Tip #1: Hold the Paper Please!
Bridal showers can be fun, but for some attendees they're also a lot of work! Of course I'm talking about the second and third most important people at the shower-besides the bride. You know the "trash collector" and "ribbon collector/hat maker/or bouquet maker." Seriously, who hasn't been to a bridal shower where one person has the job of taking care of the wrapping paper, while another is in charge of collecting the ribbon and making a hat or a bouquet. "Trashy," as we'll fondly refer to her, is usually seated next to the bride as she opens her gifts, with a big garbage bag ready to accept the next discarded wrapping paper. Trashy is often a service-oriented person, someone who is very proactive. Perhaps a sister, an aunt, or a dear friend. She might even know the family so well that she can find the trash bags all by herself. One thing we know for certain, this gal has been to more than one shower.
Of course, a different person must be designated as the official ribbon collector, for she has the esteemed task of creating a ribbon hat, or a ribbon bouquet, whichever has been chosen for this particular occasion. We'll call her "Martha," since she probably fancies herself somewhat of a creative sort, able to make a bridal confection that will wow the crowd, if not humiliate the bride. I actually think that you can measure the kindness of a person by whether they make a hat, or a bouquet…after all, who wants to march toward your soon to be betrothed (at the ceremony rehearsal, of course) outfitted in a ribbon-covered paper plate atop your head? But I digress. In the spirit of making the shower less work and more fun for all attendees, why not make the modern-move of having a "paper-free" shower? Of course, your impact on the environment will also be reduced, and what could be more fun than that?
Impact on the environment, you ask? In the grand scheme of things, could the roles Trashy and Martha play make that much of a difference? Actually, the answer is: yes! You'll be surprised that for the more than 2.3 million weddings every year, approximately 500,000 trees are used for all of the paper involved. From the engagement party to the bridal shower(s), from the rehearsal dinner to the wedding itself, and let's not forget the thank you cards-that's a lot of paper! So, by abstaining from having wrapped gifts at your shower you could have a pretty significant impact, especially if everyone decided to do the same. So please, for yourself, your friends, and your world--kindly ask that your shower gifts not be wrapped. Actually, this has become an unrelated trend already! So it shouldn't come as a surprise to your guests if the showers invites state, "if you are kind enough to bring a present, please do not wrap it…we are doing our part to reduce the amount of resources we consume!" or something along those lines. Let Trashy and Martha hold drinks instead of waste, I know they'll thank you for it!
Eco-Chic Weddings: Simple Tips to Plan an Environmentally Friendly, Socially Responsible, Affordable, and Stylish Celebration by Emily Elizabeth Anderson Buy The Book www.ecochicweddings.com
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