Tips for Throwing a 'Zero Waste' Wedding from RealSimple.com
*By Kate Gill*
Some millennials are vowing to protect the environment along with their relationships when they walk down the aisle ー with "zero waste" weddings.
Given the potential for waste ー discarded florals, trimmings, and food ー an eco-friendly wedding is a lofty goal, but it can be done, according to Rachel Sylvester, a lifestyle editor at RealSimple.com.
What constitutes "zero waste"? The goal, Sylvester said, is to orchestrate an event that doesn't produce any trash in a landfill. In other words, a wedding made from recyclable materials.
Sylvester shared her tips with Cheddar to execute a zero waste wedding:
**Communicate with Vendors:**
Be transparent with your vendors about your environmental needs.
"I think you just need to be very open with your vendors about zero waste," Sylvester said.
**Focus on Florals:**
Keep your floral arrangements simple.
"There's always a focus on florals, and there's this idea that you need to have a ton of them," Sylvester said. Simplifying your floral decorations will help cut back on waste.
Most importantly, she said, ask your florist to forgo using foam blocks to structure the centerpieces.
**Keep Your Guest List Short:**
Stick to close friends and family. (Don't tell your third cousins you're getting hitched.)
"One of the biggest things to keep in mind is you're able to achieve that goal of a zero-waste wedding if you kind of cut down on your guest list. If you get your guest list down to under 100, it is definitely doable."
**E-vites:**
Go paperless to save trees ー and time.
"I encourage you to embrace the e-vite. Paperless is more and more common and lot of people are taking that approach and ultimately it's easier to track your RSVPs."
**Shop Vintage:**
Go on a treasure hunt for a vintage dress.
"Check out your local consignment shops and ask around. Maybe your grandmother is just dying to have you kind of re-purpose her gown or your mother or even a best friend who says, 'Take my veil.'"
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/saying-i-do-with-sustainability-on-the-mind).
The U.S. Army has offered an Italian woman a birthday cake to replace the one that U.S. soldiers ate as they entered her hometown during one of the final battles of World War II. Meri Mion turns 90 on Friday.
DeNora Getachew, CEO of DoSomething.org, joins ChedHer to share how DoSomething.org is providing an opportunity for younger generations to make their voices heard by volunteering and advocating for social change.
Catching you up on what you need to know on April 29, 2022, with President Biden asking Congress for a $33 billion aid package for Ukraine, a shrinking GDP potentially leading to a recession, Beijing banning weddings and funerals while closings schools amid COVID, and more.
Alexandra Rutkay, a participant for Cycle for Survival, joins Cheddar News to discuss the movement and raising money for research to beat rare cancers.
President Biden requests $33 Billion for Ukraine, menthol cigarettes' time could be numbered, and The U.S. Post Office gets sued to go green. Here is all the news you Need2Know for Friday, April 29, 2022.
Buying a new home is tough right now; but for first-time buyers, it's an especially challenging time, with obstacles like rising mortgage rates and record-breaking home prices. The housing market is not expected to get much friendlier, as mortgage rates are expected to continue to climb as the Federal Reserve proceeds with its plans for rate hikes in an effort to stifle inflation. Jonathan Miller, President and CEO of real estate appraiser Miller Samuel, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Virtual care and digital medicine provider Biofourmis recently raised $300 million in a Series D round led by General Atlantic and with participation from CVS Health. Biofourmis offers at-home care and digital therapies backed by artificial intelligence, which can remotely monitor patients while they are at home. The company says it hopes its technology can improve patient outcomes while reducing the cost and burden of care. Kuldeep Signh Rajput, Founder and CEO of Biofourmis, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Mental health platform Real recently raised $37 million in a Series B round led by Owl Ventures. Through its mobile app, Real says it provides mental health care at a lower cost than traditional therapy and aims to make mental wellness a part of everyone's daily routine. The company also announced that U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe will serve as an adviser to the company. Ariela Safira, Founder & CEO of Real, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.