Building Ecotopia: Green Wedding Receptions

by Chuck Hall

There are many considerations in having a green reception. The largest part of a reception is the food and drinks.
You may want to consider having a vegetarian reception. A skillful caterer can create dishes in such a way that the absence of meat is not even noticeable. I have been to many parties that only served vegetarian fare. Invariably there are always a few guests at such parties who didn’t even realize that there was no meat on the table!
If you decide that you can’t live without meat at your reception, try to avoid buying meat, poultry and fish from companies that don’t raise their animals in a cruelty-free environment. Look for ‘free range’ poultry, and seafood harvested from sources that take care to minimize the environmental impact on our oceans. Try to avoid meat that has been enhanced with growth hormones and other drugs. If you plan to use a caterer, find one who is experienced in using organic foods. If you are lucky enough to find such a caterer in your area (or the area where you plan to have your wedding), they will be able to give you valuable input about using locally-grown, seasonal produce in interesting ways. If you and your partner want a ‘must-have’ local item to be included on the menu, a good caterer might even suggest moving the date of the wedding to such a time when your item might be at the peak of its growing season.
Once you’ve planned the menu, your next consideration will be the wedding cake.
Look for a baker who specializes in using only organic ingredients and natural decorations. An interesting twist is to use flowers or other plants as decorations instead of the plastic pieces commonly used. There are many varieties of flowers that are edible. Fruits and berries also make attractive decorations for your cake.
For the top of your cake, consider using a family heirloom from both the bride and groom instead of a plastic bride-and-groom piece. Using trinkets that have a special significance and history can add an element of tradition by including the past in the ceremony. The use of such heirlooms also underscores the idea of recycling by using old materials and objects in new ways.
A final consideration is the music for the reception. If you’re a purist and you really want to make a statement, hire musicians who use acoustic instruments. The unamplified sounds of an acoustic ensemble blend nicely with an outdoor setting, or with any wedding that has a green theme. If you are planning a church wedding, you may want to check with the celebrant to see that the choice of music is appropriate for such a setting. Some churches don’t allow secular music.
If you are planning an outdoor wedding, there are a couple of caveats. You should have a tent or overhang for the musicians in case of rain. Even on sunny days, sunlight can have adverse effects on the delicate surfaces of some instruments. So do yourself, and your musicians, a favor by keeping them in the shade. If your outdoor wedding is in a public place, and if you have chosen amplified music, check with city officials about the local noise ordinances. You don’t want to have your reception shut down for being too noisy! Finally, consider who will be attending and choose your site accordingly. If Grandma and Grandpa will be in attendance, you might not want to have your wedding on the side of a mountain.
Next week we’ll look at green choices for the honeymoon.