Personalised solid oak table plan - notonthehighstreet.comIf you want the wedding of your dreams, but do not want it to cost the earth environmentally (or financially!) then planning your wedding with an eco-friendly theme will help you do this. We have collected together a selection of ideas to help you design an environmentally friendly wedding seating plan, escort cards and table décor. Follow the hyper-links to find out more about each idea and don’t forget to look at our Pinterest board as well, where you will find even more inspiration!

Seating plans and escort cards

Handmade to perfection, this solid oak and slate table plan shown above is sure to be a show stopper on your big day!

It will be working hard long after everyone has found their seats. Each of the laser engraved slates are simply held in place with sticky velcro tabs. This means that once you are back from honeymoon, you can use the solid oak board, minus the slates just as you please.

You could use it to display your wedding photographs, or send it back to have it made into a bench. Whichever you choose, it’ll be personal to you – a memory of your wedding.

Some other ideas include:

Carved eco heart table plan

Carved eco heart table plan – etsy.com

  • Use a trellis (which can be taken home for the bride and groom’s new garden!), and tuck in colour coordinated, recycled escort cards for each guest. Interweave some pretty garden flowers and ivy, scraps of ribbon and pretty wooden decorations
  • Use hand-stamped stones as escort cards
  • Perfectly rustic, this eco wedding seating plan uses twine and recycled paper
  • Write guest’s names and table numbers on apples or leaves for fabulously eco friendly escort cards
  • Wildflower seed packets pegged to twine and used as escort cards make a beautiful display and are also a great little favour for guests
  • If you know someone good at woodcraft, how about asking them to turn a slice of tree trunk or driftwood into a bespoke wooden seating plan?

Table names and numbers

Escort cards in plants - via Flickr (donotlick)

  • Use eco-friendly phrases such as ‘reuse’, ‘recycle’, ‘fair trade’ or ‘organic’
  • Use recycled or sustainable materials, such as recycled paper, wood or cork for table numbers
  • Try to find fair trade table name holders, or scour your local antique or charity shops for some shabby chic frames for table names.

Table décor

  • Use small perennials in pots as table decorations, which guests can take home to plant after the event
  • If you want fresh flowers, either grow your own or ask a florist to pick flowers that are locally grown and in season. When you have finished with them, donate them to a local hospital or nursing home
  • To make a decorated heart centrepiece, weave 6 pliable branches together to make two straight pieces and tie them at the bottom and the top. Then use a piece of string to connect the top and the bottom together, pulling it tight so that the top bends down and in to make a heart shape. Decorate with pieces of colourful ribbon, leaves and flowers
  • Use recycled natural paper to make your own paper flowers as a table centrepiece
  • Decorate your table using these lovely plantable paper flowers. If you are feeling adventurous, here is a video tutorial showing you how to make your own!

Other ideas

  • Choose a reception venue that is local to the majority of your guests, to reduce travelling time, and encourage guests to share transport where ever possible
  • Dry rose petals can on a tray in the airing cupboard, and put in home made paper cones to distribute to guests. You will be surprised at the amount of rose petals required, so ask any green-fingered friends and relatives to help you collect and dry the petals
  • Find a caterer who will supply a locally sourced, organic buffet. Remember not to waste any leftover food – either offer your guests ‘doggy bags’ to take home or offer it to a local homeless shelter

Many other styles will complement your eco-friendly theme perfectly – rustic, shabby chic and garden themes to name but a few. A green, environmentally friendly wedding with a minimal carbon footprint will be kind on the environment and will show that you care about the future world your descendants will live in. What perfect sentiments for a special wedding day.

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