Some ideas for a Green Wedding

Couples are choosing to look for eco-friendly wedding ideas these days and there are many simple ideas that can help their special day have more of a green feel.    Ashley Paz at Vera Green Productions, a local company specializing in creating weddings that are eco-friendly, says: "The biggest green wedding trend that I have seen this season is not just an eco-friendly one, but an economical one. In their decor, couples seem to be incorporating more reused elements such as vintage vases and candle holders." She adds that vintage items can be used to decorate new homes.

Here are some options for local brides who want to go green for their special day.

The Invitation -
Use recycled paper or consider handmade or plantable paper, processed chlorine-free and printed with vegetable or soy-based inks. There is also tree-free paper made out of hemp, banana stalks, bamboo, kenaf or organic cotton. Ask your printer to use paper with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled content.   You might also consider hiring a calligrapher to address the envelopes, which eliminates printing waste.

The Wedding Dress -
Eco-friendly material such as hemp is becoming popular, or how about a vintage or used gown? After the wedding you can donate it to a charitable organization.

The Reception -
How about giving saplings to the guests that they can take home and plant? Or, consider organic chocolates, attractive bags of organic herbs or a small charitable donation in each guest's name.  When thinking of gifts for your attendants, go organic: a gift basket of organic beauty products, organic coffees or teas, recycled stationery or even a bottle of organic wine.

Flowers -
Choose fair trade or locally grown flowers, and consider having the flowers and other decorations moved from the ceremony to the reception. At the end of the day, donate the flowers to a hospital.