Joann D. Hartle: Green Oceanside Wedding: Celebrating in Eco-Friendly Style

Photo Credit: ABM Photography at Paradise Falls

Green Oceanside Wedding: Celebrating in Eco-Friendly Style

Did you know that Oceanside is on the Road to Zero Waste with a goal is of reaching a 75-90% diversion/recycling rate by 2020? If you’re passionate about the environment, here are ways to make your wedding more eco-friendly in Oceanside.

Invitations

Choose invitations made from recycled paper and select vegetable base dyes. Reduce the amount of paper you use and ditch the inner envelope and have your guests RSVP online. Of course, you could send out evites if you’re not worried about the etiquette police. Check out Designs by Lenila‘s invitations that are created from recycled and eco friendly paper and materials: 100% recycled cardstock, spun palm tree fibers for the envelope, and the handmade mulberry paper made from the bark of the Saa Tree in Thailand.

Venue

Find a venue that fits your style so you don’t need to do over-the-top decorations. Use lighting or reusable fabric to add that special touch, but paper tissue products like Chinese lanterns and pom poms should be reconsidered. Also, ask your venue what steps they take to help reduce, reuse, recycle as well as water conservation.

The QLN Conference Center uses uplightling, gobos, and fabric draping to transform their exhibit hall into a luxurious wedding reception.

Centerpieces and Decorations

Visit your local resale shop and find fun mismatched vases, jars, and tins to hold flowers that are currently in-season and purchased from your local organic grower. Avoid over Pinteresting your wedding and leave out items like fabric pennants (unless made from scrap material) and disposable tulle. Balloons should be avoided at all costs. #balloonsblow

Shop: Mainstreet Oceanside Farmers Market

Bouquet: Flowers by Azalea

Photo: Natalie Warr

Photo: Anything But Ordinary

Shop: Lucky Street Productions

No Disposable Anything

Rent washable place settings, flatware, glassware and linens like this beautiful set from Anar Party Rental or go for the eclectic look and buy china in all different patterns from a resale store like Lucky Street Productions. Don’t forget to consider your barware too as anything thrown away goes into our landfills.

Catering

There are local caterers that are paving the way for farm to table cuisine. This means that they’re going the extra mile to make sure that all of their ingredients are locally sourced. Ask how appetizers will be served as today’s trend is to have everything individually portioned out. While it makes for a nice presentation, all of those little plastic containers are headed for the dumpster. Check out how Anything But Ordinary Catering uses champagne flutes to serve fruit salad.

Oceanside Caterer Anything But Ordinary appetizers

Favors

Consider edible favors like chocolates or caramels, or something that can be planted like seeds or succulents, but make sure to forego the cute packaging, labels and ribbons. You could also choose handcrafted candles made from soy wax, scented with essential oils, or 100% natural handmade soaps.

You could also have a donation station where instead of the guests leaving with a favor, they choose a charity where you’ll donate in their name. So instead of paying $3 for a favor, you’re donating $3 to one of your favorite causes.

Shop: Cheryl’s Caramels

Shop: Mr. B’s Necessities

Recycle

This one seems obvious, but it’s often overlooked. Many venues only have a single dumpster and aren’t taking the time to recycle. This is especially true if your caterer is required to take the trash off-site. Do not assume recycling is being done. You must ask everyone involved and be sure they understand that how we treat the planet is important to us all. You may also want to set aside cans for table scraps and composting that you can process after the big event. Learn about composting and more ways to recycle at Oceanside’s Earth Day Festival.

Estate Jewelry

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something reused. Shopping at estate sales or stores that deal in estate jewelry is a fun way to help the environment. Who doesn’t love a good treasure hunt? These fabulous finds were shared to us by Lucky Street Productions in South Oceanside, but I have a feeling that they won’t be there long.