Everytime I read another article about global warming, I have to stop and wonder if I’m doing my part to help our planet – do you do that, too? I’m careful about sorting trash into the recycle bins at home and buying as many products as I can that are earth-friendly.  You know, try to use less and recycle more.

I’m actually fascinated with all green trends in weddings, too.  Is there any better way to kick off your new life as a couple? 

Just look at some of the neat ways to “go green” as you plan your wedding:

• Did you know that there are wonderful jewelers out there who recycle gold into beautiful engagement rings and wedding bands?
• You can have your wedding invitations printed on recycled paper! Or better yet, design a fabulous email invitation, and then list your wedding directions and schedules on a secure website so your invitees can just log on and stay informed!
• What about the leftovers from your after-rehearsal dinner or wedding banquet?  Eco-concious brides are taking care to donate leftovers to area food banks and homeless shelters.  And if you really want to do it right, choose menu selections that will allow your caterer to use only locally grown products – much more energy efficient than food flown in from across the country!
• And those beautiful flowers – pick the ones that are in season in your area, then buy from a local supplier (and skip those Tulips that just arrived first-class from Holland).  After the wedding, donate them to a local nursing home or hospital!
• Here’s an interesting item – eating utensils made from renewable resources like sugar cane fiber, corn and potatoes (and no, you don’t eat the eating utensils, although it sounds like you can!).  Check them out at WorldCentric.org.
• How about your wedding venue?  It would be lovely to get married on a beach in the Virgin Islands (I personally love Hawksnest on St. John), but your travel entourage will leave a carbon footprint that is big enough to squash large parts of most developing countries!  Pick a central location near most of your guests, like the hometown where you both grew up. Pick a garden in the park in the spring, or an outdoor venue in a historic location.
• Wear your mother’s wedding dress – or your grandmother’s wedding dress – or look for the new wedding dresses made from easily-renewable, green-oriented organic cottons and silks.
• You might enjoy browsing through The National Green Pages for ideas.  They state that they only allow pre-screened, eco-concious businesses on their site, but you be the judge.  It’s certainly a novel idea, and the online presence is greener than the yellow pages that appear on your doorstep once a year!  Find them at greenpages.org.

We’ve added more eco-friendly favors to our line this year.  Our Natural Bamboo Coasters and “Tranquility” place card holders join our biodegradable wedding poppers and our darling little plantable cards made from recycled paper!  Click one of the pictures below to see the whole line of eco-friendly favors!

There are so many different ways you can “go green” with your wedding. I hope you pick up a few ideas from these suggestions and sprinkle them into your wedding plans – because every little bit helps!

Happy “Eco-Planning”!