Green weddings

"I really felt it was important our wedding represented our lifestyle and for us it's really important to be environmentally responsible. So to have a wedding that didn't go along with that, just didn't make sense to me," says Heidi Bechtold. 

Instead of thinking "white" Bechtold and her fiancé Nic Gengler are going green on their wedding day.  "So many people have asked me, what's a green wedding?  They don't know what I mean when I say i'm having a green wedding."

She's not talking about the color scheme, instead Bechtold is taking steps to make sure her big day has a small impact on the environment.  "We're going to try and avoid things we are just going to throw away afterwards," she says.  Instead, many of her decorations have been rescued from the landfill.  She is using wine bottles as candle holders.

Bechtold says, "we are printing invitations on paper that is 100% recycled and we are sending invitations in envelopes that are made from seed paper."  She has hired a local caterer and florist who will be using organic food and flowers grown in our area.   She is therefore cutting down on emissions used in transportation.  For favors, she is giving small jars of locally made honey.   Even the location is green. Bechtold is having the ceremony at her father's house. Which, is powered partially by the wind.
 

She is also finding ways to offset her guests travels.  "Theres two websites we found where you can calculate based on the number of guests you have and where they are traveling in from."

Bechtold and her fiancé have registered for carbon credits.  So instead of gifts, guests can buy back their impact on the environment. Money from the credits goes to support renewable energy projects.   Bechtold estimates it will cost about $300 to completely offset her big day.

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