Planning a bridal shower is one of the many important tasks of being a bridesmaid. If you are looking for a unique bridal shower or to plan a bridal shower for a bride who is very much into saving the environment, there are plenty of things you can do to have an eco-friendly wedding. Planning a green bridal shower is simple, creative, and will give guests an entirely new outlook on bridal showers.
Here are some tips and suggestions to make your bride’s shower a little greener:
- Every bridal shower requires an invite. Guests need to know when, where, for who, how to get there etc… Instead of purchasing invitations, gather the e-mails of all of those who are to be invited to the shower. Chances are a vast majority of guests will have an e-mail address. If not, you can always opt to send out regular invitations to those who do not have an e-mail address. Otherwise, an e-invite is a great way to go. It’s quick, easy and won’t get lost in the mail. Guests will be more likely to actually RVSP when all they have to do is click reply and send a one line e-mail.
- If you are against the e-invite or have to hand out invites to those without e-mail addresses, find invitations that have been printed on recycled paper.
- Use live plants to decorate the hall, home or whichever location you will be holding the shower at. At the end of the shower, you can use the plants as door prizes. Guests will be able to a take a little bit of your green bridal shower home with them.
- Skip the paper products. You can often by glassware for a dollar a piece. These can be used over and over again. There are also environment friendly ones you can find, such as ones made from bamboo. If you would prefer not to buy, scout out a local company that rents plates and eating utensils.
- Opt for cloth table clothes and napkins. While it may cost a little bit more, these products are much more environmentally friendly and can be used over and over again, too.
- Skip the bridal shower games that require 20 rolls of toilet paper. One game to substitute is asking all guests to bring a small amount of money to donate to the bride’s favorite green cause. Put all the money into a big glass jar and let guests guess how much is in it. The one closest to the right number wins. You could plant trees or flowers in place of one of the games or even turn that into a game. All it takes is a little creativity. Instead of the traditional guessing games, gather fresh herbs from your local markets. Have everyone guess what each herb is. The one to get the most right can take them all as the prize or use another eco-friendly prize and give one herb to each guest that they can take home and plant.
- Encourage guests to skip the wrapping paper. Instead they can use gift bags or even baskets. These items can be used over and over again to “wrap” gifts in the future. At one point or another, it is likely that everyone reading this has reused a gift bag. Ask guests if they want to take a gift bag home with them if they have any other showers coming up.
- Encourage guests to avoid purchasing cards. Cards are nice and thoughtful. However, they normally just are read and thrown to the side. The gift is always the main attraction. Guests can use the tag on a gift bag or get creative in the way they let the bride know the gift is from them.