I am in a wedding in February and another one in July, and I've got a few friends who are expecting, so I've been thinking about showers a lot lately.

There is so much waste in many things we do in life, including the special events we host and take part in.  There are some really simple ways to host or be a part of a shower in a more eco-friendly way.

Here are a few simple things you can do:

Invitations:
E-vites are a great way to save paper and are very easy to send! 

Here are a few websites to check out for e-vites:
www.evite.com
www.smilebox.com 
www.purpletrail.com
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                                                                       *Sample e-vite taken from www.evite.com

If the people you are inviting to the shower just aren't computer savy, or you really want to send paper invitations, be sure to use recycled-paper or even plantable paper invites. 

Decorating:
Instead of the usual balloons, streamers, etc., decorate more naturally with plants, fresh cut flowers, or pretty fruit bowls.  Burn soy candles and play some music to create the mood you're going for.
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Food & Drink:
Go organic and local as much as you can.  If possible, shop at your local farmer's market for fresh fruit and veggies to serve! 
Be sure to use china, silverware and cloth napkins too!
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Gifts:
There are a variety of ways you can be eco-friendly in your gift-giving. 

First off, give organic/natural gifts as much as possible.  If you are the reason for the shower (the bride or the mom-to-be), take the time to register for the things you want if you prefer to use natural and organic products.  Often people will not just buy these products automatically because of the price difference  However, if you make a point to tell people where you are registered, you are more likely to get the eco-friendly gifts you are hoping for. 
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Secondly, you can choose to wrap the gifts you give without causing all of the waste of wrapping paper.  Use a tea towel or afghan to wrap a wedding shower gift and a baby towel or receiving blanket to wrap a baby gift.  You can also just put your gift in a nice basket or re-usable bag and skip the cellophane that will end up in the garbage anyway. 
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Next time you're hosting or attending a shower, keep some of these ideas in mind. 

You don't have to do it all, but every little bit helps!

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