Wedology 101: How to have a great, green wedding
Ryan Headley, Staff Writer
Published On: 04/21/2008
As Birmingham gears up for Earth Day on April 22 and wedding season begins to heat up, Carol Bennett and Wedology are ready to “do good” by wedding together these two totally different events. Wedology is a wedding and event planning business run by Bennett, a Birmingham citizen with a passion for both weddings and the environment that plans eco-friendly weddings and events in and around the Birmingham area. Bennett got her start in event planning shortly after she graduated from college and began to work in the fashion industry planning and presenting fashion shows, dinner parties, charity events and designer launches.
Bennett experienced first hand the effect that pollution can have on the environment. “I am a runner, and the experience of running outside on a hot July day about seven years ago lead me to trade in my SUV for a fuel efficient car that creates much less emission poisoning,” she says. “After experiencing first hand the dizzying effects that car emissions can have on you - you start to get it, and it doesn’t take a huge leap of the imagination to figure out what that pollution is doing to the earth and other people. Well, one thing leads to another, and as my personal lifestyle has changed over the past 20 years, I’ve read and studied and worked to incorporate all of the ideas from what we now refer to as the “Green Movement” into the way I live my life everyday.” This and learning the power of recycling after planning her first Earth Day event led Carol to create Wedology. “I took something I am passionate about-the environment, and combined it with a skill I have-planning weddings and parties, and added to that my creative talent- as a stylist and product designer, and wedology was born,” she says.
For Bennett, decadence can be present at a wedding even when the wedding is green. “There is no other experience like a wedding with its romance and beauty,” says Bennett. “What I like most in addition to just being part of such a happy occasion is the creative process of looking for innovative ways to give brides the wedding of their dreams while incorporating earth-friendly alternatives.” Bennett plans to release a newsletter from her website wedologyonline.com in the near future. In this newsletter she provides a few tips for throwing a “green” wedding. Brides can choose to have a cake made with completely organic ingredients, or buy organic wines from the local wine store. One of Bennett’s favorite things to provide for guests is an organic potted plant placed on the dining tables so that guests can take it home to remember that couple’s special day.
She also shares information on making donations to charities in honor of one’s wedding guests to really do something good for the world. She specifically mentions Brides for a Cure and encourages everyone to investigate this charity at PerfectWeddingGuide.com. Wedology has several different ways to help plan a wedding including partial wedding planning, complete wedding planning and day of wedding coordination. Wedology also offers event planning of other kinds: parties, celebrations, showers, dinners and all of the social activities leading up to and after a wedding ceremony.
Carol’s philosophy of “do good” is the mission statement of Wedology. She thinks that everyone can do good things in their own way, with what they are passionate about in their life. “I primarily focus on ecological sustainability, the reduction of resource consumption, the reduction of pollution, global warming and social responsibility. But anything a person does to make our world a better place is a “do good” activity. For instance, offering your kind consideration and a smile to the person sacking your groceries at the store is a “do good’ activity, because any kindness you put out into the world makes it a better place for everyone.” says Bennett. Anyone looking to find something to be passionate about could begin by finding a charity to endorse or just speaking with people who need a friend. Bennett’s life and career are proof that living to do something good improves the quality of life for everyone involved, including oneself.
Things are definitely looking good for Carol and Wedology. “My business is thriving. I’ve closely watched what is going on around the country-and I think Birmingham is ready to embrace the idea of environmentally thoughtful weddings and events. I’ve recently been contacted by a “green” event planning company in Chicago, asking if I would be interested in working with them on an upcoming event in the Southeast. All indications are that this is a very exciting time for innovation and growth in this business.”
Email: aheadley@uab.edu
