Photo Credit: BrideFinds.com

As an eco-friendly venue, we were interested in interviewing a wedding planner with experience in coordinating green weddings – a lifestyle trend that has transferred over into events and weddings. We interviewed Victoria Wagner, owner and planner at A Splash of Elegance and President of the Virginia Association of Bridal Consultants about green weddings. Here’s what Victoria had to say about planning green weddings in the DC area:

What are the top trends in green weddings?

[Victoria]: Re- purposing wedding gowns is a huge trend right now. Brides are remaking their mother’s and grandmother’s dress to restore it and remake the dress with a modern flair. Brides are bringing designs to consignment shops and asking them to create their dress from several scraps of dresses. Boutiques are reselling couture designers gowns – which is less expensive and gives the dress a second life while keeping the designer label.

What particular audience of women are planning green weddings? What attracts a bride or couple to a “green wedding”?

[Victoria]: Younger brides in their early to late 20′s are wanting a green wedding; sometimes couples in their 30′s too, but more so those in their 20′s. Eco-friendly weddings appeal to people who are into recycling and are green. However, green weddings aren’t just about being eco-friendly, it’s also about the heirloom side of it. It has a romance and heritage factor – simply traditions and heirlooms.

Is it more difficult or are there more obstacles in planning a wedding that is eco-friendly?

[Victoria]: Planning eco-friendly weddings is becoming easier and easier. Now it’s just as easy to plan a green wedding as it is a traditional wedding without the green concepts. Having a green wedding doesn’t mean everything in a wedding has to be green either – there can be a few elements of a wedding that are green. As more vendors become green, it becomes easier.

For  instance, when you think about invitations, you don’t need an evite – you can use invitations that are green. Soy inks are green. Crane & Co. has many invitation options that are green such as their 100% cotton invitations.

What are the best resources or websites out there in finding “green” centerpieces, party favors, and more? And, what is the most extreme or unique thing you’ve seen a couple do for their “green” wedding?

[Victoria]: GreenBrideGuide.com has a list of vendors brides can choose from which is a great resource.  I also recommend green florists such as Shelly Campbell with Shelley’s Floral – her flowers are grown locally and organic at Faith Hill Farm in Virginia.

I had one couple who wanted a green reception with no flowers. It was a September wedding and they used lots of fruits and vegetables as centerpieces and donated it to a shelter after as opposed to flowers which would be tossed out. I’ve had many creative green brides – this was definitely high on the list!

Photo Credit: Union Photography

Thank you for interviewing with us Victoria! It was a pleasure talking to you and learning more about green weddings from a planner’s aspect.