Part 4 of the interview with Tara about her green wedding. Read part 1, part 2 and part 3.
How did your guests react? Did they notice and appreciate the green element?
Overall, the reaction was positive although we did receive some jokes and odd looks along the way. A lot of people, particularly Houstonians, are not environmentally conscious, so an eco-wedding is new and strange. I can understand their hesitation and curiosity because that is how people typically react to change, but I think the majority of our guests liked the idea and felt honored to be included.
Except for the eco-favors, there was nothing really obvious that made people notice that it was an eco-wedding, especially because the most important eco initiative, the recycling, happened in the kitchen/service area. The eco elements were all around though, from the cakes to the linens to the eco-fetti. We did get a lot of compliments on the eco-favors, the floral centerpieces and the organic cakes at the wedding. Also, moving part of the décor from the ceremony room to the reception really made a big impact. A couple of people have already told me that they planted their lavender seeds and pot, and there are sprouts growing! I am so happy to hear that some of our guests really enjoyed their favor.
Before the day of the wedding, we received several comments on the invitations. A lot of people were very curious about the invitations because they looked natural but still elegant. When we told people they were made from tree-free materials and post consumer recycled paper, they were amazed at how beautiful the invitations looked.
Many people asked us throughout our engagement (7 months) what an eco wedding was or how you made a wedding green. I always told them that a green wedding was same as a traditional wedding but rather than throwing paper, plastic, aluminum and glass in the trash, you recycle it instead. Also, having the ceremony and reception at the same venue was another example I gave. It’s simple and something that most people would not even think of as eco-friendly, but it is.
Tomorrow: Conclusion
