A wedding setting doesn’t get more pristine than Tahoe South. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Underwood)
No matter where you tie the knot, one thing’s certain—you want to keep the environment in mind. Especially if you plan to make things official in beautiful South Tahoe (and why in the world would you choose any place else, right?).
The bigger the guest list, the greater the potential for waste—especially when it comes to the send-off. But, fortunately, there are a lot of ways (besides biodegradable confetti) to create a spectacular send-off that is three parts gorgeous and all parts green!
To get started, check out the following five eco-friendly wedding send-off ideas. These might just inspire you to come up with a few of your own.
Native Flower Seeds in Paper Cones
Not only are they symbolically romantic, flower seeds are as gentle as can be on the environment—as long as the seeds are from flowers native to the area where you plan to have your ceremony. Place them in biodegradable paper cones tied with ribbons, and you’ve got earth-safe seed launchers that’ll send you off in style.
TIP: To round up enough native seeds for the send-off, start by contacting a local nursery, or check online.
Fall Leaves from Local Trees
Nothing caps off a fall wedding like hundreds of falling leaves. But, as with flower seeds, you’ll want to make sure the leaves are from native plants. The best part of this send-off idea is the potential for some pre-wedding festivities. Invite close friends and family to a leaf collecting party, and you’ll not only save a lot of money, you’ll have a ton of fun.
Seasonal Herbs
Herbs are biodegradable, and they smell amazing. Bonus! Consider a concoction of the most aromatic varieties, such as lavender, mint, and rosemary. Then, present them to your guests in small, decorated mason jars tied with ribbon. Guests can take home the empty decorated jars as a memento of your momentous event.
Snow
Make your big exit a big snowball fight. (Photo Credit: Vernon Wiley Photography | Lake Tahoe Cruises/Zephyr Cove Resort)
This is, hands down, the coolest of all wedding send-off ideas for winter ceremonies. And it can be pulled off two eco-friendly ways. The first option—real snow—is for the more adventurous (because it’s cold!). Real snow is not only safe for the environment, it’s free as can be. The second option is eco-friendly fake snow. It may not be free, but it’s certainly more comfortable. Whether real or fake, using snow is guaranteed to turn your send-off into a giant snowball fight!
Sound
Gracing your exit with noise is the eco-friendliest of all wedding send-off ideas. And the possibilities are endless. Pretty much anything works—from tambourines and maracas to kazoos or pots and pans. If you’re crafty, you might consider designing your own. Whatever you choose for your send-off sound, the instruments make great keepsake gifts for your guests.
Fall weddings provide amazing lighting. (Photo Credit: Theilen Photography | Zephyr Cove Resort)
Takeaway
Be sure to consider the most important component in your spectacular send-off—where it’s from! For a fantastic outdoor send-off, check out Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel, The Ridge Tahoe, or The Landing Resort and Spa. If the two of you love being on the water, take a look at the on-the-water wedding packages available at Lake Tahoe Cruises / Zephyr Cove Resort. For a sandy sweet send-off, check out the beach wedding options at Edgewood Tahoe and Beach Retreat and Lodge at Tahoe. Or, for the perfect sound-making send-off, see what Hard Rock Cafe Tahoe has to offer.
For more information about planning your South Tahoe dream wedding, check out Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority (LTVA) website.
