‘Tis the season for weddings and if you are invited to celebrate the nuptials of an earth-conscious couple—or, if you are an earth-conscious wedding guest—you might want to consider giving a gift that goes along with a green living lifestyle.
We have given an eco-friendly twist to some of today’s most popular wedding gift items:
Traditional Gift: Pots & Pans
Eco-Twist: Eco-Friendly Cookware with CSA Farm Share
There are several eco-friendly cookware options available and you could always splurge on a complete set like Cusinart’s Green Gourmet Cookware. But, we love the idea of spending a little less on the eco-friendly cookware (checkout Green Pan’s Focus Turquoise Non-Stick Open Frypan) and adding a gift that will keep on giving the green all season long—a CSA farm share. Checkout sites such as Just Food (for New Yorkers) or Local Harvest—both provide lists of local CSA options and farmers. If cost is an issue, consider splitting the weekly CSA share with the bride & groom or ask the CSA if they have gift certificates available.
Traditional Gift: Crystal Candlestick Holders
Eco-Twist: Couples Cooking Class with Organic Candles
Nothing says romance like a candle-lit dinner, but instead of focusing on the candles (order some great eco-friendly non-scented candles from Way Out Wax), we suggest focusing on the dinner. CourseHorse offers a list of cooking classes in New York (and Chicago or LA) that include numerous healthy food options. Or, checkout The Brooklyn Kitchen, a cooking store that offers a Couples Dinner Class where guests learn creative ways to enjoy seasonal produce & locally farm-raised meats (they have gift cards available!).
Traditional Gift: Towels & Linens
Eco-Twist: Organic Towels with Drying Rack
Organic linens have come a long way. Today, towels made from sustainable materials such as organic cotton or bamboo not only feel wonderful against the skin, but come in every color and design imaginable. West Elm even offers towels you can monogram with the new couple’s initials. Go one step further with your organic purchase and include a drying rack like these we found from Bed, Bath & Beyond. A small drying rack is the perfect addition to even the smallest of New York apartments—allowing the couple to use less energy when keeping those organic towels clean.
Traditional Gift: Traveling Gear
Eco-Twist: Eco-friendly Backpack w/ National Parks Pass
If the newlyweds are adventurous, give them a gift that will get them moving and help protect the environment. A National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass allows users free access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites—this pass covers entrance fees as well as standard amenity fees for a driver and all passengers (did you know there are 10 National Parks with 22 unique destinations in New York City and northern New Jersey?). Throw in an eco-friendly backpack such as those by EcoGear, and you have a gift that will help the couple celebrate nature all year long.
Talk to us: What is the most unique wedding gift you have ever received and/or given?
image courtesy of BY CC 2.0