Weddingbee Blog

…possible the most boring wedding topic, but one that must inevitably be tackled. Chairs! Also a very enthralling topic. I’ve gotta have the chiavari chairs, but being a budget bride, that means something’s gotta give! A 5K budget is about give and take. If I want to spend $500 on chairs, I’ve gotta cut costs somewhere else. So what goes? The biggest cost for a backyard wedding is rentals, and I think the least design-oriented element of this wedding will be the plates. I don’t believe we’ll be having a plated dinner; it’ll probably be serve-yourself buffet style, which means the ugly paper plates don’t have to be on the table from the get-go and can be disposed of quickly when dinner is over. Of course, I don’t want use just any old plates from the dollar store. Here are some options for those thinking of going the paper plate way.

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These are VeneerWare plates, made from highly sustainable organic bamboo from China. The company that makes them, Bambu, ensures that their manufacturers are committed to healthy environmental practices and fair labor standards. They are attractive but slightly pricey at 50 plates for $40. On the plus side, they are sturdy and biodegradable. Bambu also makes forks and knives.

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Also attractive are these VerTerra plates. They are made of fallen leaves and biodegrade in a compost in two months. They are also fairly made in India. They are even pricier, though, at $71.88 for 48.

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These are a little less attractive and a little more two-year-old’s birthday party, BUT they are also ethically made. They are made with sugar-cane fiber and again, biodegradable. They are the cheapest biodegradable, ethically made option at a whopping $6.50 for 50.

I haven’t found a happy medium yet, so I’m on the hunt for attractive, cheap plate options. If you’ve got any recommendations I’d love to hear them. Did you have to decide on plates? What did you go for?