Whether you already drive a hybrid car and eat only organic foods – or you’re feeling more than a little guilty about your gas-guzzling SUV and weekly dose of fast food, your impending nuptials offer you a variety of ways to be environmentally conscious. Here’s a guide to throwing a green wedding – from start to finish.

Invitations

Save a tree -- look for papers made from cotton fibers instead of trees. Or invites printed on recycled – or recyclable – paper. Some companies, like Lotka Paper (http://www.custompaper.com/lotka_paper.html), even go so far as to make entirely organic paper. Lotka’s organic paper is made of cotton fibers and they use absolutely no chemicals of any kind in the paper making process. Printing can be done with soy-based dyes that will not require the use of the chemicals that could harm the environment.

The Attire

Recycle that dress! The most popular way to go green with your wedding attire is to wear a vintage dress – like your mom or grandmother’s old wedding gown. Or search for a cool vintage find at a consignment shop. You can also find a more modern gown by purchasing one off an auction site like Ebay. Many brides sell their gowns after the big day – after all, they’ve only been worn once. If you do decide to buy a new custom-made gown (and we can’t say we’d blame you) you can consider selling it yourself after your big day. If none of the above ideas appeal to you, even just selecting attire for your bridesmaids and groomsmen that they truly can wear again will make an impact. Look for off-the-rack dresses and suits in neutral patterns and colors.

The Transportation

Instead of a variety of limos – one for the bride and groom, one for the bridesmaids, one for the groomsmen, etc – try something a little easier on the ozone layer. If the ceremony is near the reception, the bride and groom can take a horse and buggy. Set up a car pool for everyone else. Or rent a party bus or super-stretch limo for the entire wedding party. Or even a full size bus you can cram every guest into. A bus may sound like a waste of gas – but if everyone can fit inside then it’s better than having several different vehicles all going to the same place. To dramatically cut down on gas use, host the ceremony and the reception in the same place so no one needs to drive. The bonus: no need to worry about people getting lost on the way to the party.

The Décor

Use topiaries and other potted plants and flowers to dress up your ceremony and reception sites. They look just as gorgeous and fresh cut flowers, and guests can take them home to dress up their homes or to plant in their gardens. If you decide to go with flowers that have been cut, choose blooms that are in season. Not only will they look fresher and be less expensive, but they won’t need to have been grown with harmful pesticides or flown in from far off lands (which will save on jet fuel).

For place cards, write each guests name on a leaf that has already fallen from a tree. Or use a pine cone to hold up the cards instead of a stand that no one will ever use again. If you can find a tree limb that has already fallen from a tree – perhaps in a storm – slice off circular pieces of them and use them as place cards or post menus or other information on them. Not only are these things from completely recycled materials, but they will also make a statement about your commitment to the environment.  

Favors

Give guests a trinket they can truly use and you’ve taken the first step towards giving our eco-friendly favors. A small bag of seeds printed with the couple’s name or a monogram and the wedding date are always a hit. Guests can bring them home and plant them in their gardens. Other good ideas are anything made from recycled or recyclable materials. Favors that are all natural and not made with toxic ingredients are a plus. Blissweddingsmarket.com has a list of fun eco-friendly favors you can buy.  (http://www.blissweddingsmarket.com/store/eco-friendly-wedding-favors.htm)

Food

Organic food is a must at true eco-friendly weddings and receptions. Some wedding caterers specialize in organic grub. Do an Internet search to see if there’s one in your area. If you go with a non-organic caterer, ask that they use produce that’s in season. Just like the flowers, this will save jet-fuel and will ensure that fewer pesticides and herbicides are used to grow the fruits and vegetables. The added bonus, in-season produce will be fresher, taste better and will be less expensive.

Photography

Digital photography is the way to go for a green wedding. Digital images save so much paper. Think of all the proofs that you won’t even like and won’t do anything with – instead you can select your favorite images from computer files and have your photographer print only the ones you love. In addition, you can email your friends and family links to the photos – which is definitely a bonus.

Location

Some venues even specialize in organic, eco-friendly weddings. For instance, say your vows at Bear Flag Farm just outside Sacramento, CA (bearflagfarm.com) and you’ll be certain to have a green affair.  Bear Flag is a completely self-sustaining organic farm and winery. Host your wedding there and they’ll provide you with a list of caterers who use only seasonal, locally grown foods. They even have favors available for purchase that are made from items grown on the farm – bottles of olive oil from their olive orchards, jars of lavender honey from their lavender fields and other lavender products. In fact, the Bear Flag Farm owners tell us that 60% of their clients have weddings that are completely green, from the invitations to the food to the favors and so on.

Even if you can’t see yourself adopting every single one of these ideas, remember, doing even just one of these eco-friendly things will have a positive effect on the environment.