Eco-friendly Weddings: How to Make Your Wedding a Green Wedding

Here are a few considerations for making your wedding green no matter what color you and the bridesmaids are wearing.

1. Choose a caterer who uses locally grown organic food where possible. If fish is on the menu, the caterer should choose them from sustainable sources and is MSC certified.

2. Find a florist who uses flowers which are free of pesticides and herbicides. Reuse the flowers from your ceremony and the bridal party to decorate the reception area.

3. If candles are to be part of your ceremony look for soy, palm wax or bees wax candles. Paraffin candles, which make up the majority of candles sold, are petroleum based.

4. Transportation is sure to be one of the highest uses of carbon for your wedding. There are many ways to reduce this footprint from vanpools, to ceremonies where lodging and the ceremony are on the same premises. As of yet there are no biodiesel planes, but those are coming soon and you can encourage airlines which use them.

5. Use recycled paper for your invitations, placards and thank you notes.

6. Consider an outdoor wedding and reception to take advantage of natural lighting. If your wedding is in the evening consider options like candles for the cocktail hour or 'mood' lighting.

7. Get your wedding picture proofs done digitally. This will minimize the use of toxic chemicals and paper in developing and you can be sure that the only prints made are the ones you want.

8. When choosing your dress and the attire for the groom and bridal party, consider clothes made from natural materials like cotton and hemp.

9. Consider an eco-friendly honeymoon.