A Green Eco-Friendly Wedding

Is it chic to have a green wedding? Yes, its a trend, but is here to stay. Having a celebration and leaving a small footprint on the planet is the new way to show the couples love and their love for the planet. Today's eco aware couples are incorporating their beliefs into their wedding planning.

A Green Eco-friendly Wedding

By: Rose Trifero How Today's Couples Are Embracing the Eco Friendly Wedding.

Green weddings can be achieved in small footsteps or giant leaps. Every small step is a positive step for the environment. Some couples will strive to have as close to a hundred percent green wedding, although that is impossible. Some will easily incorporate smaller eco-friendly changes.

Here are suggestions complied from couples to "green" the wedding:

All invitations and printed materials should be on recycled paper. You can purchase invitations with wildflower seeds embedded into the paper. After the wedding, the guest can tear up the invitation, plant it and enjoy wildflowers.

The wedding rings should be from recycled gold. There are jewelers who specialize in melting down gold or family heirlooms and refashioning it into wedding bands. Avoid "blood diamonds" by making sure any diamond is conflict free. Diamonds from Canada are conflict free or consider substituting mossionite for a diamond. There are green jewelers who can guide you in the choice that is right for you as a couple.

The most green venue is to have the wedding at the court house with no guests so there are no travel emissions into the atmosphere.. But most couples want a celebration, and are choosing to have the wedding close to home so that the guests don't have to travel. Some are having it outside in nature, a beach, woodland, lake. If guests have to travel, there are web sites that track travel carbon emissions, and for a fee, neutralize the carbon dioxide. The getaway vehicle can be a hybrid or horse and carriage.

All the food should be locally grown with fresh seasonal ingredients. It should be served on recyclable or biodegradable plates, cutlery or glasses. Some couples only have vegan food and the wedding cake made with free range chicken eggs, but most will opt for a more traditional fare. The food should be organic and fresh, without pesticides. Drinks should be organic, and yes, there are many organic beers and wines.

Flowers should also be organic without pesticides and locally grown. Some brides are reusing the flowers at the rehearsal dinner for the reception. Or you can use the flowers at the church for the reception. After the wedding, they are taking them to nursing homes so that they can be enjoyed. Other brides are carrying bouquets of fresh herbs and using fresh herbs in clay pots at the reception tables. Guests can take them home and use them. Others are using clay pots full of blooming bulb plants on the tables that guests can plant at home.

And what about the bride's dress? There are traditional wedding dresses made of natural fibers such as hemp, silk, linen, and cotton. Or restyle an heirloom family dress or a vintage dress. If you choose a traditional dress of satin or man made material, donate the dress after the wedding to a charitable organization such as Making Memories where the dress profits go to helping breast cancer victims.

For the groom, consider the traditional way of renting a tuxedo or wearing a wool, linen, hemp or cotton suit.

Green couples are eschewing favors in place of donating money to eco-friendly organizations such as the World Wildlife Foundation or the National Arbor Day Foundation. You can print up cards on recycled card stock that tell the guests that a tree was donated in their name in lieu of an individual wedding favor. Or you can print it on a sign board near the guest book and loan the board to other friends getting married. Now, that's recycling!

Greening the wedding is a step forward for the planet, one tiny step at a time

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com Rose Trifero is an internationally known expert in the field of weddings and bridal fashions. She has been involved in the industry for over 30 years and has written and been quoted in national bridal magazines including Vows, the magazine for bridal professionals. She is also the force behind http://www.beachbride2be.com a source of information for destination weddings.

Photos supplied by courtesy of www.ecogirl.com.au - Australia's leading supplier of eco fashion garments and accessories.