Invitations

Your invitation will be your guests’ first impression of the elegant earth-friendly wedding that you’re planning. By selecting recycled, handmade, or tree-free paper for your invitations, you launch your wedding announcement with an air of environmental awareness. Using one of these papers will help reduce the demand for logging, save water and energy resources, and result in less trash and other disposal costs.

You may be pleasantly surprised to learn of the many attractive and high quality environmental papers that are available today. A Web search for recycled and tree-free paper will result in numerous online vendors and maybe even suppliers in your area. There are also several organizations that provide information on recycled paper and non-wood fiber options including hemp, banana stalks, bamboo, kenaf, organic cotton, and recycled denim and currency. Rethink Paper is a comprehensive resource for identifying environmentally preferable alternatives to current paper consumption practices and offers a directory of regional suppliers. Conservatree, a nonprofit organization dedicated to converting paper markets to environmental papers, offers tips on buying papers and a listing of small quantity sources. Rainforestweb.org has links to tree-free paper resources.

In addition to a paper’s fiber content, there are other considerations to be made when selecting your invitations. Use paper that is either natural in color or tinted with natural dyes. The "processed chlorine free" (PCF) label assures you that the paper has not been bleached with environmentally damaging chlorine bleach. Avoid metallic and plastic coated papers, as they often are not recyclable. And look for earth-friendly embellishments such as natural fibers and dried flowers and leaves.

Whenever possible, ask your printer to use soy-based inks to avoid the use of petroleum-based inks that result in smog-producing hydrocarbons. Soy-based inks are biodegradable in landfills and do not necessitate use of toxic cleaners. For more information, check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s report on soy-based inks. Metallic inks should also be avoided because they often contain toxic pigments and may complicate the de-inking process when recycled.

For small print runs, digital printing is considered by some to be a more environmentally sound choice than running the job on offset presses. Nontoxic toner is used, and according to green printing specialist Greg Barber, digital printing avoids use of the film and chemicals that other printing methods require. If you are planning to print invitations on your own printer, buy remanufactured toner cartridges when possible and then recycle them. An added benefit to you is that most of the major office supply stores now offer incentives such as discount coupons or free paper when you recycle your empty cartridges.

Use standard-sized cards and envelopes, and attempt to keep weight to a minimum. Over-sized mailings will require more postage and in some cases special handling by postal workers. Check the United States Postal Service’s Postage Rate Calculator for information on envelope dimensions and postage within the U.S. Take a sample invitation packet to the post office for weighing to make sure that you affix sufficient postage.

While at the post office, take a look at their selection of postage stamps. Many decorative, as well as socially and environmentally related designs, are available. Each year the USPS introduces a new "Love" stamp - and brand new for 2006 is the "Our Wedding" stamp designed specifically for mailing invitations and RSVPs. Or, if you would like a truly personal postage stamp, you can now put your own design or photo on a stamp. Search the Web for companies that are approved and licensed by the USPS to create your own real US postage stamps.

If your style is not too traditional, consider providing a postcard for RSVPs rather than a paper card and envelope. And for the most environmentally sound approach, you might even consider sending invitations and request RSVPs via e-mail.