budget. The key is to not give up and continue to look if you do not find something that fits within your pocket book. Be creative, check out the bridal magazines, see what they are doing and visit your local craft store to find ways to hand make the details. Most importantly, add eco-friendly touches where you can... being eco-friendly will never go out of bridal style!

Kate's Response: 

Shawn is absolutely right!  in fact, you can save up to 40% off the cost of your wedding by making simple green choices.  I recently wrote a short piece "Save $11,000+ by Going Green on Your Wedding Day."

I am also testing something new a just recorded a Yodio introducing myself and offering a few easy tips to save money and the environment.  Take a look!

Tara and Michael wrote:
If anyone is considering having an eco-wedding, the most important suggestion I have is hiring an eco-event planner. An eco-event planner is there to serve you, but they are also there to protect and serve the environment. On Green Lily’s Events website, they sum it up very well when they say: “We believe that making responsible choices in the early stages of event planning can minimize waste and create a lighter footprint. Our mission is to create unique, eco-chic events that balance style with sustainability.” My wedding would not have been the same with the help of Green Lily Events.

Kate's comments:
Hiring a green wedding planer can take a lot of the pressure off you and can also expose you to new ideas and resources. Contact the Association of Bridal Consultants and ask for green event planners in your area.

Tara Wrote:
Having an eco-wedding in Houston is interesting because it is a new concept in our city so skepticism is normal but there was quite a bit of support from our guests. Overall, the reaction from our guests was positive, but we did receive some laughs and jokes along the way. I attribute that to people being scared of change.

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