Eco Friendly Favors

Trying to find eco friendly favors? And not just ones through big favor companies online that list the items as "green" (with the little quotes and all) but ACTUAL earth friendly favors?


Many products that are being offered from wedding companies as green favors, aren't as green as they're saying. And to sift through the advertising, simply as yourself a few questions:

1. how close is the item to me (local means supporting your community and less polution from shipping), 2. Is it organic, 3. What is it packaged in.


Why is this important? When I searched a popular, nationwide favor company for green favors, I inquired with customer service about a particular product made from bamboo. I found out it was packaged in several different layers of material, the bamboo wasn't organic, and it was being shipped from the east coast. The eco-friendly benefits of that product were starting to look not so green after that.


For your own green favors, here's a few of my favorite items and locations to hunt down your own:


1. Soap. Everybody uses it (or SHOULD be using it) so it's useful, and can be molded into a shape befitting of your wedding. The heart below is from Lavendar Wind Farm in Coupeville, WA who use organic lavendar and goat's milk in their guest soaps. 2. Famer's Markets. Why order honey from a nationwide favor company and pay way too much on shipping when you can get it from your local farmers market (I mean, you could even MEET the bees the honey is coming from if you wanted!)? You can find great prices and quality products at these places and they make a fun and gourmet-esque gift for your guests. If you don't like honey, consider other items that may be offered like flowers, lavendar, cheeses or fresh berries.



3. Speaking of bees, try beeswax candles. Candles have long since been a popular favor option but cheap ones can have lead in the wick and be made with parafin wax overseas. Beeswax is all natural, clean burning and most have cotton wicks. This one is in a cute travel tin but the company making them (Beehive Candles, Maple Falls WA) also offers taper candles, votives, or aromatherapy options.

4. Etsy.com. Etsy features handmade items and you can choose to shop locally. When I searched Bellingham, WA I was shown plenty of options from sweaters and furniture to small toys, soaps and lotions. If you find an item you like, make sure to check with the seller first to see if they can accommodate your order and that you give them plenty of time-a little bit of work, but worth it for the handmade goodies your guests will get!!

5. Tree favors. Greenworldproject.net provides a variety of tree seeds and seedlings in different types of packaging. Some plastic tubes the trees are shipped in can even be converted to bird feeders.