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New Windsor, NY 12553

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Good Old Days Florist

Eco Green Wedding

 Eco Green Wedding-Rings to Flowers

blue hydrangea & lavender bouquet

Because this is our forte, we elaborate in this area with just a few ideas….

Please, please feel free to contact us today for any questions about greening your wedding, no matter the subject!

Avoid inexpensive, mass market flowers because you do “get what you pay for” and then some. Low quality, and chemical laden; they should never be used on food, around pets, or composted.Use local or eco friendly flowers wherever possible.  High quality dried and permanent flowers are a second option as they typically are kept for the sentiment or as gifts-they are also especially appropriate during the winter months.

Avoid plastic bouquet holders as they are rarely reused and non biodegradable. Choose hand/wild crafted bouquets in presentation style, shower cascading, or gathered in a tussie mussie holder.

Avoid floral tapes as much as possible.  Floral tape is no longer just paper with a wax coating as in the past; but a mix of various chemical substances.  The once innovative and now number one, florists, tool leaves its mark in many a soil. No wedding is complete without corsage, wristlets, and boutonnieres where most tape is used.  Instead, choose miniature posey bouquets hand tied or in keepsake tussie mussie holders and lapel vases.  Later transferred to vases for bedside table; they will last for days or can be hung dry for a keepsake.

Avoid resin, plastic, and lucite containers and imported ceramics.  All forms of plastic take 1,000 years to break down in a landfill; they never biodegrade into the soil but only become a part of it.  The energy & fuel it requires to get anything imported to the US warrants too high cost to the environment to be worth it. Opt for decor arrangements made in vases and baskets-preferably North American made, or recycled/vintage containers.  Use assorted branches for large scale décor or where height is needed.  Green and flowering plants can be taken home or re-gifted where they will continue their lives.

Avoid wet and dry floral foams, the most used construction product of florists.   These are petroleum based; made with formaldehyde and resins, and as plastics never biodegrade.  We can only imagine the damage our industry has already done, since the foams 1950 era invention.  It sickens us.Utilize early florists design techniques which did not use foams but used vines, stones, twigs, and metal grids and armatures for vases and baskets.  One of our favorites is a basket of wheat grass with sprouting flowers.  The designs seem bountiful and natural compared to the stiff foam designs of today – a win-win solution.

Avoid poly ribbons and lace as they are a plastic and imported; definitely not a green product Use earth friendly hemp and raffia or good quality laces and ribbons of cotton, satin, silk, and organza; these will always be saved and/or reused because of their fineness.

Opt out of aisle runners unless absolutely necessary due to weather or outdoor gown protection, as they are no longer made of natural substances and a mix of fibrous plastics. Outlining the aisle with garlands or scattering fresh rose petals is a greener alternative.  If you must use them-try to reuse them creatively.


Avoid inexpensive, imported favors, packaged mementos and gifts; they are a waste of your dollars and just another addition to a drawer or garbage.  PVC (poly vinyl chloride, the base for nearly all plastic packaging, and gift bags-does not biodegrade.  Staying in the soil forever and a known carcinogen. How many of these souvenirs do you yourself keep?  Not many we suspect. –Leave guest with a quality memento.

eco green wedding busines

There are 100’s of fun ideas-below are a few of our favorites for an eco green wedding.

  • A donation to any worthy cause-animal-environmental-humanitarian.  Check Justgive.org
  • A carbon offset purchase to compensate for the energy your wedding used Check nativeenergy.org
  • Miniature potted trees or herbs
  • Cotton or cheesecloth potpourri sachets
  • A single, elegant, fresh flower for everyone
  • Recycled paper cones of dried lavender meaning luck in the Language of Flowers
  • Organic chocolates or miniature fair trade coffees

If you cannot give it to me- consume it, recycle it, reuse it, don’t use it!

Part of green is using the imagination, doing some research, and being creative.  Many complain of a higher cost for eco green weddings and events; but the number one mantra of green is to “consume less” which equates to spending less or the same.  A respect and selflessness for the planet and its other rightful inhabitants is the pathway to green thinking.  Consider that every action has an effect on some part of the earth or animal species… somewhere.  Invite less, eat less, decorate less, and travel less.

Try to purchase items that will have a second chance – kept or gifted.  Uninteresting, and cheaply made – are just that – and rarely kept.  For an eco green wedding or event that is remembered, use items of quality that will be saved and continually bring memories of your wedding.

Eco Green wedding sites we love-near and far:

  • The Bridal Garden.  Offers upcycled couture gowns benefiting the Sheltering Arm Children’s Services; we love pre-worn couture.  visit Bridal Garden
  • Paper Culture is hands down our favorite for all things paper. visit Paper C
  • The Camera Renter offers rentals of digital table cameras-and web posting of wedding photos.  4 stars for replacing the single use cameras.
  • New York Wedding Ring Workshop guides you in making your own wedding bands in 2 sessions of recycled gold and conflict free diamonds.    This is high on our sentimentality list! visit the workshop
  • The Carbon Fund lets you see just how much carbon your entire wedding will use-and a way to offset it.  visit the Fund
  • Arbor Day Foundation Offering tree seedlings in a multitude of species-for tree huggers like us.
  • Alternative Baker  (Lemoncakes.com) LOCAL
  • The Main course  Eco-minded and delicious  visit Main course LOCAL 
  • Alternative Registry A great way to personalize and be interactive with your guests while showing your belief. visit Registry
  • Mud Stencils – The best idea for anyevent – love it- visit mud
  • Oliver Kita  Chocolates LOCAL fair trade – organic-vegan.
  • Rescue Chocolates is our go to for all chocolates as every cent of profit goes to animal shelters  The Best visit Rescue

Check back often as Mom is always searching for other green humans.  If you are a green eco-minded business, and would like to be included on this eco green wedding page, email her at Lynn@goodolddaysflorist.com

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