Green Weddings are Easy and Fashionable

Are you starting to hear wedding bells? Thinking of tying the knot?

Green weddings are fashionable - and of course just good common sense if you are interested in green living. You will not want your special day to be a extra burden upon the earth.

Whether your perfect wedding day will include a service in a grand city cathedral or a Hindu temple, or whether you'd rather opt for just strolling down to your local registry office, there's a lot you can do to green up your wedding day.

Getting wed is always expensive to a degree. But greener alternatives to the standard ways of doing things are nearly always cheaper, so you should save some money, too.

Of course, you can still be green and lavish, should you choose. Some might say that a green wedding is a special kind of lavish... one which celebrates the earth's bounty without ransacking it!

Specialist companies are springing up all over the place to help us be greener on that special day.

Whether or not you choose to use their services, or improvise on your own, there are many ways to make your wedding a very green affair!

Green wedding company Eco-FriendlyWeddings.co.uk have written a handy guide to greening your wedding. Read on below for their great green wedding suggestions.

Turn Your White Wedding Green

There is such a wide variety of distinctive companies which offer green alternatives for your special day, that you can rest easy knowing that your wedding can be kind to the environment without compromising on style and quality.

The modern, eco-conscious bride and groom can treat their guests to a fantastic day, full of unique and thoughtful elements.

An Eco-Chic Wedding

Hold your ceremony and reception at the same venue, to cut down on guests travelling between locations. You could even ask guests if they could possibly car-share or use public transport to get there.

Use a venue which has green policies (e.g. recycling, etc) and that is able to source local and/or organic produce for the wedding breakfast.

Buy ready-made recycled stationery or have a designer create bespoke invitations and other stationery, using recycled and natural materials. Enclose with your invitations details of your wedding gift list - choose a charitable gift list or one which offers eco-friendly, organic or fair trade products.

Outfits for green weddings

As for the wedding rings, try to ensure that the jeweler uses fair trade metals and conflict free diamonds.

Arrange seasonal, eco-friendly bridal bouquets and venue decoration by using a florist who is able to source locally grown organic flowers; you could even use silk flowers which can look just as good and will last for a long time to come.

Some greener transport ideas for green weddings

If you prefer to stick with cars, there are now firms who use luxury vehicles fitted with hybrid technology or that use fuels which are kinder to the environment.

During the drinks reception have a romantic, acoustic string quartet, pianist or even a jazz band playing in the background. Guests will love the entertainment whilst the photo session is taking place. If your venue doesn't supply organic or fair trade wines and champagne, ask about their corkage charge so that you can supply your own; a number of quality companies offer a great range of beverages at reasonable prices which are organic, fair trade or vegan.

For the photography stick with digital service providers to cut the use of traditional film and unnecessary photo development. You should also be able to view your photos on-line (or on CD ROM) before choosing which ones you would like developed.

Choose a cake maker who will use organic and fair trade ingredients and free-range eggs.

Buy favours made from recycled and natural materials or give a specially grown tree seedling to each guest to plant and enjoy for many years to come. Some businesses supply personalised favours so you could even use them as place settings.

Local sourcing for the best green weddings

The evening reception can also be planned with green in mind.

The entertainment could be a live acoustic band; many such offer a wide variety of music to suit all tastes.

Ask the venue if they are able to supply a buffet using locally sourced and organic produce. If arranging your own catering,such as for a marquee wedding, there are a number of excellent private caterers who only use locally produced and organic foods.

After all the excitement of the big day is over you can enjoy an eco-friendly honeymoon.

Many establishments offer the ideal honeymoon location. If you are travelling abroad consider trains, ferries and coaches. Choose somewhere which has green policies in place and which is committed to conserving the surrounding environment.

Visit eco-friendlyweddings.co.uk for a whole host of ideas, advice, information and weddingsuppliers who offer green or ethical services.

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