Is the Most Eco-Friendly Wedding Favor the One You Don't Give?

It's the crux of hosting any social event; you feel obliged to send the guests home with something. Etiquette and tradition say so. But what if you're dead set on having a green wedding? You know, the less-is-more kind. You want to minimize your impact, eliminate unnecessary access and prevent tabletop trinkets from getting tossed in the garbage afterward (the real destination of most wedding favors.) So how do you satisfy your mission of leaving no footprint, but still gives guests a little something for coming?

Well, why not considering doing something meaningful in your guests' honor?

Plant a Tree

Organizations like The Nature Conservancy and the Arbor Day Foundation have specific campaigns where you can donate as little as a single dollar to plant one new tree in an area of need. This is consistent with the minimum amount that you'd typically spend per person on wedding favors anyway. Just make an announcement of your in-lieu-of-favors philanthropy during dinner or print up little notes on recycled paper to place at each seat.

Donate to Your Favorite Environmental Charity

Whether you're a fan of protecting furry friends through World Wildlife Federation, support the Greenpeace non-commercial directive or are a member of your local Sierra Club, there are plenty of worthy organizations that would probably make much better use of your dollars than can come from those throw-away favors your guests will forget about by morning.

About the Author

Kathy is the owner and designer for Green Diva Jewelry and an eco-enthusiast who loves to share her latest green discoveries with other socially conscious ladies. When she's not creating new pieces, she's helping fellow wedding professionals with their websites and SEO.