Green weddings are the rage these days, but for standing apart the crowd, you have to go a mile ahead. This can be done by simplification. You can use the reusable products and items and can save some cash and other resources. Eco friendly versions of most of the products are available in the market, which could be purchased easily. At the same time, weighing the expenses is also important. There are items, which are entirely necessary, and the green versions of them often cost more than the regular versions. You can keep the wedding budget in check by identifying the areas where you would be spending more, may be for a good cause for example, on organic cuisine.

There are also other areas where you might be able to save your resources. You can also patronize your wedding by getting the information of the new companies which have entered the market. Before you actually book the vendors see to it that whether they are actually providing the green services or not. Further, you can inform your guests about all the steps which you took to make the wedding a green wedding. This can provide inspiration to many who might want to follow suit.

Invitations and stationery

Recycled products- You can use the paper, which is made from the alternative fiber (like hemp or bamboo), or can use the recycled paper.

Try calligraphy- Though calligraphy costs more but it can save the toners, ink, chemicals, and solvents that are involved if printing is chosen.

Condense- You can help in saving trees by using lesser number of inserts and other paper products. Print on both the front and back sections while trying to fill all the content in a single sheet.

Use emails- If you want to go completely green, use emails. This might not blend well with the etiquette and manner for some, but emails form the most earth friendly way for mailing.

Location

Rent the place that can help a cause- Choose the location or venue, which can benefit from the rental fee. It can be a gallery, a museum, or some cultural organization. You can also confirm how the venue is going to use the fee that you will pay for renting it.

Go outside- For an ideal green wedding, you can choose the woods, a beach or gardens.

Search for a green venue- Many venues and sites offer greener measures like waste reduction, water saving and serving of locally grown menu, which can even be organic.

Decor elements

Use the candlelight- Candle give a soft and romantic glow and feel which can create and elegant reception. They are also energy efficient. The cleaner and longer burning soy candles are even better as they are manufactured using renewable sources.

Use bamboo- Bamboo can be said to be one of the most sustainable material on the face of earth. The eco-friendly option can give you a modern and organic feel. The stalks of bamboo can be used for the decor elements and the centerpieces.

Flowers

Thinking double duty- The ceremony receptions can be invited to wedding and can be used for decorating the gift table and the cake. This will reduce wastage and will save money.

Buy the organic blooms which are locally grown- Buy the flowers grown organically as they are grown without pesticides in a vary environment friendly way. It will also save the fuel, which will burn if the flowers are transported from some other place.

Conserve the cut flowers- The cut flowers are often used just once and are then wasted. They can be provided to some other wedding that is taking place on the same day. You can further top them on your tables in potted arrangements so that the guests can take them home after wedding and plant them in their yards.

Menu

Think organic- Engage the caterers, which specialize in organic food and get an organic menu. By this way, you and your guests will not be exposed to pesticides.

Think local- If the cost involved in organic food concerns you, you can cater locally grown food. This will support the local farmers and will be able to save the fuel, which might have been used in transportation.

Use reusable utensils- Engage a caterer who uses china and linen instead of the disposables or uses recycled material.

Donate the leftovers- You can work with your caterer in order to send the leftovers of the wedding to a food shelter or some other organization.

Cake

Your baker should use local sugar, flour, eggs, and butter while manufacturing the cake. There are bakers who can provide you organic cakes also.

Attire

Use secondhand dress material- A used gown will help in saving the resources, which will be spent while manufacturing a new one.

Get green fibers- Use natural fibers like cotton and silk, as they are better than the synthetic dress material for environment conservation.

Use couture- The couture fabrics are made by using natural fabrics. You can use them though they are a bit expensive.

Donate the gown- You can donate or even sell your gown to some other bride.

Favors- You can donate to a charity in your guest’s name.

Transportation

Limit the long distance travel- Choose a location where few guests will have to come from distant places.

Walk- The reception, ceremony and the room block must be located at the same site or can be walking distance apart.

Carpool- The car pools in hybrid vehicles can be organized by the guests.

Getaway in low emission style-

A non-motorized vehicle like horseback, sleds, bikes, wagons, and stakes can be used for the final send-off.

Your green intentions can be great, but lot of fuel is wasted while transporting the guests by car or plane to the wedding area. Hence, many of the brides who wish to have green weddings are purchasing the carbon offsets for reducing the wedding carbon footprint. This can be done by calculating the total mileage the guests will be travelling and then offsetting the carbon dioxide emissions done by donating to those programs and organizations which can plant trees or who work in preserving rain forests.

About the author: Kate is blogger by profession. She loves writing on topics related to renewable energy and lifestyle. Beside this, she is fond of books. These days she is busy in writing an article on early pregnancy for her blog.