Green Weddings: Week Six, Providing or Encouraging Eco-Friendly Transportation

Reducing your carbon footprint and the footprint of those you have hired to help you make your big day come to life, as well as encouraging those you’ve invited to reduce theirs too, is arguably one of the most important eco-friendly decisions you can make for your wedding. And the biggest way to reduce that footprint is to offer eco-friendly transportation choices or suggestions.

As mentioned in the “green weddings” post from two weeks ago on Choosing an Eco-Friendly Venue, one of the best ways to be kind to the environment with your wedding is to hold the ceremony and reception in the same place. But if that’s not possible, think about offering, or encouraging, the use of one of these modes of transportation.

Image by Kikitography via The Pretty Blog

Image by Kelly Sweet Photography via Style Me Pretty

Clearly your ceremony and reception locations would have to be close enough to encourage this. I mean…no one wants to arrive at the party looking all sweaty and tired, especially you. But if it’s an easy ride where you and your guests could enjoy a gentle peddle from one spot to the next, this could be a really fun eco-wise choice to make.

Of course there are going to be some people who couldn’t make the ride even if it was gentle, (elderly guests, parents with small children, guests with injuries, etc). So be sure to offer another eco-friendly option such as horse drawn carriages or Quadricycles as mentioned below. Or simply ask your guests to carpool.

Image by Nicole Hill Gerulat via Style Me Pretty

I’m sure you’ve seen these four wheeled bikes around plenty of places. They’re usually in surplus around coastal, mountain, and resort towns. But if your in a fairly large city, I’m sure you’d be able to find them for rent somewhere fairly easy.

Image by Kay English Photography

Image by Beaton Photography

If you’re planning your wedding in the mountains or country, renting horses and/or horse drawn carriages would be a darling way to move your guests from location to location and be eco-kind in one fell swoop! Plus, think of all the great photo ops you’ll have with horses, carriages or wagons all about. Talk about some great props!

Image by Picotte Weddings via Green Wedding Shoes

Renting a bus or shuttle to take your guests from the ceremony to reception is probably the easiest way of ensuring your wedding minimizes pollution. Why is it easy? Because most cities and towns have at least one company, if not multiple companies, from which you could find such rentals. So your options for style and price are most likely wide ranging. Also, in most cases…assuming there is a road between locations…renting a bus or shuttle will be more practical than some of the other options listed here.

Image by Erica Ann Photography via Classic Bride

While having all of your guests hop on a train to travel from your ceremony to your reception might not be the most eco-friendly option, (unless we’re talking computer rail), or as easily available given you need to have a track and the availability between the locations. Still it’s an option to mention, and kind of cool one at that!

Image by Meghan Sepe Weddings via Style Me Pretty

If you can plan your ceremony and reception within walking distance, having your guests stroll along with you to your party is another fabulous option. I’ve seen images of entire weddings sauntering through the streets of bustling cites and leisurely meandering through the countryside and each are quite a sight to see. And since this option is free, it might be the best choice of all.

Image by Lisa O’Dwyer & White Sage Events via 100 Layer Cake

Image by Tijmen Kielen

And last but not least, how amazing would it be to boat to your reception? I picture everyone in row-boats like the one above, the ladies with parasols, the men skillfully guiding the boats across the water. Oh how romantic, don’t you think? Of course you’d need a body of water for this and a gentle one at that. But if you have the option…I say take it.

And there you have it…several smart, fun, and practical options to help you reduce your carbon footprint with your wedding transportation. The bottom line is do your best to keep the driving, flying, and distance traveled to a minimum and your wedding will be even more beautiful, seen and unseen!

And remember, you can be the voice to help encourage your guests, with your wedding and beyond, to be a kinder borrower of the environment as well.

If you haven’t seen the entire “green wedding series”, be sure to check out the posts here:

Week One: Eco-Chic Wedding Gowns
Week Two: Eco-Beautiful Flowers
Week Three: Eco-Stylish Wedding Invitations
Week Four: Eco-Friendly Wedding Venues
Week Five: Selecting Eco-Smart Wedding Favors

Thanks for stopping by!