A Made in the USA Wedding

When you are planning your wedding, you will have a lot of choices to make, some of which may go beyond matters of style. One really great thing that you can decide to do is to plan your wedding using as many items as possible that are created right here in the United States. These are some tips on how to plan a fantastic wedding that is made in the USA.

Having a made in the USA wedding is not about designing a wedding that looks like a Fourth of July party. The idea is to make smart choices utilizing locally made items. You will be supporting American businesses and workers while at the same time getting great quality. In some instances, you may even find that your save yourself some money. If you feel like wearing your patriotism on your sleeve, feel free to put a note in your wedding programs mentioning that "all the items in this wedding were made in the USA - including the bride and groom!". Of course, it is not necessary to make a formal announcement of your goal if you prefer not to.

When you are thinking locally, begin with the food and flowers. There are great advantages to sourcing locally for your wedding in this category. The shorter the distance between the farm and the dinner plates at your reception, the fresher and more flavorful the food will be. Relying on regionally produced foods will also help you to plan a menu that is seasonal and showcases the best of what your area has to offer. You can have fun highlighting specialities like Vermont cheddar, California wines, or Maine blueberries. Serving a domestic sparkling wine will also save you quite a bit over toasting with imported French Champagne.

Local flowers are another great part of a made in the US wedding. Like the food, they will be at the peak of freshness and beauty. It can also be good for your social conscience to choose flowers that are grown in local greenhouses. You will know that you are keeping your carbon footprint to a minimum, and that you are also not supporting some of the environmentally damaging practices of international flower growers. Besides, seasonal flowers are always a lovely way to celebrate the season of your wedding.

You can also commit to choosing bridal attire that is domestically produced. There are a number of reasons to do so, the first of which is that many of the finest bridal gowns are handmade right in New York City. Many of the best known designers have American workshops where their gowns are created. Having actually visited a couple of them personally, I can tell you that they are nice places with good working conditions; a far cry from the sweatshop conditions that are necessary to make an entire wedding gown and sell it profitably for only $99. You may spend more, but when you chose an American made wedding gown, you will be getting the finest quality available and supporting local industry as well.

Even the accessories for your wedding can be made in the USA. Look for bridesmaid gifts such as pieces of jewelry which are made by an American company. There are some wonderful designers that handcraft bridesmaid jewelry gifts that are not only beautiful, but also surprisingly affordable. What a nice way to show your appreciation for your attendants while also showing support for an American company.

When you start to look into it, having a "Made in the USA" wedding is actually quite easy. You will feel good knowing that you are using local companies while also getting the finest quality items for your wedding. An American made wedding is a great way to make sure that everyone comes out of your wedding a winner (especially the newlyweds, of course!).