How to Plan a Green Wedding

When planning a wedding, one of the last considerations is probably the environment. But making your wedding more 'green' needn't be difficult, and like all steps to help the planet, even a little helps.

You recycle, you take public transport instead of a car and you buy organic local food, so why not extend your responsibility for the environment to the panning of your wedding? Here are some considerations.

• Guests The more guests you have, the more you will consume and how far the guests travel will add to the carbon footprint of the wedding. If they, or you, must travel by air you could suggest offsetting the fuel with one of the the carbon offsetting schemes that are out there.
• Menu Ideally a menu featuring local, organic, and fair-trade items would be served. Meat takes much more energy and fuel to produce than vegetables so you could consider offering a vegan option. At least ensure the meat and poultry used is from free range organic farms, and that the fish is from sustainable sources. Make sure the leftovers are taken home and eaten, or recycled as compost.
• Invites If you are really green you could email invites, but if you do print them at least ensure non-toxic ink and recycled paper.
• Clothes The most environmental option would be a vintage dress. Failing this the less mass-produced the better, even choosing fabrics that have less environmental impact like 'peace-silk', organic cotton or hemp, rather than polyester which is made form petrochemicals and needs intense water and energy for its production. Also think about who made your dress, there could be a hidden ethical price to that 'bargain'.
• Jewellery Mining for gold and precious stones is unsustainable and mining poisons the environment, not to mention the human ethical side of diamond mining. There are many beautiful (not to mention well priced) vintage and second hand engagement rings out there, if not, at least make sure your sparkler is ethical. Old gold can be melted down to be re-used, if you have gold in the family it could be a nice touch to reuse it.
• Decorations Consider locally sourced flowers, or use potted plants and flowers that can be given away as favours at the end. Confetti can be biodegradable petals or seeds confetti, the birds will love it and who knows some may even grown into plants!
• Gifts Think about if you really need stuff...probably not. Why not create an ethical gift list on a charity or environmental website, and get your guests to give the money they would spend on you to people who really need it.
  
  
  

At the end of the day it's hard to be 100% environmental, but if you have the intention, there are many ways you can keep the environment in mind. Who knows, it could end up saving you money, and make it an event to remember!