Planning Your Green Wedding

Green weddings are becoming more and morewedding gown - but don't worry as silk, organic
popular. More than 2 million couples get marriedcotton and hemp are all great choices for an eco
each year in the United States alone. The averagefriendly wedding dress. Many bridal boutiques offer
wedding costs approximately $25,000 creating aaffordable and stylish off the rack and made to
significant ecological and economical footprint.order options. With these great styles you can
If you're like many of us you already drive achoose whether or not to share the fact that
hybrid car, take you own bags to the groceryyour dress is green.
store and walk to work whenever possible. You'dRemember to check out your local thrift and
like your wedding to reflect your eco-friendlyassignment stores are they are often a great
lifestyle but with so many things to think of andsource for bridal party attire as well as local
plan - is going green really something you havewedding attire rental boutiques.
time to add to your never ending to do list?Reception
Here's the good news - the answer is yes! WithChoosing a location close to where your guests
many venues and vendors already offeringlive will greatly reduce the impact of their
eco-friendly options, planning your green weddingtransportation. If you live in California but the
has never been easier! By incorporating just amajority of your family live in New York - plan to
few of our suggestions below you'll be able toget married in New York if possible. Many couples
have the wedding of your dreams withoutselect one location for both the ceremony and
compromising your values or your style.reception. An outdoor wedding will reduce the use
Ringsof disposable decorations as you can use mother
Did you know that the production of one gold ringnature for your backdrop.
results in about 20 tons of mine waste! VintagePlantable place settings are a great eco-friendly
rings are a great alternative and can be found inoption.
many local stores as well as online on sites likeConsider hiring local acoustic musicians and a local
eBay and Amazon. Family heirloom rings are alsoorganic caterer. Left over food can be donated to
a great eco-friendly alternative which provide a lota local food drive or homeless shelter.
of extra sentiment too. If you'd really like toFlowers
purchase a new ring, don't worry - as there asHere's an area where there's lots of opportunity
still some green alternatives.to go green! Consider carrying silk flowers instead
Invitationsof a fresh cut bouquet. If you really must have
Sending eco-friendly invitatations is a great wayfresh flowers - find a local organic florist who uses
to set the tone for your green wedding. Muchrecycled packaging. Bridesmaids could carry
paper is used throughout a traditional weddingmatching purses or silk flowers. Use live plants as
which can easily be replaced with more earthtable decorations instead of fresh cut flowers.
friendly alternatives. Consider all the trees you'll beAfter the wedding your table decorations, plants
saving by finding other options for your invitations,and flowers could be donated to a local hospital or
save the date cards, RSVP cards, showerretirement home.
invitations and RSVP cards, place cards, menuHoneymoon
cards and thank you notes!Remember that even standard hotels are
It's becoming more and more acceptable to useimplementing some green values like not changing
online services for invitations, some even offerbed linen and towels each day.
online and telephone rsvp services.We hope our suggestions above help you plan the
Wedding Gown and Wedding Party Attiregreen wedding of your dreams.
You may not want to wear your mother's