Eco-Friendly Favor Ideas for Bridal Showers
Celebrating marriage can become an extravagant undertaking, a phenomenon characterized by writer Rebecca Mead as “the escalation of the American wedding." However, a counter-theme in wedding events is that of thoughtful simplicity, which can include green or eco-friendly details. A green focus represents the interests of the bride and the groom and ensures that money spent on various details supports a worthy cause. Eco-themed party favors at the bridal shower are one small way to thank your closest friends while sharing in what is truly important to you. Does this Spark an idea?
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What Makes Something Eco-Friendly?
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At the time of publication, “eco-friendly” is a buzz word that actually has no legal definition, so it can be difficult to pin down exactly what it means. Steps in the life of a product that can have an environmental impact include everything from pre-production to what happens to the product after it is used and disposed. Selling points of eco-friendly products include the absence of harmful chemicals, the use of recycled or biodegradable materials and a creation process that uses little energy or natural resources. Eco-friendly products can also be those that support sustainability of a resource, location or group of people. When choosing bridal shower party favors, consider what causes are close to your heart. If you are involved with women’s rights in third-world countries, seek out an organization that sells handmade jewelry and crafts made by women, such as Project Have Hope or Ten Thousand Villages.
Plants and Seeds
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The gift of a plant is an elegant display of thanks. A plant brings to mind renewal and sustainability, ideas that are central to the natural world and the bond of marriage. Choose a hardy plant that requires little care, such as aloe or jade. Cutting and repotting pieces of a plant that you have in your home can be a strong symbolic gesture of connectedness. If your guests will be flying home, provide a decorated pot and seeds for future planting.
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Donations to a Worthy Cause
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A donation to an environmentally oriented organization is strikingly thoughtful and can introduce your guests to a new cause. Organizations such as Heifer International, Oxfam America and the World Wildlife Fund assign a tangible item to your monetary donation, such as a number of ducks or a particular area in need of environmental conservation. The gift of a donation comes without any packaging waste, and recipients can be informed of your gift through a small card printed on recycled paper.
Gifts With Eco-Friendly Materials
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Putting a green twist on traditional party favors is another way to incorporate eco-friendly details into your bridal shower. Your guests will be able to reuse a gift tote bag made of recycled materials whenever they go shopping. Fill it with goodies such as fair trade chocolate and coffee. You can personalize favors by having the date of the shower or other details custom-printed on stickers or on the gifts themselves. This can be a lasting reminder of both your bridal shower and the small things that your guests can do to support eco-friendly causes.
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References
- Prevention: Best Environmentally-Friendly Cleaning Products
- Natural Products Marketplace: Keeping It Clean…Naturally
- Ethical Ocean: What Does It Mean to Be Eco-Friendly?
- One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding; Rebecca Mead
Resources
- Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
