A wedding of about 150 - 200 friends and relatives is certainly going to leave a carbon footprint. With the social conscious now trying to reduce carbon emissions and the push towards carbon neutral product we can as individuals make a difference. Even on our wedding day. Planning a green wedding (otherwise referred to as an eco friendly wedding or eco wedding) is not as challenging as it seems.

There are venues you can book which are carbon neutral along with alternatives for nearly everything you’ll need on the day.

Choosing eco friendly wedding favors is another way in which you can reduce your carbon emissions. Here are some ideas for eco wedding favors for your green wedding.

Seed packet wedding favors. You can create a recycled paper packet which you can personalise with your names and date of the wedding and inside you can place some seeds for planting. You may also pair these with mini flower pots which will be unique and practical alternative to the traditional wedding favors.

You may also choose a small plant for your green wedding favors. It can be individually wrapped and personalised with your names and date of the wedding. The plants can range from palm plants, to drought resistant plants or evergreens. This a perfect idea for eco friendly wedding favors, as plants are very practical favors that people will actually use and enjoy after the wedding.

One of the more obvious eco-friendly wedding favor ideas for couples is to give something organic. Organic chocolates can be a nice wedding favor which you can package in recycled boxes. You may also wish to make a donation to an eco friendly charity. Some couples may choose to not give wedding bonbonnieres or to receive gifts but instead have donated all of these funds to the planting of trees to offset their weddings carbon footprint.

Choosing environmentally friendly wedding favors can be as simply as purchasing these locally. Much of the carbon consumed is associated with the transportation of goods especially from overseas. But buying home-grown or local products and gifts you can significantly reduce your impact on the environment.

Bamboo coasters or placemats are another cute eco-friendly wedding favors idea. Bamboo is said to be lucky and it is luckiest when received as a gift. It is also a symbol of strength and success. All of these themes can be incorporated with your wedding and your life long journey together. By adding a personalised note or tag with the gift could make it just a little more special.
Energy efficient light bulbs, organic candles are some other options for consideration when choosing your wedding favors.

Having an environmentally friendly “green wedding” is easier than you may have thought, but definitely requires thought and planning on your part. Wedding favors are not the only product you can get that is eco friendly for your wedding. Wedding gowns are now made out of hemp. You can also purchase completely bio degradable wedding confetti. Venues can be completely carbon-neutral. Simply purchasing domestic products for your wedding rather than imported items is another way of keeping your wedding environmentally friendly, eco friendly, and green.

Enjoy your  green wedding day!

More information: Nusuevents.com.au

Green houses gases, global warming, air pollution, landfills heaped with non-biodegradable products: no wonder Americans need to be earth conscious! With new problems facing our environment on a routine basis, it is important that everyone reduces their carbon footprint.

There is no better time than today to get smart about our planet’s peril – and your wedding is a fantastic place to begin. Exchange your vows with your soul mate without emitting emissions, and you make tomorrow’s world a better place. Armed with a load of canvas shopping bags, you and your significant other can plan the wedding of your dreams without exasperating an already exhausted Mother Earth.

Here’s how you can select great wedding stationery that is (1) recyclable, (2) chic, (3) in your price range.

First of all, choose your theme and then select the style of wedding invitation that you want to send. There are a variety of environmentally friendly options out on the market today. Green brides and grooms can choose cards that are made from recycled paper, 100% cotton, seeded stationery that germinates when planted, or treeless invitations packed with awareness.

Like all other kinds of stationery, there are a variety of colors and patterns. Try to steer clear of any paper that has been heavily dyed. Despite the appeal of recycled paper, the chemicals put into the air during the dyeing process negate all the good that you are trying to do environmentally. Non-bleached cotton is often the best choice for clothing, and the same could be said about invitations. The rawer the material, the better it is for the earth.

Take your crusade even further by selecting a soy-based ink to use on the wedding invitations. Not only will the cards be easier to recycle, but printing will be a snap. The ink is available in a variety of bright, appealing colors and more economically sound than its competitors.

Making Your Eco-Friendly Green Wedding Invitations Stylish

Customize your message on your wedding invitations to include a fact about the environment. This information can be printed on the back of the wedding invitation. It could give the advantages of recycling or teach a person how to start a community garden. Whatever issue is the closest to your heart is the most appropriate to include on your wedding invitations.

Include a reusable fabric envelope for an extra special touch. Purchase them online or try your hand at creating them yourself. With a sewing machine, creating the little beauties takes no time at all. Address labels can be created by using ink-jet transfer paper. Use them like you would with any other iron-on. Print, press, and peel back the paper to reveal a one-of-a-kind piece of wedding stationery. This is a fun project to make with your bridesmaids, and it will surely be one of the most unique wedding invitations your guests receive.

Taking care of the environment is everyone’s responsibility, and you can start with your wedding invitations. Take it one step farther by having a green wedding today!

About the Writer
Grace Chen is owner of  MyExpression.com, supplier off unique wedding stationery.

If you’re planning a green wedding, don’t forget to think “green” when it comes to your table centerpieces. Even though it may take a little more thought, time and creativity on your part ( like all aspects of a green wedding) it’s worth the effort. Not only are eco centerpieces important for the environment,  they’ll will allow you to feel good about yourself, knowing you’re doing your part - even when it comes to the most important day of your life.

Ideas for eco centerpieces are those that are made from natural elements such as twigs, flowers, rocks, water, decorative grasses, wheat, etc. Just say “no” to centerpieces that are full of materials that are environmentally unfriendly, such as plastics. Even though you could theoretically “recycle” centerpieces that aren’t eco friendly (by selling them on ebay after the wedding, passing them along to another bride to use, etc.) you never really know how that will work out so opt for eco centerpieces that are made from materials that are eco-friendly.

More eco friendly wedding centerpiece ideas: Look for glass vases or bowls that are made of recycled glass for your wedding centerpieces. After the wedding you can allow special guests or helpers to take the centerpieces home so they’ll continue to be enjoyed and used, rather than disposed of - very much in keeping with your eco-friendly theme.

You can hunt around for wedding centerpieces that are eco friendly, or create your own. Either way, its yet another opportunity to add to your eco-inspired wedding  - and you might even save some money in the process.

Some couples decide to have a green wedding because they are genuinely concerned about the environment. But there other couples who go the green wedding route just because it has become trendy.  These couples often make silly choices in planning their green weddings because they don’t actually take the time to familiarize themselves with what eco-friendly weddings are all about.

To avoid making the same mistakes,  you need to be sure you to do your homework if you intend to have an earth-friendly / green wedding.

Here are some ideas you should NEVER use for green weddings.

1. Using old “ratty” stuff

Being eco-friendly and being tacky are two different things. Just because you are encouraged to reuse old materials when you go green for your wedding doesn’t mean you should old “ratty” things that would turn off  your guests. If you intend to re-use materials like old clothes or old household items, be sure to wash and clean them thoroughly first, restoring them to pretty as new condition.

2. Using “recycled materials” that are not really recycled

Know what you are buying when you go green for your wedding.  Some stores represent that items are made from recycled materials even when they are not. Make sure you only buy from reputable stores that sell real recycled items.
3. Over-using paper - because its recycled.

Its tempting to think that because you are using recycled paper it’s a justification to send ten-page wedding invitations to 500 people. Not so. That completely defeats the purpose of having a green wedding in the first place.  Remember, the idea behind a green wedding is to reduce consumption of materials. Its not a license to go over board.  That’s not a legitimate green wedding. Use only a few sheets of paper for the invitation. If possible, send other less formal wedding-related invitations such as save the date, engagement party invitations, and bridal shower invitations  via email.

4. Sacrificing quality

Reduce, reuse and recycle - but not to the point where you would be completely sacrificing quality.

5. Recycling food

This is simply not an option.  Serving leftover food or using leftovers as ingredients to dishes presents a health risk and could result in guests becoming ill. The health department prohibits this.

6. Locating the ceremony and reception considerable distance from eachother.

Having the ceremony and reception located a significant drive away from eachother consumes much gas and energy, contributing to adverse effects on our environment.

7. Not complementing the theme of the wedding

Make an effort to practice earth friendly methods but do not overlook the appearance of your wedding. If the tablecloths you borrowed from a friend clash with your wedding color scheme, its not working. Either change the color scheme, or find another way to go green where wedding table dressings are concerned.

8. Using disposable dishes for the reception

The concept of a green wedding is to minimize waste as much as possible, so using disposable items for the reception flys in the face of what a green wedding is supposed to achieve.

Green weddings are not just for environmental activists. Anyone can go green for their wedding day.  But if you are thinking of planning a green wedding, do it for the right reasons -  not just because you are following the latest trend.

Remember, our planet is in danger. What more meaningful way could there be to start your life as husband and wife than by saying “I do” the green way.  Your green wedding will be a wonderful legacy.

The wedding day is one of the most important in a person’s life, and today’s brides- and grooms-to-be strive to create a one-of-a-kind experience that is both personal and memorable for their guests - all while trying to stay within their budget. For one lucky couple, Mirassou Winery plans to help.

Mirassou Winery has announced its 6th annual “I Do with Mirassou” contest, which will help one engaged couple with both the cost of their wedding and a special, personalized California-cuisine-inspired wedding menu designed in conjunction with two food and wine experts: Celebrity Chef Aida Mollenkamp and sixth generation of America’s oldest winemaking family, David Mirassou.

This year’s contest runs from now through June 27, 2010 at www.mirassou.com. Couples can enter to win $10,000, plus a trip to San Francisco and northern California wine country for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet with wine expert David Mirassou and Celebrity Chef Aida Mollenkamp, host of the popular Food Network show “Ask Aida,” to plan their custom California-inspired wedding menu, complete with food and wine pairings.

The winning couple will be announced in August and will meet with Aida and David this fall to learn about the hottest wedding food and wine trends, as well as plan their own personalized wedding menu. Go to www.mirassou.com to view the official rules and enter to win.

Here are more green wedding ideas:

The traditional white wedding is getting a green twist. The “Green Wedding” is one of the fastest growing trends in weddings today, according to internationally recognized wedding expert, Linda Kevich - director of The International Institute of Weddings, and creator of the popular online wedding planner, SuperWeddings.com.

Weddings have become synonymous with conspicuous consumption, and that’s not so great for the earth. But there are many ways to make your wedding as environmentally friendly as possible.

Green Invitations - Rather than opting for  heavy card stock with environmentally damaging gloss or matte, choose recycled paper for your eco friendly wedding invitations

Eco Friendly Wedding Dress - The wedding dress makes the bride.  That doesn’t mean you need to create a heavy environmental footprint with a brand new dress that you’ll never wear again. Consider vintage wedding gowns or family heirlooms.  There’s nothing more meaningful than walking down the aisle in your mother’s wedding dress. It can be modified and stylized to suit your own fashion sense.

Other options: Some wedding dress manufacturers create beautiful custom made eco friendly wedding dresses for todays green wedding using enironmentally friendly fabrics like hemp, bamboo or organic cotton. Some even “upcycle” older gowns.

Green Wedding Gifts - As you prepare for your eco friendly green wedding, are you prepared to deal with the ending up with two toaster ovens or electric can openers you’ll only have to hassle with returning? Use your wedding day to promote some well deserving charities and eco causes. Ask your guests to make a donation to your favorite instead of giving wedding presents. Giving back is the greatest gift of all. There is much truth in these statements “you have to give to get”, and “to give is to live”.

Eco Friendly Wedding Flowers - Consider the season when selecting  flower arrangements for your green wedding. Out of season arrangements are often shipped from overseas adding to emissions. There are also a number of issues regarding the ethics of the cut flower industry, with many sources citing cheap labor and unfair work conditions. Where ever you live, you can be sure there is an abundance of flowers grown right in your local area. Better yet, go organic!

Eco friendly Wedding Food - Organic caterers are BIG for weddings now. They provide some of the best food that you can be sure is pesticide-free and delightfully delicious. Look for a baker that uses organic eggs and flour and other sustainable ingredients in the wedding cake.

Wedding Venue and transportation - Choose a venue for your green wedding that’ll be easy to get to. Encourage guests to carpool, or better yet, provide some shuttle bus transport yourself. Having the wedding reception for your green wedding in the  same location  as the ceremony also cuts down on travel and emissions.

Eco Friendly Wedding Rings - Forget diamonds;  eco is a girl’s new best friend! Today a lot of jewelers are “up-cycling” jewelery from older pieces. Take in an old family heirloom and have it re-crafted to create your own one of a kind wedding ring to add further to the eco friendliness of your green wedding.

There are more green wedding ideas than you might at first imagine when you set out to plan an eco wedding or “green wedding”.  Check out these green wedding ideas to jump start your own creative juices:

1. Use real flowers. A green wedding should have fresh flowers as opposed to ornamental, faux, or silk flowers which have been manufactured. While silk flowers these days may look as real as fresh ones, and are sometimes be easier on the budget, they aren’t as friendly to the planet. True, they can be reused, but after years of collecting dust, they will eventually end up in landfills.

2. Details matter.  Don’t overlook the small details when  planning a green wedding. You can go green all the way - from eco friendly favors to “green” confetti. The more you pay attention to small details that a resuitable for a green wedding, the more eco friendly your wedding will be.

3. Use natural light to your advantage. Instead of using a lot of power and electricity at your green wedding, look for a venue featuring a lot of natural light. Even better, you may want to opt for an outdoor wedding where the need for electricity will be minimal.

These green wedding ideas are just a few suggestions to get you thinking. There are many other ways to plan a completely unique eco-friendly, green wedding.  What green wedding ideas have you come up with?