Hoosier Couples Say 'I Do' To 'Green' Weddings

INDIANAPOLIS -- While weddings may bring to mind images of white, the color "green" is also becoming part of the big day for couples who want more eco-friendly celebrations.

Demand for sustainable weddings has grown across the country, including in Indiana, as more couples strive to make their events more like their everyday lives.

"For most of my clients, 'green' is a way of life," said Cristina McGinnis Widman, owner of Bloomington-based Blooming Branch Green Events, the state's first exclusively green even planning business. "If you are someone who is diligent about recycling, composting, why would you want your event to be anything different?"

Sarah and Andrew's 'Green' Wedding

That premise is what led Sarah Oblon and Andrew Distelrath to decide early on that they wanted a wedding with a limited impact on the environment.

"We wanted to have a wedding that reflects the choices we normally make," said Oblon, who works for a wind energy company in Houston, Texas, where Distelrath teaches eighth-grade social studies. "Our No. 1 goal was to reuse when we can, and then minimize what we had to buy."

Oblon's parents, who live in Indianapolis, scoured garage sales looking for reusable items, while salvaged paint was used to decorate flower pots, later filled with flowers grown in the family's garden.

Distelrath's aunt hosted a wedding shower by mail in an effort to cut down on carbon emissions from traveling, with all guests urged to take on a "green" project in the couple's honor.

But the real sustainable showcase came in the form of Oblon's dress. The custom-made garment incorporated pieces of 45 used white T-shirts collected from the couple's family and friends.

"I had always envisioned people wearing T-shirts to my wedding. But this was a way to reuse in a unique way," Oblon said.

The strapless, floor-length dress impressed not only guests, but those behind the scenes as well.

"This couple really went above and beyond," said Mindy Olson with Venture Food Company, the caterer for the couple's outdoor park reception featuring washable china and reusable plastic cups. "We've had some people do little things, but this is the first full-fledged 'green' couple."

Growing Industry

And as more couples inquire about "green" options, the more outlets Hoosiers have to find those services.

A group of likeminded businesses in Bloomington, including McGinnis Widman's event planning service, created the Local Green Wedding Package to offer eco-friendly recommendations on everything from cakes and catering to flowers and invitations.

"I want to be able to send couples to other vendors in town, instead of national vendors," said Sheryl Woodhouse-Keese, owner of Bloomington's Twisted Limb Paperworks, which features 100 percent recycled, chlorine-free invitations. "A lot of people were finding us through online searches, and then discovering that we were right here in Indiana."

Woodhouse-Keese said her business, which uses alternative energy sources and recycles water from its dehumidifiers and air conditioner, saw an upswing after former Vice President Al Gore's 2006 film "An Inconvenient Truth," detailing the climate change crisis.

Now, the company offers papers in 26 different colors, all without additional dyes, and customized packages, including do-it-yourself invitation kits, to accommodate a wide range of budgets.

"A lot of people think that having a 'green' wedding is going to be more expensive, but really, I think the spirit of having a more environmentally conscious wedding has nothing to do with purchasing," Woodhouse-Keese said. "It has more to do with just being more thoughtful."

She recommends couples plan far in advance so they have plenty of time determine how their "green" priorities will fit with other important considerations like budget and the overall vision.

Blooming Branch's McGinnis Widman said that when planning a sustainable wedding, every decision counts.

"When planning a 'green' event, it is important to consider the impact of the event long term," she said. "Consider the environmental impact that your event will have, and think past the day of the event, (to the larger) sustainability factor."

For Oblon and Distelrath, the planning and hard work that they and their family members put into their August nuptials paid off in the end, they said.

"It's just a different way to plan a wedding," Oblon said. "Not everything panned out 100 percent green, but it's at least a good start, and we helped share that with the young people at our wedding."

More Information:

Blooming Branch Green Events

Venture Food Company

Bloomington Local Green Wedding Package

Twisted Limb Paperworks

Other Resources:

The Green Bride Guide

Great Green Wedding