| After the engagement, it's time to let friends and family know about your big day. For many couples, one of the first orders of business when planning a wedding is to announce the engagement, typically by way of an engagement announcement and/or an engagement party. Ensuring that your announcements and invitations are made from postconsumer, or tree-free paper is a great way to kick off your eco-friendly wedding planning. |
If you're putting on a summer wedding, destination wedding, weekend wedding, wedding with many traveling guests, wedding near a major holiday, or a wedding that includes guests with busy lifestyles, then you should consider sending out a Save the Date. This will allow your guests to schedule the wedding on their calendar long before they receive a more formal invitation. In the spirit of your eco-friendly wedding, of course, your Save the Date should be printed on recycled, or tree-less, paper products.
Perhaps your most important stationery decision, however, will involve the wedding invitations. A wedding invitation usually includes the actual invitation, the RSVP card with envelope, a reception card, a map or directions card and, in the case of some invitation styles, an outer envelope, all of which can implement the use of postconsumer (recycled) or tree-less papers.
Wedding stationery, of course, goes far beyond these basics. Bridal shower announcements/invitations, thank-you notes, guest books, rehearsal dinner invitations, reception and ceremony papers, ceremony and wedding programs, escort cards, place cards, seating cards, menu cards, paper wedding favors, and table cards are among the many eco-friendly and tree-less paper products than can be used to alleviate the usual waste. These days, eco-friendly stationery and wedding invitations are nearly as plentiful, and every bit as beautiful, as the more conventional alternatives. So as you plan your wedding and get ready to send out your Save the Dates, think about saving our earth as well!