Getting Married? Go Green with a Low Carbon Wedding Plan!

Tying the knot but looking to host an eco-friendly wedding? This article will help new-to-be brides plan a low-carbon wedding or carbon neutral, when possible. There are many strategies and tips to get you started with planning a low carbon or carbon neutral wedding day, including:

 1. Skip the limo for something more individual and less polluting. How about an electric car, rickshaw or even a white horse, North Indian style?
2. Use local flowers - you could even plant a special crop when you get engaged to use at the wedding. Organic is the way to go!
3. Email your invites to save on paper - or use your social networking site of choice. For guests who haven't ventured onto the internet, you can use 100% post recycled invitations.
4. Consider wearing a second-hand, inherited or hired dress.
5. Have the wedding outdoors and in summer to minimize the need for heating or air conditioning. (June is particularly auspicious, according to the Romans)
6. Ask any friends who beat you to the alter if you could borrow their wedding paraphernalia. Buying less new stuff saves emissions.
7. Buy carbon offsets for your travelling wedding guests.
8. Rather than new gold wedding bands, try recycled gold bands instead.
9. Take an adventure at your local U-brew and make your own beer and wine for the big day. If that's not your thing though, there are plenty of options for organic or local wines as well.
10. Eco-friendly wedding music. As traditional music equipment draws lots of power and is heavy to lug from venue to venue, ask friends and family members who are musically inclined to play for your guests. Or if you don't have any musical talent at your fingertips, try a band that is unplugged and uses just the instruments for a true romantic sound.
11. Eco-friendly photography. Ask photographers what types of green products they offer. Do they offer enviro-friendly wedding albums, prints using vegetable-based dyes, etc.
12. Green gift ideas. Send an e-card with a note of an environmental or wildlife donation. This will mean a lot to the tree-hugging couple.
13. Sit down dinners are less wasteful than buffet dinners, so make sure you plan to use real cutlery and plates rather than disposable which is easily on Mother Earth!

With all of the items on the bride and grooms to-do list, this is a great starting place for green friendly wedding tips.