DIY Diva

A (Wedding) Favor for the Planet

One easy, fun way to cut costs and the environmental impact of your big day is to put together your own wedding favors using eco-friendly materials and reusable items. Not only will your guests appreciate your thoughtfulness, but so will the earth.

Bundle goodies in reused, recycled or resourced packages, which can range from simple to elegant based on your budget, the size of your wedding, your time, your preference and your…well, predilection for crafts. Here are some eco-friendly ideas--mostly edible and plantable--for even the least-craft-inclined.

1. Ask your local farmer's market (see localharvest.org) what's in season in your region in the summer. There's a good chance it will include colorful, sweet and summery strawberries, other forest fruits and cherries. Deliver them in small bamboo baskets that guests will reuse after they've enjoyed the contents.

2. Set up a table of fairly traded and organic treats for your guests to collect on their way out. Purchase eco-friendly chocolate and hot chocolate (see the Green Guide's Buying Guide for sources), tea, coffee and nuts. Set it up like a candy station and let them grab buffet-style. These favors won't leave a big impact on the planet, but will leave a good taste in your guests' mouths.

3. Seeds make a great gift for guests and the earth. Stop by your local gardening store and pick up flower seeds, tree seeds, or even birdseed in bulk. Stuff them in an organic cotton pouch, which you could monogram yourself using soy ink and a stamp.

4. Take it a step further and give them something that's already been planted. Get them started on their own garden with a small herb like basil or lavender, which they can replant as they like once they're home. The packaging? Go shabby-chic. Round up used tin cans (the more colorful and unusual the better) and jelly jars and throw in some soil and the plant. If you want to remove the label (why? It's part of the charm!), use a cotton ball and some vegetable oil. It will make a creative table decoration and a nice temporary home for the seedling.

5. Have delicious organic hors d'oeuvres at the reception? Share the recipes with your guests. Use eco-friendly ink and post-consumer paper to print directions to one of the party's treats on the back of the place cards to save paper. Punch a hole in the top, and tie a reusable ribbon from an eco-friendly, summery material like linen or organic cotton in a bow. Or, roll it up like a scroll and tie with a piece of natural twine, with the guests' name written on the outside so it can double as a place card.

© The Green Guide, 2008

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