How to Think Green with Your Wedding Invitations

Green can have a much different meaning than just the color of your wedding invitations. A hot topic these days in wedding planning is ‘going green’. When it comes to your wedding invitations, you will be happy to know there are a number of easy ways to be more environmentally conscience, some of which may even save you some money.

The most obvious way is to have your invitations printed on recycled paper. Designs on recycled papers have come a long way in giving you some gorgeous choices.

Reducing the amount of paper used in the printing of your invitation ensemble is another simple way to be ‘green’ with your wedding invitations. Suggested ways to save on paper include:

• Select an invitation style that comes with only one envelope for mailing thus eliminating the familiar inner envelope. An example of this style is a self-mailer invitation where the envelopment wraps around all of your pieces and seals up to become the actual mailing envelope. Another benefit of having only one envelope is that you will save on your handwriting time. This style may require extra postage depending on its overall size.
• Choose a smaller sized single-panel invitation card instead of a larger folded or layered style.
• Use a response postcard to eliminate the need for a return mailing envelope and to save on postage.
• Include your reception information on your invitation to eliminate the need for including a separate reception card (having less weight in your envelope may even save you from purchasing extra postage). If space allows, your dinner and reception details can be added on as extra lines aligned with the rest of your verse printing, or some invitation styles allow the option of a corner copy – 3-4 lines that appear in the bottom left or right corner usually in a smaller sized font. Having a corner copy, which is not recommended for narrow or tea length styles, may incur a small additional charge.
• Opt for a seal and send wedding invitation which gets mailed without a separate envelope. This efficient one-piece design easily folds and seals into its own self-mailing piece. This style also has a response postcard attached for easy removal and mailing back by your guests.
• Set up a personal wedding website to give your guests easy access to online maps, directions, area hotels, gift registry information, etc., instead of printing extra invitation insert pieces.

Making eco-friendly choices when it comes to your wedding invitations is easier than ever today without sacrificing quality or style. Every little bit helps when it comes to saving our planet and some of your choices might even save you some ‘green’ (money) in the process.

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