The Three R's of Wedded Bliss

By Maureen Ryan - Published: May/June 2007

Once regarded as barefoot-hippie fests, earth-friendly weddings are finally coming into their own. "Many couples are looking for ways to incorporate their values and consciousness into their big event," says Corina Beczner, founder of Vibrant Events, an eco event-planning company in San Francisco. But there are a lot of shades of green, she adds. "It's really up to the couple how far they want to go, based on what's most important to them."

For starters, here are some simple tips:

1. Reduce: Cut down on materials with a large impact. Jewelry is one of Beczner's biggest pet peeves. "[Mining] is so destructive to our Earth," she says. Arsenic and mercury used in gold mining can easily seep into waterways, endangering people and animals. Plus, diamond shipments may be infiltrated by conflict diamonds, which are traded in order to fund civil wars—wars in which nearly 4 million people have died. Seek out antiques, or recycle the gold or platinum from family members' rings to create a unique, personal design.

Another way to reduce? "Don't serve a buffet-style dinner," Beczner says. "They always go to waste." Serve a sit-down or family-style dinner instead.

2. Reuse: Renting ensures that things will be reused, and "absolutely no plastic cups or bottles!" she says. After the event, donate flowers and centerpieces to charities, hospitals or retirement homes.

3. Recycle: Recycle everything you can and consider biodegradable and compostable utensils, like those from Nat-Ur (www.nat-urstore.com). Set up recycling stations and compost if possible.

Whether you want to go all green or not, here are some products that will incorporate every shade of green into your big day.

Save the Date

Twisted Limb invitations combine recycled office paper, junk mail, grocery bags and grass cuttings (www.twistedlimbpaper.com, 812-876-9352). Tree-free-paper invitations are available from www.invitesite.com.

Looking Good

Polar Bear Diamonds sells Canadian diamonds mined in strict adherence to worker and environmental protection laws (www.polarbeardiamond.com, 877-861-6675). GreenKarat's Celestial Love band contains recycled platinum ($425), and the Gatsby Redux diamond engagement ring and matching band, with synthetic gems, are cast in either recycled gold or recycled platinum ($1,350; www.greenkarat.com, 800-330-4605).

Wear an organic cotton, hemp, recycled-textile or cruelty-free silk dress, such as those sold by Wholly Jo's (www.wholly-jo.co.uk) and www.mycorset.com (512-762-2918); Rawganique offers organic hemp and linen dresses and shirts (for men) (www.rawganique.com, 877-RAW-HEMP). "Once worn" gowns donated to the I Do Foundation are resold, and 20 percent of the profits go to the charity of your choice (www.idofoundation.org). Underneath, feel sexy with Ciel's organic-cotton underwear collection (www.thenaturalstore.co.uk).

For safer cosmetics, see the new Cosmetics Product Report at www.thegreenguide.com/reports.

X Marks the Spot

An obvious destination for a green wedding is outdoors—in a park, a backyard, on a beach or even in an organic garden. Find gardens through Local Harvest (www.localharvest.org) or the Organic Trade Association (www.ota.com). If you're set on a hotel, Greenseal independently certifies lodgings based on rigorous criteria, including recycling policies and energy-efficient appliances (www.greenseal.org).

Historic buildings and museums that belong to non-profits are popular as well. Remember: Having one location for your ceremony and your reception cuts down on fossil-fuel use and pollution.

Set the Mood

Create ambience by using renewable soy or beeswax candles with lead-free wicks, such as the soy candles from Way Out Wax (www.wayoutwax.com, 888-727-1903). Find beeswax tapers at your local farmer's market or through Cottage Stillroom (www.cottagestillroom.com, 800-395-BSWX) and the Beeswax Candle Company (www.beeswaxcandleco.com, 866-724-9300).

Locally grown flowers cut down on shipping pollution. Otherwise, California Organic Flowers (www.californiaorganicflowers.com, 530-891-6265) and Organic Bouquet (www.organicbouquet.com, 877-899-2468) ship nationwide and sell flowers certified by Veriflora, which prohibits pesticides and promotes worker welfare.

Dig in!

Support your local community by serving locally grown food, or opt for organic caterers. In California, Back to Earth Catering serves vegetarian and vegan fare, free-range meats and healthy fish (www.organiccatering.com, 510-652-2000). In the Northeast, search the Northeast Organic Farming Association (www.nofa.org) for assistance. Brides also can contact natural grocers such as Whole Foods (www.wholefoods.com) or Trader Joe's (www.traderjoes.com). Finally, the Chef's Collaborative lists restaurants that serve local and organic food (www.chefscollaborative.org, 617-236-5200), while the Organic Bakery Association (www.ecobusinesslinks.com) can provide sources for organic cakes.

Gifts Galore

Get: Create a guilt-free registry at Green Sage, which stocks eco-friendly gifts (www.greensage.com). Select a charity at JustGive and ask guests to make donations in your name (www.justgive.org).

Give: Offset guests' travel carbon emissions; see "Shifting Into Neutral"

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