October 15th, 2007 Blog Action Day
One of my brides, Kim Hodge, is a Public Relations Specialist for the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. She’s got a degree in conservation and has been working and volunteering in that field for ten years. She shared with me a very interesting perspective on weddings - by going green, you are putting conscious thought into every aspect of your day.
Wedding-Conscious, Socially Conscious
Kim’s perspective on the extravagance of weddings is an interesting one - while many brides get wide-eyed at the money factor of the typical American wedding, Kim is bringing up another aspect to think about. “I just think we ought to look closer at what goes into these events and how it affects local and global economies and society. I think if people could see how hard slaves work to mine diamonds, we wouldn’t buy them anymore. Or how little workers get paid to surround themselves with carcinogenic pesticides for a moment of beauty, we would buy local and organic flowers.”
Kim explains that there’s another special benefit of being conscious of the tiny decisions you’re making while planning your wedding: “You can say, ‘This is my mom’s dress. The local grower I bought this from was SO nice and paid so much attention to my needs. My friend designed the invitations. All of our flowers were picked right here!’ Everything has a story that is yours! Look to the people right around you to boost your local economy and give your wedding YOUR flavor. It will mean so much more to you, and your guests, in the end.”
We’re going to post all of her tips and tricks during this week. All the posts will include tips on how to be socially and environmentally conscious when planning details of your wedding, but also illustrate how paying attention to these details will make your wedding so much more special and meaningful for you, your family, and your guests.