YORKTON - Here comes the bride and groom…they’re having a ‘green’ wedding! What is that exactly?
Time for some homework! It’s a growing phenomena, and from what I have read, the common message of a green wedding is that the event is planned to cause the least amount of disruption to the environment as possible, and using items that leave the least amount of waste.
This eco-friendly goal includes many things, from the bride wearing a pretty dress that she already has, (or one that is borrowed or gently used), keeping the guest list as small as possible, using recycled or seed paper for invitations, avoiding single use plastic items and decorations like balloons and lanterns, and opt instead for natural decorations or decorations that are ‘décor’ that the bridal couple can use in their home later.
As gardeners, doesn’t this give us an interesting challenge for our imaginations? What if we were asked to make suggestions about horticultural decorations for a green wedding? Once I started thinking about it, ideas came quickly. Make a cup of tea and sit down with me and put on your green thinking cap!
One of the first things to come to mind is the bride’s bouquet. Depending on the season and what’s available, there are beautiful flowers for stunning bouquets and boutonnieres. Whether from a family garden or local flower farm, or approaching your local florist for ‘green’ ideas, imagine the possibilities! One of my favorite plants is the hosta; I always think that having an arm bouquet of several large hosta leaves tied with a gold ribbon would make an outstanding and elegant bouquet; or imagine a round bouquet of layers of variegated smaller hosta leaves, the result looking like a green rose! Stunning! Or perhaps a bouquet of wheat stalks; or a petite posy bouquet of sedums that could possibly be planted in the garden after the wedding; or how about an all-dried bouquet?
Let’s talk centrepieces. An assortment of greenery in wine glasses is easy and beautiful; for a fun touch, have ‘ten-carrot’ centrepieces, using brightly washed carrots, tied in a bunch with raffia or twine, set in quart jars --your guests will smile! A colorful bowl of apples on each table might be perfect as you wed the ‘apple of your eye’. We were at an event once where the table centrepiece was cupped hands made from concrete, (an easy project, look for instructions online), and planted up with sedum. They were beautiful, and great for the garden afterwards! Small cedars in gallon pots would also make a lovely centrepiece and a welcome garden addition later on.
Wedding décor is limited only by our imagination. Wooden trellises can make a beautiful and re-usable décor item for the wedding day. Small trees placed in large baskets, and decorated with paper bows, become a great decoration at the venue and can later be planted in the couple’s yard. Confetti can be dried flower petals or bird seed.
And green couples can embrace the idea that “less is more” with an overall more restrained attitude to decorations, with more thought put into gentle decorating. I have even read that some couple forego gifts, requesting instead donations to charities that support nature and wildlife. Now that’s a green wedding!
The next meeting of the Yorkton hort society will be in March. Visit our website at www.yorktonhort.ca for details. Thank you to our friends at YTW for all their great work!
Gardeners, have a lovely week!
