Project Green My Wedding: Attire

This week’s category is probably what most brides jump after first when they get engaged: what she is going to wear. Now I have never been a particularly girly-girl; even at a young age I would put comfort and practicality ahead of fashion trends, but there is something about a wedding dress that gets me pretty excited. Perhaps it is because for one day I get to spoil myself and not feel guilty about it. Even still, I am finding plenty of ways to get all dressed up without doing damage to the planet.

The Bride (That's me!)

A typical bride will go to a bridal boutique and pick out a brand new dress. By the time you factor in alterations, all the undergarments, the veil, the shoes, and the jewelry, you are looking at quite the expensive get up. The dress prices can greatly vary depending on where you live and if you can survive without a designer gown. (Has anyone ever watched “Say Yes to the Dress”? We’re talking $30,000 dresses.) And after the wedding day, the dressed gets cleaned and sealed in a box. A bride who thinks the dress will someday be worn by her daughter is likely kidding herself. I don’t have a single friend that has walked down the aisle wearing a poofy-sleeved dress from the 1980s.

The Dress

Like I have mentioned previously, Cory and I are on a budget, so this is an area that we can save money in addition to being green. I plan to find my dress on Craigslist. Many women are selling their dress that they have worn once or perhaps they haven’t worn it at all because the wedding was called off. They sell the dresses for quite a bit less than it was purchased for, so I will get a deal and reusing a dress is a great way to be eco-friendly. After the big day, I will try to resell the gown on Craigslist or donate the dress to a good cause such as Brides Against Breast Cancer.

Other options:

• Wear a dress from friend or family member if they are willing to share (and it is actually your style)
• Rent a gown
• Buy a dress made from sustainable material such as hemp, organic cotton, or even bamboo from a place like www.threadheadcreations.com
• Have a local seamstress sew your dress (preferably from sustainable material)
• Make your own dress from old t-shirts like in the photo below

The Veil

I was shocked to find that veils can cost well over a $100. My solution was to just buy a few yards of tulle from the fabric store and sew it to a comb and do the whole thing for less than $10. However, I realized that even though I’d be saving quite a bit of money, I would still be purchasing the same amount of brand new petroleum-based material. Instead I will ask one of my many friends who has gotten married if I can borrow her veil. If I have no luck there, I am sure I can find one on Craigslist.

Other options:

• Buy a veil made from handmade lace
• Skip the veil; put a flower or other accessory in your hair

The Shoes

The key to the shoes is that they have to be a pair I will wear again (and that they are comfortable). I’d also love if I could find shoes that made from a sustainable fiber and from a factory in the US. Perhaps I will get a pair from TOMS Shoes wedding line.

Other options:

• Wear a pair you already own or borrow a pair from a friend
• If the venue is appropriate, go barefoot!

The Jewelry

Many brides buy a set of extravagant jewelry that she only wears on her wedding day. Mining metals causes a lot of damage to the earth, so the best thing you can do is reuse jewelry. On my wedding day I plan to wear my grandmother’s wedding ring and Cory’s grandmother’s wedding ring on a chain. Both passed before I had the chance to meet them, so I think this is a great way to represent them on my wedding day.

Other options:

• Purchase jewelry from a vintage store or antique site
• Purchase jewelry made from recycled metal
• Rent jewelry from a high-end store
• Wear jewelry made from shells, bamboo, seeds, etc.
• Buy jewelry from a fair trade store like Global Gifts

The Groom

I am guessing that it is pretty unusual for guys to own a tux, at least the type of guys I know. Many guys rent a tux or suit for their wedding. Although it is more eco-friendly than purchasing one, the even better option is to wear a suit you already own. Cory, like most guys, owns a plain black suit and dress shoes. We are just fine with that being his wedding outfit. We may purchase a tie, but those are easy enough to come by at second-hand shops.

Other options:

• Borrow a suit or tux from a friend or family member
• Rent the suit or tux (preferably from a place that does eco-friendly dry cleaning)
• Go with something made from hemp, tweed, linen, silk, etc. or from recycled materials

The Bridesmaids

It is expensive to be a bridesmaid. There is the dress that is often about $200 that will likely never be used again and the alterations are another added expense along with shoes, jewelry, and hair and makeup.

For my bridesmaids, I am letting them pick out their own dresses. I have chosen the color green (which also happens to be my favorite color). My bridesmaids can each find a dress they like, that flatters their body type, that is not too much money, and that they will wear again. I think it will actually look nice to have a variety of shades and styles. For shoes, they can each wear a pair they already own or borrow a pair, etc. For the jewelry, I will give them each a necklace to wear on the big day. I plan to buy an antique locket for each girl and include photos of their loved ones to keep with the theme of my wedding. For hair and makeup, we can do our own or have it done at a locally owned salon and request that only natural, eco-friendly hairsprays and makeup be used.

Other options: The alternative options for bridesmaid dresses match the bride’s options.

The Groomsmen

Like Cory, we are having the groomsmen all wear black suits, shoes, and white shirts they already own. They will also need a tie in any shade of green so if they don’t already have one, they can hit up Goodwill.

Other options: The alternative options for groomsmen outfits match the groom’s options.