Green Weddings

Among the ecstatic faces, the concoctions of emotions and the pompous display of
celebration, the big fat Indian weddings do not leave any stone un-turned to showcase the
‘great’ union of the happy couples. On one hand we are celebrating a new chapter of
someone’s life but on the other hand we are tearing a page out of the life of our already
endangered mother Earth. In the race of throwing the most lavish parties and curating those
elaborate functions, for which the Indian families have been saving up for years, we are
conveniently ignoring the dire consequences these festivities are having on today’s human
existence.

These weddings are sumptuous affairs spread across a few days and witness food wastage at
an astounding level. In addition to this, litres of water is being flushed down the drain, there
are piles of plastic waste from the used bottles of water, serving cutlery and elaborate decor is
made out of the synthetic fabric which also falls under the non-biodegradable category. The
excessive noise and air pollution caused by the crackers and generators used in these
weddings emphasizes the need to go green as soon as possible.

Some people in this world restore your faith in humanity, kindness and awareness, be it
towards their own kind, animals or the nature. In this era of Gen-Z, these people are taking an
eco-friendly step ahead to spread awareness among the masses through their initiatives of
numerous kinds. Though not that popular and beloved yet, eco-friendly weddings are slowly
attracting eyes to some innovative and quirky décor ideas that might be just the right kind of
change for this generation. Some would find this as a compromise to their aesthetic visions
and grand adornments but these offbeat and unconventional styles are quite promising and
totally swoon worthy!

Here are some ideas that should be bookmarked immediately for a proper ‘green wedding’:

Seed paper invitation: Those intricate wedding invitations though look beautiful;
they are just using up the resources without providing us with any sustainable
advantage. That is not the case with seed paper invitations wherein you can get your
wedding details printed on a seed paper. It would look adorable, save up a lot of
money and can later be sowed in the soil to get a full-grown plant.

The DIY decor: A blissful yet waste-free decor can be invented with the help of
simple materials like reusable artificial flowers, handmade signage, colourful
cardboard cuttings, newspapers and other up cycled elements. It just takes a creative
eye to convert some place into something mind boggling for your guests.

Organic clothing: Since the production practices of many fabrics require application
of substantial fertilizers and pesticides, couples are opting for outfits made out of handmade organic cotton. Instead of those heavy and extravagant dresses, these simple and reusable clothes are the go-to choices for environment conscious people out there.

Scrap newspapers for Shagun envelopes: A perfect of galore of eco-friendly ideas
can also include this thoughtful concept of turning scrap/unused newspapers into
Shagun envelopes for your beloved guests. They can be improvised by writing
personalised messages on the top and pasting customised wax seal as well which will
definitely compliment your overall green theme.

Seeds as wedding favours: A favour which will provide your environment with more
space to breathe and will take care of the future generations is a perfect gift to anyone.
Seed balls wrapped up in a jute bag for the outstation guests is an impeccable
sustainable way to ensure that people do their bit in preserving their nature. Small
potted plants can do the same trick for the local relative and friends.

Food waste segregation: It is important to segregate the food at the end of each
function into wet and dry categories keeping in mind the huge quantity of food
prepared in these extensive functions. It would also be preferable if the caterers use
bagasse products instead of plastic for the crockery.

Food donation to the NGOs: As already discussed the food wastage at such events is
just shocking. Connecting with the respective NGOs and donating your extra food
there is one of the noble deeds that you should definitely do on your D-day. If you
have the privilege and capacity to feed the poor and the needy and bring smiles to
their faces, their blessings would just be the best reward of all your hard work till
now.

It is time to hurl ourselves towards the required sustainable goals. It is time to quit the flashy
way of celebrating our wedding day and work towards the reduction of heavy carbon
footprints that are looming above our peaceful human existence. Finally, it is time to realize
that there is no need to burden ourselves for the rest of our lives by paying the installments of
the loan taken for marriage. It is all about spending your precious day with the people you
love and that can also be achieved in an eco-friendly way. Then why one should go through
so much hustle and bustle? Keep your environment natural and organic like the pure feelings
which blossoms in your hearts for the people you love. Let’s try to make our living space a
little better, a little healthier and a lot greener for the generations to come.

References:
shaadisaga.com

Article submitted by Ruchika Sharma
Volunteer, OESI
Faridabad