| Over the next twelve months, roughly 2.4 million | | | | witnesses your vows. If you can't afford an entirely |
| Americans will spend 70 billion dollars (US) getting | | | | organic menu, then consider going with organic meat, |
| married. Green and socially responsible weddings can | | | | or choose a vegetarian option. Another idea is to ask |
| have a huge impact for the better on local | | | | friends to help prepare the feast. |
| economies and ecologies. Here are ten ways to | | | | Local Harvest: Find Organic Food Near You |
| express your commitment to the interconnectedness | | | | Green Restaurant Association: search for green |
| of life on earth during your wedding day. | | | | restaurants for catering |
| 1. Eco Engagement Rings and Eco Wedding Rings | | | | 6. Green Wedding Clothing |
| It can take up to twenty tons of rock to produce a | | | | To purchase dress that will only be worn on one |
| single wedding ring, yet there is more than enough | | | | occasion for the wedding ceremony does not make |
| gold available now for the entire jewelry industry. | | | | a lot of sense. Purchase clothing that you will enjoy |
| Some jewelers offer rings that are made from | | | | wearing on special occasions after the wedding. |
| recycled gold. The ethical jeweler who has committed | | | | Organic fabrics are still limited, but you can choose to |
| to using recycled gold will more than likely have a | | | | purchase clothing that is not made in a sweat shop. |
| selection of conflict free diamonds or other | | | | You can also rent your outfit or buy something that |
| gemstones that are responsibly sourced. Start your | | | | was worn by someone else once or twice. |
| search locally, but realize that ethical wedding rings | | | | Get Conscious: Hemp Wedding Gowns |
| have not reached the mainstream yet and may be | | | | Faernyn's Grove: Green Bridal |
| difficult to find. | | | | Rawganique: Hemp, Organic Cotton Clothing |
| Here are several online ethical jewelers, arranged by | | | | 7. Gifting And Being Gifted |
| price range, for your consideration:low-mid price | | | | The experience of gifting and being gifted is an |
| rangehigh price range | | | | integral part of any wedding ceremony. You can |
| Here is a guide to buying green wedding rings. | | | | decide to make your party favors environmentally |
| 2. Greening Your Guests | | | | responsible products. Look for locally made regional |
| Consider reducing the numbers of people who have | | | | products that visitors from out of town might |
| to travel for your wedding. This is NOT easy, but | | | | appreciate. People want to gift the bride and groom. |
| then again neither is a commitment to the earth, | | | | Everyone wants their gift to be appreciated. So it is |
| much less to your spouse-to-be. If you decide to | | | | best to open a Green Gift Registry. Those who feel |
| have a larger wedding with many guests coming in | | | | as if they have everything they need may want to |
| from out of town, consider donating some money to | | | | ask that, instead of gifts, money be donated to a |
| an organization that offsets the carbon imprint of the | | | | particular environmental organization. |
| travel. | | | | I Do Foundation: Charity Registry |
| Here is a wedding carbon dioxide offset calculator: | | | | Vivaterra |
| Here are some US companies that offset carbon | | | | Branch: Sustainable Design |
| emissions: | | | | GAIAM |
| TerraPass | | | | Send Us Off: request donations towards your green |
| Native Energy | | | | honeymoon |
| MyClimate | | | | 8. Dishes, Recycling and Redistributing |
| 3. Greening Your Invitations | | | | It is more environmentally sound to rent your dishes |
| Another reason that reducing your number of guests | | | | and glasses instead of simply using disposable paper |
| is significant is that you will also reduce the amount | | | | products. Ask your caterer to use earth friendly |
| of paper required for printing. There are often save | | | | soaps when cleaning up. Also, make sure that you |
| the date announcements, actual invitations, wedding | | | | have bins for recycling all aluminum and glass |
| handouts for each guest and then all the thank you | | | | products. Look in advance for a food depot or soup |
| letters. Be sure you're using recycled paper or - if | | | | kitchen that can take the left over food and |
| you can - use email as much as possible. | | | | distribute it. |
| Here are some great sources for recycled paper: | | | | Nat-Ur Store: Biodegradable Cups, Cutlery, Garbage |
| Twisted Limb Paper - 100% Recycled Invitations | | | | Bags |
| Invite Site - Eco Invites | | | | Recycline: Green Table Ware |
| Green Field Paper - non-tree paper, 100% recycled | | | | Second Harvest: Donate Perishable/Preparred Food |
| paper | | | | 9. Support Your Local Economy |
| 4. Your Green Venue | | | | Purchase locally from small businesses whenever |
| The marriage should take place somewhere that is | | | | possible. Buy local and organic flowers, which reduces |
| beautiful, inspirational and resonant with your green | | | | transportation and pesticide impact on the |
| values. Look locally for meeting houses, farms, | | | | environment. Or consider growing your own! Hire a |
| retreat centers, community gardens, parks or a | | | | local band or DJ who does not have to travel far to |
| building that supports a cause you believe in. Further, | | | | your venue. |
| make the location central to the majority of your | | | | 10. Your Green Vows |
| guests. If possible, consider having two ceremonies if | | | | This is the most important part of your wedding |
| you have large groups of guests at opposite ends of | | | | ceremony and it needs to be deeply considered. |
| the country. | | | | Spend some months and meditate on what is in your |
| If you choose an indoor location, talk with the building | | | | heart and what you can commit to. Write it out. Talk |
| managers about the energy efficiency of their | | | | to friends who have been married a while. Include life |
| facilities. If they are working to meet LEED standards | | | | affirming commitment to living in balance with the |
| for high-efficency buildings then you're in good shape. | | | | ecology. I was married by an Apache Medicine |
| Ideally the place will have outdoor and indoor space, | | | | Woman, and she had us publicly state what my wife |
| allowing for different weather contingencies. Try to | | | | and I brought to the marriage-our good qualities and |
| choose your venue as far in advance as possible; the | | | | our flaws. For my wife and I, this exercise in front of |
| best places book up quickly. | | | | our friends and family was a powerful expression of |
| Wilderness Weddings (location suggestions from the | | | | our humanity. Your vows are also your opportunity |
| Sierra Club) | | | | to spread the idea of eco-friendly values to your |
| Learn more about LEED (Leadership in Energy and | | | | guests. |
| Environmental Design) | | | | 11. A Green Honeymoon |
| 5. Your Food and Drink | | | | You will want to go to a place in nature that can |
| A wedding is - for the majority of the attendants - a | | | | restore and inspire you. Many people are familiar with |
| great big party. Buy organic food that is, if possible, | | | | ecotourism, yet know nothing about geotourism. The |
| locally grown. There are now excellent organic, and | | | | Geotourists has opportunities to improve the places |
| often locally produced, wines and beers. Food can be | | | | that they visit and have meaningful experiences of |
| one of the most expensive parts of a wedding, but | | | | local culture. |
| this is part of your gifting to the community that | | | | |